Tuesday, January 17, 2012

First Date by Krista McGee

First Date
By Krista McGee
Contemporary Christian Fiction, Young Adult
Published January 10, 2012
Thomas Nelson
336 pages



About the Book
The last thing Addy Davidson wants is to be on a reality TV show where the prize is a prom date with the President’s son.

She’s focused on her schoolwork so she can get a scholarship to an Ivy League college, uncomfortable in the spotlight, never been on a date, and didn’t even audition for it.

But she got selected anyway.

So she does her best to get eliminated on the very first show. Right before she realizes that the President’s son is possibly the most attractive guy she has ever seen in person, surprisingly nice, and seemingly unimpressed by the 99 other girls who are throwing themselves at him.

Addy’s totally out of her comfort zone but that may be right where God can show her all that she was meant to be.


My Thoughts
I haven't really read much young adult fiction since . . . well . . . probably since high school. However, I've wanted to stretch myself a bit this year so I'm choosing a few young adult novels to round out my bookshelves.

First Date by Krista McGee was a dynamite initiation back into the young adult world. A cross between (a much, much cleaner version of) Gossip Girls and The Bachelor, First Date reminded me of all of the things I loved and hated most about my teen years. (I have no desire to be back in the world of catty high school girls.)

I instantly connected with Addy. Wants to do what's right. Also wants to fit in and be "popular." Struggles with how to reconcile God's way with the world's way. But overall has a good head on her shoulders. I loved the fact that she spoke her mind so freely . . . even when it got her into trouble or introduced a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease. :)

The spiritual elements are strong in this novel. It felt like a real girl working out her faith and how that should look among real people (even if the setting—a reality TV show—is totally unreal). Addy's uncle reminded me of some of the adults in my life during my teen years—that adult friend type who is willing to tell you like it is and you're willing to hear it from them because they're not your parent. :) I also loved the journals from Addy's mom. What a great way to help Addy wrestle through things and still have the perspective of her mom (who died when Addy was a child) . . . and to allow her to see that her mom was flawed too.

I thoroughly enjoyed First Date and look forward to reading the Krista's next novel (coming out this summer).  [4.5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my fair and honest review.

About the Author
Krista McGee writes for teens, teaches teens, and, more often than not, acts like a teen. Along with her husband and three kids, Krista has lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain.

Connect with Krista
Blog  |  Facebook

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for this review, Brooke! I'm trying to get a copy of this as well, but enjoyed your comments and now I want it even more :) Glad you are stretching yourself into YA books and that you enjoyed this one :)
    blessings,kara

    ReplyDelete

I love comments! Thanks for letting me know what you think!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Labels

(in)courage (in)mercy 1 star 12 Pearls of Christmas 12 Pearls of Christmas 2012 12 Pearls of Christmas 2013 2 star 2 stars 2.5 stars 2012 Review 3 stars 3.5 stars 4 stars 4.5 stars 5 Minute Friday 5 stars A Year of Weddings Abingdon Press Advent Announcements ARC August Author B-H Books Banned Books Week Barbour Publishing BBAW 2012 beauty Bethany House Blitz Blog Action Day blog hop Blog Mooch Blog Tour Blogaversary Blogging Blogging for Change Blogside Chat Book Blast Book Club Book Trailer Thursday Bout of Books Bout of Books 11.0 Bout of Books 13.0 Bout of Books 7.0 Bout of Books 8.0 Bout of Books 9.0 Brookes Faves celebration Center Street CFBA challenge accepted Character Meet and Greet Charisma Media Children's Christian Speaker Services christianaudio Christmas Christy Awards Clean Sweet community Compassion Compassion Blog Month Contemporary Countdown to Christmas Cover Love Cover Reveal Dani Pettrey David C. Cook Devotion Devotional DiAnn Mills DNF Easter Egg Blog Hop End of Summer Read-A-Thon Etsy Events Faith Words Fall Into Reading 2012 FB Chat Fiction FIRST Food Freebies Friday Five Getting To Know You Giveaway Giveaway Hop Glass Road PR goals Grand Finale Great Escapes Guest Blogger Guideposts Books Harlequin Heartwarming Harvest House High Summer Read-A-Thon Historical home goods Hope International Howard Books If the Shoe Fits Influenster Inspired Design Publications Jody Hedlund Jolly VoxBox Just for Fun Kenya Kregel Publications Literacy Read-A-Thon LitFuse Publicity Looking Ahead Love for Books Love Inspired Mailbox Fun Month in Review Moody Publishers Mother of Pearl Mother of Pearl 2013 Movie Music NavPress Net Galley New Hope Publishers New Leaf Publishers New Release Feature Non-Fiction Operation Christmas Child pinterest pray pray for the horn Prism Book Tours Promo Random Random House Random Question RCCleanup read-a-thon Reading Cram reflections Reformation Trust Release Day Retirement Community Revell Review in Haiku River North Road to the Christys Road Trip Romance Samaritan's Purse Sandra Byrd Sandra D Bricker Sandra Leesmith scripture Secret Church shutterfly snacks Snappy Reviews Sneak Peek Spring Break '11 Spring Reading Thing SSMT SSMT 2013 Sterling Summer Lovin' Read-A-Thon summer reading Summerside Press Susan May Warren Suspense Take a Chance on Me Tamera Alexander Tanzania Teaser Tuesday Tens List The B-B Media Group The Story Behind the Story The Travel Bug The Word Thomas Nelson Thursday 3 Top 10 Top Picks Top Ten Tuesday Trailer Tricia Goyer Tyndale House Waiting on Wednesday WaterBrook Multnomah webcast WestBow Press What Are You Reading What's Next Whitaker House WinePress Publishing World Watch List WWW Wednesdays YA Young Adult Zondervan
Powered by Blogger.