Review : Whatever Life Throws At You by Julie Cross

Summary (from Goodreads) 

Title : Whatever Life Throws At You
Author : Julie Cross
Publication Date : October 7th 2014
Publisher : Entangled Teen
Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Life loves a good curveball…

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas's life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she's living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet…and one starring the Royals' super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn't just a game. It's life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…  

Personal Thoughts

I haven't read a sport-centered romance in almost forever. So, when I saw that two of my favorite bloggers, Siiri and Danielle, had loved it, I was quick to purchase my own copy of Whatever Life Throws At You. I'm so glad I listened to them because this was such a sweet read.

Annie, the protagonist, was a completely loveable character. She was a sweetheart but she also had her feisty side which made her an endearing character. Rooting for her was effortless because she was genuine and easy to connect with. Annie was also hilarious from time to time and I loved that about her. One of my favorite parts of Whatever Life Throws at You was the strong relationship that existed between Annie and her dad. These two really cared for each other and their devotion was crystal clear throughout the whole book. I loved how Annie's dad was such a prominent figure in his daughter's life. No matter how busy he got, he made sure to make time for Annie and support her, especially at her races. Similarly, Annie too was a huge a support to her dad, often pushing him in the right direction, towards happiness. Their mutual respect and love for each other were what made theirs a strong father-daughter relationship. They definitely had some obstacles, but honestly, what father-daughter don't? It was a very much realistic portrayal of a parent-child relationship.

And then there was Jason Brody and his swoony self. It was pretty much love at first page for me and Brody. He was cocky, but incredibly sweet. His story was heartbreaking, but I absolutely loved how he had risen up from his issues. Jason and Annie had a bit of a forbidden romance and it was a forbidden romance done really well. I loved the slow burn nature of their relationship. Julie Cross really took her time to flourish their relationship which simmered for a while in the friendship/attraction stage. It's one of the elements that really made the romance so heart-felt. And the banter, you guys! I was grinning like a goofball throughout their conversations. I also have to say kudos to Julie Cross for writing a sex-positive YA book. By sex-positive, I don't only mean that Annie and Jason have safe sex. Yes, they do that for sure, but they also talk about sex before actually exploring a physical relationship so as to feel more comfortable. It was shown in a healthy and non-icky way and I think the author sought to send a strong positive message through Whatever Life Throws At You.

A very sweet YA contemporary romance that was low on the angst and high on the swoon, Whatever Life Throws At You is the perfect book for all those of you who enjoy drama free romances with many positive themes.

Rating 

Cover : 4/5
Plot : 4/5
Characters : 4/5
Writing : 4/5

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