Review: Don’t Stop Now by Julie Halpern
What a cute and very beachy beach read!
Don’t Stop Now by Julie Halpern
publisher: Feiwel & Friends
release date: June 7, 2011
book info: goodreads author site
from goodreads: On the first day of Lillian’s summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Penny’s home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Penny’s family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lil’s BFF, Josh. But here’s the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesn’t want to “ruin” their amazing friendship.
Josh has a car and his dad’s credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. There’s something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?
My take: This book is more than just a fun lighthearted read (it’s mostly that); it also has a deeper side. Don’t think an issue novel, but more along the lines of shedding light on abusive relationships and the effects they have on not only the victim, but the victim’s friends and family as well.
Lillian and Josh are the perfect friends. Well, perfect to Josh. Penny wants more. This road trip, or quest to find Penny, gives them both the chance and opportunity to explore and deepen their relationship.
Lillian, she is a cute and spunky girl that can hold her own with Josh. I like her determination, motivation and her desire to help a friend in need. The best apart about her, her road trip realizations, her ever changing views of Josh and Penny, that is.
On one hand Josh is the perfect friend. He listens, he’s always there, and he is super supportive. However, he is very immature. (Really, does he need to go shirtless all the time? I’m pretty positive he is no Jacob.) He tries so hard at being the opposite of what his dad wants, that he seems lazy, unmotivated and slothy. Putting all your hope on a future band is probably not the best idea. Back up plans are nice.
As for the abusive relationship, it is implied through Penny’s voice. It’s actually quite sad, you can feel Penny’s loneliness and despair. Unbeknownst to Lillian, she helps Penny more than she realizes.
Lillian and Josh’s road trip leaves me a little envious. Not only do I wish I had the gumption to do something like that, but their free-spiritedness makes me almost wish I were more like them.
I give this book 3 STACKS
See you in the STACKS,
Stacy, who wonders if there is really a castle of cheese.
I absolutely LOVED this novel! Such quirk and hilarious moments plus like you mentioned, it added in some darkness and was able to touch on serious subjects. Josh for me though was totally adorkable. He reminded me a lot of one of my guy friends back then so I ate him up with a spoon, lol
Oh! And you should go to the author’s website and see the pictures she has up. There really is a cheese castle
You weren’t kidding! Those pics are fabulous! The Cheese Castle is where I need to live!