A YA novel from USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen. Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth. I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face. My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I … met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
“With intense, honest depictions of hope and rejection, The Accidentals will break your heart. Highly recommend.” – Miranda Kenneally, author of Catching Jordan
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This was such a heartfelt and poignant coming of age story. It packs a huge emotional punch and I didn’t want it to end. This is Sarina Bowen’s first YA novel and I hope this is the start of many more to come.
The Accidentals is such a relatable story. The situations and challenges may not be the same, but the emotions and feelings will resonate with readers. Haven’t we all felt lost and confused? Angry and overwhelmed? Wanting all the answers, but scared of the answers we seek? This book is a love story, but not just in a romantic way. It is also a love story between parent and child, between friends – new and old, and to those we call family – by blood or by choice. The beauty of this book is that each character is so wonderfully human. They make mistakes and horrible decisions. They’re sometimes selfish and clueless. They hurt others when that’s the last thing they want. What makes these characters endearing though is that they get back up and keep trying. They may not get it right the first time (or the 20th), but they don’t give up. Add in a wonderful cast of secondary characters (loved Jake, Ernie, and Aurora!) and you’ve got something pretty darn close to perfect.
The relationship between Frederick and Rachel evolved through the entire book in such an honest and realistic way. Both had their lives flipped upside down and irrevocably altered so quickly. When we first meet them, there is so much baggage from the past and a minefield of questions and secrets they have to wade through. I loved seeing both characters grow, change, and mature. Hard truths had to be faced and yes, there were some heartbreaking moments as the past and present came together. Through it all though, Sarina Bowen weaves a tale of hope. Hope that where everything wrong turns right.
I didn’t want this book to end and as much as I hope that we might see more of these characters again in the future, I also feel that Sarina Bowen leaves readers exactly where they need to be as they turn the last page. I can’t recommend The Accidentals enough!
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*
OK! I’m gonna make this quick. I’ll write 2 reviews. This first one will be short and not spoil at all. And the second one will be a bit longer – scroll down for that!
THIS BOOK WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
I’M THE BIGGEST ROCK-STAR-ROMANCE LOVER AND THIS WAS NOT REALLY A ROCK STAR ROMANCE BUT IT HAD SOME PERFECT ROCK STAR MOMENTS!
I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS STORY AND NOW I’M SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TV WAITING FOR NETFLIX TO MAKE A SHOW OUT OF THIS AMAZING BOOK!
Orlando, Florida. Rachel will be 18 in a month. A time to celebrate for most kids. But Rachel’s life sucks at the moment. Her mom just died and she was put in a group home until she can go to boarding school in New Hampshire after the summer.
And then there’s her father. Rockstar Freddy. Her mom never told her anything about him – how they met or what happened or why she’s so mad at him. The only thing Rachel knew was that every month a check was in the mail.
Didn’t he want to get to know her? She’s been in love with his music and his talent ever since she knew how to use an iPod. She inherited his talent. She loves everything about music.
And now her father is suddenly here. Trying to get to know her. To be with her. But she still doesn’t know anything about her parents past. And she’s too chicken to ask.
And then there’s Haze – her best friend since second grade – who is kind of in love with her.
And Jake. Her adorably nerdy student liaison pen pal from the new school.
What will happen with Rachel?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
OMG WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!
I had no idea what kind of story I was getting when I started reading. I thought it would be a cute little young adult thingy with a bit of rockstarishness thrown in. But it was sooo much more. SO MUCH MORE!
I already fell in love with everything while reading the first few pages.
Ugh. Those first few pages made me cry already.
We meet Rachel, her best friend Haze and her dad. I felt a bit sorry for Haze immediately, because we know that Rachel’s not staying in Florida. Poor guy.
Dad Frederick. He came. He didn’t have to – he hadn’t been here for the last 17 years, but he’s just there. He came as soon as he heard that Rachel’s mom died. He seems to be an amazing guy. He’s here to help, to get Rachel out of the group home, to get custody, to talk. But poor Rachel doesn’t know what to think about all that. He hasn’t been there for 17 years and now he’s suddenly here? She expects him to disappear again every second. But he’s not disappearing. He’s here and he’s staying.
And I loved every single moment of that daddy daughter time.
He takes her with him to California until school starts. And then??? HE COMES WITH HER to New Hampshire!!!!! He even looks for a house! He tries real hard to be the dad she never had. But even he doesn’t talk about the past – and Rachel never asks.
She finds a new bestie in her roommate and then things with her and Jake are getting interesting.
And dad is always there. Going back and forth to be a rockstar for a bit, but then he’s back in town. And it’s so adorable to watch Rachel and Frederick walk through town talking about things but never about what’s really wanting to get out … like her music and singing talent and why he never came for her.
Ugh, it was all so sweet and funny and adorable and rockstarish and frustrating and heartbreaking. But so so beautiful. I wanted at least 200 more pages. I need this to be on Netflix asap PLEASE!!!
PERFECT BOOK! NUFF SAID!
THE ACCIDENTALS was the most beautiful mix of young adult & rockstar & daddy/daughter & first love story! I absolutely adored every single word in this book!!! Run to your nearest amazon asap – this will be sold out in no time!
P.S. I somehow hope for more. Maybe we’ll get a second book about college times? Or a book about Frederick and Norah? Or about Haze? Or all of the above? I’m not ready to let them all go yet!
Oh, the tiny little thing I didn’t love? THE BLURB! Those few lines do NOT adequately bring across the amazingness of this book. I would change it a bit!
Reading this book was one of the easiest things I’ve ever done.
The Accidentals was so much more than just a YA novel. But it was also so very different from what I came to expect form the YA trope.
Sarina Bowen’s first YA novel was emotional, touching in an understated way but that didn’t hold back the punches.
Like I mentioned before, reading this book was easy. It’s the epitome of a feel good novel that should be on anyone’s reading list. This book had everything I love about a Sarina Bowen novel. It had wonderful writing, dialogues that made me laugh out loud, and characters that were charming, genuine, and immediately likable.
There was nothing in this book I didn’t like.
It didn’t have the WOW or OMG effect. What it did have instead was the ability to leave me glowing with a feeling of being fully satisfied and utterly surprised by this heartwarming story. This book felt very differently compared to many other YA books. It felt genuine and hear-felt even without the typical emotional rollercoaster. It rather concentrated on relationships, their intricacies, nuances, and how imperfect they truly are, but also how much love they can give.
Mistakes can turn into life lessons. And the willingness to change the status quo, opens new doors to new and meaningful relationships. Giving second chances, not giving up, and just being open to the shortcomings of all things human was the overall message that pulled on my heartstrings.
I read this book in two days, and if I hadn’t been traveling and was forced to being an adult, I would have finished this book without interruptions, because honestly I didn’t want to put it down.
This heartwarming and unique story touched my heart and didn’t let go.
The Accidentals was way more than what I could have imagined. And I can only recommend it to anyone that loves a wonderful story, that leaves you smiling and utterly satisfied.