There’s a single defining moment within every skater.
It lasts only a second. Two if you’re good.
Three if you’re really good.
It’s the moment you’re in the air, your board somewhere
beneath you, and nothing but wind surrounds you.
It’s the feeling of being airborne.
The sixteen-year-old version of me would’ve said it was the
greatest feeling in the world.
Then at seventeen, I had my son.
Then at seventeen, I had my son.
And every single second became a defining moment. Even the ones that consisted of heartbreak when his mother left us.
Seventeen. Single. Dad.
That’s what my life became.
Yet, every day, I managed to find that feeling of being
airborne.
Or at least I convinced myself I did.
But I lied—to myself and to everyone around me.
Until she showed up; Tanned skin, raven dark hair, and eyes the color of emeralds.
You know what sucks about being in the air?
Coming down from the high.
Sometimes you land on the board and nail the trick.
Then kick, push, and coast away.
Other times you fall.
You fall hard.
And those are the times when it’s not as easy to get back up, dust off your pads and try again.
Especially when the girl with the emerald eyes becomes your drug…
And you become her poison.
more
*5 Fire Trucking Stars*
Wow, wow, wow. Whyyyyy did I wait so long to read this book? I remember seeing so many reviews at the time of release, and I wanted to read it then. But, as happens, it got added to my TBR and I just didn’t get around to it. Until now.
This was my first book by Jay McLean, and it certainly will not be my last. I was captured the moment I started the prologue, and I read this in one day, around my work schedule at that. Josh is a wonderful character. The circumstances he was dealt were way less than perfect, and he was able to make the best of it, with a little bit of help and luck from Chaz, and really put his life together.
There were many family members in this book that I truly despised. HOW they could treat each other the way they did was horrifying to me. Unfortunately, its a real life reality for many people.
Becca was a great character too, and she certainly intrigued me from the start. I really wanted to know what it was from her past that was being hidden, and boy oy boy was it more than I was expecting.
Put Josh and Becca together, and I mostly liked them. At times they felt toxic. BUT in saying that, they both have more then plenty of baggage, and things eventually come to a head and need to be dealt with, so until they deal with things, its easy to see why their story is written the way that it is.
Tommy was of course a huge stand out in this book, and he is the most adorable thing ever. Josh is wonderful and the best thing for that little boy, and I truly loved him.
I’m regretting that I don’t yet have the next book in this series, because while it ended reasonably and not on a cliffy, it is “to be continued”, so be aware that there is another installment when you go in. I sure am hoping to get my hands on it soon.
Highly recommend this one, and cannot wait to read more from this author.
After falling in love with this author’s More Than Series, I always planned on reading more. The writing is just so freaking beautiful. Once I saw all of the rave reviews for this duet, I knew I’d have to start it. And while so many parts of me are glad that I did, there’s something that’s niggling at me, stopping me from praising this story with more accolades.
It’s Becca.
As much as I felt for this young girl, as sympathetic as I was because of her story, as hopeful I was for her, she disappointed me and pissed me off. And because she was the more obviously broken of the two, everyone who looked at Josh differently because of her made me upset too.
Here’s the thing…
If you get involved with someone who seems to be troubled, who has a past that has traumatized them, but they share NOTHING of that past with you, that’s on them. How are you expected to expertly traverse a mine field if you don’t have a map? How can you avoid triggers if you don’t know what they are?
Being a single parent, you already have enough on your plate. Add in a broken person and you become beyond stuffed. But you make the effort. Yet that person makes BARELY an effort. Hiding things, becoming irrational when you don’t fully disclose, and then everyone expects you to still smile like sunshine beams are coming out of their ass. Josh really put himself out there. He gave her all of him. He showed her everything!
So when you break, like any normal person would, why are YOU in the wrong? You’re acting NORMAL!! Yet when your damaged butterfly pops off on tangents, becomes dramatic and overly emotional, they’re coddled and never have to answer for their behavior.
When they do something drastic, because of your breakdown, which they helped cause, why is it your fault? Why is everyone, including yourself, blaming YOU?
JOSH did NOTHING wrong. And yet he got the brunt of the blame. Becca turned her back on him for what exactly? He did exactly WHAT to her?
So yeah… while beautiful, this story wasn’t perfect.
I’m off to read Coast because I need to know if Becca redeems herself. JOSH has nothing to make up for. He just needs to continue to live, love his son, and find beauty in life. Part of me is hoping he puts her firmly in the past, but I know that’s unlikely. Ah well, here goes!
Holy fire truck I love this book! Even after that ending, even through all the tears…I love this book.
It’s not often you come across a book about a single dad, and a single teenage dad at that. Kick Push is the story of Joshua and Tommy, a single father and his little boy. This is the story of Joshua’s struggles to make a good life for his son, to make sure his son is loved and cared, no matter what- no matter that it’s just the 2 of them against the world. It’s also the story of Joshua opening himself back up, after having his world turned upside down.
This book completely, utterly overwhelmed me. From the prologue I was totally invested in these characters and as the story progressed I only fell more in love with this story, with these characters. God, what to say about Josh…he owned me, every part of me. My heart broke for him, over and over. The love he had for his son was simply wonderful, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for him, nothing he wouldn’t give up for him. I’m at a loss for words when it comes to how much everything Josh had to deal with affected me.
Josh goes through some very life-changing events in this book- in some ways for the better, in some ways not so much. But it’s the story of how he persevered, a little beat up but still standing, still kicking and pushing.
• •
: Kick, Push
: Kick Push #1
: Jay McLean
: 5/5
This book is interconnected to the standalone book “Where the Road Takes Me”. I recommend reading WtRTM before you start this series, since Kick Push has spoilers for WtRTM. Plus, it is just a really amazing story, so you should read it. This book is so freaking emotional and angsty, I cried multiple times… so make sure you have your tissues ready. I mean this book just gives me all the feels, a lot of pain and suffering, but also hope! Moreover, I love how this book involves skateboarding. I don’t think I ever read a book that has to do with skateboarding, so I think this is a really nice touch to the story and very original. I also had sk8er boi in my head the whole time haha. I won’t tell you much about the story because I feel this is one of those books you just have to experience. Not only are the main characters amazingly written, the side characters are just as amazing and bring so much extra to the story. The pace of this book is prefect in my opinion. I was continuously curious what would happen next. Even though, I am writing this review after a reread, so I knew what would happen.. I was still curious and I love that I still get this feeling even though it is a reread! This book does end in a cliffhanger, but lucky for you… the next book is already out. Make sure you dive in there because you will want to know how this story ends!! Recommending this to everyone who wants to read an emotional, angsty and original single dad romance.
A lot of my reviews are also available with photo at my Bookstagram: @justmyfantasyworld
What can I say about Kick, Push except that you should just read it. This story is YA Romance at it’s finest but it’s so much more than that. It’s a story of struggle, perseverance, sacrifice, hope and the all consuming love of a father for his child.
I fell in love with Joshua Warden when I first met him in Where The Road Takes Me and I knew that his story was going to break my heart. As a 16 year old father, he is abandoned by everyone who should be there to support him and is left on his own to care for his baby. He’s determined to give his son Tommy a good life though and he’ll give up everything to make that happen. As he begins to build a new “family” with those who step up to help him, he meets Becca. She has lived through her own nightmare and is tired of living in fear. Josh, Tommy and Becca begin to form a bond that is undeniable, but sadly, it’s not unbreakable.
This story had me in tears so many times. It’s not all drama and angst though as I also laughed countless times while reading this one. Josh is so awkward at times, so loveable. And don’t get me started on Tommy! That little boy is just too much. My heart ached for both Josh and Becca. They both have been through so much in their young lives, and they deserve a HEA. As with all of Jay McLean’s books though, the road to a HEA is a bumpy one. It’s real-life struggles and heartbreak. It’s not pretty and it hurts, but there is always hope. I’m immediately jumping into book 2 of this duet and I can’t wait to see how this story ends.
Ok, ok, ok! It took me a while to get the courage to read this book. But, I am so thankful I finally did! Yes, it made me cry more than I thought it was going to. But it was SO worth it! Josh and Tommy have my heart.
Jay McLean has already proven she can make you feel every single character’s emotions with unrivaled tenacity. You will laugh with them. You will cry with them. Mostly, you will fall so hard for them. Just completely in love. You will find yourself wondering if Tommy gets any cuter (FYI…he does!). These characters are here and ready to take you on the roller coaster that is a Jay McLean book.
Kick Push is an accurate depiction of young parenting and accompanying love. Jay captures the harsh realities of teen/young parenthood along with capturing the beauty of those who rise to the occasion of choosing to parent. She truly shows you the good, the bad, and the uglies of parenthood. She always brings us back to the “little moments” of parenting that make you remember just how amazing it is to be a parent.
Laughter, tears, and all the in betweens that happen in parenting. That is what you will find in the book.
Now coast my friends…firetrucking coast on into Kick Push!
I love this book so firetrucking much! Josh is my favorite guy character out of all of Jay’s books. He is everything I would ever want in a guy if I was still that age. He is a little tattered around the edges from enduring all that life has thrown his way, but he’s not broken. As any skater boy would do…he just picked him self up and rolled with whatever got in his way and jumped as he needed to. And he is still kicking and pushing on.
Josh was a seventeen year old about to go pro skater when he got his girlfriend pregnant. He did the right thing and manned up, told both of their parents about the baby and still stayed by her side when his father beat him and threw him out of the family home. And once Tommy was born he had to overcome yet another obstacle when Tommy’s mom just up and left because she couldn’t handle being a teenage mother.
Luckily for Josh fate intervened when he met a special older lady the very day that he hits rock bottom as a single teenaged father, struggling to make it on his own with an infant in tow. For the most part Josh and Tommy have a great life thanks to his new friend that quickly becomes his new family along with his aunt and uncle, and his best friend, Hunter, and his wife.
Fate isn’t finished yet though, she sends love his way along with a lesson about just how fragile the human heart and emotions really are. Will Josh be able to kick and push so that he can coast along the good parts of life???
Jay made me cry, and she made me laugh hard in this book. I even got so angry at times that I just wanted to throw my kindle at the wall. (Poor wall, it was innocent) she ALWAYS has this way of making me feel so many feels and emotions…laughing while I still have tears and boogers from crying seconds before. I seriously loved THIS book and cannot wait for the next.
This is a story about heart break and love . Growing up too early (being a young parent ) and sacrificed made for your children . There’s abandonments, grief, love and hope , kindness in its purest form … and exploration of the notion of family .
Josh finds himself a single father at just 17 years old , abandoned by his family and his sons mothers family as well he’s well and truly alone until the kindness of a stranger gives him Hope .
He’s a devoted father that has sacrificed his dreams of skating to provide everything for his son .
One day Becca appears at her grandmothers house and they slowly fall for each other . She’s great with tommy (Josh’s son ) Becca has many secrets from her past though , and piece by piece their relationship crumbles from the pressures .
There’s a lot of feels in this book . Close relationships and bonds are evident and the world jay McLean has created is wonderful !
A really great story that I can’t wait to continue reading in ‘coast’
I’m so in love with this story and its characters. Wow! What did I just read!! It was hauntingly beautiful, emotional and raw. I loved every single page of it. I fell in love with Joshua, Tommy, Becca and their friends and families.
I enjoyed the emotions it evoked in me and sometimes it came out of nowhere and cracked open my chest and squeezed my heart and made it hurt like hell. But that’s exactly why I love to read. When words can hurt and make me feel. Jay McLean succeeded in that. Her words and storytelling was captivating. Some scenes were very difficult to read and really made me hurt but she wrote them with so much thought and care that it only made me feel the characters even more and on a deeper level.
Joshua was a fantastic character and so was Becca. His need to be anything but weak and to provide for his son Tommy was awe inspiring. He had my heart from page one. Becca was a broken soul and even though Joshua had experienced his losses and neglect it was nothing compared to Becca. What Becca had experienced was heartbreaking and beyond horrifying.
I loved how they both found safety and solace in one another. These moments were amazing and I really enjoyed them right along with the more darker moments. The secondary characters were fabulous and I was interested and invested in all of them.
McLean has truly captured and mesmerized me with her words. This story packed a punch. Straight to my heart. I’m so glad there’s a sequel because I’m so in love with these characters.
Wow, what a book. Holy feels everywhere in this book. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. I love characters that feel with their whole heart and not afraid to show it. It makes me want to give them big hugs!
I couldn’t help but fall a little for Josh in Where the Road Takes Me. Single, 18 year old dad who makes huge sacrifices to take care of his son when the mother just up and left. My heart melted all over the place for him in that book. Now in his book, he’s 2 years older. Josh is an amazing father and loves his little boy Tommy hard core, he is his whole world, his everything. I loved reading all the parts with both of them. *girly sigh*
I will say that this book leaves off with a little cliffhanger. Becca has gone though some horrible events in her life. There’s a lot that goes on in the book but I’m so rooting for them, because these two need each other. She needs work through some things so she can be in a better place. You got this girl!! This is such a wonderful story and I can’t wait for book 2 to see what will happen with them. Just like all her other books, I know it will be amazing!
First of all the title of this book is so simple but yet so fitting! I have only read one other book by Jay, which I rated a 3 star. This book grabbed my attention from the start. When I read the blurb and saw that this was about a single dad, I was super excited to get my hands on this book. There is just something about books focusing on single parents that get to me. They are so strong, and do anything they can to provide an healthy/safe/loving environment for their kids.
My favorite character in this book was Tommy, he was just the cutest little boy. He was so funny and sweet, and just had everyone wrapped around his little finger. Josh is such a great father, he did everything right, he gave up on the one thing that really made him happy. He took responsibility which not a lot of 16 year old would take.
This is only my 2nd book by this author and already I am in love. Her writing is very powerful and takes you through the full range of emotions as you read through her stories. Having read Where the Road Takes Me first, I felt already connected to the main character of Kick, Push. We meet Josh in Where the Road Takes Me, so I highly recommend reading that book prior to this one.
I love how there’s such a twist in Josh’s story. It’s not the typical teenage pregnancy story and I like that. I like that the guy is the main character and much of the story is told from his perspective. Though, for those who don’t like it, I warn that this is a back and forth dual point of view story. I personally loved that aspect as we got to see not only how Josh was feeling about everything but how Becca was feeling as well.
My heart broke for both Becca and Josh throughout the story, but especially Becca and I have to say, I am SO glad there is another volume to this story because I was far from satisfied at the way it ended. Not that it was some major cliffhanger, but I just wanted more from the story and I’m so pleased that the author chose to give us more.
This is one of those stories I can see staying with me for a very long time, one I will end up recommending to others (the way I already recommend Where the Road Takes Me.) It’s a story that resonates with the reader and truly touches your heart and soul.
If you enjoy contemporary romance and drama and an in depth emotional read, this is the book/author for you!