“a compelling page turner, beautifully told” – Natasha Boyd, USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Eversea
“heartfelt, relevant, and incredibly thought-provoking” – Natasha is a Book Junkie
From the national bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and The Simple Wild comes a poignant coming-of-age story about a girl trying to change her future while evading her past.
Almost … Breaths series and The Simple Wild comes a poignant coming-of-age story about a girl trying to change her future while evading her past.
Almost sixteen-year-old Aria Jones is starting over. New postal code, new last name, new rules. But she doesn’t mind, because it means she can leave her painful regrets behind. In the bustling town of Eastmonte, she can become someone else. Someone better.
With the Hartford family living next door, it seems she will succeed. Sure, Cassie Hartford may be the epitome of social awkwardness thanks to her autism, but she also offers an innocent and sincere friendship that Aria learns to appreciate. And Cassie’s older brother, Emmett–a popular Junior A hockey player with a bright future–well … Aria wishes that friendship could lead to something more. If he didn’t already have a girlfriend, maybe it would.
But Aria soon finds herself in a dicey moral predicament that could derail her attempt at a fresh start. It is her loyalty to Cassie and her growing crush on Emmett that leads her to make a risky move, one that earns her a vindictive enemy who is determined to splinter her happy new world.
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It’s not easy starting over in life, it’s even harder when you’re a teenager because you leave so much behind. Aria and her mother are going to be living with her great uncle Merv, and while he seems like a curmudgeon, he’s really not all that bad. But this is a fresh start for Aria, and she’s even making friends. Her new neighbors are great, they have an autistic daughter named Cassie who brings smiles whenever she visits. Her older brother Emmett is very easy on the eyes, too bad for Aria that he has a girlfriend, Holly, who seems almost too good to be true.
We’re not sure why Aria and her mother moved across the country to start fresh, but we’re given small glimpses here and there, and I liked Tucker taking that approach to the book. Aria seemed like a genuinely good person. She was good to Cassie and even good to her friend Jen who wore these crazy t-shirts.
But then Aria starts to have some trouble with Holly, especially after she overhears a conversation in the bathroom. That’s when the bullying starts, and if it wasn’t for Emmett, things could have gotten wildly out of hand more than once. As Aria starts to break out of her shell, she starts to reveal bits and pieces of her past to Emmett, but it might be too much for everyone to handle.
This was such a fun yet hard YA book to read. I appreciate that Tucker not only tackled autism in such a fantastic character as Cassie, but that she tackled bullying. There is so much bullying in today’s society and as a teen, it can seem like such a hopeless situation. Be the Girl has a great cast of characters and a wonderful storyline. A must read for all ages.
I love love love this story. It’s so touching.
I’m an adult who enjoys a good YA story or coming of age novel. In fact, I enjoy them much more than most NA stories that flood the market. Personally, I feel that there is a difference between teen fiction and YA literature. I designate teen fiction as being more fluffy, typical teen romance that matches the lighter responsibilities that we consider the majority of teens face. When I pick up a book that I consider YA literature, I expect stories with more psychological depth with teens (young adults) whose life experiences have given them a mature outlook and/or have unexpectedly forced them into that position.
While reading Be the Girl, I felt that the author straddled the line between teen fiction and YA literature. There was a larger message in this story that was often obscured by the pacing and immature teen conduct. Even though the pacing was sometimes swift, I had liked how the author slowly revealed Aria’s backstory with mystery and anticipation. It kept me wanting to read and discover the truth. I also loved the portrayal of Cassie. Being familiar with special needs children, she was the most authentic character in the whole story. Aside from the moments she was being picked on, I smiled often as I read her scenes and dialogue. Her innocence and her slower cognitive realizations were refreshingly written. The romantic aspects of the story developed a little too quickly and in the end I stopped caring too much about how it progressed. It became peripheral and more of a means to tell the the primary message in the story regarding bullying in the age of social media.
I appreciated the overall message that the author was conveying in regards to bullying and the portrayal of an autistic teen. I just wanted a little more details and exploration. In the end, the pacing rushed or neglected some of the potential story development. Although I regularly read young adult stories, I don’t think I was the best audience for this book. My rating reflects my recommendation to teen readers who need to read a book like this as a precursor to understanding their peer differences and bullying’s worst case scenario.
I haven’t read a YA novel in a long time and I loved this one so much! I was moved. I was hooked. I felt a connection with this story so deep, I truly saw myself in Aria’s shoes. I felt her pain, her joy, her every struggle and guilt. K.A. Tucker was just incredibly courageous for tackling a topic so significant in this day and age; something so sensitive and prevalent that everyone should be utterly made aware of.
This is the kind of story that may seem simple, but with every layer you peel off, the impact becomes that much more immeasurable. One that can save and change lives completely. It makes you realize that no one really is perfect, but that doesn’t mean we can learn from our mistakes—no matter how grave they are—and change for the better.
“I’d rather be you than who I used to be, because that girl? I don’t know her anymore. I don’t want to know her anymore.”
Aria’s story is everyone’s story. At one point in our lives, we were her. And that makes it all the more inspiring to me. I saw how easily she could’ve been misunderstood, but just like another lesson from this book, you need to see and hear all sides of the story before you do something as simple as react or believe. Before you make up your mind and do something you’ll sorely regret down the road.
I felt so deeply for Cassie, Emmett’s younger sister who was a special needs girl with autism. She made me want to stand up for people like her even more now than ever. I fell in love with Emmett Hartford who was an insanely wonderful and stand up guy for someone his age. And Aria Jones… she just had me—from start to finish—with her story, her bravery and piercingly good heart.
“Any rose can succumb to rot, given the right conditions. But, with enough attention, it can come back better than before.”
Be the Girl was a read so powerful, compelling and relevant, you won’t be able to stop once you get into the thick of things. It’s not only a heartrending tale about teenagers and bullying and how they, together with the people around them, cope and deal with it, but it’s also about accepting and forgiving yourself. Every message this book has will slay you. It’ll resonate deep within your soul, no matter how old or far you’ve already gone in life. It’ll hit that perfect spot for everyone who reads this, and I really believe that everyone should.
4.5 stars!
I honestly don’t read young adult novels very often, but when I do, I want them to be written just like this one: with solid writing, powerful messaging, and a happy ending. Tucker nails her YA debut with Be the Girl, and it’s one that I would recommend for adults and teens alike.
Aria Jones is adjusting to so many life changes for only being a 15 year old. After her parent’s divorce, she and her mother move cross-country to live with her crotchety yet lovable great-uncle—who happens to live next door to Emmett, the hot high school hockey player. On top of all that, she has to navigate the tricky waters of starting a new school and making new friends.
Aria seems to be adjusting to her new life, but through journal entries, you learn that everything wasn’t always so wonderful for her. There is a twist in this story that I didn’t see coming, but it makes the story that much more impactful. Life for students is so much harder with the invention of social media and this book is a big, flashing warning sign to any parent who reads it.
I absolutely adored Emmett and his big heart, but his sister, Cassie, stole the show in several scenes. Her personality is larger than life and I couldn’t wait to see what fresh perspective she was going to share next.
I was so curious to see how a talented and skilled author like Tucker would treat a young adult novel and I have to say, I’m impressed. She created a storyline so relevant to today’s society that every teen and adult should read it. It’s one of those books that you will find yourself thinking about long after the story has ended.
New beginnings begin her junior year in high school. New school, new room, new friends, and new neighbors were part of the new beginnings. Facing the past while moving forward into a better tomorrow.
The story is set in high school with Emmet a senior, Cassie a sophomore, and Aria a junior. This story had three main characters, yet is was character driven. Hockey played an intricate part of the story as it was Emmet’s favorite sport.
KA Tucker didn’t forget one single thing about high school. The classes, the bullies, the populars, the jocks, the parties, and the rumors were mentioned as this high school experience. It doesn’t matter how old you are the high school experience doesn’t seem to change over the years. The reasons for rumors or bullying vary, yet the results remain the same.
I like these characters they are sweet wholesome characters who have good hearts. The parents were good role models and very caring of their children.
KA Tucker ventured into the YA world with big purpose. She succeeded in delivering her message. While I’m no longer a high school student anyone whose old enough to read and socialize will understand this message. You certainly don’t have to be a YA to grasp the importance of this message. While it saddens me that this type of situation continues to happen not only in high school but in any grade saddens me. All anyone can do is keep putting the message out their how harmful bullying is.
When I say that K.A. Tucker should be on everyone’s auto buy list, I do not exaggerate. She never fails to bowl me over with each new book. Just when I think that she can’t get any better…she does.
Be The Girl is an amazing read on so many levels. Honestly there is no review I could write that would do this book justice. It has it all.
This is a story about coming of age, learning from ones mistakes, learning to trust, learning to forgive others and perhaps the most difficult to forgive oneself. It’s themes include: young love, bullying, divorce, autism, second chances, surviving widowing and so so much more….
When young almost sixteen year old Aria Jones and her newly divorced mother move across country to live with her great uncle…it’s apparently the fresh start that they both need. They’ve changed their last name, changed locations are are starting over. What exactly they are running from…aside from Aria’s cheating father and his new family…is a bit of a mystery.
As we get to know Aria and her mom, her curmudgeonly uncle and the family that lives next door…including the gorgeous, athletic, smart and kind Emmett…we grow to really like her even as we know and suspect that she is keeping secrets from us and Emmett. Her friendship with Cassie, her crush on Emmett, her love of animals, her sincerity in caring for her mom and uncle all add up to building a great if someone immature (hey she’s only fifteen) character.
Eventually those secrets are revealed and everything blows apart. In the aftermath Cassie, Emmett, and the reader too are all left conflicted and confused. We are left perhaps even evaluating our own behaviors and decisions as well as our thresholds for forgiveness and our ability to believe in change and second chances.
Go out a grab a copy of Be The Girl by K.A. Tucker. You won’t be disappointed.
This one is a hard one for me to review. I am stuck in limbo with my thoughts and feelings on this book. I can’t deny Tucker’s writing ability. She is definitely a fantastic writer. However, I had a hard time connecting with this book and its characters. I just can’t seem to put my finger on it.
I won’t deny that I devoured this book. It’s an easy read from start to finish. It moved pretty fast for me. The storyline kept me intrigued and hopeful. The characters were pretty straight forward.
If I am being honest with myself, I think my ambivalence with this one is the emotional side. I have come to expect an emotional experience with this author’s books. I didn’t get that ride with this one. I think I should have given the theme of the book. However, the emotional aspect just wasn’t there for me. I felt disconnected, although invested, with the story.
Overall, this book is a good book. Easy to read. Hot topics depicted fairly well. It just wasn’t the homerun I was hoping it would be. I am sure many are going to really enjoy this book.
Be the girl tells the story of Aria and the world around her as the new girl starting over. Her first friend being Cassie the friendly neighbor who also has autism. Aria has to learn to navigate and understand the social cues that comes with Cassie’s autism as she becomes protective of her new friend. Her second friend just so happens to her other neighbor, Cassie’s brother Emmett, who Aria starts to have feelings for and who also has to have a girlfriend.
This story is a real and deep book. It covers so many issues teenagers and adults both struggle with in the modern age of technology and society. Some of the issues that are addressed in this book have been happening for generations and still are. The plot keeps you enthralled all the way to the end. The characters feel very realistic and relatable at times.
K.A. Tucker has taken situations that most of us have experienced at least once in our life and others that some of have not. She turned them into a book that I feel all teenagers should read. It faces so much that we go through in high school and even younger. She put so much emotion into Aria’s story that you feel it from the writing. This has to be one of my all-time favorite books of hers. It takes a strong, confident and caring person to write a book this deep and then publish it. This story is a great read and needs to be read. I feel like I understand more about autism and the way it effects a person because of this book. I’m a very empathetic person and I feel this book has made me even more of one. I strongly feel like it is a must read as I’ve said multiple times in this review.
I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
This book. I mean I knew she was a brilliant writer but this pulls at you Ike no other. The content is EXTREMELY relevant and extremely hard to write about and VERY much needed right now. And Cassie. She hits home. And Emmett is such a good kid.
I’ll be spreading this book around all over.
EVERYONE should read this!!! I’ve read a couple books by this author and I’ve really enjoyed them so when I saw this new release the blurb intrigued me and I preordered.
I’m happy I read it as soon as I could and didn’t let it sit in my library.
This definitely had a different feel than what I’ve been reading lately but with the phenomenal writing I couldn’t stop reading. This story was full of Amazing characters!!
Be The Girl is a story that will make you think. It will touch your heart. It will make you mad and sad because there are ugly people in this world as you ask yourself “How could they?” “WHY would they?”. It will also make you smile because there are beautiful kind people in this world that proves humanity can be good. There’s hope.
QUOTE“…the sooner you figure out how to like yourself through your own eyes, the sooner you’ll stop trying to see yourself through everyone else’s.”
You can feel Regret and Redemption. Second Chances and Forgiveness.
~ ~ every action has a reaction ~ ~
I was able to see the different point of views and it was tough. This is in a high school setting so we have the teenagers, parents, teachers, friends and boyfriend/girlfriend…I didn’t want this to end.
#FoodForThought
QUOTE“Any rose can succumb to rot, given the right conditions. But, with enough attention, it can come back better than before.”
What a tremendous journey! Don’t miss!
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Be the Girl was a story that surprised me in many ways. From the characters and their complex emotions to the high school drama and above all, bullying. Not to mention Cassie, the sweet soul!
As a person has been a victim of bullying in middle school, I believe that there should be more awareness, especially now when technology offers more means to be a bully while staying anonymous and believing that nothing touches you.
K.A. Tucker has written in a very realistic and emotional way about people who struggle every day, learn from their mistakes and grow up in the process; and also they find love and understanding. There should be more books like this one. Highly recommended.
Be the Girl should be required reading for teenagers and adults alike. It’s beautifully written and packs a punch, bringing all the feels. You just have to read this one. Do it!
A beautiful, powerfull, well written and well developed story, with great characters and touching topics like bullying and autism, with a smart, real, and sensible way that will leave you feeling and thinking. I assure you will take something from this story and even after several books you will still remember it. I love it and is one of my favorites of 2019!!
Aria Jones crossed the country with her mother to live with an elderly uncle who does not know to try to start a new life from scratch without the traumas left in the past. Her new neighbor Cassie is a sweet fifteen-year-old girl who has some difficulties because she is autistic but along with the affection of her family, she is able to follow through the mishaps of life. Emmett, her older brother, the hockey star of the school, with his confident, hot and determined way ends up attracting Aria’s attention. His only fault is having a beautiful and seemingly perfect girlfriend.
But nothing is as it seems and Aria will slowly find out if she really has become a new person or is simply hiding from the past.
I like too much of books set in the confusions of the High School and I spent much of the book following the dilemmas of Aria and her strong crush on Emmett with all the force of the hormones of this phase.
Emmett is the kind of guy who knows what he wants, he demonstrates and fights for his dreams, and this has been a highlight all along in the story. While Aria’s past remained an incognita, I followed her fight against her inner demons and connected with her quickly trying to figure out what lay ahead.
Suddenly, no more than suddenly the writer pulled the floor from my feet ….
WHAT? – I screamed – No, No, No…that’s not possible.
Wait a moment! It can not be! OMG OMG OMG … I started to return pages …. click …. It is not possible … more pages ….click click… I got back to chapter one with wide eyes … click …. I am in shock and chill so far because I never imagined what the REAL focus of the plot was. I’d never figure it out unless I get to that conclusion. Exactly the sentence I opened this review. There’s no way I can not think differently about the girl. The writer herself describes my feeling in the acknowledgments.
“Maybe you’re feeling conflicted and need time to warm up to her again.”
I really needed some time and I came to the conclusion that it is very difficult to face this situation without being affected in any way.
The way KA Tucker builds the final message was fantastic and all the clues are there in the pages of the whole book to clarify and close the cycle and show how everything in this life has consequences and how complicated it is to mature, but with the right dose of forgiveness , acceptance and change the hardness of life becomes a bit lighter.
I really liked the point of conflict and how well it fit into the plot, I just thought that throughout the book Emmett gains a lot of significance and strength as a central focus in Aria’s life and I missed something more interesting between them in the end, more dialogue, more apology. i don’ t know. But that’s mine issue because I read all the book rooting for their romance while the focus of the book is different. I understood everything perfectly after ruminating everything. I understood that each detail was in the right dose to take the reader to the apotheosis moment of the conflict and all the characters had their chance to demonstrate how they thought.
The cover and the title are fantastic and the idea they pass conveys exactly the message of the book.
*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
K.A. Tucker is my favorite author. I was so excited to read this book, as I am all of her books. I honestly didn’t know if I was going to like this book when I started to read it, but it surprised me in how much I loved this book. It spoke to me in a way that I didn’t expect and it made me stop and think about myself, and whether I could literally “Be the girl”. It hits a very hot topic in today’s world, and it does a fantastic job portrayal. I truly feel that this book should be added to public school curriculum across the nation as I have done with my 13 year old in our home school!
In a nutshell, THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE READ BY EVERYONE!
Starting over is never easy. For Aria and her mother – their cross country journey resulted in relocating to live with her great uncle Merv. After losing his wife, Merv has settled into life with a bit of a grumpy attitude and a lack of desire to do the tasks he use to do with his wife before her passing. Aria’s mom believes that breathing new life into Merv’s life will be good for both families in the long run.
While moving things into Merv’s home, Aria is introduced to her neighbors that will be attending high school with her. Emmett and Cassie aren’t your typical brother and sister. Emmett is a sports star and all around good guy. Cassie is autistic and is a ray of sunshine to everyone that crosses paths with her. Aria can’t help but be drawn to the two, and definitely decides moving to Uncle Merv’s will not be so bad after all.
While moving to a new school can always be stressful, Emmett and Cassie are determined to make the transition for Aria as seamless as possible. What no one realizes is Aria has a past that few know about. One that will shatter the persona of the person Aria has become. The only question is HOW will the tidbits from Aria’s past come to light? Who will get burned in the crossfire? Sometimes starting over doesn’t mean leaving the past behind, a fact Aria will have to face once again.
What an interesting story that unfolds between the pages of Be The Girl. KA Tucker has written a poignant tale that revolves around those awkward years in high school and the aftermath of what can happen when you react poorly to the situations that are laid at your feet. This book will tackle bullying in a way that you don’t expect, and will weave its way into your heart as you flip through the chapters.
The characters in this book are absolutely amazing!! Emmett was the guy that was kind to everyone. The sports hero that had a future laid out in gold. Cassie…..what a sweet and realistic character!! Dealing with autism and the ups and downs of the public for those affected can be daunting. The way Tucker wrote Cassie’s character was just superb! Then there was life for Aria ….a damaged soul that will teach us humanity and the repercussions of your actions.
With the fear of giving away too much of the story, I will only say Tucker has written a tale that is so realistic you can picture every nuance. It’s a story of choices and repercussions with a few lessons scattered within the plot. I strongly recommend reading Be The Girl even if you ‘think’ you don’t like stories revolving around the teenage years. The lessons that will come from the pages definitely are fitting for all ages!!
Oh wow, Kathleen. What did you just do to me? And how do I write a review that does Be the Girl justice? What a gorgeous book. Her first YA contemporary was absolute perfection.
I won’t say I’ve been in a book funk lately, but I’ve definitely been struggling with my focus when I finally get time to read. Be the Girl pulled me out of that funk within the first chapter. As soon as I started reading, I knew I wouldn’t get anything done until I finished it. I found Aria relatable, Emmett swoony and Cassie adorable almost immediately. I went into the story blind — literally not having even read the blurb — and I’m glad I did. Be the Girl blew me away.
I’m not going to dig deep down into the plot here. All you really need to know is Aria is a girl trying to escape her past and shape a new future in a new town. We don’t know what all that past contains in the beginning, but it unfolds throughout the book. Her new neighbor is delightfully sweet and swoony — a genuine great guy — and I basically just wanted to hug him and his sister, Cassie, who is autistic. Actually I just loved the whole Hartford family. Aria’s mom and uncle were wonderful, too. But, I digress. Aria’s a new girl in a new town with new situations and new people to deal with. Plus she has a crush on her neighbor — I don’t blame her — who has a “perfect” girlfriend. So, yes, there’s some teenage angst. But I was here for it.
I could list a million little things I loved about Be the Girl, but I won’t. Instead I’ll just tell you that you should read it. It was a thought-provoking, unexpected and absolutely gorgeous book. Oh, my feels! They got pummeled for sure during this book. But, in the best way possible. Both sad and happy tears were shared and, I swear, at one point I didn’t even realize I was crying until a tear hit my iPad.
Favorite Quotes:
Sure, he’s nice, and cute, and funny. But I just didn’t feel that thing. You know that thing… when you meet eyes with a guy you like, and then they smile at you, and you have to remind yourself to breathe.
This whole crushing-hard-on-your-neighbor-when-he’s-in-love-with-his-beautiful-and-saintly-girlfriend thing sucks, big time. But, at least I get to see him every day. Friendship is better than strangers, right?
Years from now, if anyone asks me what I did for my sixteenth birthday, I’ll tell them I kissed Emmett Hartford. That’s all I’ll remember, and it will have been the best birthday of my life.
“Any rose can succumb to rot, given the right conditions. But, with enough attention, it can come back better than before.”
I’m going to do my best to write a review while not spoiling the story for you. I will say that this is a very necessary story. It’s message is super important and one that I wish I’d had in my pre-teen years.
Aria Jones has just moved across the country with her mom, moving in with an uncle in a house she has never before visited. Normally in Young Adult books, this is where we read the angst and bitterness from the teen who has been forced to leave a life she loves for the unknown. For Aria, however, the unknown is exactly what she is looking for; a clean slate, a new start.
As Aria meets her neighbors, she notices right away that their daughter, Cassie, while friendly, is definitely different. Their son, the attractive hockey-playing Emmett, makes an equally strong impression on Aria. Even the knowledge of Emmett’s beautiful girlfriend doesn’t calm the raging in the Aria’s blood anytime he is around.
School is tricky but Aria quickly finds herself befriending a couple of social outcasts rather than finding a place in the spotlight. One of her new friends has appalling taste in fashion and the other barely speaks, but Aria is content with her new place and her new life except for the longing she feels toward her gorgeous neighbor.
The more Aria is around Emmett, the harder she falls for him. He is so much more than just a pretty face. He is an incredible person. His girlfriend, Holly, while practically perfect on the outside is definitely hiding something underneath. As much as Aria would love to be the one to break them up, she has promised to keep her head down and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, her attempts to help Emmett celebrate his and Holly’s anniversary lead Aria to have to face a decision that could threaten to undo all of the plans so carefully laid by herself and her mother.
That’s all of the summarizing I am capable of doing without spoiling the story, so I will leave it at that. I do want to address Cassie, though. As I mentioned above, Cassie is different. Cassie has autism. I was thoroughly impressed with the author’s handling of this disorder. Cassie’s effect of those around her is apparent and never failed to make me smile. I loved the way Tucker showed the ‘realness’ in the way the family both championed Cassie and was frustrated by her. Aria’s friendship with Cassie is a really special thing separate and apart from anything having to do with Emmett and I am utterly grateful to the author for that. For while this is a young adult love story, it is so much more than that. It showcases friendships as well as the way families can come together to make each other stronger. It was, overall, an excellent read.