Review: The Art of Lainey

THE ART OF LAINEY

by Paula Stokes

Pages: 384

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: May 20th 2014

ISBN: 0062238426

Summary 

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.
And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.
What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?

Review

"Standing up for yourself is about more than flinging barbed-wire insults around. It's about picking your battles, knowing when to fight, knowing exactly what and who is worth fighting for."

What do you do when your seemingly perfect boyfriend walks straight up to you - at work, in front of EVERYONE - and dumps you? Well, I think if that happened to me there would be a sprinkling of anger and a whole heap load of wallowing. But for Lainey Mitchell it's all about getting her boyfriend back. And with a little help from her best friend and a certain warlord it looks like she might just be able to pull it off. But here the thing, does Lainey really want him back?

The Art of Lainey is by far one of my favourite contemporary reads of 2014. I was a little dubious going into it because there had been so much hype in the blogging world about this soccer (correctly known as football) playing protagonist but I'm happy to announce that it definitely lives up to the name it's carved out for itself! The story and the characters were both fun and intriguing to read about. The mix of social circles made for an interesting hook to the plot and the way in which the characters progressed and developed throughout the book was really kind of moving.

Being a devotee of The Bad Boy movement I have to say that this book stole my heart a little. Micah is hot! Full stop end of story hot that makes you wan to head to a heavy metal concert and find yourself your own mohawked boyfriend. He's a sexy punk book boyfriend with a big heart and I couldn't get enough of him. He has his flaws, which I think makes him all the more endearing and his character compliments Lainey's perfectly making them all the more likeable.

"I Just figured instead of obsessing about what is out of your hands, why not control the things you can?"

Lainey has to try and find a way to accept her new reality in this book and that reality is one without her seemingly perfect boyfriend Jason. She has to be able to change and adapt to new friends and opportunities otherwise they might pass her by leaving her to come to terms with all the changes in her life on her own. Lainey's development throughout the story was probably my favourite part. The plot had the occasional cliche but it was the way that Lainey discovered who she was and was able to look outside of little bubble and find happiness and contentment that really made this book special.

"I know what you're saying I guess I'm just wondering how we know when to give up and move on."

This book is about Lainey learning who she is. It's about her gaining perspective on her life and seeing that maybe the way she is isn't the best she can be. Again it's Lainey inability to change that stops her from really enjoying herself and it's a constant threat throughout the book. From a lover of lists myself I get needed to make a plan and stick to it, but if only she had been more susceptible to Micah in the beginning she could have saved herself a whole lot of heart ache.

The Art of Lainey is an enjoyable, funny and endearing book that is perfect for the end of summer. I highly recommend this book and for any of you going through a rough breakup it will help remind you that maybe, just maybe it wasn't the worst thing in the world. Everything happens for a reason right? 

"All the ladies love the mohawk."

GIVEAWAY (UK)

Paula was very lovely and send a large bag of Lainey swag my way and there was plenty to split between a couple of giveaways. SO if you didn't win last time here's your second chance! 

I also have a copy of The Art of Lainey to giveaway too.

ONE winner will win both swag and book! 

Good Luck xx

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