Rebels. Misfits. Bad boys who rule the streets. Everyone’s welcome at the worst kept secret in town, just as long as you don’t mind getting your reputation—and your heart—a little dirty. Welcome to Patchwork House… two years away and one too many broken hearts, Tweetie swore off skaters—but she never expected Flip.
Flip was the most famous skater in the world until he traded his place at Patchwork with the little girl whose life he ruined. Now Tweetie’s all grown up, and one chance encounter brings them together. He knows the right thing to do is disappear before things get ugly, but he never was very good at being good.
She’s back, and so is he—all bets are off. Nothing will stop this bad boy from finally getting his lost girl. They’re written in the stars, and it’s time she knows it.
The first lesson Flip taught Tweetie was how to fall.
It was also the last thing she remembered when they met again, because she didn’t just fall for him.
She slammed.
more
This book had me strung out. These characters are weaved so well that you could never quite figure out was going to happen next. I spent most of the story frustrated, but completely hopeful. I want to know EVERYTHING about ALL of these characters. Flip, Tweetie, King, Daniel, Pip, Bizzy, Penelope, and (OMG!) Romeo!! These characters completely own you!! This book is an absolutely amazing MUST READ. I can’t even string enough words together to fully justify how much I effing LOVED this book!! You will swoon. you will laugh. You will want to reach in and strangle the hell out of these characters from time to time. No emotion is safe!! Read this book!!
So, I have no idea where to begin and how to explain just how much this book grabbed hold of me. This author is a master at her craft. She threw me into a plot so thick, so consuming and addictive that I just couldn’t put this book down. It had me all bent and twisted, I was confused on what was going on, and why… but that was not a bad thing at all, it’s what kept me reading, I wanted to know where she was leading up. At first, I thought I had figured it out, had been given the answers and I had been, but that was short lived and she threw me off completely leaving me almost pulling out my own hair trying to piece this masterpiece together.
Tweetie was different? I don’t really know how to explain her. She was compassionate, she was caring and she was unique, but her upbringing was far from perfect, enough to turn the softest person hard, but this girl was different and I loved that.
Flip was something else. I struggled to connect with him at first but as the book went on, I saw why and how the author had put him together the way she did, and altogether it made sense. The push and pull of these two was perfect but enough to turn me a little crazy. Ultimately that’s what kept me so intrigued. I think some people will have a love and hate feeling going on when it comes to Flip. I know I did.
I would love to write a damn book report on every single thing that happened, every single phrase or line that this author masterfully strung together but I think going into this completely blind will be the best decision you’ll make. It’s a plot that’ll pull you in and keep hold of you until the last page, and have you thinking about it way after you’ve finished the book.
I have not always been into YA/NA reads but it’s authors like this one that have me wanting to read more and I am so glad I took a chance on this one. It was pretty amazing!
5 Stars!
Breath in, breath out.
I just literally finished this book and my head is still spinning from the amazing story I’ve read.
There are so many flashes from everything that happened in Tweetie and Flip’s life that I’m not sure where to start this review.
First of all I NEED to YELL out loud how AMAZING this book is. The way it was written, the slow burn of a love so big, so intense that mark you without even touching it. Every page is a covered layer ready to be uncovered… it is absolutely FANTASTIC!
Emotions twirl around secrets in Patchwork House lead by four young men. The Rebel Gods. Until they were only three. Tweetie was raised between those Gods, living a life full of rules. She was sheltered from everything they were, but she’s all grown up now and she’s going to slam into her shadow.
Then there’s Flip. Flip couldn’t be more perfect than he is, even when all I wanted was to slap him sometimes during my reading, hahaha.
I need to stop here. I don’t want to give away anything more, just know that the characters of this book all deserve their story told and I cant wait to read them all!
Think of this book as a life lesson of understanding and pure angst. So many broken dreams and selflessness decisions. A love so pure and so beautiful that only a God could ever live it.
I finished reading and now is the time to try to come up with words to describe this book. Words like I loved when “xxxxxxxxxx” happened and “xxxxx” and I wanted to scream when “xxxx” happened is all I keep coming up with. So basically I can’t describe anything without being all spoilers galore. But the summary is I loved this book I enjoyed this book I would recommend it to others. It can be read as a stand-alone
I went into this book mostly blind. I loved the cover and when the chance came to read an ARC, I jumped at it.
The story began somewhere in the middle, and it gave sort of a disorienting feel. I didn’t know any of the players, or what Patchwork House was. It didn’t turn me off though, I only wanted to keep reading to find out what in the world was going on.
Many answers were given early on, but a lot was slowly revealed at the story went on, making it pretty un-putdownable.
There were so many lines in this book that either made me smile or want to curl up inside them because they were so delicious. I am a big fan of this author’s way with words.
Tweetie is an interesting character. She’s been raised in a way that might have made her hard, but she isn’t. She’s compassionate, maybe sometimes to a fault. She puts others feelings before her own. She wants to be part of the group more than anything. She’s also a brave skateboarder, making a name for herself at a time where there weren’t many girls competing.
Flip drove me nuts in a lot of ways, but I got it. The push and pull, advance and retreat, made me want to pull my hair out, but again, I couldn’t stop reading. *Just kiss, you fools!* But listen, my most favorite thing to read in a book is a hero who pines, and Flip gave really freaking good pine. He pined are years and years. I *felt* his yearning.
This book takes place in 1989, and I don’t think it could work at any other time. It’s not loaded with 80’s references, so it feels modern. But, I was a little kid in 1989, and I remember seeing skater boys in parks. It was the height of skateboarding in the collective conscious. We had Bill and Ted, Gleaming the Cube…and Skater Boy.
I can’t wait for the next books in this series, especially Daniel. I just know he’s going to break my heart.
SKATER BOY (Patchwork House 1)
By Mary Catherine Gebhard
3.5
Release Date April 25
This is my first book by Mary Catherine Gebhard. It was a great read full of angst, secrets and love.
Flip and Tweetie had an unconventional relationship. I loved their connection I just wished I felt it more. I loved how The gods of Patchwork House, the corrupt, rebellious, bad boys all come from different walks of life but become a family.
There were many times I got frustrated and annoyed with Tweetie but that’s usually a given with most heroines in NA books. Lol
Skater Boy is definitely different from what I’ve ever read. Mary’s writing is fantastic. Totally brought me back to my days as a teen when I gave no fcks about anything. Haha. She will have you anticipating, wondering and enamoured with the boys of Patchwork House.
The synopsis had me intrigued. The story will have you hooked. I definitely recommend this book to people who enjoy angst, NA reads.
This is the first book i’ve read by mary and i loved it. The story jumps back and forth between timelines, i loved how all the past and present came together.
Tweetie and flip are an adorable couple, has tweetie got older flip started falling in love with her from the shadows and looked out for her. Tweetie got taken in by a group of outcasts and thy became her family that love and protect her.
The secondary characters are amazing, the rebel gods, i loved how fierce and protective king is, daniel is a fighter and sounds hot and romeo is funny, i cant wait for them to have their own stories, Also other characters that we just got a little peek at cant wait to read more about them.
This has the potential to be an amazing series. I would absolutley recommend this book.
THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!! Seriously this is a must read. I could not put this down once I started. I love the build up you get from the whole story. The side characters draw you in as well. There is so much emotion, and the love that you feel building throughout the entire book. I loved this story, and you will too.
I was sent an ARC for a honest review. For the record I freaking love this book. The characters are well developed and the author draws you into their lives in a slow burn.
I’m not a huge fan of YA books,
this one rattled me in a good way.
It takes place in 1989 in the heyday
of skateboarding. I identified with the main character ‘Tweetie’ because I was her back in the day
running with my ‘boys’ while they surfed and drove muscle cars.
Mary Catherine Gebhard is a one click author for me and while different from her other books, this one captivated me from start to finish. I look forward to the rest of the series.
I’m ashamed to admit that it is the first book that i’ve read by the author but I ’m so glad that I rectified that as Mary will have a reader for life.
Oh, Skater Boy, how many memories have you brought! Yes, I am the X generation kid that played all my spare time in the park with her friends and sometimes just staring and fangirling over a nice skater boy for ages.
I really like this book for so many reasons.
The author has created a world where a group of friends share the same house and live their life alone, under strict rules created by them but important to keep them safe and together all the time.
Tweetie is sweet and at times a lost soul but she is protected by all of the boys, even when she doesn’t want to when she wants to dip her toe in all this new feelings and experiences that appear when she is sixteen. Oh, how I wish I could have a window to sneak out from my room ( but living at the 8th floor in a block of apartments it can be dangerous ). I cried and felt so many feelings for her because we get to read her story from when she’s 9 years old till present at 19 years but we’re in 1989 in that present and many things were a bit different from now.
Flip is a great character and the author has done a great job in showing how they grow up, showing their transformation through the years, but one thing is steadily increasing all this time and that is his feelings for Tweetie with every page and chapter read. He is always with her, even when he needs to stay behind, always with his insecurities and remorse thoughts about a situation that happened in the past ( you gonna have to read the book to know what happened and as it’s an important twist in the story )
I’ll just say that Tweetie and Flip(Nate) are a perfect match that will have a long way to find their love story and you don’t want to miss it. Do I want more of them together? Yes, I do and by more, I mean that they truly deserve a love that bloomed like a beautiful cherry tree in spring.
I’ll fight with anyone for King and I really hope his book is the next one.
A story about surviving, growing up and falling in love with all your heart, also about forgiveness and the power of true love.
It’s definitely a book that you don’t want to miss because it’s nowhere near anything that you expect, it’s more and with more comes the satisfaction of why we love reading romance.
Oh how the mighty of fallen.
For those who follow my reviews are going to take one look at the shelves and the rating. Yes, you are reading me eat my words.
This is proof that the characters can carry the story. We don’t need sex to find ourselves immersed in a world but feel the tension of desire simmer between the two main characters. You can’t help but root for Flip and Tweetie to get that HEA.
For those who love slow builds, development of the connection, this book is for you. For those who love the young love angst of Ginger Scott or Abbi Glines, this book is for you. For those of you who know I don’t do angst or young adult – an aversion for me in reality – this book is for you.
Why?
I took a chance solely based on the blurb. The fact that this would have a kick-ass strong heroine I crave.What I discover was this is a story of star-crossed lovers for this Hallmark/After School special hearts & flowers lover fell in love with <<< Yep, I recommend you take a chance on it to read. I was blown away. Mary Catherine Gebhard takes us through Tweetie and Flip's origin. You couldn't have this back story in order to give their 'now' story justice. Watching these two grow up on the fringes of each other, made their time to be together worth it when Ms Gebhard gives the present its turn. She clearly takes you through then and now the POV of both characters in well written flow. I loved seeing this back story gently unfold. I felt a connection to this world even though I may be 'too old' and wise for them now. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.” It took me several days to read through the book. I wasn't in a hurry and the characters weren't either. They wanted the time to tell me their story. I didn't want to leave this world. Mary Catherine Gebhard's words wove a beautiful story of love, second chances, and redemption. Throw in a kickass girl - SOLD! This is one I will re-read over again when I need to have a story take me on the journey not just a quick roll in the pages. Rating: Buy
Reagan Fairchild, AKA Tweetie, has had her life turned upside down more than once. She was taken in by Rebel Gods as a child and they raised her the best they could. She grew up around the corrupt. Skating has been a huge part of her life for as long as she can remember. Skating is everything to her and she is determined to win a competition.
Nathan Li, AKA Flip, was a professional skater who made it big by bringing street to competition which is something that people haven’t seen before. He brought a new variable into competitions.
Tweetie has always idolized Flip and when she returns to Patchwork and sees him there she doesn’t know how to react, he almost seems familiar but yet she’s never met him. He’s starred in many of her fantasies and he was the sole reason she kept going after she kept getting knocked down time and time again.
I don’t want to give to much away but GEEZ this book is a must read! It was a slow burn, heart warming, perfect love story. I loved Flip and Tweetie and I thoroughly enjoyed getting both of their points of view! I loved listening to Flip talk, it was so sweet and loving it had me swooning instantly! I was like Tweetie, I didn’t just fall, I slammed. I was so in love with Flip and his sweet side that I kept wanting more!
I loved the side characters as well, King, Daniel and Romeo were so loving and caring towards Tweetie I loved seeing them with her! Seeing the “fatherly” side of them, even though they were only a few years older than her they really stepped up and raised her and it just had my heart pitter pattering! I loved this book and all of the characters, I am so ready to read the next book and see what King’s story really is.
This book was the perfect slow burn. It fell into place exactly like I hoped it would! Very well written!!
I was intrigued from the start. The story sucked me in and I couldn’t stop reading until secrets were revealed.
This book is set in the past and follows Tweetie. She is a female skateboarder trying to make it pro in a male dominated world. She is also trying to find her true love who meets the requirements for her checklist.
Flip use to be the best in the world. That was until his world was turned upside down. Now he lives in the shadows making sure everyone is taken care of.
These two have a slow burn relationship that is prolonged by so many outside forces. They both love each other, but are too stubborn to be honest. Then with secrets being revealed and protective “older brothers,” this relationship almost seems impossible.
The dedication both of the characters have toward their sport and ultimately each other is unmatched. These two have sacrificed and experienced so much pain just to get their HEA.
I loved the setting of this book. Mary has created a word full of intrigue, revenge, and brotherhood. There is still so much mystery surrounding the other characters and that ending had my jaw hanging open! So excited to see what is going to happen next!
This is the first book in the Patchwork House series also the story of Tweetie and Flip.
It’s so beautifully written.
Wow! I loved it so much. I cried and laughed with the characters.
Tweetie is one innocent girl girl who is at the “wrong” place at the “wrong” time. Her life changes immensely and irrevocably because of the Patchwork Boys.
Flip is not your usual sweet guy, but his heart is made of gold.
I can hardly wait for the next book to come out.
I recommed this story if you wanted to read about self-discovery, shenanigans and love.
My inner Avril Lavigne slammed for this circa late eighties early nineties patchwork of a love story.Nate aka Flip was a very complex and interesting character and Tweetie had no idea what was to come to her
Stupid. Breathless. Brain not working. A shirtless poster was one thing; Flip in person was enough to fry my neurons.
She was spring. She was light. She was forbidden fruit
Skater Boy is definitely the start to something! Patchwork House sounds like the best kind of fun. Edgy and adventurous are synonymous with Patchwork House. This merry band of misfits seems like the perfect home for anyone who feels left on the outside.
Skater Boy is the first of what I hope is a long line of stories. Starting our Rebel God line up, Skater Boy is an unrequited, taboo-esque love story. Flip and Tweetie make you crazy with their behavior. It’s Mary Catherine Gebhard’s mission to drive you nuts. Secrets and lies form a precarious house of cards that are the foundation for their relationship and when it falls…it slams.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
“Possessive of a girl I’d started to want when she was sixteen, a girl I’d started to need when she was seventeen, and a girl I’d fallen head over heels for when she was barely eighteen”
You’re sure to feel the slow burn in the latest novel by Mary Catherine Gebhard! Skater Boy is emotional and angsty, and everything you want in a new adult/coming of age novel. Like it’s misfit characters, this book is definitely unique, and doesn’t quite fit into just one box. I loved the “brother’s best friend” vibe I got from Skater Boy, yet that trope doesn’t entirely fit either. Skater Boy cannot be contained or defined by just one theme, but can be described as compelling, all-consuming, and completely distinctive in its genre.
“They were the Rebel Gods of Heaven Falls, and their religion was sin, debauchery, and corruption… and they were worshipped as they should be.”
I loved Tweetie as a female main character, and enjoyed her journey. She’s strong yet unsure, confident yet shy, and I loved watching her come into herself. As much as I enjoyed Tweetie, what truly made this story for me was the misfit Rebel Gods. Flip’s character is so much more than you expect. The depth of his character, and the internal battle he waged were both captivating from the start. This group of misfits are such a contradiction and absolutely the definition of not judging a book by its cover. I loved the diversity and felt that Mary Catherine Gebhard did an exceptional job with character development and dialogue. I cannot wait for the other boys’ books!
If you’re looking for an angsty slow burn give Skater Boy a read, and fall in love with Tweetie, Flip, and the rest of the Rebel Gods! Enjoy xo
The first book in a brand new series and what a fantastic way to kick it off. The story flies between timelines alot but I still found it easy to follow.
We start the journey with Tweetie returning to Patchwork House after an absence of two years. It takes time to understand the dynamics of the story and the players. A bunch of misfits have formed a family of their own. As the story progresses the reader realises the main objective has always been to protect Tweetie even at the cost of their own happiness. The feels between Flip and Tweetie are everything. I love a slow burn and found myself salivating for that first kiss. It was so worth the buildup, prepare to swoon. Everyone knows secrets never stay hidden for long and when everything comes out who will be left standing.
I can’t express just how much I enjoyed this story and all the characters. Now I just have to find the patience to wait for book two.
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
A truly special book, with a very original storyline! This book has so much to offer, and I think it is going to be well loved!
I’m unsure how exactly to go about writing this review. It isn’t because I didn’t like the story, it’s about the fact that I don’t want to accidentally give anything away. Author Mary Catherine Gebhard does an amazing job of starting you off now knowing what to expect. Slowly but surely, your questions will be answered, and the suspense leading up to these secrets are such crucial parts to the story, and I think readers should go into this story without knowing too much. The less you know, the more fun you have trying to decipher the answers! So, I am going to do my best to keep it as short and sweet as I can.
So, I really loved SO much of this story, the main charcters, the passion Tweetie has for skateboarding, Flip’s love for Tweetie, and the bright colors that make up the setting. I loved that the descriptions because I was able to picture everything so vividly in my mind.
Flip, the hero, met Tweetie the heroine, when she had just started skateboarding. They had met at a skate park, where he gave her tips and became her “shadow”. Once she hits teenage years, he realized that he was absolutely in love with tweetie, and would do anything for her. Something I loved about their relationship is that is began way before the first pages of this book. The book begins with Tweetie age 19, coming back after two years of being gone. She arrives to find that where she grew up, now has a crudely put together skatepark in the yard, and she cant help but give it a try. This is when she comes face to face with Flip again, after all those years. I really loved Tweetie’s passion for skate boarding. It is rare that you find a heroine with an interest in a normally male dominated sport. I also loved that Flip was of asian descent. We also don’t see diversity in books that often either. I thought that was a nice step in the right direction. Lastly, I also was really intrigued because the story took place in 1989. I really enjoyed all the throw back items being use throughout the book, and it reminded me a bit of my childhood. For some reason, the colors were brighter in my mind, just because they were from the late 80’s. It really was an awesome addition to the book.
I know I said this would be short and sweet, but I got carried away. I loved this story, and I highly recommend that everyone give Flip &Tweetie’s story a chance! It releases April 25th, so mark your calendars, and prepare yourself for a love that everyone will be rooting for. I am sp excited for Pip and King’s story next.
P.S.- I absolutely loved the group. Daniel, Romeo, & King are the family we all wish for.
Fresh, different and awesome read
I loved this book!
There was such great world building! Awesome intense characters that I want MORE from !! And I can’t wait for the next books in this series !
Tweetie and flips worlds collide at a skate park when they are just kids , obvious that fate brought them together what they don’t know is that day changes everything !
It’s raw and gritty , messy and emotional but their journey is far from over .
The four gods of patchwork house become her family , but they are in for a twisted ride .
This was my first ‘skater’ type book. I loved that it was so different to other sport type books!
There’s a lot of action and even the romance, although very much a slow burn is captivating and the embers burn bright the whole time ! It was so well written !!! Really loved it !!