Golden by Jessi Kirby

Title: Golden
Author: Jessi Kirby
Pages: 288
Publisher: Simon Schuster Book for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Read: February 2013

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Summary (Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

*A copy of Golden was provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Edelweiss for review*

Review:  

 I loved this book!! I need more Jessi Kirby books! This book blew my mind with the story and the characters. I have read another book by the author and that was awesome as well. This is definitely one of my favorite books. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. When I first read what the book was about I knew I had to read it, since I am now a fan of Jessi Kirby's. What I love most about this book was the characters and the plot. Golden was writing flowed perfectly that I finished it in Two days. As a reader you got to know the characters throughout the entire novel, and Jessi really nailed this book! 

Parker is a great character! I really liked how real she can be and is a fan of Robert Frost. Parker is a storyteller which makes you connect with her story, as she struggles with finding another person's story, Julianna's who is story is so important that you can never forget what happened to her. Julianna and Parker are the same in a way and they both shine through their writing. For her senior year Parker opens the journal (she is helping her English Teacher as a TA) where we learn about Julianna through during her senior year that was a project that contains answers to what happened to the towns Golden couple. Parker starts to realize a different story of what really happened that night before Julianna and her boyfriend drowned. While both girls re-discover themselves and become honest with who they want to be and become. This story drew me in and I am happy that I read this book! Jessi Kirby is definitely a great storyteller.

The secondary characters were made the Golden even better. There is Kat who is Parker's best friend who is understanding and is there for her the entire way, the the potential love interest, Trevor. He sounds like the perfect boy and Parker does have a crush on him for seven years. Trevor was a total sweetie! Kat was a great character who can push Parker and act in the moment compared to Parker who is the safe one. The chemistry between Trevor and Parker were priceless and they really connected with her, they flirted, and really got to know each other better. Trevor believes in her which shows that the sparks really fly. What Parker reads will change her life, and the risk of being qualified for a full scholarship that she wants. 

Jessi Kirby will not disappoint in her third novel. It is truly Golden and this book is a MUST Read!! It has everything about learning about what you want to do. It has mystery, romance and even lessons. I loved the Robert Frost quotes which made it even more perfect. It was a fast read, but I could read it over and over again. Pick this book up when it comes out!!

5/5