Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Other Fish In The Sea (Grab Your Pole #2) by Jenn Cooksey {Review + Giveaway}


Young Adult Contemporary
Expected Publication April 23rd 2013
Ebook/ARC given for review by author


Camie and Tristan are back and so are their friends! Dive deeper into the lives of the GYP gang with The Other Fish in the Sea, the second installment in the Grab Your Pole Series by Jenn Cooksey.



My Take:
Jenn Cooksey is probably the only author who has made me simultaneously love and loathe my teenage years. That achingly sweet romance filled with first love, first kisses and that beautiful next step. But along with first love comes the sometimes inevitable first breakup. Picking up where Shark Bait left off Camie and Tristan are navigating a relationship that is new to both of them. Camie lived a sheltered life being home schooled and Tristan never found a girl he wanted to do anything with other than get in her taco pie. At first we follow Camie as she deals with a new issue in this book because she feels like she is ready to take their five month courtship into a whole new level but is afraid of her inadequacies in the bedroom because Tristan has so much experience. She seeks advice from her girlfriends throughout the book trying to gain knowledge of what to expect from Tristan also what she can expect from herself. In Shark Bait we saw the amazing chemistry between Tristan and Camie develop over time and they both faced a huge test in their relationship early on and survived. But the tests they face in this book push them both to their breaking point as their passion for each other threatens to tear them apart.

Childhood sweethearts Jeff and Kate, who have been together basically their whole lives are harboring a secret they haven't shared with any of their friends. We are given a small glimpse into Kate's POV in this book and find out exactly how strong the bond between her and Jeff really is as they navigate their solid connection and some tough circumstances.

Camie's friend Melissa also gets some much needed page time as we follow her through a tough choice and the consequences that follow a Delicious and spontaneous encounter with a sexy tattooed rocker! 

I don't even have words to adequately describe the wonderfulness that is the Grab Your Pole series. I feel like a fucking idiot because EVERYTHING about this book is swirling in my head and I can't grab onto what I want to say about it. This book was just as good if not BETTER than it's predecessor and I fell so much harder in love with all these characters throughout the story. The chemistry between Camie and Tristan is hot and pulls you into their relationship and invests you in their happiness. Watching them grow and develop as a couple throughout this series has been so much fun. The main issue these two face is how and when to take the next step in their relationship. Camie being a virgin is intimidated by Tristan's extensive knowledge on the subject of sex that causes her to make some choices that anger Tristan and further complicates their relationship. They are the main characters but the way the book is written makes it feel as though everyone is the main character. The author leaves no one out when she writes and you become invested in everyone's story just as much as the MC's. 

While reading Shark Bait I wasn't instantly fond of Tristan but I slowly warmed up to him after a while. It was a completely different thing with him this time around because I fell 100% in love with him in this book. He was so much sweeter and more romantic to Camie and extremely PATIENT! The further they pushed the boundaries in their relationship with no completion the more I got scared thinking he would stray to find some easy tail like almost all men do! With him being the reformed man slut he is I kept waiting for Jenn to sucker punch us with a cheating storyline. Thankfully that was not the case and my love for Tristan aboundeth much henceforth.

We not only get to see what goes on between Camie and Tris but we get a look at Kate and Jeff (Who are my faves, don't throw shit at me please!). The fact that Kate and Jeff are childhood sweethearts and are STILL together after all this time makes me almost believe love like that exists. I adore everything about this couple, from their playful banter, to their serious loving moments  even their fights are endearing! These characters are written so well that you become them in a way as you read about them. It's almost like you are experiencing every single thing they go through and they go through some shit in this book! Not only are they dealing with a huge issue that will change both their lives, they also find out about a shocking link between their families that adds more intensity to their story. I was not expecting the drama to be so amped up but my pulse was red lining a few times freaking out about certain aspects. My heart broke for these two characters during a turning point in the book and I got really scared for a little while that things wouldn't work out between them but thankfully their bond is just as strong as it was when they first met, and for that I want to deep throat Jenn Cooksey!

I have to take a moment and give some props to one of THE best characters I have ever read from a book. Jillian Ramsey, Camie's younger sister. *Standing Ovation*! This girl is one of the most mysterious, and snarky and strong and unintentionally funny book characters! We learned in Shark Bait that Jillian is quirky and a little strange in that she is a Nazi spy! She moves like the wind and nobody ever notices when she comes and goes. In TOFITS we get a much too short  (IMO) glimpse into her life and discover something that made me sit up like a fucking Irish Setter or whatever that dog is that points at shit. Jillian has a mystery guy that has befriended her and seems to have a crush on her but Jillian being Jillian is aloof as always and keeps her cards close to the chest. It's not clear at first who this could be but by the end of the book I hope you will be as juiced up for this pairing as I am! Beyond her guarded demeanor though she has a somewhat softer side that we get to see a little more in this book. I loved that her and Camie seemed to grow a little closer as the story progressed. They have a heart to  heart moment that just shows there are so many different sides to Jillian that just makes her that much more endearing as a character. Plus it's fucking hilarious that basically EVERYONE in the book is scared of her! 

Drama, Romance, Heartache, Passion and Shenanigans fill the pages of this amazing book and I didn't even cover half of it! I can't imagine how much better the series will get as it continues but the way this book was left with a damn mini cliffhanger will make you anxious for the next installment. The Grab Your Pole series is a wonderful character driven story that has worked it's way into my favorite series-es list. In general it's just a really good story for people of all ages, no matter what station in life you're at be it a teen going through some of the same things or an adult who survived those years (Thank You Raptor Jesus!). I'm looking forward to many more books featuring the GYP gang!


FAVORITE QUOTES:
“I’ve never needed self-control to not take advantage of a girl before, Camie. Like what happens when we kiss and when we fight, I’ve only experienced that with you. Just you. Baby, you’re different… we’re different. It’s just another element of God’s warped version of Thunderdome.” eARC  30%

"Oh, uhhh...licorice, body shots and bungee cords happened. you don't wanna know any more than that." eARC 39%

I lost all thought completely when I felt his hot breath on the inside of my thighs and he let loose the pyromaniac that simmers just below the surface of his otherwise composed and self-possessed mien, igniting my entire body in an ardently fervent blaze. eARC 69 %



GIVEAWAY:



Bonus Giveaway


One paperback copy of The Other Fish in the Sea



This one is easy peasy. All you must do to enter is read The Other Fish in the Sea, and leave an honest review on Amazon.




Author Bio:
Jenn Cooksey is a Southern California girl born and bred, and proudly boasts being a member of Grossmont High School's alumni. She currently resides in the 7th Ring of Hell (aka; Arizona) with her husband (whom she married on a dare while in Las Vegas), their three daughters, and more pets than she has the patience to count. Aside from her husband and one cat, everyone living under the Cooksey's roof is female. She's sure her husband will be not only be awarded sainthood when he kicks the bucket, but that Jesus will welcome him into heaven with a beer and a congratulatory high-five. She also believes that Bacon should be capitalized. Always.

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3 comments:

  1. Great review, True! You know how I feel about this series. ;)

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  2. lmao at taco pie! I love you.

    It's true that all the characters feel like the main characters.. its one of my favorite things about this series. :)

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  3. " In TOFITS we get a much too short (IMO) glimpse into her life and discover something that made me sit up like a fucking Irish Setter or whatever that dog is that points at shit." <---I really love you, you know that?

    ReplyDelete

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