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Tales from Aintree Court
Two Versions of the Same Song
Q: What happens when a girl finds herself attracted to a guy who already has a girlfriend, and said guy finds himself distracted from his (almost) perfect relationship and turns his attention to her?
A: The inevitable – they cross the line, right?
Serena and Paul meet through Paul’s cousins, Kai and Kristina Hansen, but barely speak until one night at his New Year’s Eve house party when they run into each other in the corridor. Following the events that occur that night, Serena and Paul find it difficult to ignore the growing attraction they feel for each other. The problem is Paul already has a girlfriend, his first love, Eloise.
Serena and Paul do their best to avoid each other until Kris brings them together to perform a song at her brother Kai’s 18th birthday party.
Serena learns that the course of teenage love doesn’t always run smooth, while Paul discovers that his first love will not necessarily be his last.
Two versions of the same song is a contemporary YA romance about attraction, distraction, temptation and the inevitable.
Please note: The F-word appears a few times in this novel as does the topic of teenage sex.
A: The inevitable – they cross the line, right?
Serena and Paul meet through Paul’s cousins, Kai and Kristina Hansen, but barely speak until one night at his New Year’s Eve house party when they run into each other in the corridor. Following the events that occur that night, Serena and Paul find it difficult to ignore the growing attraction they feel for each other. The problem is Paul already has a girlfriend, his first love, Eloise.
Serena and Paul do their best to avoid each other until Kris brings them together to perform a song at her brother Kai’s 18th birthday party.
Serena learns that the course of teenage love doesn’t always run smooth, while Paul discovers that his first love will not necessarily be his last.
Two versions of the same song is a contemporary YA romance about attraction, distraction, temptation and the inevitable.
Please note: The F-word appears a few times in this novel as does the topic of teenage sex.
- GenresYoung Adult
225 pages, Paperback
First published November 22, 2012
1 person is currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Susan Francis
2 books53 followersI’m an independent author and avid reader of books. I also enjoy writing (unsolicited) reviews and I have a review blog at http://soozbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/. Like many, for me writing came out of a love of reading. I also wanted a way to be creative and, since I have always been more comfortable expressing myself through the written word, it seemed like the best way forward for me. I started my first novel, Butterfly porcupine, in 2009 and what I discovered was a sheer love of the writing process and the joy that comes from actually completing a novel. Butterfly porcupine was published in 2011 and is the first of a coming-of-age contemporary series called Tales from Aintree Court. A second revised edition was published in July 2012 along with an electronic version. My second novel, 'Two versions of the same song', the second Aintree tale, was published in December 2012 and I am currently writing the third in the series.
The stories are pitched at the level for readers in their mid-to-late teens but may be enjoyed by adults who enjoy reading contemporary YA fiction also.
The stories are pitched at the level for readers in their mid-to-late teens but may be enjoyed by adults who enjoy reading contemporary YA fiction also.
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December 1, 2012Dec 1st - official publication day :D
This is the second of my Tales from Aintree Court series. The idea that teenage boy meets teenage girl, they only have eyes for each other and they live happily ever after is certainly romantic. But how realistic is it? This story is about the messy and complicated predicament of being attracted to someone while being in a relationship with someone else and examines all the emotions that result (temptation to cross the line, frustration, jealousy, passion etc.). The main characters attempt to do the right thing but how can you defy inevitability? Something is bound to change things. In this case it's a song.
The story is told from the POV of the male and female protagonists, giving the reader a fly-on-the-wall view of what is going on in each of their worlds.
Nov 12th
Had the manuscript back from my editor and it is looking good. He's smoothed out some rough edges and together we fixed some problematic areas. I'm so excited about this book!
This is the second of my Tales from Aintree Court series. The idea that teenage boy meets teenage girl, they only have eyes for each other and they live happily ever after is certainly romantic. But how realistic is it? This story is about the messy and complicated predicament of being attracted to someone while being in a relationship with someone else and examines all the emotions that result (temptation to cross the line, frustration, jealousy, passion etc.). The main characters attempt to do the right thing but how can you defy inevitability? Something is bound to change things. In this case it's a song.
The story is told from the POV of the male and female protagonists, giving the reader a fly-on-the-wall view of what is going on in each of their worlds.
Nov 12th
Had the manuscript back from my editor and it is looking good. He's smoothed out some rough edges and together we fixed some problematic areas. I'm so excited about this book!
November 18, 2012
Two versions of the same song is a story told from two persectives. It is about a guy (Paul) torn between his love for his girlfriend and his attraction for his cousin's friend,Serena. Serena is also crazy about Paul and is pining for him. They both try to deal with the situation by staying away from each other but inevitably they are brought together. They decide to become 'friends' but find it hard to deal with the attraction, the frustration and unresolved sexual tension between them. The whole time you are left wondering, will they or won't they? It has an unexpected twist at the end. I really enjoyed it. Thanks Susan for the ARC :)
July 6, 2013
I literally finished reading this book about 5 minutes ago. I was given this book to read and give and honest review so here goes. I am really critical when I start reading books, and once again I did the same with this one. However, once I past chapter 3 I was hooked. Without giving anything anyway, the author sucks you in a way that you are left wanting to know more after the end of each chapter. This is the story of how to young people fall in love in the midst of young adult drama. It is filled with friendships, love, hate and family. All the characters, and there are quite a few, play an important role. No character was idly written. My favorite parts included the diversity of the characters and their affinity for travel.
What made this story really special for me was that it did not calmly flow, rather it gave you bits and pieces leaving little details that I thought were unimportant out. As I continued reading and the chapters really broken down by point of view alternating between Serena and Paul, I realized that all these details mattered greatly. It was like reliving my late teens all over again! Kudos to Susan Francis, who at one point nearly gave me a heart attack. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. It is not your typical YA novel.
What made this story really special for me was that it did not calmly flow, rather it gave you bits and pieces leaving little details that I thought were unimportant out. As I continued reading and the chapters really broken down by point of view alternating between Serena and Paul, I realized that all these details mattered greatly. It was like reliving my late teens all over again! Kudos to Susan Francis, who at one point nearly gave me a heart attack. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. It is not your typical YA novel.
November 28, 2012
Firstly i would like to say thankyou to Susan Francis for giving me the honor of reading an reviewing her second book of the Aintree Tales.
I loved Butterfly Porcupine and i really enjoyed this one just as much. This is written in Past and Present, and also in two POV Paul who is torn between his feelings for his girlfriend and Sarena, and the Pov of Serena. The relationship between Paul and Serena is not easy, sometimes they had like a love hate thing going on.
Transition between past and present lets you see how the relationship started and where it is now.
this is a great YA book that flows smothly and you get to experience a male and female think put in this situation. I cant wait to see what Susan writes next.
November 18, 2012
This is the second of the Aintree Tales series. I loved Butterfly porcupine but I loved Two version of the same song even more. The male protagonist, Paul Adams, is such a sweet guy! He tries his best to do right by these two girls that he has feelings for. Serena is a strong and intelligent character that I admired. I can't wait for book 3.
July 25, 2013
I was given a free copy in exchange of an honest review for the Never To Old For YA Books group.
I really liked this book. The story was good, intriguing and interesting.
But there were a few things that I didn't like much. Like the story keeping going back in time and then in the present again so many times that my head was spinning. It got me confused and a little lost. Forgetting where I was at, before the story went back in the past. I also found too many details I didn't really need. Especially when Serena started talking about herself and it went on and on for ages. Made me yawn. Paul's self description at least was a bit shorter. Thanks God.
I appreciated the double point of view. It made it easier to well understand the inner side of the main characters. I can't say though that I liked what I saw. I mean, beside the long monologue Serena did at the beginning, I liked her. I liked that she always saw the good in everybody. She was always nice to anyone. But I can't say the same about Paul. I didn't like how he behaved towards Serena. He really was a bit selfish sometimes. He wasn't like I thought he would be. Like the guy I thought Serena would fall in love with. I didn't dislike or hate him, but he kind of disappointed me. He was far from the perfect guy. At least for me.
I liked Kai a lot. Really a lot. He was the friend anyone, girl or guy, would dream to have. Sweet, fun, caring, loyal. It was obvious he cared for Serena a lot. I even hoped that they end up together. They would be perfect together. But no. She's stuck being in love with Paul. Oh well.
I didn't like much Tasha. I hated Eloise, she was just a selfish, stupid, spoiled brat. She thought the world turned all around her. What she wanted she had to have it, or else she'd throw a tantrum and be a b@tch.
I liked the guys of Paul's band. Kriss and Will were okay. I liked Dean, but I was afraid he would get between Serena and Paul.
I didn't like how rushed was the ending. The author had filled me with so many stupid, unuseful details about anything and anyone, but after the big accident she went from that to wanting to end things so soon I couldn't believe it.
I really liked this story. I felt it emotionally and I couldn't put the book down, not even for dinner. But some things just made me wince. Mostly the writing style, as I said in the beginning. And the lack of dialogue often times. And the rushed ending.
All in all a good read. A troubled, romantic love story. Recommended to all romantic readers.
I really liked this book. The story was good, intriguing and interesting.
But there were a few things that I didn't like much. Like the story keeping going back in time and then in the present again so many times that my head was spinning. It got me confused and a little lost. Forgetting where I was at, before the story went back in the past. I also found too many details I didn't really need. Especially when Serena started talking about herself and it went on and on for ages. Made me yawn. Paul's self description at least was a bit shorter. Thanks God.
I appreciated the double point of view. It made it easier to well understand the inner side of the main characters. I can't say though that I liked what I saw. I mean, beside the long monologue Serena did at the beginning, I liked her. I liked that she always saw the good in everybody. She was always nice to anyone. But I can't say the same about Paul. I didn't like how he behaved towards Serena. He really was a bit selfish sometimes. He wasn't like I thought he would be. Like the guy I thought Serena would fall in love with. I didn't dislike or hate him, but he kind of disappointed me. He was far from the perfect guy. At least for me.
I liked Kai a lot. Really a lot. He was the friend anyone, girl or guy, would dream to have. Sweet, fun, caring, loyal. It was obvious he cared for Serena a lot. I even hoped that they end up together. They would be perfect together. But no. She's stuck being in love with Paul. Oh well.
I didn't like much Tasha. I hated Eloise, she was just a selfish, stupid, spoiled brat. She thought the world turned all around her. What she wanted she had to have it, or else she'd throw a tantrum and be a b@tch.
I liked the guys of Paul's band. Kriss and Will were okay. I liked Dean, but I was afraid he would get between Serena and Paul.
I didn't like how rushed was the ending. The author had filled me with so many stupid, unuseful details about anything and anyone, but after the big accident she went from that to wanting to end things so soon I couldn't believe it.
I really liked this story. I felt it emotionally and I couldn't put the book down, not even for dinner. But some things just made me wince. Mostly the writing style, as I said in the beginning. And the lack of dialogue often times. And the rushed ending.
All in all a good read. A troubled, romantic love story. Recommended to all romantic readers.
August 2, 2013
I received an ARC of this book and read it in November last year. Yes it has taken me this long to write my review! Sorry Susan - and thanks for reminding me ;)
Since reading it I have checked out what others thought of it since it is not a typical YA novel and I wondered what sort of reaction it got. It has had mixed reviews and almost everyone complained about the layout. The story starts in the present and Serena, the female character, tells us what is happening at that point in time. After a few pages it moves to the past and Serena goes back to the beginning. Even then the narrative jumps to different events in time. At the end of the first section it moves forward to the present day again and continues into the next section, told by Paul the male character. After a few pages Paul goes back and starts his version of the story from the beginning. The timelines continue to move in this way to the end.
To familiarise myself (since it has been a few months) I re-read the sections taking place in the present and by doing so realised together they read like a short story (it is where almost the entire arc takes place). It brought it all back to me. I remember liking the way a lot of the detail seemed like mundane information and then discovering that it turned out to be important - everything in it is relevant and connected. I didn’t go as far as to read the whole thing again but I reckon if I did I would pick up stuff I missed the first time around - I got that just from the parts I did re-read.
This novel is a mental workout – you have to rely on your memory and you have to concentrate if you want to keep up. Not everyone likes a book that reads like aerobics for the mind.
It is an unconventional story and I commend the author for taking a risk and trying something different. It isn’t perfect but I still think it's worth 5 stars.
Since reading it I have checked out what others thought of it since it is not a typical YA novel and I wondered what sort of reaction it got. It has had mixed reviews and almost everyone complained about the layout. The story starts in the present and Serena, the female character, tells us what is happening at that point in time. After a few pages it moves to the past and Serena goes back to the beginning. Even then the narrative jumps to different events in time. At the end of the first section it moves forward to the present day again and continues into the next section, told by Paul the male character. After a few pages Paul goes back and starts his version of the story from the beginning. The timelines continue to move in this way to the end.
To familiarise myself (since it has been a few months) I re-read the sections taking place in the present and by doing so realised together they read like a short story (it is where almost the entire arc takes place). It brought it all back to me. I remember liking the way a lot of the detail seemed like mundane information and then discovering that it turned out to be important - everything in it is relevant and connected. I didn’t go as far as to read the whole thing again but I reckon if I did I would pick up stuff I missed the first time around - I got that just from the parts I did re-read.
This novel is a mental workout – you have to rely on your memory and you have to concentrate if you want to keep up. Not everyone likes a book that reads like aerobics for the mind.
It is an unconventional story and I commend the author for taking a risk and trying something different. It isn’t perfect but I still think it's worth 5 stars.
November 30, 2012
First, I want to say thank you to Susan for providing me a free copy after I fell in love with Butterfly Porcupine. I just couldn't wait to read the follow-up story in the Aintree Tales series. Now I can't wait to see what is to come.
Serena was such a strong female and I really related to her. She knew the boundaries and didn't overstep them with Paul. She easily could have taken things too far with Paul, but she knew he was in a relationship and chose to respect that. That is comendable. I enjoyed Paul as well. He seemed like a spoiled rich kid on the surface, but there was more to him. He was a talented muscian that just wanted to go his own way and not follow in his parent's foot steps.
I really liked Susan's descriptions of the characters. I think I had a pretty accurate picture of each of them in my mind. I also really liked the side stories interwoven in the main story, such as the story about Tom and his mother. The only problem I had was trying to keep up with the timeline, but that is mostly my fault. I would lose track of what happened when along the timeline and when it was past and when it was present. I did like the alternating POVs between Paul and Serena. I also think it would have been neat the hear Eloise's POV, but it probably would have been too much.
As much as I enjoyed Two Versions of the Same Song, I can't help but feel like I wanted more. There just wasn't enough romance for me. I wanted more like what was in the epilogue, the happily ever after. But I said the same thing about Butterfly Porcupine. I think I'm just greedy haha. That being said, I really enjoyed TVotSS, but I liked Butterfly Porcupine better so I rated 4 stars instead of 5.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys realistic stories of young people and the relationships they have. Cute story, easy read, and overall very enjoyable.
Serena was such a strong female and I really related to her. She knew the boundaries and didn't overstep them with Paul. She easily could have taken things too far with Paul, but she knew he was in a relationship and chose to respect that. That is comendable. I enjoyed Paul as well. He seemed like a spoiled rich kid on the surface, but there was more to him. He was a talented muscian that just wanted to go his own way and not follow in his parent's foot steps.
I really liked Susan's descriptions of the characters. I think I had a pretty accurate picture of each of them in my mind. I also really liked the side stories interwoven in the main story, such as the story about Tom and his mother. The only problem I had was trying to keep up with the timeline, but that is mostly my fault. I would lose track of what happened when along the timeline and when it was past and when it was present. I did like the alternating POVs between Paul and Serena. I also think it would have been neat the hear Eloise's POV, but it probably would have been too much.
As much as I enjoyed Two Versions of the Same Song, I can't help but feel like I wanted more. There just wasn't enough romance for me. I wanted more like what was in the epilogue, the happily ever after. But I said the same thing about Butterfly Porcupine. I think I'm just greedy haha. That being said, I really enjoyed TVotSS, but I liked Butterfly Porcupine better so I rated 4 stars instead of 5.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys realistic stories of young people and the relationships they have. Cute story, easy read, and overall very enjoyable.
November 29, 2012
First of all I want to thank the author Susan Francis for providing me with an ARC ecopy of the book in exchange for my review and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading the new instalment of the Aintree Tales.
Two Versions of the Same Song is not a continuation of Butterfly Porcupine but in fact a story on it's on going on at the same time as Butterfly Porcupine and features both Serena and Paul. The story is told in both their POV's and is set in both the past and present. This format was somewhat interesting and very simple to follow. It did not hinder to the story, in fact, it was a fresh take on differing POV's. I love knowing what the other one is feeling and thinking while the same story is played out on the page and this one was interesting indeed.
Serena and Paul meet at New Year's Eve Party through Paul's cousin's Kai and Kris Hansen and although it's not "insta-love" which is really a great change, they can't help but feel compelled to one another. Over time, their general run-in's and meeting each other keep them intrigued but not enough for them to do anything about it. In fact, you could say that they often are standoffish and leave on a bad note. It doesn't help that Paul has a girlfriend and that Serena is the sister of one of his friends. They try their best to avoid each other but forces outside themselves have other things in mind and it's not too long before they find themselves not being able to withstand being apart for much longer...or can they?
I really enjoyed the slow and steady pace of Serena and Paul's relationship and I was eagerly awaiting to see whether they would or wouldn't bite the bullet and go for it. It was a sweet telling of teenage love in a most realistic way.
Two Versions of the Same Song is not a continuation of Butterfly Porcupine but in fact a story on it's on going on at the same time as Butterfly Porcupine and features both Serena and Paul. The story is told in both their POV's and is set in both the past and present. This format was somewhat interesting and very simple to follow. It did not hinder to the story, in fact, it was a fresh take on differing POV's. I love knowing what the other one is feeling and thinking while the same story is played out on the page and this one was interesting indeed.
Serena and Paul meet at New Year's Eve Party through Paul's cousin's Kai and Kris Hansen and although it's not "insta-love" which is really a great change, they can't help but feel compelled to one another. Over time, their general run-in's and meeting each other keep them intrigued but not enough for them to do anything about it. In fact, you could say that they often are standoffish and leave on a bad note. It doesn't help that Paul has a girlfriend and that Serena is the sister of one of his friends. They try their best to avoid each other but forces outside themselves have other things in mind and it's not too long before they find themselves not being able to withstand being apart for much longer...or can they?
I really enjoyed the slow and steady pace of Serena and Paul's relationship and I was eagerly awaiting to see whether they would or wouldn't bite the bullet and go for it. It was a sweet telling of teenage love in a most realistic way.
July 4, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.. And I'm very glad I did.
This book is about a boy and a girl, both of whom long for each other, but deny their feelings due to various reasons and despite the ever-growing tension (sexual and otherwise) between them.
When I first began this book, I was unsure whether or not I liked the writing style and I was rather thrown with all the information hurled at you the first few chapters. However, I stuck with it and my opinion rapidly changed. The writing style quickly grew on me, as did certain characters. I really enjoyed getting all the different events from both Serena and Paul's POV. As well, were it not for all the information in the beginning, I would have had no idea who everyone was.
I do admit that it took me awhile to warm up to this book, but once I did I was constantly turning the page eagerly to see what would happen next. Towards the end when a certain "event" happened, I couldn't help myself, I had to keep reading to know what happened (very late into the night I might add).
However, my absolute favorite part about this book was that it wasn't strictly romance. It included heartbreak, longing, surprises and confusion, to only name a few. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Serena and Paul's romance was drawn out and realistic, much unlike many novels today with the whole "insta-romance" thing.
Overall, I loved it. It was unique, realistic and romantic. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone interested in a realistic heart-wrenching romance.
Thank you so much for the opportunity, Susan :)
This book is about a boy and a girl, both of whom long for each other, but deny their feelings due to various reasons and despite the ever-growing tension (sexual and otherwise) between them.
When I first began this book, I was unsure whether or not I liked the writing style and I was rather thrown with all the information hurled at you the first few chapters. However, I stuck with it and my opinion rapidly changed. The writing style quickly grew on me, as did certain characters. I really enjoyed getting all the different events from both Serena and Paul's POV. As well, were it not for all the information in the beginning, I would have had no idea who everyone was.
I do admit that it took me awhile to warm up to this book, but once I did I was constantly turning the page eagerly to see what would happen next. Towards the end when a certain "event" happened, I couldn't help myself, I had to keep reading to know what happened (very late into the night I might add).
However, my absolute favorite part about this book was that it wasn't strictly romance. It included heartbreak, longing, surprises and confusion, to only name a few. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Serena and Paul's romance was drawn out and realistic, much unlike many novels today with the whole "insta-romance" thing.
Overall, I loved it. It was unique, realistic and romantic. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone interested in a realistic heart-wrenching romance.
Thank you so much for the opportunity, Susan :)
July 3, 2013
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review, via Lovers of Paranormal - Read 4 Review
I really, really struggled.
If this had not been a R4R book that I was obligated to finish, I'm not sure I would've of bothered.
Opinions may vary, but for me, it felt like I was reading a wacked out biography, not a fictional story.
Some of the parts were heartfelt, but the timeline and POV's were all over the place. Some events were repeated, or the writing was before a kiss, or after a kiss, and then suddenly you'd turn the page and it would be a year later. I really struggled trying to sort out where I was in the story, and where the developments were. There was no climax, and next to no character development. The relationship between Paul and Serena was just plain tedious for me, with not much development at all. Basically, it was kiss, fight, hate, longing, kiss again, fight, become "just friends", still want each other...
And really, it just went on and on and on. Then there was the inevitable, sudden ending of Paul being dumped and he and Serena giving in to their desires to be with each other.
However, there were parts and ideas that I really liked. The idea of the song, and how the two of them viewed it, worked really well. I also really liked how the author incorporated it into the title. It was also a really good depiction of reality, and I like how the author didn't cut or soften anything that we find in a teenagers life.
I admire the author for her determination, and I'm sure other readers will like this book.
Thanks for giving me a chance to read this, and I wish the author all the luck in the future with any more books that are to come.
I really, really struggled.
If this had not been a R4R book that I was obligated to finish, I'm not sure I would've of bothered.
Opinions may vary, but for me, it felt like I was reading a wacked out biography, not a fictional story.
Some of the parts were heartfelt, but the timeline and POV's were all over the place. Some events were repeated, or the writing was before a kiss, or after a kiss, and then suddenly you'd turn the page and it would be a year later. I really struggled trying to sort out where I was in the story, and where the developments were. There was no climax, and next to no character development. The relationship between Paul and Serena was just plain tedious for me, with not much development at all. Basically, it was kiss, fight, hate, longing, kiss again, fight, become "just friends", still want each other...
And really, it just went on and on and on. Then there was the inevitable, sudden ending of Paul being dumped and he and Serena giving in to their desires to be with each other.
However, there were parts and ideas that I really liked. The idea of the song, and how the two of them viewed it, worked really well. I also really liked how the author incorporated it into the title. It was also a really good depiction of reality, and I like how the author didn't cut or soften anything that we find in a teenagers life.
I admire the author for her determination, and I'm sure other readers will like this book.
Thanks for giving me a chance to read this, and I wish the author all the luck in the future with any more books that are to come.
July 16, 2013
Two Versions of the Same Song started off awkwardly. It was a hard one for me to review, because there were parts I loved, and parts that just didn't work for me.
I really enjoyed the characters of Serena and Paul. I felt like they really tried their best with the situation they found themselves in, and I have to give them credit because they handled a lot better than most. After the first intentional kiss, they both made sure to never let it happen again.
I felt the worst for Serena, because she really got the worst end out of everything, and she was kind and sweet and it still didn't work in her favor. Paul meant well, but he was a jerk throughout most of this book, and it didn't really sit well with me that he basically got what he wanted, at least until the very end.
Most of what I didn't like was structural and the way the book was set up. I really hated the before and after, switching around like that was really confusing. Also, there was way to much description, there were times especially in the beginning where I just started skipping ahead because it just felt like a data dump. Knowing the exact year, date, and time of their birth and their genealogy was just a little much.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I just felt like with more editing this good go from a good book to a fantastic book. I give it a good 3 stars, but with a some editing it could become a better book.
I really enjoyed the characters of Serena and Paul. I felt like they really tried their best with the situation they found themselves in, and I have to give them credit because they handled a lot better than most. After the first intentional kiss, they both made sure to never let it happen again.
I felt the worst for Serena, because she really got the worst end out of everything, and she was kind and sweet and it still didn't work in her favor. Paul meant well, but he was a jerk throughout most of this book, and it didn't really sit well with me that he basically got what he wanted, at least until the very end.
Most of what I didn't like was structural and the way the book was set up. I really hated the before and after, switching around like that was really confusing. Also, there was way to much description, there were times especially in the beginning where I just started skipping ahead because it just felt like a data dump. Knowing the exact year, date, and time of their birth and their genealogy was just a little much.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I just felt like with more editing this good go from a good book to a fantastic book. I give it a good 3 stars, but with a some editing it could become a better book.
April 14, 2013
I loved the first and the second did not disappoint. Susan Francis has an ease with words that make you feel you are a part of the story. It is hard not to get attached to certain characters and wish for certain things to happen. The story is told from the position of the male and female which made it all the better. It was so great to get more than one perspective.
This story is about being attracted to someone while being in a relationship with someone else. A love triangle that adds a struggle to these teenagers lives. This book also confronts the issue of classism and touches on the `in crowd' vs what the author refers to as the 'out crowd,' which was really well done. Susan Francis' writing is so crisp and natural. Most of the time I felt like I was a teenager again feeling all those raw emotions that had once flooded my young psyche. It brought me back to a more uncertain time in my life.
"I could see it looked suspicious and I was concerned about what people thought. I was convinced that they would think we were sneaking around and that a rumor would spread, blaming me and labeling me a cheater. I'd seen it happen before: girls at school turning on each other. Cat fights because one girl had supposedly tried to steal another girl's boyfriend, while the boyfriend remained unscathed; the whole thing being played out as entertainment for onlookers."
This story is about being attracted to someone while being in a relationship with someone else. A love triangle that adds a struggle to these teenagers lives. This book also confronts the issue of classism and touches on the `in crowd' vs what the author refers to as the 'out crowd,' which was really well done. Susan Francis' writing is so crisp and natural. Most of the time I felt like I was a teenager again feeling all those raw emotions that had once flooded my young psyche. It brought me back to a more uncertain time in my life.
"I could see it looked suspicious and I was concerned about what people thought. I was convinced that they would think we were sneaking around and that a rumor would spread, blaming me and labeling me a cheater. I'd seen it happen before: girls at school turning on each other. Cat fights because one girl had supposedly tried to steal another girl's boyfriend, while the boyfriend remained unscathed; the whole thing being played out as entertainment for onlookers."
November 25, 2012
Wow this was a great sequal to Susans first book 'Butterfly Porcupine' which follows on two other characters, Serena and Paul.
This is the kind of story that you want the two characters to get together and its one of those that is a' Will they or Won't They' get it together and of course you'll have to read the book to find out!
The course of any relationship is never easy and this relationship certainly has its fair share.
Susan's fabulous writing style continues in this book, where you get both Serena's and Pauls point of view and also a back story about the two characters. The jumping back and forth is done with great precision that you can follow the story with ease.
This is a great teen book and adults alike, with the sort of stuff that girls and guys worry, how there feelings show in different ways and could (and is) mis-interpreted and i love the fashion choices the girls choose too!
This is the kind of story that you want the two characters to get together and its one of those that is a' Will they or Won't They' get it together and of course you'll have to read the book to find out!
The course of any relationship is never easy and this relationship certainly has its fair share.
Susan's fabulous writing style continues in this book, where you get both Serena's and Pauls point of view and also a back story about the two characters. The jumping back and forth is done with great precision that you can follow the story with ease.
This is a great teen book and adults alike, with the sort of stuff that girls and guys worry, how there feelings show in different ways and could (and is) mis-interpreted and i love the fashion choices the girls choose too!
April 17, 2013
First of all, I wanna express my sincerest gratitude to Susan for providing me a free copy of the book. I am really happy that you responded quickly to my request. This is my first ever review and I hope you could bear me with me. :)
I actually wanted to give a 5 for the story! This is really something to which either you experienced personally or know someone who had. I enjoyed how the story was told from two perspectives. It gave me a broader idea on how the character handled each situations. I also loved how Susan described the roller-coaster of emotions Serena and Paul had gone through just to conceal what they really feel for each other.
I think there are just times that I got lost during the transitions of the characters as the scene suddenly changed from one place to another. I still love the book though.
Overall, I totally loved Susan Francis and I can't wait for to read the Butterfly Porcupine! :)
I actually wanted to give a 5 for the story! This is really something to which either you experienced personally or know someone who had. I enjoyed how the story was told from two perspectives. It gave me a broader idea on how the character handled each situations. I also loved how Susan described the roller-coaster of emotions Serena and Paul had gone through just to conceal what they really feel for each other.
I think there are just times that I got lost during the transitions of the characters as the scene suddenly changed from one place to another. I still love the book though.
Overall, I totally loved Susan Francis and I can't wait for to read the Butterfly Porcupine! :)
August 18, 2013
I'm reminded of my teenage years and the complexity of it all. Susan Francis gives readers a tale of just that. Serena & Paul's "relationship" reminds me of how uncertain this period in our lives were and, at the same time, how very annoying as well. Both characters were wishy washy and very annoying - this is not a negative thing against the writer, I'm just trying to provide insight on the layout. As I stated at the beginning of this review, I'm just reminded of my teenage years. It took some time to get through because I was just not that enthusiastic about the read.
The author requested an honest review. Although I am not thrilled about this particular novel, I would be curious to read something else by Ms. Francis. A lot of effort and hardwork was obviously put into the author's novel and I appreciate the opportunity to review it. Ms. Francis knows how to tell a detailed story; however, this one was just a struggle for me. Perhaps other reviewers would disagree with me...
The author requested an honest review. Although I am not thrilled about this particular novel, I would be curious to read something else by Ms. Francis. A lot of effort and hardwork was obviously put into the author's novel and I appreciate the opportunity to review it. Ms. Francis knows how to tell a detailed story; however, this one was just a struggle for me. Perhaps other reviewers would disagree with me...
Want to read
September 7, 2012I cannot waitttt!!!
Read
December 10, 2012This is the second of my Tales from Aintree Court series. The idea that teenage boy meets teenage girl, they only have eyes for each other and they live happily ever after is certainly romantic. But how realistic is it? This story is about the messy and complicated predicament of being attracted to someone while being in a relationship with someone else and examines all the emotions that result (temptation to cross the line, frustration, jealousy, passion etc.). The main characters attempt to do the right thing but how can you defy inevitability? Something is bound to change things. In this case it's a song.
The story is told from the POV of the male and female protagonists, giving the reader a fly-on-the-wall view of what is going on in each of their worlds.
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The story is told from the POV of the male and female protagonists, giving the reader a fly-on-the-wall view of what is going on in each of their worlds.
July 11, 2013
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was okay for me. I have no strong feelings either way. I did like the fact that the author made the characters multicultural instead of the same cookie cutter characters we often receive in young adult books. I also enjoyed how the author did not hold back about the drinking, smoking, etc. that goes on in teenagers lives.
I felt that the story had too many story lines going on at the same time. While I appreciate the dual POVs, the story jumped around too often or repeated itself which left the reader often confused.
As I stated above, the book was okay for me. I was not overly excited or connected with the characters, but I did not hate the book either.
This book was okay for me. I have no strong feelings either way. I did like the fact that the author made the characters multicultural instead of the same cookie cutter characters we often receive in young adult books. I also enjoyed how the author did not hold back about the drinking, smoking, etc. that goes on in teenagers lives.
I felt that the story had too many story lines going on at the same time. While I appreciate the dual POVs, the story jumped around too often or repeated itself which left the reader often confused.
As I stated above, the book was okay for me. I was not overly excited or connected with the characters, but I did not hate the book either.
July 2, 2013
I received this book as a read for review and would like to thank the author for the opportunity!
This book was just ok for me. It took me a while to get into it and it never really hooked me. The going back and forth between before and after was a little confusing at times. I did like that we got to see both Serena and Paul's points of view. It was slow to me and not a lot of action. If you don't like books with language from other countries than this book definitely isn't for you. For example in this book a trunk is called a boot. It was fine for me considering where the setting for the book but I know it's off putting to some people.
Thanks again to the author for letting me read this book!
This book was just ok for me. It took me a while to get into it and it never really hooked me. The going back and forth between before and after was a little confusing at times. I did like that we got to see both Serena and Paul's points of view. It was slow to me and not a lot of action. If you don't like books with language from other countries than this book definitely isn't for you. For example in this book a trunk is called a boot. It was fine for me considering where the setting for the book but I know it's off putting to some people.
Thanks again to the author for letting me read this book!
July 18, 2013
I received the book in order for an honest review.
The story is about a bunch of residents of Aintree. All Different lives and families but the story is about the teenagers, Mainly Ree and Paul, Will they wont they get together. I really struggled with this book. I lost interest half way through, I just didn't get the past, present about me lines. I struggled to read the remainder of the story.
There was too many plots and stories going on. I lost which one was the main plot and what the actual story was about.
Im sorry Susan, I didn't enjoy this.
The story is about a bunch of residents of Aintree. All Different lives and families but the story is about the teenagers, Mainly Ree and Paul, Will they wont they get together. I really struggled with this book. I lost interest half way through, I just didn't get the past, present about me lines. I struggled to read the remainder of the story.
There was too many plots and stories going on. I lost which one was the main plot and what the actual story was about.
Im sorry Susan, I didn't enjoy this.
December 13, 2012
I loved this story. Anyone who has been there will relate to it.
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