On the Fence
By Kasie West
I went to bed last night to read just the first chapter of
this book, two and a half hours later I finally went to sleep, I couldn’t put
it down. It’s such a good book that has you on an emotional rollercoaster. You
laugh, you cry, you fall in love. A great read.
Charlie’s Mum died when she was little and having been
raised by her brothers and father she has had very little girlie influence on
her life. A self-confessed tomboy, Charlie has no trouble talking to boys or
tackling them to the ground, but when it comes to finding one to date, she
doesn’t think anyone is interested in her.
Forced to get a new job to pay her father back she’s thrown
into the world of fashion and makeup, but is brought out of her shell and makes
a new group of friends who show her a different side to being a girl. And it
isn’t long before she’s getting male attention she isn’t used to.
According to Braden boys like to feel useful once in a
while, and Charlie takes this into account when speaking to her new date. It
starts off harmless with Evan teaching Charlie about baseball (nothing that she
didn’t already know) and ends up with her hiding her true self to impress
him. And this doesn’t go down well
with Braden at all.
With both Braden and Charlie dealing with family issues, their midnight talks provide a great opportunity for them to listen and talk without having to keep up appearances for Charlie’s older brothers. A great way to show how their relationship changes.
I loved Charlie for the fact I found her very relatable. I
was tomboy for most of the time I was at school, and have always found it
easier to be friends with guys than girls. I can totally relate to her struggles
as she tries to learn what makeup to use and how to dress fashionably, as well
as the need to feel like she must hide parts of herself to impress guys.
Thankfully she realises, as we all do at some point in life,
that it’s better to be yourself and you can have more than one side to you.
This is a great light contemporary read that keeps you wanting
more on every page turn.
Sarah x
