Review | So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

Title: So Much Closer
Author: Susane Colasanti
Series: N/A
Pages: 236
Date Released: May 1, 2012

Summary: When Brooke discovers that the love of her life, Scott Abrams, is moving from their New Jersey suburb to New York City for senior year, she decides to follow hime there. Living with her estranged father and adjusting to a whole new school are challenging--and things get even worse when she finds out that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she learns to navigate the big city, she starts to discover a whole new side of herself, and realizes that sometimes love can find you even when you're not looking for it.

     So Much Closer was a unique book with an even more unique plot. Brooke decides that just because of a feeling she calls The Knowing, to move to New York because of a boy. That was the first thing that made me not like her. The choice was rash and just plain stupid. The boy, Scott, has hardly ever spoken to her at all. This action and decision makes Brooke come off as a little self-centered. As the book went on, I discovered why Brooke was so angry. However, the fascinating thing about Brooke was that despite her anger, she was still able to find beauty in the world around her. In So Much Closer, Brooke grows tremendously. She figures out what she wants out of her life, learns who her real friends are, and finally sees what is right in front if her.

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Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road - including her parents' unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek - test Marisa's ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school's ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is - or does she?

In this third romantic novel from Susane Colasanti, Marisa learns how to "be in the Now" and realizes that the love she's been waiting for has been right in front of her all along. (Goodreads)

 Plot: I used to hardly ever read realistic fiction and a queen named Sarah Dessen snapped me out of my craziness. A few months later I came across another queen named Susane Colasanti and her book, When It Happens. I cannot tell a lie. There were life-changing moments between me and that book and with Waiting For you, it was the same if not more life-altering.
    Marissa is just your average teenage girl waiting for true love with her internet-love seeking best friend. The difference? Marisa has an anxiety disorder and has already found her true love and his name is Derek. Derek is a Surfer- California boy stuck in dank Connecticut and the star of Marisa's imagination. Also, there is another big problem, Derek has a girlfriend.
    Marisa's life has subtle changes right from the start when Derek smiles at her and she remeets Nash in chemistry. At home there are some strange changes with her parents and she is surprised when they separate doesn't really know how to handle it. Her journey in this book split between two boys and divorcing parents is surprisingly told in a way that is understandable and not at all confusing. It was a big part of my love for the book.

Characters: Marisa is my favorite character in the book. I love her voice. It is flowing and clear like real speech and made reading the book an awesome experience. I love her relativity and her retelling of how she felt during one her anxiety instances is so understandable that I could easily put myself in her place.
    The only thing I didn't like about Marisa was that she was so shallow when it came to Nash, like the idea of even being with him is disgusting. Unoriginally she has her heart set on the typical boy, who eventually breaks her heart, typically.
    Nash, the boy I was rooting for from the beginning, was just sweet. I love that Susane made him book smart and street smart. He was able to hold a conversation that was not only intelligent, but fun and interesting. He was the boy she wanted, but not necessarily the package. In the end, I realized that it was essential for them to part and come together again.

Overview: I loved this book. As I said, realistic fiction is usually not my thing, but it is wonderful books like this that are steadily increasing my interest. I would recommend this book to anybody. One of my most favorite quotes says that books are the most patient teachers and this book is a perfect example. I can't really explain what I learned, but I will remember it forever.