Kasie West - On The Fence

Crossing paths

As I've mentioned before I'm digging up Kasie West books. And it is totally worth it! She's the best! Always is there when needed.

My booklove

We're bounded.

On the count of three

'On the count of three, everyone jump in the pool. On the count of three, everyone yell, “I’m a loser,” in the middle of the mall. On the count of three, everyone lick the person to your right.' It was a game of bluff. If one person did it, the rest had to do something stupid as a punishment. If nobody did it, everyone was safe.

Charlie (Charlotte) Reynolds is not like other girls. And I'm not implying she'd be gay. Nope. What I'm referring to is that with three older brothers, all-masculine nextdoor guy and a dad who's a cop, life doesn't orbit around laces, bras or lipsticks. Let alone hot, datable guys who always get the intimidating don't-you-dare-give-our-babysister-goggling-eyes-otherwise-we-peg-your-tires speech. Formidable, I'd rather say. Under those circumstances she's facing sixteen years of oversized sweaters, baggy jeans not to mention sneakers. Yep. Not exactly a Barbie dressed up in all pink rather a hooded, aproned, smudged Cinderella in her working hours until Prince Charming came around. But happy to announce that she's blissful and her family is splended. Hands down. I wouldn't mind three athletic, gorgeous brothers either who beat anyone up on my personal request. That would be so awesome...returning back to the subject. Their favourit leisure time is wrestling in mud, laying silly wagers and organizing belching competitions. Well, they could be however the latter was not particularly mentioned in the book but who knows? Maybe she does that, too. Gross.

Anyway, these guys make more fun than I've ever done in my life so I admittedly envy their full of life-ness. In case you call the phenomenon of cuddling six people on one couch (apparently made for max three) shouting at TV during a game chips and soda cans all over the place just like heaven. Unless they pull me in a headlock which can't be really heavenish. It all gives me the warm, smile-on-my-face feeling that is so cute. I immediately got to love these guys ;)

Ice Cold Queen straight from the North (or South?) Whatever Pole

'Find your center. Feel your aura,'
'Uh . . . I don’t know that my aura is ready to jump right in with flowers.'

Charlie spends most of her summer time chasing a baskettball, running and watching A's baseball, in short all activities girl usually do, until the very day her dad makes her get a job to pay for her hundreds of dollars of speeding ticket charge. To much of her disappointment she's nor a Forma1 pilot but neither could she talk her out of these situations even if her dad is a cop. Should be a shame for him at the office, I guess.

Thus she ends up at Linda Bazarre a goofy but nice lady's shop where she gets familiar all the chick stuff. Tank top, straight jeans, flower patterns are her compulsory uniform at her workplace, which I come to think of it, should be legalized everywhere on the planet unless you work in mines or whatever. She's even induced to be model for make-up sessions which is an entirely different univers she's got previously used to. As if she lived a double life : ugly sweat pants and aggressive soccer with the boys, catwalk and nice chit-chat with the members of Girls' Planet on the contrary. What a mess. It's most likely she missed woman influence in the last one and a half decade. As if her father has no clue what the opposite sex is like. Please. He could've done a better investigation. Hire some detectives or something. Police has the resources I hope.

'Not many can put up with your awesomeness.' - I should probably print it as a motto of my life on a T-shirt. Right after:

On the fence

'It seem it took place in a different reality.'

Charlie's having nightmares on her mother's car accident when she was six provided that she's working and cannot exhaust herself enough with running eight miles every day to fall asleep dreamless. Considering tha fact that she's having troubles with sleeping, she and Braden the neighbour and bestie, are hooking up at the fence not only talking about her dreams and his jerk father but playing I-know-you-better game.

Favorite Things diary entries. His: color—blue, subject—history, food—steak, and day—Saturday. Mine: red, PE, pizza, and Friday (previously Saturday until work butted)

'It doesn't have to be real. It's like our subconscious minds are talking.'

Life couldn't be more beautiful in their alternate reality when the truth is said out loud in the dark and the next day they pretend it never happened.

'He was just a disembodied voice, I told myself. I could talk to a disembodied voice. Or the moon. I could always talk to the moon. I found it in the sky, minding its own business, only half lit.'

Destined

There's something definitely going on between them. But after Braden rejects her she's looking for greener pastures and starts dating a guy which drives Braden crazy without any plausible explanations. He claims Evan is just not right for her. Jealousy is knocking on the door as I've heard. But why does he care anyway? Finally there's a guy who doesn't see Charlie as a big and burly teamate. So given that they're dating Evan is ruthlessly tested by the BigTrio. Jees. Those brothers are intimidating while they're slamming him to the ground theoretically. A drawn eyebrow here and a warning there, but the outcome in the end : he's a nice guy.

But it's not use denying it. She's all over Braden who apparently doesn't want her. Vicious circle. Who saw that coming? It's never about who is Mr. Right but the way they realise they can't live without each other. So sweet.

I keep wondering that guys like Braden exists in reality. Who knows everything about you. Who says always the right thing to cheer you up or be the right partner to do something crazy and stupid with. Let alone he knows you for your entire life and God knows how long he has a crush on you and that's what makes a relationship a strong and which last probably forever. Well, maybe not. I mean I'm not totally wrong if I assume my own sister doesn't know every little details about me even if we live under the same roof. *grumpy face*

Truth comes to light of day

There's a surging secret under the surface we can all sense in Charlie's dreams. Why does she remember every meticulous details of her mum's the accident? Why doesn't she have any memories about her? It keeps bothering her but her family is not willing to talk about the subject at all. From time to time her father looks at her heavy-heartedly because she resembles of his wife too well. On the whole, Charlie has missed her mother all her life with whom she could go shopping and hold late night chat about boy issues. However, I do not think she can miss a fanthom just the idea of her. Unless she happened to be in the car with her on that dreadful night. And she did. The worst of all is that her mother was sick and ended her own life on purpose. Which proves she didn't really want to be their mum. So depressing. Yet it's part of the personality evolution she goes through. Getting to know who she really is not living in lies and stuff like that.

'I already told you to stop reading me.'
I can read you because I know you better.'
'In your dreams.'
'Yes, you’ve been there, too.'

But heads up! Of course Braden is in love with her forever. And the most exciting part doesn' t happen in their alternative world at the fence but in reality. Nicely done! *winks*

Favourite characters

The brothers Jerom, Nathan, Gage. When they push Charlie in a body of water. Hilarious.

How I feel know

Feel at home imagining lots of people making noise. Comfy.

Rating

5 out of 5