Friday 14 February 2014

Review: Solving For Ex by Leigh Ann Kopans


Source: Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
Release Date: Already released.
Number of Pages: 300 (Paperback)


Description from Goodreads:
1 crush on your best friend +
1 gorgeous, scheming new girl +
1 Mathletics competition =
1 big mess

SIMPLIFY.

Ashley Price doesn’t have much in life after being bullied so hard she had to leave her old school to live with her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh. But the camera she borrowed from her best friend and secret crush Brendan, and her off the charts math abilities, make things a lot more bearable. Plus, since Brendan is the captain, making the school Mathletes team should be easy.

But when gorgeous new girl Sofia rolls in and steals Brendan, Ashley's place on the team, and her fragile foothold on the Mansfield Park Prep social totem pole, it’s on. Sofia is everything Ashley left her old school to escape. The only thing Ashley didn’t count on is Sofia’s sexy twin brother Vincent.

Vincent is not only the hottest boy in school, he’s charming, sweet, and he’s got his eye on Ashley. He’s also not taking no for an answer. There's no real reason Ashley shouldn't like Vincent, but with the battle lines being drawn between her and Sofia, Ashley’s not sure which side he’s on. Or which side she wants him to be on.

She does know Sofia is trouble with a capital T, and she’s determined to make Brendan see it.

SOLVING FOR EX is a YA contemporary romance that remixes Mansfield Park as Clueless meets Mean Girls in a crazy mix of high school society, mathletic competition, and teenage romance.
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Leigh Ann Kopans's Biography

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature.  As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen.  Solving for Ex was born of her love for Jane Austen’s classics, and how they taught her that love stories could be funny and wickedly smart.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)


Contact Links
Twitter: @LeighAnnKopans
Email: LeighAnnKopans@gmail.com

REVIEW

As soon as I heard about Solving for Ex, I couldn't wait to read it! I loved Leigh Ann Kopans's book One, so I was definitely eager to see her tackle contemporary...and she did it soooo well! :D Solving for Ex was an adorable contemporary that definitely reminds you just how dramatic high school can be. :)

I think my favourite part of Solving for Ex was the fact that the characters are totally geeky. Ashley and Brendan are both major math geeks, and I loved that! I don't really do any sort of math at all anymore, but I used to love it so much! I remember honestly having fun doing equations, so I can totally relate to Brendan and Ashley...and they actually made me miss math! haha

Along with the awesome geekiness in the story, I loved Ashley and Brendan's friendship...at least at the beginning of the book. Once Sofia and Vincent came along, everything kind of got a lot less awesome between Ashley and Brendan. I definitely loved all of the moments where we saw them fit back into the groove of their relationship though, and I totally loved Ashley. While I wished she stood up for herself more, I also understood why she didn't.

Before she came to Mansfield Park Prep, Ashley had a seriously rough time, and anyone would be feeling just as insecure as she was in the same situation. In that respect, I thought that Leigh Ann Kopans did an amazing job with the whole bullying side of the story. We don't see Ashley being bullied much anymore, but we do see just how seriously being bullied can affect someone, and I thought it was fantastic to see that in YA. It was a subtle way to increase awareness, and I really appreciated it...I wish more books that mention bullying handled it that way because it's not something that should just be brushed over. Bullying may not be the central part of Solving for Ex, but I definitely feel like its purpose in the story was very effective and handled well. Ashley definitely continues to be affected by her past, but she also moves past it, and it was amazing to see her grow, and finally learn to stand up for herself.

I loved Solving for Ex...and my only frustration was with the characters when they were just being dense. :P Like most teenagers, Ashley and Brendan were just totally blind to what was right in from of them. If they'd just spoken up sooner, they could've solved so many problems. I loved when they finally started to communicate better, and I just have to say that the ending of this one...it's a good one! It left me so super duper happy! I wish we'd gotten even more at the end, but at the same time, it was perfect! :D

Overall, I loved Solving for Ex. I thought it was a funny, sweet, and truly wonderful story. I'd recommend it to contemporary fans, especially if you like your main characters a little geeky, and if you enjoy when main characters learn to stand up for themselves. ;)

What do you think?
Does Solving for Ex sound like a story you'd like to read?
And if you've read it already, what did you think?

4 comments:

  1. this sounds really cute, I wasn't tempted to read it because I don't like to read retellings without reading the original but I would definitely read more by Leigh in the future.

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    1. It was really cute, and honestly, I've read Mansfield Park, and there are a few subtle similarities between Solving for Ex, and it, but not a tonne. Not having read Mansfield Park really won't ruin this one for you at all...in fact, as much as I love Austen, Mansfield Park always had a bit aspect to it that skeeved me out, which thankfully this one did not have. :P haha I think you'd like it. You'd definitely appreciate the awesome geekiness. :D

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  2. Oooh I've totally been eyeing this one! Glad to hear it was so good!

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    Replies
    1. It really was! I hope you get to read it soon, and love it, too! :D

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