★★★★
Summary:
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…
Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.
Summary:
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…
Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.
After reading The Distance Between Us (also by Kasie West) a few months ago, I knew I had to have this. I was a bit scared to read On the Fence after having loved The Distance Between Us so much, scared that West would not be able to achieve that level of awesomeness again, but I had nothing to worry about. Although I did enjoy The Distance Between Us a little more than On the Fence, I was not in the tiniest bit disappointed. I am starting to wonder if I should move her paranormal series, Pivot Point, up my TBR list.
I really like Charlie. She is a great character, very flawed and realistic. Charlie is a tomboy. She doesn't have any girl-friends, and doesn't understand any of the girly stuff most girls her age do. But this summer is different. When she is forced to get a job, she meets a friendly make up artist, and they become friends.
Charlie is discovering her femininity, but is too afraid to show any of that around her family. Growing up only with brothers and father and no real female influence, Charlie sees her femininity as something negative, something she has to hide if she wants to be accepted by those around her.
Honestly, this is the only thing I dislike about this book. Charlie thinks of girls as a different species, people she would have nothing in common with, people she could never even have a conversation with. She thinks there is a right way to be girl, and she does't think she has that. However, this is a plot line in the book that is eventually resolved, and the ending makes up for it.
That said, I absolutely loved the family dynamics. The teasing, the overprotectiveness, the acceptance of one another and their differences, everything felt realistic. Most YA novels barely include any family members in it, so it was great to read about.
The friendships displayed in the book were also great, from the ones that existed before the book started to the ones that began throughout the book. They played sports, hanged out, and just had fun. It was refreshing that nobody betrayed anyone, and I loved the little arc between Charlie and Dave.
I liked Charlie and Braden's relationship. It was slow and sweet, and not the only thing the novel focused on. I do think the "I love you's" were a bit out of place, a little to quick, a little unnecessary. I think they like each other a lot, but not love, not yet.
Honestly, I think what makes the book so great is how realistic it is. There is more than just romance going on. Charlie is discovering herself, changing, and coming to terms with her mom's death and not having her around when she needs her.
Have you read anything by Kasie West?
I really like Charlie. She is a great character, very flawed and realistic. Charlie is a tomboy. She doesn't have any girl-friends, and doesn't understand any of the girly stuff most girls her age do. But this summer is different. When she is forced to get a job, she meets a friendly make up artist, and they become friends.
Charlie is discovering her femininity, but is too afraid to show any of that around her family. Growing up only with brothers and father and no real female influence, Charlie sees her femininity as something negative, something she has to hide if she wants to be accepted by those around her.
Honestly, this is the only thing I dislike about this book. Charlie thinks of girls as a different species, people she would have nothing in common with, people she could never even have a conversation with. She thinks there is a right way to be girl, and she does't think she has that. However, this is a plot line in the book that is eventually resolved, and the ending makes up for it.
That said, I absolutely loved the family dynamics. The teasing, the overprotectiveness, the acceptance of one another and their differences, everything felt realistic. Most YA novels barely include any family members in it, so it was great to read about.
The friendships displayed in the book were also great, from the ones that existed before the book started to the ones that began throughout the book. They played sports, hanged out, and just had fun. It was refreshing that nobody betrayed anyone, and I loved the little arc between Charlie and Dave.
I liked Charlie and Braden's relationship. It was slow and sweet, and not the only thing the novel focused on. I do think the "I love you's" were a bit out of place, a little to quick, a little unnecessary. I think they like each other a lot, but not love, not yet.
Honestly, I think what makes the book so great is how realistic it is. There is more than just romance going on. Charlie is discovering herself, changing, and coming to terms with her mom's death and not having her around when she needs her.
Have you read anything by Kasie West?