Teens, Boys, Issues ( )

O and June have built their relationship on playful banter, jokes and... lies. When June abruptly ends their relationship O struggles to cope with his newfound single-dom while teetering on the edge of adulthood. In an attempt to win June back, and save her, O discovers that he may lack the white knight quality and still does not know what he wants to be when he grows up. Hurdling through an array of fun characters ranging from his hovering, mean-to-do-well mother to June's father, an unapologetic enforcer for the local mafioso, we embark on a modern romance/ coming of age tale with the jagged edge of American classism.

This was a very quick read! Immediately what caught my attention was the intentional word choices and witty phrasing, like "money-humping", that kept the story moving and entertaining. Not to mention the giggles and nostalgia of high school lingo. Teenage romance has been done in many ways but Lynch keeps it real where job, money, figuring out the future, family issues and the need to escape reality are presented in very real characters. While the ending was not a "big twist" or "shocker" it was impactful and kind of reminded me of a good "Boy Meets World" episode. I definitely appreciated it as I approach the big 3-0 even more than I would have at 18. The language can come on strong for a YA novel but levels out as the story moves on and even more so as the characters move on.

Fav Quotes:
"She's the World Wildlife Fund of self-pleasure."

"I take walks sometimes. It's not stalking. I don't take binoculars, or rope, or flowers." ( )

This is what I am loving about the young adult books I've read this year (well, some of them...but enough to notice a bit of a trend): they are witty, challenging, deal with hard topics in an honest and vulnerable way, and they never once make me feel as if I am reading something that is dumbed down for a younger generation. Chris Lynch's Little Blue Lies is another check in all of those categories. From the outset, Lynch establishes himself as an author who is not about to avoid big words simply because they are big words. He uses his words wisely and they fit. He sets the tone. And, most importantly, he maintains it throughout this book.

Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Dec. 26, 2013. ( )