When a social worker and a truancy officer show up at Finley Rhodes’ cottage in Ocean Grove she knows her life is about to change forever.She just didn’t realize how much.At sixteen, she’d grown up fast, having the responsibility of taking care of her mentally ill mother, holding down a job to pay the bills and dropping out of school to do both. When her case manager tells her she’s being placed … manager tells her she’s being placed in foster care, Finley never expected her new home to be in the exclusive gated community and she certainly never thought she’d attend The Academy, a school for the privileged and elite. But the biggest surprise comes from down the hall.
Her new foster brother, Chase Powell.
Chase Powell grew up in the shadow of his famous model mother, living a life of fame and excess. After a dangerous accident Chase is sent to live with his grandmother in Ocean Grove, where he settles into a life of normalcy and routine.
Until Finley moves in.
Late night talks, a game of truth, and revelations about their fears bring these two closer together, but it’s not like they can ever be more than friends and even if they could, does Finely worries that her whole life can be taken from her once again. What’s the point of falling in love?
Finley and the Foster Brother is a standalone novel from Love in Ocean Grove, a series of books about swoony, first-time love and toe-curling kisses for readers of all ages.
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Anna Catherine Fields is a fabulous new voice in the clean YA romance space! With realistic, likable characters that are not too immature and yet not too adult, she weaves a beautiful story. You’ll find yourself drawn into the story and the struggles that Finley and Chase deal with. Fields deftly handles serious issues without being preachy or too heavy–you’ll finish reading with a smile on your face! Don’t miss this new author. Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
A delightful read. Thoroughly entertaining 🙂
Okay, so this is a great “teen” love story — and I am NOT a teen. But it’s really so much more. The characters come alive right off the pages. And their struggles and fears and strengths and accomplishments are so true to life. I may be way beyond my teen years but I’m not ashamed to say I absolutely loved this story and will definitely be reading more by this author. In fact, I hope to perhaps find some cameo appearances/updates on Finley and Chase in future books of this series.
Anna Catherine Field is a very talented author and the narration was also extremely enjoyable on the audible version of this book!
Finley & Chase are super adorable and sooo cute!!! This book melted my heart and gave me so many swoon vibes. I actually loved this book, but I have never read the author before so that was a surprise. Definitely going to read more by this author. Overall, excellent book!
Anna Catherine Field’s characters are always endearing and her stories endearing and this one is no different. Finley and Chase were instantly likeable. I loved how much both of them had grown by the end of the book. Ms. Field’s characters usually always have an obstacle to overcome or find themselves in situations so relatable to young adults. Oftentimes situations that peoples can’t fix for them, yet through friends and family they always seem to prevail. In a world where there is so much “ugly” it’s refreshing to read a book like Finley and the Foster Brother. I’m sure it gives a little hope to those in similar situations as well. Good read!
Finley and Chase are from two different social worlds but from both from dysfunctional singles mothers who can’t or won’t take care of them, so enters Ms. Beverly. A sweet love story.
This is my introduction to Anna Katherine Field, and I’m now reading more of her books. I recommend her.
Beautifully written, G-rated, YA, romantic drama
Finley, a 16-year-old junior, has been caring for her mother for some time now as her mother sinks deeper and deeper into an unspecified mental illness which involves the symptoms of delusion and depression. They live in a fictional beach town called Ocean Grove, in an unspecified region of the United States, which I’m guessing is California. Since her mother is unable to continue her usual source of income, creating expensive, hand-crafted jewelry, Finley walks dogs to support them, but it isn’t nearly enough money, and she and her mother are starving-poor. Her mother was raised in a wealthy family and years ago inherited a valuable beachfront cottage in a ritzy part of town. However, a while back she was forced to sell the cottage, both because she could not afford to maintain it, and to obtain money on which to live. Fortunately, Finley’s mother managed to retain the legal right for her and Finley to live in a mother-in-law apartment behind the cottage.
One day while walking a group of dogs on the beach in front of her home, Finley has a Meet Cute with a gorgeous teenage boy around her age who is jogging down the beach. One of the dogs she has allowed to run free races over to the boy, leaps on him, and knocks him down. As Finley attempts to pull the dog off the boy, she trips and falls, landing, alongside the dog, on top of the boy. Fortunately, he proves to be a good-natured guy who, instead of getting angry, offers a friendly smile, pats the dog, and shares quick-witted quips with Finley. However, when it becomes apparent to Finley, due to the boy’s pricey haircut, designer exercise clothing, and fancy watch, that he’s one of the ultra-rich who live in a gated community farther down the beach, she rapidly parts company from him without exchanging introductions. She has no interest in having anything to do with a person she assumes must be a spoiled, rich kid.
Soon after, Finley’s mother’s condition deteriorates to such an extent that Finley simply stops going to school, without informing anyone in authority, in order to stay home and care for her mother. Because she is required by law to attend school, not long afterward a truant officer and a social worker show up at her door. Her mother is remanded for an indefinite, government-funded stay at a residential, mental institution, and Finley is temporarily placed in a group home. Then, a few days later, Finley is shocked to learn that she is being transferred to a temporary foster placement in a magnificent mansion in the elite, gated community near her own home. Not only that, the mansion is owned by a stately, elderly woman who turns out to be the grandmother of the handsome boy Finley met on the beach, who is living with her. Finley learns that he is a 17-year-old senior named Chase, and she is to attend, along with Chase, an expensive private school, paid for by Chase’s grandmother, rather than the public school where she has previously been a student. Finley and Chase are informed by the social worker and his grandmother that they absolutely must not become romantically involved or Finley will have to return to the group home. Unfortunately, this proves to be an extremely difficult prohibition to obey, because the mental, emotional and physical attraction between the two of them is mutual and intense.
This is an utterly satisfying, classic romance plot of “forbidden love.” As a result of this particular type of romantic conflict, this story takes the form of a G-rated version of a “slow burn” romance as the two teenagers gradually move from strangers, to friends, to falling in love. In spite of the book containing no more than kissing, there is tremendous sexual chemistry between these two extremely sympathetic protagonists.
In short, this terrific romance, which is suitable for all ages, is well plotted, beautifully written, and offers a satisfying, complete resolution of both the romance and the difficult situation with Finley’s mother in order to produce a well-motivated HEA (happily-ever-after) ending.
I consider this book a “keeper,” and I have been eagerly seeking out other YA romance novels by this talented author.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Family Drama Plots: 4 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story! It was light and fun! I immediately loved Finley from the start! She’s had an eventful and drama filled life! She’s sassy and she knows what she wants!
First time reading this author’s work and I was instantly drawn into it. Similar in style to Cookie O’Gorman, Judy Corry, and Julia Keanini, I’ve definitely added another name to my must-read authors list. Clean romance, no swearing. Great, original storyline, really enjoyable characters, fast pacing, nothing to skip over, down-to-earth… Highly recommended.