The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Jan 2010 by Viking Juveunile
Hardcover, 192 Pages
Purchased (YA/Paperback Cover Shown)
Book Synopsis
Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.
Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy.
He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place? (Goodreads)
Review
Colt Morrissey has always lived in the flats, while all the rich kids live on Black Mountain, the paths don't associate, its not a big deal to Colt, its just life. That feeling changes during the summer he begins a secret affair with Julia, a beautiful girl from Black Mountain. Julia has her own life, full of country club parties, friends and a popular boyfriend…Austin. Colt has his own life, with friends, working and somewhat messed up parents. The two meet one night down on the river and against everything that makes sense in both their life, they begin to meet secretly on Friday nights for a year. The meetings consist of late night trysts and backseat romance until Julia is killed in a car accident and Colt is left to grieve alone and handle the misgivings of their relationship. Julia's brother Michael learns of the relationship when he discovers notebooks and journals his sister kept and decides quickly to get them out of the house. He shows Colt one particular notebook she had about their time together and asks him to keep it. Slowly over the course of the next year Colt absorbs Julia’s words and flashes back to those long Friday nights and the night that ended it all.
Romeo and Juliet meet the Outsiders.....? That's a very misleading tagline....The Outsiders maybe due to the culture/status thing but as far as the romance in this story, it was causal, no strings attached sneaky sex. There was no tragic love or even a real commitment, Julia and Colts relationship was built on lies, deceit and sneaking around. I wouldn't equal their romance to Romeo and Juliet due to the fact that Julia never wanted to go public or change anything, the relationship was cheap and had no real level of intimacy outside of the physical. That being said I cant say I didn't like this book, Hubbard's writing was great and while I didn't connect to any of the characters, I thought the storytelling was spot on, as far as the protagonist though I had some problems.....
Colt described in a nutshell was an oversexed hormone fueled boy with no aspirations, no goals and nothing going on in his life except for what the vagina's in this novel could give him. And that’s exactly what these girls were….. sex objects all showcased from the poor, rich and middle class sectors. Not only do the drunken poptarts give out but in this novel even the bookworms spread eagle for poor boy Colt with his charming good looks and going nowhere outlook on life. He probably saw more action in 192 pages than your average night club prowler. I wonder what magic spell his penis cast upon the young female population of this town, oh I know the boy from the wrong side of tracks charm….despite the fact that he was Julia’s bitch for an entire year, the boy was a major slut! I had a really hard time feeling sorry for him or any of the characters in this novel, furthermore I had a hard time feeling anything other than annoyed for Julia and Colts backseat of the car relationship. Take away the subplot, Im living life in the “flats”- (Hubbard's version of white trash trailer people) and minus the gay brother added for family drama you get……SEX....... Basically that’s really all this book was about- sex, more sex, sex dreams, hopping into bed (er..cars, tree houses, garages, classrooms...)with one partner after another and then some more…..you guessed it sex. At least we get a few big plugs for condoms- hey boys and girls its ok to have lots and lots of hot sweaty sex just make sure to use your big boy condoms when you do.
The wisest thing Colt says through this entire journey is stating that sex with no strings always develops strings and that his strings were twisted around his wrists and ankles regardless of not wanting them….. Yeah Colt twisted right there on the floor of Julia's car hiding from the world………………..
The wisest thing Colt says through this entire journey is stating that sex with no strings always develops strings and that his strings were twisted around his wrists and ankles regardless of not wanting them….. Yeah Colt twisted right there on the floor of Julia's car hiding from the world………………..
Rating
The Secret Year is NOT for young readers, I would recommend this to mature teens (think 17 and up) and adults. Contains: Sex and lots of it....sensuality, dialog on sexuality and body parts. Alcoholism and underage drinking, violence, birth control dialog, homosexuality, language, death, grief and did I mention sex.
3/5- YA-Romance-Death
Haha, I practically died laughing while reading this review! I think you said sex more times than is legal... lol
ReplyDeleteThat's actually really good to know. I was thinking about picking this novel up, but if sex is all it's about, why bother? Thanks for posting this review.
Lovely review and OMG I was LOL with all the vagina action.
ReplyDeletePretty book cover. Loved the romeo juliet and outsiders and mix thoughly
Hmmmmm I don't think this is for me. I had no idea it was so sexual haha colour me crazy, but loose, casual sex makes me cranky in literature haha
ReplyDeleteGreat honest review, Tina :)
Hahaha LOVE this review! I think I'm gonna skip this book and move on to the next. I have no problem with sex in YA books, but if that's all what the book is about? Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDelete-Danna
http://friendlyreaderohyeah.blogspot.com/
Your review is hilarious Tina, your comment about his having some sort of magical penis made me snort out loud in the middle of my office:) I actually like a little sex in my books, (call me smutty I guess), but I don't like when all it is is sex for the sake of sex. Colt sounds like a miserable excuse for a human being and I can't really relate to characters who hop from one bed to the next. I think I'll pass on this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed your review!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't what I thought. The book probably isn't for me but I thoroughly enjoyed your entertaining review!
ReplyDeleteThis book fell a little flat for me. I felt like there could have been so much more exposed with Julia and Colt's relationship other than well...sex haha. ;) But I guess that was truly the basis of what they had at least on her side anyways.
ReplyDeleteYou write reviews very well and with honesty. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe premise of this book was exciting. After a year in a secret relationship, dies leaving Julia Colt to ensure his silence. With all the pain bottled, it might be good, but nothing in the book are explored.
ReplyDeleteI mirror Alyssa. It's not for me but I really liked your honest breakdown :)
ReplyDelete"...except for what the vagina's in this novel could give him"
ReplyDeleteROTF!
Well, this is a surprise. I have to admit, I haven't read many reviews for this book. This is the first I've come across that is completely candid. Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts. I have to agree with you on the misleading tagline.
Great and honest review. And very funny! I don't think this book is for me. I thought it would be more serious.
ReplyDelete