Thursday, July 10, 2014

[Book Review] We Are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

We Are the GoldensWe Are the Goldens
by 
Nell knows a secret about her perfect, beautiful sister Layla. If she tells, it could blow their world apart.

When Nell and Layla were little, Nell used to call them Nellayla. Because to Nell, there was no difference between where she started and her adored big sister ended. They're a unit; divorce made them rely on each other early on, so when one pulls away, what is the other to do? But now, Nell's a freshman in high school and Layla is changing, secretive. And then Nell discovers why. Layla is involved with one of their teachers. And even though Nell tries to support Layla, to understand that she's happy and in love, Nell struggles with her true feelings: it's wrong, and she must do something about it.



"We are the Goldens. Who knows, maybe to someone else out there, we are the perfect, beautiful sisters who have it all. Wouldn't it be nice? To be seen that way?"

Supposedly you have an older sister and you idolize her. Then she has a secret that you need to keep. Your parents are divorced, you start high school, a boy likes you... blah blah blah.

The whole summary of this book was way too dramatic than the story actually turned out. It was like watching one of those movies that had an exciting trailer but then you feel like $11 for a movie ticket was a complete ripoff because your life did not get better. That's how I felt after reading We Are the Goldens.

The connection between the sisters was obvious but with all the subplots and different stories weaving in and out of the actual story, you can see that an over obsessive Nell hangs on to her older sister Layla. By the way it was written, you wouldn't assume that they're only a little over a year apart but about 10 years. 

I did love Felix and his relationship with Nell because they were just friends. I think that's why I didn't completely hate the book. It would have been a lot better if we could see Layla's thoughts to clear some things out. & what's up with Nell talking to ghosts, the Creed brothers? weeeeird..
ARC received from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.