Addicted to YA discussion

What did you think of it? Favorite or least favorite characters? Favorite or least favorite part?

Starting now!! :)

Found a copy at my school's library and am now on the third chapter. It's got my interest so far; let's see if this keeps up.

I am on chapter 23! I like it so far!!

Chap 44!!

Finished the book! And Kasie West does it again, I absolutely loved it!

Favorite characters: Autumn & Dax!

Least Favorite character: Deleon! (what an a$$)

Fave part: When she tried to teach him how to drive ---it was funny and then it got all romantical and i found myself blushing #ILoveDax lol

Least Fave Part: Hmm when Dax was being cold after they got out the library situation and when Autumn was trying to be his friend afterwards

I think this is actually one of my least favourite Kasie West books :/ It's been a while since I've read it, but I think she has much better books that I've adored.

Judy wrote: "Finished the book! And Kasie West does it again, I absolutely loved it!

Favorite characters: Autumn & Dax!

Least Favorite character: Deleon! (what an a$$)

Fave part: When she tried to teach hi..."

Yes!! When Dax completely ignored her after the library situation was the worst part.

Fav thing about the book: The strength of Autumn's character. I read the book in the summer, but I still fondly remember that quote in the beginning of the book that made Autumn's character feel so real: "I was not one of those girls who needed to fix broken boys." I liked her strength, the way she was different from a lot of MCs in books I read where the girl changed the bad boy. Nothing wrong with those books (this book ended that way too and I loved it), but I absolutely enjoyed that fresh scent of realness.

Samantha wrote: "I think this is actually one of my least favourite Kasie West books :/ It's been a while since I've read it, but I think she has much better books that I've adored."


Really?!! What didnt you like about this book?

Kaelyn wrote: "Judy wrote: "Finished the book! And Kasie West does it again, I absolutely loved it!

Favorite characters: Autumn & Dax!

Least Favorite character: Deleon! (what an a$$)

Fave part: When she trie..."

Completely agree! I loved Autumn;s strength! Even though she had really bad anxiety, i didn't view it as a weakness! I appreciated her was a MC so much!

Judy wrote: "Samantha wrote: "I think this is actually one of my least favourite Kasie West books :/ It's been a while since I've read it, but I think she has much better books that I've adored."


Really?!! Wh..."

honestly, I read it when it first came out and I don't remember much about it... which says a lot about how I felt about it, lol. It was my first Kasie West book, and it did lead to me to read everything else by her, so it wasn't too bad. I gave it a 3.5

Favorite Characters: Autumn and Dax
Least Favorite Character: Dallin
Favorite Part: When Dax started to open up to Autumn in the library.
Least Favorite Past: When Dax ignored Autumn after getting out of the library
I really liked this book. I found I could relate to the main character a lot which made reading it even better.

Michela wrote: "Favorite Characters: Autumn and Dax
Least Favorite Character: Dallin
Favorite Part: When Dax started to open up to Autumn in the library.
Least Favorite Past: When Dax ignored Autumn after gettin..."

Yeah.

Lol i think we have reached a consensus about our fave and least fave parts lol

This is actually my first Kasie West book, and it just didn't do it for me... Did anyone else find Autumn really really annoying, especially at the beginning of the book?

@Katherine I didn't find Autumn annoying but I can definitely see how her actions could be seen as such. Granted, even Dax found her annoying at first!

Katherine wrote: "This is actually my first Kasie West book, and it just didn't do it for me... Did anyone else find Autumn really really annoying, especially at the beginning of the book?"


LMAO!! Surprisingly she didn't but I can see where she could annoy some! lol

This book is a fast read for me, I am enjoying Autumn and Dax, they are way more developed than any other characters in the book. Autumn is a little annoying, as she is in denial about living life with an anxiety disorder and a little more honesty would help, but perhaps the disorder undermines her decision making...or the author is relying on our thinking that so as to make the complications & dramatic tension last longer.

Here's my review.

Book: By Your Side
Author: Kasie West
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

So, Kasie West is quickly becoming one of my favourite young adult authors. I have read a number of her books over the past couple of years and they always find a way to put me in a good mood. They were cute, fluffy, and are sure to put a smile on your face. By Your Side is no different than any of her books.

Autumn, our main character, finds herself locked in the library over the weekend. Of course, she isn’t alone, Dax, the bad boy is also in there with her. Autumn is determined to get out of there and Dax isn’t. She is also sort of afraid of him at first and this mistrust creates some amazing drama. Then, she allows her feelings to develop. The problem is that she already kind of has a boyfriend. I know, I know...This sounds like most of Kasie’s books. In a sense it is, but there are other factors in this book that I haven’t seen in her other ones.

I did like Autumn’s character. She has an anxiety disorder, which does cause her to have panic attacks. Her friends don’t know about this and think that she just has some strange behaviours. She is fun and loyal, but at the same time she is a real girl. I love how she tries to do what is right and she does seem to want to help others.

Dax is the character who we really don’t know anything about. He has been labeled by others as the bad boy and has rather dark rumours following him. It is these dark rumours that cause the characters to stay away from him. It really is Autumn who breaks down his walls and discovers that not everyone can live an easy life. When Autumn gets around him, Dax just kind of blooms and we get to see his true character.

I do feel kind of bad for Jeff. He is actually a loyal and caring guy, but I do feel like he gets shoved the side. He has been through a lot and I just think that he didn’t deserve what he got. He is really understanding, but that ending of his character just wasn’t realistic for me.

I love the cute nature of the book and it just really pulled me in. I love how this book explores so much: friendship, romance, mental illness, and broken homes. I thought that out of all of Kasie’s books, this more exploded the most issues. I know that I really enjoyed it.