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Cry Baby
Tristan Lopez is loyal to his brothers. He doesn’t really have a choice, born into a gang that has a chokehold on every kid that roams its streets. He gave his life to them willingly, knowing if he did then one day this kingdom, led by boys drunk with power and ruled by fear, would all be his.
He was loyal through it all. Loyal when prison took his dad away. Loyal when his face was touched by the cold metal of the rival gang’s gun. Loyal even though his mom begged him to run the moment she returned home from rehab.
He thought about becoming someone else. It was hard not to crave the life of a regular 17-year-old. It’s the only reason he stayed in school—to pretend. But he always fell back in line.
Loyal.
Riley Rojas didn’t belong in Tristan’s real world. She should have only been part of the fantasy, one of the many faces he got to pretend with amidst rows of metal chairs and desks and whiteboards with assignments. But there she was, moving boxes from the back of an old pick-up into a house Tristan had shot up on a dare with his friends only a few months before.
Tall enough to look him in the eyes and strong enough to fill his shadow, Riley took up space on his streets, her loud mouth fearless in the face of the gang leaders who terrified everyone else. She pushed Tristan around on the hard court, and she balled better than his friends—better than him sometimes. She challenged him. She needed him. He liked it. And when her pale blue eyes stared into his, he quit wanting to pretend.
He couldn’t ask her to leave because she’d only dig her heels in deeper. He couldn’t ask because he didn’t want her to go. She was blurring his lines. She was testing his loyalty.
He was falling in love.
And it was going to tear him apart.
He was loyal through it all. Loyal when prison took his dad away. Loyal when his face was touched by the cold metal of the rival gang’s gun. Loyal even though his mom begged him to run the moment she returned home from rehab.
He thought about becoming someone else. It was hard not to crave the life of a regular 17-year-old. It’s the only reason he stayed in school—to pretend. But he always fell back in line.
Loyal.
Riley Rojas didn’t belong in Tristan’s real world. She should have only been part of the fantasy, one of the many faces he got to pretend with amidst rows of metal chairs and desks and whiteboards with assignments. But there she was, moving boxes from the back of an old pick-up into a house Tristan had shot up on a dare with his friends only a few months before.
Tall enough to look him in the eyes and strong enough to fill his shadow, Riley took up space on his streets, her loud mouth fearless in the face of the gang leaders who terrified everyone else. She pushed Tristan around on the hard court, and she balled better than his friends—better than him sometimes. She challenged him. She needed him. He liked it. And when her pale blue eyes stared into his, he quit wanting to pretend.
He couldn’t ask her to leave because she’d only dig her heels in deeper. He couldn’t ask because he didn’t want her to go. She was blurring his lines. She was testing his loyalty.
He was falling in love.
And it was going to tear him apart.
First published June 22, 2019
About the author
Ginger Scott
60 books3,417 followersGinger Scott is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon-bestselling author from Peoria, Arizona. She was also nominated for both the Goodreads Choice and Rita Awards. She is the author of several young and new adult romances, including bestsellers The Moon and Back, The Varsity Series, The Hard Count, This Is Falling and Wild Reckless.
A sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.
When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).
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A sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.
When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).
Sign Up for Ginger's Newsletter!
http://www.littlemisswrite.com/newsle...
Find Ginger online here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegingerscott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorginge...
Website: https://www.littlemisswrite.com
Amazon: amazon.com/author/gingerscott
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ginge...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
July 23, 2018
Dub calls. I say yes. And so goes my life.
One thing I can always count on and appreciate when I sit down to start a Ginger Scott YA read, it will never be a “cookie cutter” romance. Thank the stars!!
I would definitely characterize this sweet romance as a slow burn, second chance. It is also a story about courage and consequences.
The main characters, Tristan and Riley, were both so raw and engaging, but Tristan stole a chunk of my heart.
Here is a bit of the backdrop...
Tristan Lopez was literally born into a life of crime and violence. His father was the leader of their town’s notorious drug dealing, street gang. Tristan’s purpose in life ... follow in his father’s footsteps ... or else!
Riley Rojas is the new girl on the street. She is as gutsy and ballsy as the guys in her neighborhood. Basketball is her ticket to a college scholarship and a way out of the hellish town she and her father moved into.
"I'm so glad I met you, Tristan. That's the difference. I'm just so glad," I say as my head falls into the crook of his neck.
...I breathe him in, and I'm dizzy. I'm amorous. I'm all of it. But I am not scared. Tristan doesn't frighten me. He never has. He's never been anything but the cute boy willing to help the new girl move some heavy things. This hardened, cold shoulder and the wall that came with it has never felt like him. It's never belonged, and all I wanted to do was break through it.
Tristan finds himself at a crucial crossroad ... Give up, or Get out. Neither road will be easy, but both will be painful.
Told in dual narrative, my fave, I just didn’t want this story to end. I am so thankful it made me “feel.”
One thing I can always count on and appreciate when I sit down to start a Ginger Scott YA read, it will never be a “cookie cutter” romance. Thank the stars!!
I would definitely characterize this sweet romance as a slow burn, second chance. It is also a story about courage and consequences.
The main characters, Tristan and Riley, were both so raw and engaging, but Tristan stole a chunk of my heart.
Here is a bit of the backdrop...
Tristan Lopez was literally born into a life of crime and violence. His father was the leader of their town’s notorious drug dealing, street gang. Tristan’s purpose in life ... follow in his father’s footsteps ... or else!
Riley Rojas is the new girl on the street. She is as gutsy and ballsy as the guys in her neighborhood. Basketball is her ticket to a college scholarship and a way out of the hellish town she and her father moved into.
"I'm so glad I met you, Tristan. That's the difference. I'm just so glad," I say as my head falls into the crook of his neck.
...I breathe him in, and I'm dizzy. I'm amorous. I'm all of it. But I am not scared. Tristan doesn't frighten me. He never has. He's never been anything but the cute boy willing to help the new girl move some heavy things. This hardened, cold shoulder and the wall that came with it has never felt like him. It's never belonged, and all I wanted to do was break through it.
Tristan finds himself at a crucial crossroad ... Give up, or Get out. Neither road will be easy, but both will be painful.
Told in dual narrative, my fave, I just didn’t want this story to end. I am so thankful it made me “feel.”
June 18, 2018
Ginger Scott writes books that speak to me on another level. YA is my jam, and angsty YA with troubled characters thrown in is basically what I live for.
Cry Baby is brilliantly written. It's hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking and will leave you thinking about it for days afterward. Bravo, Ms. Scott. This boy-man stole my heart and I don't want it back.
Cry Baby is brilliantly written. It's hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking and will leave you thinking about it for days afterward. Bravo, Ms. Scott. This boy-man stole my heart and I don't want it back.
March 15, 2019
4 stars
I have been in the mood to read all the books that give me feels. And this was a perfect one to add to that list. Cry Baby is an emotional YA that really hit me hard. Honestly, I loved most everything about it. There were a few small things towards the end that kept it from being a 5 for me, but overall it was an amazing read.
Tristan Lopez was born into the gang life. He’s never wanted it, but his father founded the biggest gang in his neighborhood and he’s never had a choice. When he meets Riley, he starts to see a life away from it all. She’s the new girl, and unlike any girl he’s ever met. She makes him want things. Riley sees Tristan for who he really is. Beneath the exterior. And he sees her.
Riley and Tristan go through so much. Too much, it feels like. Both of them had my heart. I loved the connection they had, the friendship, I loved most of all the way Riley saw Tristan and eventually, the way he saw himself. Sigh. I just adored them both.
Obviously, things aren’t easy for them. Tristian especially. I wanted things to turn out differently than they did towards the end, I wanted more for them, but by the very end I was mostly happy with how things turned out. Riley and Tristan were where they belonged. With each other.
Ginger Scott’s writing is always fantastic. The characters in this book had so much depth and heart. This book truly brought out so many emotions for me. I cried more than once while reading. If you’re looking for a book that’s heavy, intense, a bit angsty, yet has sweet moments, pick this one up!!
I have been in the mood to read all the books that give me feels. And this was a perfect one to add to that list. Cry Baby is an emotional YA that really hit me hard. Honestly, I loved most everything about it. There were a few small things towards the end that kept it from being a 5 for me, but overall it was an amazing read.
Tristan Lopez was born into the gang life. He’s never wanted it, but his father founded the biggest gang in his neighborhood and he’s never had a choice. When he meets Riley, he starts to see a life away from it all. She’s the new girl, and unlike any girl he’s ever met. She makes him want things. Riley sees Tristan for who he really is. Beneath the exterior. And he sees her.
“You aren’t some other girl. You’re unlike any other girl. You make me wish things were different, that I was different, so don’t you ever apologize for being unlike anyone else. You’re exceptional.”
Riley and Tristan go through so much. Too much, it feels like. Both of them had my heart. I loved the connection they had, the friendship, I loved most of all the way Riley saw Tristan and eventually, the way he saw himself. Sigh. I just adored them both.
Obviously, things aren’t easy for them. Tristian especially. I wanted things to turn out differently than they did towards the end, I wanted more for them, but by the very end I was mostly happy with how things turned out. Riley and Tristan were where they belonged. With each other.
Riley has opened this window to what could be. She’s built a bridge between my reality and my fantasyland, and I can’t stop crossing it.
Ginger Scott’s writing is always fantastic. The characters in this book had so much depth and heart. This book truly brought out so many emotions for me. I cried more than once while reading. If you’re looking for a book that’s heavy, intense, a bit angsty, yet has sweet moments, pick this one up!!
June 24, 2018
Cry Baby
To describe this book is literally so hard for me.... Words are next to impossible to truly say how I feel.
Tristian, this poor tortured soul, I fell in love with him. My heart ached for his troubled upbringing, for his current life, for the loss he endures, and my heart rejoiced that he found his peace.
Riley, this strong fearless girl. Nothing brought her down, nothing made her scared. She fell so easy for Tristan. She fell for the boy she knew was hidden deep down in him and she fell for the boy he currently was. Although she knew there was trouble, she didn’t give up. Now my one issue I have with this story, when I say she didn’t give up, she didn’t. But she did. She gave up to me when it mattered most, because yet again, I am that hard romantic at heart. It didn’t ruin the story for me, it just took away from my true love version. The version of when you love, you love wholeheartedly, not with any give ups or what if’s or maybes. But of course, that is me and the way I want it, hehe!! Again, it didn't ruin the story at all for me!!
So in ending, this story is so heartbreaking, it’s reckless, it’s so fricken brilliantly told, I fell so hard for it. This author has the amazing ability to suck her readers in, I definitely fell in love again. I encourage you all to pick this one up. It’s amazing!! Available now!!
To describe this book is literally so hard for me.... Words are next to impossible to truly say how I feel.
Tristian, this poor tortured soul, I fell in love with him. My heart ached for his troubled upbringing, for his current life, for the loss he endures, and my heart rejoiced that he found his peace.
Riley, this strong fearless girl. Nothing brought her down, nothing made her scared. She fell so easy for Tristan. She fell for the boy she knew was hidden deep down in him and she fell for the boy he currently was. Although she knew there was trouble, she didn’t give up. Now my one issue I have with this story, when I say she didn’t give up, she didn’t. But she did. She gave up to me when it mattered most, because yet again, I am that hard romantic at heart. It didn’t ruin the story for me, it just took away from my true love version. The version of when you love, you love wholeheartedly, not with any give ups or what if’s or maybes. But of course, that is me and the way I want it, hehe!! Again, it didn't ruin the story at all for me!!
So in ending, this story is so heartbreaking, it’s reckless, it’s so fricken brilliantly told, I fell so hard for it. This author has the amazing ability to suck her readers in, I definitely fell in love again. I encourage you all to pick this one up. It’s amazing!! Available now!!
June 29, 2018
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Full disclosure - my mindset when I started Cry Baby wasn't in the right place so my review might be a little bit tainted by that. I have had a lot going on and it was a little hard to focus on a story that so needs to be told. At the beginning I thought that the story was slow until I realized that it was me not having enough time that made me grumpy. Adding to that the the fact that my mind was all over the place I gave myself a couple of days and it definitely worked because I finished half of the book in half a day.
Cry Baby addresses some heavy topics - once more Ginger Scott doesn't shy away from them but approaches them with tact and heart. It's one of the qualities I appreciate so much about her writing. Gangs are real and they are a real problem. More often than not their members are born into them and some who want to get out never really have a chance to escape, forced to do things they never really want to do. This is what happens to Tristan.
I loved Ginger's edgiest hero so far. He desperately wants to leave the vicious circle the leader of the gang put him in but it is impossible for him to find a way out without getting himself killed in the process. When a girl moves to his neighborhood he does everything to keep her away from himself and everything that is connected to the band activity. He didn't anticipate Riley's stubbornness, her strong will to hold on to him.
I’m obsessed. I constantly think of ways I can get out, how I can survive it and still be close to her. I imagine the pain of the beating I’d have to take, and the more I think about it, the less painful it becomes in my mind. I think it’s more than just a girl— Riley has opened this window to what I could be
Riley has a hard time handling Tristan's purposeful ignorance in the beginning. As a basketball player physicality is second nature so when she's really upset or angry things can get a little rough. While this was a side I usually don't condone it made sense for Riley. She expressed her frustration with Tristan in a physical way. What I loved most about her was how she stood by him, never letting him get away when he pushed. She was his rock and he learned fast that he could rely on her. Riley was independent, fearless, strong and lovable.
One thing that didn't quite work for me was Riley's leniency about locking up in a neighborhood with gang activity. It didn't make sense for her or her dad to put themselves in danger open-eyed and ignore the risks they put themselves in. It felt a bit TSTL, you know?
Tristan's protective streak was a huge source of exasperation and hurt feelings for Riley until she realized why he did it. I loved this about him. He took care of her despite her being his weakness. She made him see that he was worth more than he gave himself credit for. Torn between hope and hopelessness she made him dream about a future he thought he could never have and it took a long time for him to accept that she would do whatever it took to help him because she saw him for what he really was - a good young man with great potential trapped in a world he didn't want to be in any longer. And because she was the one for him she gave him the courage to break free.
You get what you see, and my world is dark right now. When the dark came for Riley she fought for the light. She’s a reason to fight now. I want to be like her. I want to live like her— do good things, work hard. I want to be with her. I want to love her… to get to love her
In the bubble they create for themselves a sweet and epic love story blooms and while not everything is picture-perfect it's real. It's what I love so much about Ginger Scott's story - they all have a sense of reality, something that could happen to a person you know. It's also how the story ends - while the ending was actually really good I would have loved a fluffier ending. It felt a little too open when I wanted to see a proper HEA after all the heartbreak. Objectively it was realistic with the way Tristan and Riley were in and out of each others' lives for a while, so I can't really fault it.
I told her she didn’t belong in my world once, but she did. She just didn’t belong in the darkness. She belonged in the light. I just never knew that she’d take me there with her. I never thought I belonged. I’m beginning to believe I do, though.
Once more Ms. Scott hits all the right buttons and makes me feel and love her characters. She will always be a go-to author when I'm in need of something special with a good dose of angst. Whenever I close one of her books I start wondering what unusual story she will come up next. She is and stays one of my favorites.
June 24, 2018
4 Stars
Author Ginger Scott takes around round on the basketball court and this time the court is on the mean streets as high school students one a gangbanger and one a driven basketball player fall hard for one another in this new novel.
Tristan Lopez is tied to a gang through birth and his zip code doing things that don’t sit right with him until he meets Riley Rojas who is one hell of a tough heroine. Riley is driven and works hard to make her dreams come true added to that list is befriending Tristan.
"She was there to play basketball, but that's not the same game everyone's there for.”
The story takes some scary twists and turns and the road to love isn’t smooth yet it’s well done and definitely an exciting ride.
"I just don't believe it's all he is."
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Author Ginger Scott takes around round on the basketball court and this time the court is on the mean streets as high school students one a gangbanger and one a driven basketball player fall hard for one another in this new novel.
Tristan Lopez is tied to a gang through birth and his zip code doing things that don’t sit right with him until he meets Riley Rojas who is one hell of a tough heroine. Riley is driven and works hard to make her dreams come true added to that list is befriending Tristan.
"She was there to play basketball, but that's not the same game everyone's there for.”
The story takes some scary twists and turns and the road to love isn’t smooth yet it’s well done and definitely an exciting ride.
"I just don't believe it's all he is."
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
June 16, 2018
MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
CRY BABY: Is a Full length, romance novel by Author ‘Ginger Scott’ Spoken in ‘Dual Perspectives’ In this we meet ‘Tristan Lopez’ & ‘Riley Rojas.’
These two are as different as chalk and cheese, though they both knew what it was like to not have both parents present. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks so to speak, a dead beat castrated father who was the founder for the gang life Tristan found himself stuck in.
Riley was the new girl on the block who befriended Tristan the first day of moving into the neighbourhood when she asked him to help her lift some weights out of her car into the house, thinking that they had established some sort of friendship that day she proceeds to go to the one place that was out of bounds to her, the neighbourhood basket ball court where all underhanded deals were taken care of.
She was there to play basketball, but that's not the same game everyone's there for.
What a whirlwind of a rollercoaster ride this book took me on, this was so well written and was jam packed with such a unique heartbreaking story. This was so different to what I was expecting. The authors writing style engages you straight away, I was swept along on such a profound captivating story, the highs and lows both had to endure through their individual upbringings.
These two were worlds apart but they just worked. They fitted perfectly like a well fitted glove. I loved how different these two were, I loved how she challenged him, I loved his inner musings, his dreams if his life was different but that's not how his life was mapped out, until her. She saw him. The real him that he didn't show to the world, only her.
Read
June 27, 2018dnf @ 30%
there were a lot of reasons that this didn't work for me but i'll keep it short
- books about gangs/gang activity especially with underage characters are usually a no for me
- i didn't realize this was going to be a YA
- riley was fcking annoying...
why is it that authors are so damn bad at writing bad ass female characters. we either get someone with absolutely no emotion that is truly a bad ass or we're stuck with someone who thinks that they're a bad ass and does seriously dumb shit. we were stuck with the latter in riley.
i can't speak much on the plot since i didn't get that far but from what i can tell it was going to be a "let's try and get far from here, out of the ghetto" type situation. which is fine and dandy but to me personally is depressing and not something i typically care to read about.
definitely a case of "it's not you, it's me." i did appreciate tristan's character and really did think his struggles were well identified and described. if this sort of story appeals to you i think you might really enjoy this one.
---------------------------
buddy read with the lovely jess
there were a lot of reasons that this didn't work for me but i'll keep it short
- books about gangs/gang activity especially with underage characters are usually a no for me
- i didn't realize this was going to be a YA
- riley was fcking annoying...
why is it that authors are so damn bad at writing bad ass female characters. we either get someone with absolutely no emotion that is truly a bad ass or we're stuck with someone who thinks that they're a bad ass and does seriously dumb shit. we were stuck with the latter in riley.
i can't speak much on the plot since i didn't get that far but from what i can tell it was going to be a "let's try and get far from here, out of the ghetto" type situation. which is fine and dandy but to me personally is depressing and not something i typically care to read about.
definitely a case of "it's not you, it's me." i did appreciate tristan's character and really did think his struggles were well identified and described. if this sort of story appeals to you i think you might really enjoy this one.
---------------------------
buddy read with the lovely jess
June 24, 2018
4-4,5 stars
Such a beautiful story, Ginger Scott impressed me for one more time!Her writing is flawless and her story is intense and emotional.
Cry Baby is raw and realistic, I felt like I was a part of the story.I was connected to the characters the whole time.Riley and Tristan had to work for their friendship.Riley was exactly what Tristan needed.
The story was brilliant and it was fast paced.I'm in love with Ginger's writing, if you haven't read her books yet please you need to try this one!!
Such a beautiful story, Ginger Scott impressed me for one more time!Her writing is flawless and her story is intense and emotional.
Cry Baby is raw and realistic, I felt like I was a part of the story.I was connected to the characters the whole time.Riley and Tristan had to work for their friendship.Riley was exactly what Tristan needed.
The story was brilliant and it was fast paced.I'm in love with Ginger's writing, if you haven't read her books yet please you need to try this one!!
June 22, 2018
As soon as I turned the last page of this book, I felt like I needed to sob. I had all these pent up feelings, all these residual emotions from everything this book made me feel and I just couldn't get them out. I understood Tristan Lopez so much more in that moment and how he earned his nickname because I too held onto all my tears until it was too much to bear, until it was safe to let it all out. I felt such overwhelming sadness for all that had been lost on these pages. I felt grief. I was heartbroken and angry but I was also deeply moved by the gravity of the realism in this story. I was also overcome with hope. There is joy in this story. There is forgiveness. There is so much possibility and such brilliant silver linings amid despair. Cry Baby wreaked havoc on my heart, overwhelmed me with an intense barrage of conflicting emotions, and it devestated me with its heart stopping romance in the way that only Ginger Scott's stories do.
The Hard Count has been my top favorite book from this author until this moment. I'm not certain Cry Baby has topped it, but it's certainly neck and neck right now. There simply aren't words to adequately describe my love for Ginger Scott's YA romances. She's at her absolute best when she writes in this genre. I want to get lost in her high school romances and never, ever come out. Like The Hard Count, Cry Baby is layered masterfully with a sports element, with Tristan and Riley connecting and sparring and releasing the blistering tension between them on the basketball court. But, like The Hard Count, this story is so much heavier than anything I could've anticipated, a much deeper storyline than your average sports romance. These characters exist in a world full of impossibility and fear and it's absolutely gut wrenching to be swept up in their story. This book is layered seamlessly with so much strife, such beautiful friendships, such horrific circumstances, such heartwarming romance. It's an unputdownable, EXTRAORDINARY story of survival and love and I never wanted it to end.
I don't want to say anything at all about this plot, just READ THE BOOK. Feel all the things as you're meant to, let Ginger Scott carry you away with her words and her storytelling and her unforgettable characters and this gritty storyline that you won't be able to shake off long after you're finished. I'll say it again, Cry Baby is a new TOP FAVORITE from this author. It's absolutely one of the greatest books I've read this year. My emotions are still a wreck. Typically I'm content with leaving characters exactly where the author left them at the close of a book, but I wasn't ready to let Tristan and Riley go yet. These are characters I DESPERATELY hope we might get to revisit down the road because THEY ARE EVERYTHING. They've left me shaken and twisted up, satisfied but also a bit desperate for a glimpse into their future. They've made me fall deeper in love with this author's writing than I thought possible. And they've left me changed for the better. I loved this story so very much.
The Hard Count has been my top favorite book from this author until this moment. I'm not certain Cry Baby has topped it, but it's certainly neck and neck right now. There simply aren't words to adequately describe my love for Ginger Scott's YA romances. She's at her absolute best when she writes in this genre. I want to get lost in her high school romances and never, ever come out. Like The Hard Count, Cry Baby is layered masterfully with a sports element, with Tristan and Riley connecting and sparring and releasing the blistering tension between them on the basketball court. But, like The Hard Count, this story is so much heavier than anything I could've anticipated, a much deeper storyline than your average sports romance. These characters exist in a world full of impossibility and fear and it's absolutely gut wrenching to be swept up in their story. This book is layered seamlessly with so much strife, such beautiful friendships, such horrific circumstances, such heartwarming romance. It's an unputdownable, EXTRAORDINARY story of survival and love and I never wanted it to end.
I don't want to say anything at all about this plot, just READ THE BOOK. Feel all the things as you're meant to, let Ginger Scott carry you away with her words and her storytelling and her unforgettable characters and this gritty storyline that you won't be able to shake off long after you're finished. I'll say it again, Cry Baby is a new TOP FAVORITE from this author. It's absolutely one of the greatest books I've read this year. My emotions are still a wreck. Typically I'm content with leaving characters exactly where the author left them at the close of a book, but I wasn't ready to let Tristan and Riley go yet. These are characters I DESPERATELY hope we might get to revisit down the road because THEY ARE EVERYTHING. They've left me shaken and twisted up, satisfied but also a bit desperate for a glimpse into their future. They've made me fall deeper in love with this author's writing than I thought possible. And they've left me changed for the better. I loved this story so very much.
November 5, 2023
Da das Cover ein echter Hingucker ist und einen schönen Farbverlauf aus meinen Lieblingsfarben ergibt, bin ich direkt auf das Buch aufmerksam geworden. Auch der Klappentext hat direkt mein Interesse geweckt, weswegen dieses wunderschöne Buch sofort bei mir einziehen musste. Da ich ein totaler Fan von Young Adult-Geschichten bin, konnte ich auch schnell die Geschichte reinommen Man lernt direkt den Protagonisten Tristan kennen und ist sofort mittendrin in einem Drogendeal, bei dem er den Handlanger spielt. Kurz darauf macht das Buch einen Zeitsprung zum siebzehnjährigen Tristan, der mir recht verdrossen und hoffnungslos erschien. Er steckt in der Gang fest, in die er sozusagen hineingeboren wurde und da er mittels einer Tätowierung zur rechten Hand des Gang-Bosses gemacht wurde, kann ihn nur der Tod daraus befreien. Im Inneren ist er aber ein guter Kerl, der gerne etwas Besseres für sich und seine Mutter hätte.
Riley hingegen ist neu in Miller. Während ihres Umzugs trifft sie auf Tristan und ist sofort fasziniert von ihm. Und das beruht auf Gegenseitigkeit. Doch Tristan ist Mitglied einer Gang und darf Riley nicht an sich heranlassen, weil er sie dadurch in Gefahr begibt. Allerdings ist die Anziehungskraft zu groß. Riley ist einem direkt sympathisch. Sie bietet dem mürrischen Tristan und seinen Gangmitgliedern die Stirn und lässt sich nicht abweisen und kleinkriegen. Sie kämpft für das, was sie interessiert. Und dafür bekommt sie Bewunderung, stürzt sich aber auch immer wieder in Probleme und Gefahren - auch, wenn sie es gut meint.
Die Geschichte wird aus den Sicht beider Protagonisten erzählt, was eigentlich dazu führen sollte, dass man gut in das Innenleben der Figuren hineinblicken kann. Obwohl ich stets interessiert war, zu erfahren, wie es mit Tristan & Riley weitergeht, muss ich gestehen, dass ihre Geschichte doch recht schleppend vor sich hin geplätschert ist. Ich habe weder mit den beiden als Einzelperson sympathisieren können, weder empfand ich ihre Liebesgeschichte als spannend.
Zwischen den beiden existierte wenn bloß eine Schwärmerei, aber große Gefühle blieben zumindestens bei mir jedoch aus. Einige Abschnitte verlieren sich außerdem schon fast in Banalität, wodurch der Plot eher ausgebremst, als vorangetrieben wird. Das machte die Story teilweise richtig zäh zu lesen. Gerade zu einem Zeitpunkt, als etwas Entscheidendes geschieht, wird auf dieses Ereignis kaum eingegangen, was ich wirklich enorm schade fand. An dieser Stelle dachte ich mir, dass es nun endlich losgehen würde, aber meine Hoffnung wurde leider nicht erfüllt. Das Ende war auf jeden Fall stärker als der Beginn der Geschichte, aber da das Potenzial nicht richtig ausgenutzt wurde, verändert es leider meine Bewertung nicht. Trotzalledem ist das Buch auf jeden Fall mal etwas anderes und obwohl es mich nicht ganz von sich überzeugen konnte, wird es dem ein oder anderen bestimmt Freude bereiten.
Fazit: "Lips Don't Lie" war für mich eine recht mittelmäßige Geschichte - ein Jugendbuch, was defintiv Potential hatte, jedoch der Fokus auf die falschen Sachen gelegt worden sind. Ich habe letztendlich eine andere Geschichte erwartet und die Themen, die im Klappentext angeteasert wurden, kamen nur am Rande vor. Sehr schade, somit kein Must Read und auch keine Empfehlung.
Riley hingegen ist neu in Miller. Während ihres Umzugs trifft sie auf Tristan und ist sofort fasziniert von ihm. Und das beruht auf Gegenseitigkeit. Doch Tristan ist Mitglied einer Gang und darf Riley nicht an sich heranlassen, weil er sie dadurch in Gefahr begibt. Allerdings ist die Anziehungskraft zu groß. Riley ist einem direkt sympathisch. Sie bietet dem mürrischen Tristan und seinen Gangmitgliedern die Stirn und lässt sich nicht abweisen und kleinkriegen. Sie kämpft für das, was sie interessiert. Und dafür bekommt sie Bewunderung, stürzt sich aber auch immer wieder in Probleme und Gefahren - auch, wenn sie es gut meint.
Die Geschichte wird aus den Sicht beider Protagonisten erzählt, was eigentlich dazu führen sollte, dass man gut in das Innenleben der Figuren hineinblicken kann. Obwohl ich stets interessiert war, zu erfahren, wie es mit Tristan & Riley weitergeht, muss ich gestehen, dass ihre Geschichte doch recht schleppend vor sich hin geplätschert ist. Ich habe weder mit den beiden als Einzelperson sympathisieren können, weder empfand ich ihre Liebesgeschichte als spannend.
Zwischen den beiden existierte wenn bloß eine Schwärmerei, aber große Gefühle blieben zumindestens bei mir jedoch aus. Einige Abschnitte verlieren sich außerdem schon fast in Banalität, wodurch der Plot eher ausgebremst, als vorangetrieben wird. Das machte die Story teilweise richtig zäh zu lesen. Gerade zu einem Zeitpunkt, als etwas Entscheidendes geschieht, wird auf dieses Ereignis kaum eingegangen, was ich wirklich enorm schade fand. An dieser Stelle dachte ich mir, dass es nun endlich losgehen würde, aber meine Hoffnung wurde leider nicht erfüllt. Das Ende war auf jeden Fall stärker als der Beginn der Geschichte, aber da das Potenzial nicht richtig ausgenutzt wurde, verändert es leider meine Bewertung nicht. Trotzalledem ist das Buch auf jeden Fall mal etwas anderes und obwohl es mich nicht ganz von sich überzeugen konnte, wird es dem ein oder anderen bestimmt Freude bereiten.
Fazit: "Lips Don't Lie" war für mich eine recht mittelmäßige Geschichte - ein Jugendbuch, was defintiv Potential hatte, jedoch der Fokus auf die falschen Sachen gelegt worden sind. Ich habe letztendlich eine andere Geschichte erwartet und die Themen, die im Klappentext angeteasert wurden, kamen nur am Rande vor. Sehr schade, somit kein Must Read und auch keine Empfehlung.
June 29, 2018
DNF at 65%
Ginger Scott has written some of my favorite YA books but there also have been works of hers in the past I didn’t particularly like and sadly, Cry Baby is now one of them, too.
I wouldn’t say the book was bad but Riley, the female MC got on my last nerve and I wasn’t willing to waste anymore time on her.
She was supposed to be this tough, kick-ass girl who didn’t take shit from anyone. In reality though, she was only pretending to be tough on the outside, which didn’t feel authentic. She tried too hard to play the tough chick and to me she just came across as annoying, ignorant and dumb. You see, our girl Riley here is so tough that even though she’s fully aware of the fact that she’s living in a rough neighborhood she doesn’t feel it’s necessary to lock her door or her car. She also thinks it’s ok to hang out alone, at night, on a shady basketball court even though people have tried repeatedly to warn her away. She sees it as giving a big F you to the gang who rules her neighborhood. You know, I get not wanting to let fear dictate how you live your life but Riley seems to be lacking common sense.
Since Riley bugged me so much and I was pretty much just waiting for someone to knock her down a peg or 10, the romance didn’t work for me at all so I’m giving up now.
Ginger Scott has written some of my favorite YA books but there also have been works of hers in the past I didn’t particularly like and sadly, Cry Baby is now one of them, too.
I wouldn’t say the book was bad but Riley, the female MC got on my last nerve and I wasn’t willing to waste anymore time on her.
She was supposed to be this tough, kick-ass girl who didn’t take shit from anyone. In reality though, she was only pretending to be tough on the outside, which didn’t feel authentic. She tried too hard to play the tough chick and to me she just came across as annoying, ignorant and dumb. You see, our girl Riley here is so tough that even though she’s fully aware of the fact that she’s living in a rough neighborhood she doesn’t feel it’s necessary to lock her door or her car. She also thinks it’s ok to hang out alone, at night, on a shady basketball court even though people have tried repeatedly to warn her away. She sees it as giving a big F you to the gang who rules her neighborhood. You know, I get not wanting to let fear dictate how you live your life but Riley seems to be lacking common sense.
Since Riley bugged me so much and I was pretty much just waiting for someone to knock her down a peg or 10, the romance didn’t work for me at all so I’m giving up now.
June 26, 2018
Title: Cry Baby
Series: Standalone
Author: Ginger Scott
Release date: June 22, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
When you pick up one of Ginger Scott's YA books, you know that you're about to get a story that addresses serious topics, not just your garden variety, young love fluff. In Cry Baby, she tackles the subject of gangs and their effect on the youth. How living in this environment all your life can shape and mold your future, and how you can feel imprisoned in your circumstances. Tristan was born into this senseless, violent life. Because of the choices his father made, and ultimately died for. He was placed onto a path of self-destruction, and by the time he realized it, he could only face his future with resignation and hopelessness.
I sold myself to this life when I was a kid, blinded by these criminals I idolized and the stories they told me about my dad.
In Tristan's world, there were only two places you ended up if you stayed in that life. Prison or an early grave. It could be a drug deal gone bad, a rival gang getting revenge, or someone close to you stabbing you in the back. Or it could be something as simple and arbitrary as walking to the convenience store. He'd become almost numb to his daily life. Fortunately, not so much that he lost all sense of right and wrong. It wasn't that he didn't think about the murders that he witnessed, or the drugs that passed through his hands-in fact he hated himself for his involvement.
He was a young man with an old soul, and the weight of the world on his shoulders. His nickname Cry Baby was given to him because of his inability to cry by the head of the 57, Dub. Dub was a sociopath, plain and simple. A man without conscience, morals, or mercy. And he had his claws sunk deep into Tristan with no plans to ever let him find his way out of the darkness.
Riley was the new girl in town. When she runs into Tristan as she's unloading some furniture in front of the house, she mistakenly believes that she's found a quick friend to shoot hoops with down the street. What she doesn't know is that first impressions aren't always what they appear, and he has no plans to let her anywhere near his crowd. This sets off a streak of stubbornness in her to gain entry into what she believes is a sexist boy's inner circle. Riley was unbending. Fierce, and full of confidence in her own worth. I loved that confident side of her. There was no room in her head for dating or boys when all of her focus was already centered on getting herself on a team again to secure a spot in college. She may have had an easy road with her mother taking off, and bouncing from school to school, but she wasn't afraid to brush herself off and work for what she wanted.
The romance between Tristan and Riley took a little while to unravel. Neither was looking to fall in love, one because they were reaching for a bright future, and the other because they had none. But once she got a glimpse into the kind of physical and mental battle he was dealing with, everything changed. His mother and Ms. Beaumont had been pushing him to strive for more and change the direction of his life, and Riley's added faith seemed enough to push him over the edge and start to believe.
There’s something about Tristan that speaks to me, and no matter how many warnings I get—from him, from Lauren…from the universe—I still want to let him in. I want time with him. I want to know why my friend thinks he’s so awful, because I just don’t see it.
There was one thing that bothered me about Riley and that was her lack of concern for her own safety. According to her, she has lived in tough neighborhoods before. Maybe not quite that dangerous, but you would think that it was common sense to lock up your car and home to protect yourself. Or to not go out at night alone! She said that she didn't want to allow them to have power over her life and how she lived. It's one thing to be brave, another to be reckless with your own life. It didn't really add up to me that she felt this way.
I think that reactions to the ending could be a mixed bag for readers, but personally I appreciated the stark reality of how the conflict was resolved, as well as the fact that she didn't compromise her goals over what happened. There isn't always a picture perfect answer, but this felt right and necessary. Sometimes important people drift from us in our lives, but the tide will always bring them back when it's the right time. I always take away something from Ginger Scott's books, and this one was no exception. She didn't shy away from showing the gritty realities of gang life, and what a wide scope of tragedy they have.
Criminals aren’t born; they are made. This world made Tristan, and he fights to break free of it. That hold, though—it’s vicious.
Highly recommended for readers who like YA on the mature end of the genre.
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November 15, 2018
“You aren’t some other girl. You’re unlike any other girl. You make me wish things were different, that I was different, so don’t you ever apologize for being unlike anyone else. You’re exceptional.”
The entire time I was reading this book my chest was tight. This was a beautiful book. This was also a really raw and a really hard, heartbreaking read overall.
I don’t see her coming. That’s probably what saved her from me.
I love this author to pieces. She writes such amazing books, books that are real and raw and stories that will stay with you way after you’re done with the book.
“I want some other life so badly I can almost feel myself in it. I feel it in the way her air tickles at my neck as she stutters her breath. It’s in the way she fits against me as my hands slowly rise and flatten on her back. My heart is literally tapping out a distress call and hunting for an escape. Anything, as long as this isn’t the only time I ever get to hold this girl.”
Tristan’s story is simply heartbreaking. What would you do if you were born in a situation where you thought you had no choices in life? That’s how Tristan’s life has been and how he sees his future turning out. All until he meets Riley. And let me tell you, Riley was such an amazing, strong, character. I just loved her!
There’s something about Tristan that speaks to me, and no matter how many warnings I get—from him, from Lauren…from the universe—I still want to let him in. I want time with him.
When Riley enter’s Tristan’s life he is able to see that there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t really want to go into detail, but let me tell you, this is one amazingly captivating story that will keep you hooked and guessing how it could possibly end the entire time.
“I’ve shown you my hard truth, and yet you keep showing up. You’re so…fearless. And stubborn. You don’t pretend, and you don’t listen. God, I wish you’d listen sometimes.”
With that said, while I absolutely loved the first 90% of the book, the last 10% was not my favorite. I guess the realist in my didn’t expect anything else from the story, but the romantic in me expected so much more and I just didn’t enjoy how the story and their relationship was left off in that last page. If there was one couple that I need more of, especially of them in the future is this one. This is one couple I wouldn’t mind the author revisiting, because I think they deserve way much more than what they got.
Do I recommend? Totally! Absolutely! This author should be a must read for all, and this book was overall fantastic!
“I never saw this coming, though. I didn’t know Riley was out there. I didn’t know being around someone like her would make me happy, that we would match like this.”
The entire time I was reading this book my chest was tight. This was a beautiful book. This was also a really raw and a really hard, heartbreaking read overall.
I don’t see her coming. That’s probably what saved her from me.
I love this author to pieces. She writes such amazing books, books that are real and raw and stories that will stay with you way after you’re done with the book.
“I want some other life so badly I can almost feel myself in it. I feel it in the way her air tickles at my neck as she stutters her breath. It’s in the way she fits against me as my hands slowly rise and flatten on her back. My heart is literally tapping out a distress call and hunting for an escape. Anything, as long as this isn’t the only time I ever get to hold this girl.”
Tristan’s story is simply heartbreaking. What would you do if you were born in a situation where you thought you had no choices in life? That’s how Tristan’s life has been and how he sees his future turning out. All until he meets Riley. And let me tell you, Riley was such an amazing, strong, character. I just loved her!
There’s something about Tristan that speaks to me, and no matter how many warnings I get—from him, from Lauren…from the universe—I still want to let him in. I want time with him.
When Riley enter’s Tristan’s life he is able to see that there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t really want to go into detail, but let me tell you, this is one amazingly captivating story that will keep you hooked and guessing how it could possibly end the entire time.
“I’ve shown you my hard truth, and yet you keep showing up. You’re so…fearless. And stubborn. You don’t pretend, and you don’t listen. God, I wish you’d listen sometimes.”
With that said, while I absolutely loved the first 90% of the book, the last 10% was not my favorite. I guess the realist in my didn’t expect anything else from the story, but the romantic in me expected so much more and I just didn’t enjoy how the story and their relationship was left off in that last page. If there was one couple that I need more of, especially of them in the future is this one. This is one couple I wouldn’t mind the author revisiting, because I think they deserve way much more than what they got.
Do I recommend? Totally! Absolutely! This author should be a must read for all, and this book was overall fantastic!
“I never saw this coming, though. I didn’t know Riley was out there. I didn’t know being around someone like her would make me happy, that we would match like this.”
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 23, 2019dnf @ chapter 9. I might or might not come back to this. I get that this is a sports romance, but I want the concentration to be on the romance not basketball.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 14, 2021This was the first book that appeared on my update feed and also the first book I added to my TBR and I still haven't read it *sighs*
June 24, 2018
This is one of those stories you finish and wonder what you just read. It was a beautifully tragic tale of trying to find who you are and what you stand for in a brutal world. I could not put it down.
Tristan and Riley's love story isn't a pretty one. It's not the "first love" romance you expect in a YA read. It's raw and honest and so complicated it made my head spin and my chest ache.
There were times I had to stop reading as I was crying so hard I couldn't see. Their innocence at battle with their hardened lives. The injustices these kids have to face broke my heart. This author packs a punch with her stories and this one just about broke me. Hope for the hopeless - it's a truly amazing read.
I received an arc of this book.
Tristan and Riley's love story isn't a pretty one. It's not the "first love" romance you expect in a YA read. It's raw and honest and so complicated it made my head spin and my chest ache.
There were times I had to stop reading as I was crying so hard I couldn't see. Their innocence at battle with their hardened lives. The injustices these kids have to face broke my heart. This author packs a punch with her stories and this one just about broke me. Hope for the hopeless - it's a truly amazing read.
I received an arc of this book.
June 13, 2018
**Cry Baby generously provided in exchange for an honest review.**
5 "So stand with me..." Stars
This book really showcases everything phenomenal about Ginger Scott's story telling. It's her unique new adult voice shining with a deeper edge. It's a story of impossible circumstances fighting against one's own upbringing where decisions were made and are beyond tough to fight. It's a coming of age story told through gritty, raw details of a boy struggling to understand how to get what he really wants. It's an intense love story of understanding and compassion - not a traditional fall head over heels romance but slow burning friendship that blossoms into a beautiful kinship. If you haven't dove into Ginger Scott's stories Cry Baby would be a great place to start. For established fans, you'll be in awe of this new, important, and very real story.
Tristan Lopez grew into adolescence a product of his environment. With no clear recognition of choices other than what has always been presented to him, Tristan grapples between his reality and his silent, hidden dreams. He's a layered and nuanced character with so much to give even though so much has been taken from him. There's a possessive and aggressive tone to Tristan that spirals in many different ways both fiercely good and sometimes bad in his ability to detach. He's a protector, a fighter, a sinner, a scholar. When people outside of his realm start taking notice Tristan finds himself at a crossroads in his young life. The results of which direction he begins to turn are cataclysmic.
Riley Rojas presents as a very strong character. She's been through so much in her young age, feelings no child should have to navigate. Her life intersects with Tristan's in ways she doesn't even realize or understand yet. This girl is fierce. She's gives and takes freely without remorse, comfortable in her own skin and unabashedly fearless to anyone around her. She sees deeper and expects greatness from the depths of her knowing what people can achieve. Riley is the purity to Tristan's impurity, the light to his dark. She's also the mirror Tristan needed.
I felt this story in my bones when I was reading it. Ginger Scott refuses to hold back the hard truths of the situation in which these two young adults live. Scott's words are real and her situations raw as she gets to the heart of two people destined for greatness yet plagued with seemingly impossible hurdles in their lives. Cry Baby is as sad as it is uplifting, as intense as it is soft. I felt the gambit of emotions, everything, from beginning to end. Ginger Scott's voice relays the urgency and importance of the happenings Tristan and Riley's lives and how we can all be just as compassionate as they are no matter our given or chosen circumstances.
5 "So stand with me..." Stars
This book really showcases everything phenomenal about Ginger Scott's story telling. It's her unique new adult voice shining with a deeper edge. It's a story of impossible circumstances fighting against one's own upbringing where decisions were made and are beyond tough to fight. It's a coming of age story told through gritty, raw details of a boy struggling to understand how to get what he really wants. It's an intense love story of understanding and compassion - not a traditional fall head over heels romance but slow burning friendship that blossoms into a beautiful kinship. If you haven't dove into Ginger Scott's stories Cry Baby would be a great place to start. For established fans, you'll be in awe of this new, important, and very real story.
"I'm caught in a tornado of impossibles and nerves, and the only things left on my list are horrible sins."
Tristan Lopez grew into adolescence a product of his environment. With no clear recognition of choices other than what has always been presented to him, Tristan grapples between his reality and his silent, hidden dreams. He's a layered and nuanced character with so much to give even though so much has been taken from him. There's a possessive and aggressive tone to Tristan that spirals in many different ways both fiercely good and sometimes bad in his ability to detach. He's a protector, a fighter, a sinner, a scholar. When people outside of his realm start taking notice Tristan finds himself at a crossroads in his young life. The results of which direction he begins to turn are cataclysmic.
"I just don't believe it's all he is."
Riley Rojas presents as a very strong character. She's been through so much in her young age, feelings no child should have to navigate. Her life intersects with Tristan's in ways she doesn't even realize or understand yet. This girl is fierce. She's gives and takes freely without remorse, comfortable in her own skin and unabashedly fearless to anyone around her. She sees deeper and expects greatness from the depths of her knowing what people can achieve. Riley is the purity to Tristan's impurity, the light to his dark. She's also the mirror Tristan needed.
"The collision would be deadly."
I felt this story in my bones when I was reading it. Ginger Scott refuses to hold back the hard truths of the situation in which these two young adults live. Scott's words are real and her situations raw as she gets to the heart of two people destined for greatness yet plagued with seemingly impossible hurdles in their lives. Cry Baby is as sad as it is uplifting, as intense as it is soft. I felt the gambit of emotions, everything, from beginning to end. Ginger Scott's voice relays the urgency and importance of the happenings Tristan and Riley's lives and how we can all be just as compassionate as they are no matter our given or chosen circumstances.
June 13, 2018
Y'all, this book was an experience. I don't even know where to start. It's gritty and simmering, bittersweet and infused with hope. It broke my heart, and then it kissed the cracks and set them to heal.
I felt like this wasn't so much a romance as it was a gritty YA story with romantic overtones. That is - the story was compelling and raw. It was sometimes hard to read, from an emotional standpoint. It held me captive and interested, occasionally on the edge of my seat. And it cut my heart wide open for Tristan and Riley whose relationship, while maybe not the most romantic one I've ever read, was definitely one of the most touching.
I felt like there were a lot of extras in this book that made it special as well. The secondary character game is strong and added a layer of lightness that kept the book from feeling too heavy. I loved that balance, and the extra depth those layers gave this book.
In all, I really enjoyed Cry Baby. I loved Tristan and Riley. I loved the authenticity to their story. I might have liked a little more from the ending, which left me feeling like I didn't quite get the closure I was looking for, but the overall experience was intense, and wonderful! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
I felt like this wasn't so much a romance as it was a gritty YA story with romantic overtones. That is - the story was compelling and raw. It was sometimes hard to read, from an emotional standpoint. It held me captive and interested, occasionally on the edge of my seat. And it cut my heart wide open for Tristan and Riley whose relationship, while maybe not the most romantic one I've ever read, was definitely one of the most touching.
I felt like there were a lot of extras in this book that made it special as well. The secondary character game is strong and added a layer of lightness that kept the book from feeling too heavy. I loved that balance, and the extra depth those layers gave this book.
In all, I really enjoyed Cry Baby. I loved Tristan and Riley. I loved the authenticity to their story. I might have liked a little more from the ending, which left me feeling like I didn't quite get the closure I was looking for, but the overall experience was intense, and wonderful! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
May 5, 2019
Oh how i miss miss Scott book. I was so happy to be able to get ny hand on Cry Baby. From the title alone, i was very intrique.
The blurp saying this is a harsh life of gangster makes me itchy.
Tristan is a very lonely young man. His life is forced into a life of gangster because his dad was a gangster. Deep inside he longes for a normal life. But does not have a courage to break free. Until Riley. She gives Tristan a glimpse of a normal life can be. The story nagivating through his struggle and his friendship with Riley. How he slowly have a courage to do the right thing. For him and for Riley.
Although this is a romance novel, but the romance is more into a background. I love the story. It is so raw and so real. Heartbreaking yet tender soothing to my heart.
5 stars
The blurp saying this is a harsh life of gangster makes me itchy.
Tristan is a very lonely young man. His life is forced into a life of gangster because his dad was a gangster. Deep inside he longes for a normal life. But does not have a courage to break free. Until Riley. She gives Tristan a glimpse of a normal life can be. The story nagivating through his struggle and his friendship with Riley. How he slowly have a courage to do the right thing. For him and for Riley.
Although this is a romance novel, but the romance is more into a background. I love the story. It is so raw and so real. Heartbreaking yet tender soothing to my heart.
5 stars
May 16, 2021
3 STARS ☆
This book took longer than anticipated to get through because I could not stand the main heroine. Besides the length it took me to get through the book, I struggled to rate this book. I went back and forth between 2 and 3 stars and ultimately decided on ✨ 3 stars ✨ as my heart truly broke for the main hero - Tristan Lopez.
ANYWAYS~
Let's get down to business.
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Warning my review contains spoilers so read as you may!
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🎧 Format: Audio listen that was narrated by Amy Melissa Bentley and Alex Kydd. This audiobook is just under 12 hours. Both narrators were new to me and I generally liked both their voices when they narrated their respective characters. Unfortunately, I did not like the narration for Riley when read by Alex Kydd. It was high pitched at times and just not fitting to the character. Lastly, the audio listen included 20 chapters + epilogue where most chapters ranged from 20-30 minutes long, so the chapters are relatively long.
STORY PLOT
Cry Baby is a standalone young adult romance book that follows Tristan Lopez (H) who is on the brink of turning 18-years-old. Eighteen is monumental age that represents the transformation and introduction to adulthood. However, it represents the loss of all innocence and initiation fully into the gang life for Tristan. He was born into this life and the only way out is death. He know the finality to this situation and his become resigned to the fact that this is the only life he has to live, that is until Riley Rojas (h) barrels into his life. At first, Tristan acts indifferent towards Riley and tries to keep her away from the danger that lurks on the courts at night but Riley is not one that takes 'no' well, so she fights him every step of the way. With each battle, Riley finally has Tristan see more for himself and wanting out of this dangerous life.
【FAVORITE QUOTE】
Tristan, you deserve so much more for yourself 💖 💖 💖
CHARACTERS
🏀 Tristan 'Cry Baby' Lopez
Tristan captivated me as he was a rough around the edge type of hero. He has done things that are morally bad, but overall he is not a bad person. He cared deeply for those that meant something to him but with Dub's breathing down his neck he had to act emotionless. Overall, I liked that Ginger Scott addressed such a heavy topic - gang life. Leaving a gang can be difficult and deadly for an individual. I felt that author captured the emotional struggle someone could go through, if trying to leave a gang.
🏀 Riley Rojas
I. COULDN'T. STAND. HER.
She was aware of the large presence of the gang in the area but chose to be stupid majority of the time because she wanted to proved a point of being independent, equal to the boys, or safe in her surroundings.
✷ Riley being a "badass" and ultimate queen of listening ✷
🏀 Secondary Characters
- Lauren
I loved Lauren. I mean bonus cause she had my name but she was strong and an actual badass. I was so happy to see in the end she made it out that neighborhood and pursuing a degree.
- Joker
Joker was Tristan's best friend since they were kids. He did not want to be in the gang and tried his best to get out. Unfortunately, Dub found him first and he lost his life. Kim K. you had nothing on me when Tristan found Joker's body. My heart broke so much for him and I did cry, a lot.
✧ Plot lines that fell flat ✧
- OVERALL -
⇘ —————–––––––—————––— ⇙
Biggest takeaways from this book
⇗ —————–––––––—————––— ⇖
This book took longer than anticipated to get through because I could not stand the main heroine. Besides the length it took me to get through the book, I struggled to rate this book. I went back and forth between 2 and 3 stars and ultimately decided on ✨ 3 stars ✨ as my heart truly broke for the main hero - Tristan Lopez.
ANYWAYS~
Let's get down to business.
═════════════════ •°• :⚠️: •°•═════════════════
Warning my review contains spoilers so read as you may!
═════════════════ •°• :⚠️: •°•═════════════════
🎧 Format: Audio listen that was narrated by Amy Melissa Bentley and Alex Kydd. This audiobook is just under 12 hours. Both narrators were new to me and I generally liked both their voices when they narrated their respective characters. Unfortunately, I did not like the narration for Riley when read by Alex Kydd. It was high pitched at times and just not fitting to the character. Lastly, the audio listen included 20 chapters + epilogue where most chapters ranged from 20-30 minutes long, so the chapters are relatively long.
STORY PLOT
Cry Baby is a standalone young adult romance book that follows Tristan Lopez (H) who is on the brink of turning 18-years-old. Eighteen is monumental age that represents the transformation and introduction to adulthood. However, it represents the loss of all innocence and initiation fully into the gang life for Tristan. He was born into this life and the only way out is death. He know the finality to this situation and his become resigned to the fact that this is the only life he has to live, that is until Riley Rojas (h) barrels into his life. At first, Tristan acts indifferent towards Riley and tries to keep her away from the danger that lurks on the courts at night but Riley is not one that takes 'no' well, so she fights him every step of the way. With each battle, Riley finally has Tristan see more for himself and wanting out of this dangerous life.
【FAVORITE QUOTE】
— "I told her she didn’t belong in my world once, but she did. She just didn’t belong in the darkness. She belonged in the light. I just never knew that she’d take me there with her. I never thought I belonged. I’m beginning to believe I do, though."
~ Epilogue | Tristan Lopez, 22-years-old
Tristan, you deserve so much more for yourself 💖 💖 💖
CHARACTERS
🏀 Tristan 'Cry Baby' Lopez
main hero (H), on the brink of turning 18-years-old, high school senior, member of the 57, closed off
Tristan captivated me as he was a rough around the edge type of hero. He has done things that are morally bad, but overall he is not a bad person. He cared deeply for those that meant something to him but with Dub's breathing down his neck he had to act emotionless. Overall, I liked that Ginger Scott addressed such a heavy topic - gang life. Leaving a gang can be difficult and deadly for an individual. I felt that author captured the emotional struggle someone could go through, if trying to leave a gang.
🏀 Riley Rojas
main heroine (h), head strong, passionate about basketball, high school senior who just moved to the area, innocent
I. COULDN'T. STAND. HER.
She was aware of the large presence of the gang in the area but chose to be stupid majority of the time because she wanted to proved a point of being independent, equal to the boys, or safe in her surroundings.
✷ Riley being a "badass" and ultimate queen of listening ✷
↪ Lauren & Tristan both told Riley to lock her door and car as the neighborhood is unsafe and anything can happen. What does Riley do instead? Keeps EVERYTHING unlock as a way to show she is not scared. Honey, keeping things unlock does not = safety. Safety 101: always lock your doors and cars so you are not victim to theft or home invasion.
↪ Tristan did not execute well trying to keep Riley away. He would ignore her, hoping that would send her on her way. It did not... In fact, it only fueled Riley to want to be at the basketball courts more. SHE SHAVED HER HEAD BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE TRISTAN ACCEPT HER.
🏀 Secondary Characters
- Lauren
I loved Lauren. I mean bonus cause she had my name but she was strong and an actual badass. I was so happy to see in the end she made it out that neighborhood and pursuing a degree.
- Joker
Joker was Tristan's best friend since they were kids. He did not want to be in the gang and tried his best to get out. Unfortunately, Dub found him first and he lost his life. Kim K. you had nothing on me when Tristan found Joker's body. My heart broke so much for him and I did cry, a lot.
✧ Plot lines that fell flat ✧
↠ Riley's mother death: For ~80% of the book, it was assumed that Riley's mom walked out on them and just never came back. It is later found out, she did in fact walk out but she never moved away rather she was still in the area. Unfortunately, she was in the wrong place and that costed her life. I felt that the chapter of Riley and her father grieving the mother's death was added for a shock value. After that chapter, both Riley and her father were fine as if nothing happened. Like they went hot mess to fine all is well, real quick.
↠ Tristan's relationship with his mother: When Tristan was in the gang their relationship was very strained. In the last few chapters, it was mentioned that his mother visited him in juvie but nothing about if they were working on their relationship. This plot point of repairing a broken relationship overall fell flat.
↠ Tristan talking to Joker's mom: It was a telling > showing that he wanted to talk to her about Joke. It was mentioned she was going to come with Tristan's mom to visit. In his inner monologue he mentioned he wanted to apologize. It was all telling and none of it came about. I was looking forward to seeing this interaction but it was all a telling of wants and no showing at all.
- OVERALL -
⇘ —————–––––––—————––— ⇙
Biggest takeaways from this book
⇗ —————–––––––—————––— ⇖
↪ HEA: possibly. I wanted to see a happy ending with Tristan having Riley because she truly made him happy. Although I did not like Riley, they worked in a way as he could trust her and she pushed him to be a better person and I respected that. The epilogue left their story open with the chance that they may find the right timing and be together.
↪ Several plot lines fell flat throughout the book, specifically, related to Tristan.
↪ Riley was very stubborn and difficult to connect with for majority of the book. This book may not be for you, if you find a character annoying and frustrating for being strong willed and stubborn 99.9% of the time.
↪ Trigger warnings: violence and gang involvement. Joker's death and fights are written somewhat descriptive and may be triggering.
June 22, 2018
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
5 "Beauty in the Chaos" Stars!!!
It's been awhile since I read a YA novel. And in all honestly I think it's because of the grossly predictability and the over-the-top cheesiness that more often than not comes from reading one. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I crave the extra cheese and the no drama story, but I just wanted something different. And boy did I get just that when reading Cry Baby. And as soon as I finished reading the prologue, I knew this was so much more than a YA novel.
I was hooked. There was a gravitational pull, and I wasn't letting go. I was transported to the world that Ginger so realistically wrote about. I was transfixed. There was no way I could've been pulled away. The realness and rawness of this story had me feeling every emotion. I was a ball of fury at one point and I couldn't stop thinking about how some live this life every day. But then again, it's not so much living rather than actually trying to survive. And that it's a feat of its own.
Tristan's life hasn't been easy. Having to grow up at an extremely early age has hardened him. The only thing he's ever known is to stay true and loyal to the one person that doesn't deserve it. His life is based on lies and violence. There's so much darkness that surrounds him that it's impossible for light to touch him. But maybe that's about to change, and maybe it's in the form of an angel on earth whose come to try and save him.
Riley is the new girl. Which is nothing new to her since moving has become the norm for her and her dad. And it's no surprise that she's had to try and fit in. Her one true love is basketball. And when she tries to play with the neighborhood boys and gets brushed off, it only gives her more determination to prove to them all wrong. And especially prove to Tristan that she belongs.
Riley and Tristan had to work extra hard for their friendship. Especially Riley since Tristan didn't make it easy on her. Though he had his reasons and they were justified. And honestly, Tristan couldn't stay away even though he tried. There was just something about Riley that called to him. She was the light that Tristan needed. She was his safe place in a world that was cruel. They both needed each other, and together they found beauty in the ugliness.
Tristan honest to goodness tugged at my heartstrings. He deserved everything that was good in the world. The growth that he made throughout the book was astounding. And for him to finally realize that he was every bit worthy was beautiful.
Cry Baby is brilliantly written. It's heartbreaking and soul crushing. It'll leave you breathless and it'll fill you with hope. It's a story that I'll never forget and will stay with be always. Tristan Lopez, you stole my heart and I don't want it back.
5 "Beauty in the Chaos" Stars!!!
It's been awhile since I read a YA novel. And in all honestly I think it's because of the grossly predictability and the over-the-top cheesiness that more often than not comes from reading one. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I crave the extra cheese and the no drama story, but I just wanted something different. And boy did I get just that when reading Cry Baby. And as soon as I finished reading the prologue, I knew this was so much more than a YA novel.
I was hooked. There was a gravitational pull, and I wasn't letting go. I was transported to the world that Ginger so realistically wrote about. I was transfixed. There was no way I could've been pulled away. The realness and rawness of this story had me feeling every emotion. I was a ball of fury at one point and I couldn't stop thinking about how some live this life every day. But then again, it's not so much living rather than actually trying to survive. And that it's a feat of its own.
Tristan's life hasn't been easy. Having to grow up at an extremely early age has hardened him. The only thing he's ever known is to stay true and loyal to the one person that doesn't deserve it. His life is based on lies and violence. There's so much darkness that surrounds him that it's impossible for light to touch him. But maybe that's about to change, and maybe it's in the form of an angel on earth whose come to try and save him.
Riley is the new girl. Which is nothing new to her since moving has become the norm for her and her dad. And it's no surprise that she's had to try and fit in. Her one true love is basketball. And when she tries to play with the neighborhood boys and gets brushed off, it only gives her more determination to prove to them all wrong. And especially prove to Tristan that she belongs.
Riley and Tristan had to work extra hard for their friendship. Especially Riley since Tristan didn't make it easy on her. Though he had his reasons and they were justified. And honestly, Tristan couldn't stay away even though he tried. There was just something about Riley that called to him. She was the light that Tristan needed. She was his safe place in a world that was cruel. They both needed each other, and together they found beauty in the ugliness.
Tristan honest to goodness tugged at my heartstrings. He deserved everything that was good in the world. The growth that he made throughout the book was astounding. And for him to finally realize that he was every bit worthy was beautiful.
Cry Baby is brilliantly written. It's heartbreaking and soul crushing. It'll leave you breathless and it'll fill you with hope. It's a story that I'll never forget and will stay with be always. Tristan Lopez, you stole my heart and I don't want it back.
June 19, 2018
I’ve been counting down the days for Ginger Scott’s latest release and dove in the moment it landed on my kindle.
Cry Baby is so different from any book I’ve ever read. It’s the tale of Tristan Lopez, a member of the Fifty-Seven, a gang started by his father. He’s loyal, caring, and forced into a life he never wanted but had no choice but to be a part of.
Riley Rojas is new to the neighborhood and doesn’t fit into this new world. She’s an incredibly strong lead—the perfect counterpart to Tristan’s headstrong ways.
As usual, Ginger Scott delivers an incredibly powerful novel with a realistic view into gang violence. How once you’re born into that world, it’s impossible to escape.
Cry Baby put me through the ringer. My heart broke for the life Tristan led, the choices he was forced to make.
Ginger Scott has the amazing ability to take tragic and real issues and turn them into these unforgettable stories that will leave you feeling ALL THE FEELS!!! I want more of their story!!!
Cry Baby is so different from any book I’ve ever read. It’s the tale of Tristan Lopez, a member of the Fifty-Seven, a gang started by his father. He’s loyal, caring, and forced into a life he never wanted but had no choice but to be a part of.
Riley Rojas is new to the neighborhood and doesn’t fit into this new world. She’s an incredibly strong lead—the perfect counterpart to Tristan’s headstrong ways.
As usual, Ginger Scott delivers an incredibly powerful novel with a realistic view into gang violence. How once you’re born into that world, it’s impossible to escape.
Cry Baby put me through the ringer. My heart broke for the life Tristan led, the choices he was forced to make.
Ginger Scott has the amazing ability to take tragic and real issues and turn them into these unforgettable stories that will leave you feeling ALL THE FEELS!!! I want more of their story!!!
June 26, 2018
4.5 stars!
Wow, I loved this book. Beautifully written and gutwrenchingly emotional, it’s a heartbreaking glimpse into suburban gang life through the eyes of an amazing 17-year-old boy. It’s real and raw, with a gorgeous love story, a really special read that held me absolutely captivated, and I loved it!
Tristan Lopez was born and raised in the gang that was started by his father. Even though it eventually took his father’s life and sent his mother spiralling into drug use and eventual rehab, Tristan stayed loyal. But secretly he craved a life away from the violence, wanting to be a normal 17 year old with hopes of having a real life someday.
Riley Rojas moves in just down the road from Tristan, and he is immediately drawn to her. They share a few ‘moments’ but when the strong and feisty girl shows up in gang turf, he knows he needs to pusher away for her own safety.
Riley’s passion is for basketball. She has mad skills, and when she heads down to the local court to try and get a game, she is completely ignored and shamed. What makes it worse is that it’s by the boy she had begun to crush on, who completely dismissed her. When the two of them end up in the same classes at school, they are forced into spending time together, they bond over their shared love of basketball, and it doesn’t take too long for Riley’s fearless bravery to overcome Tristan’s reservations as she boldly stands up to him, demanding his attention.
I freaking love Riley! She’s loveable, relatable, and incredibly fierce in a way that I admire so much. Her determination to be a part of Tristan’s life, despite the danger, is just gorgeous, and I love that she bravely takes his hand and guides him into the realisation that he can be so much more.
And Tristan, whose whole life has been about doing what he has to in order to survive, is so ready for it. He’s scared, but he can’t hold back from the girl who has started to capture his heart.
It’s a beautiful love story that develops in spite of the dangers, and I loved the honesty and intensity of all that they felt for each other.
But when the realities of Tristan’s world become all-too real, everything will change and neither of their lives will be the same again.
I really loved this story. It’s heartbreaking, but it needed to be as the realities of Tristan’s life were revealed. The story twists and turns, and I appreciated the surprises and unexpected direction of Tristan and Riley’s journeys, and I thought the way it all played out was realistic and really well done. Would I have liked to see more? Of course I would! But there’s something ‘right’ about the way that Scott finished this story, it fit in with the book, and with the extraordinary story of these incredible characters. I finished it feeling very satisfied, and so so glad that I got to experience it all with them.
A fantastic read – 4.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, I loved this book. Beautifully written and gutwrenchingly emotional, it’s a heartbreaking glimpse into suburban gang life through the eyes of an amazing 17-year-old boy. It’s real and raw, with a gorgeous love story, a really special read that held me absolutely captivated, and I loved it!
Tristan Lopez was born and raised in the gang that was started by his father. Even though it eventually took his father’s life and sent his mother spiralling into drug use and eventual rehab, Tristan stayed loyal. But secretly he craved a life away from the violence, wanting to be a normal 17 year old with hopes of having a real life someday.
I knew every bit of this was wrong. I know it’s wrong. I hate it. I hate my fate. It’s there, though. I’m married to it because of the place I was born, the man who fathered me, his friends and his choices, and my mother’s weaknesses. All I can do is make the most of it, and maybe find a little happiness somewhere on the fringes.
Riley Rojas moves in just down the road from Tristan, and he is immediately drawn to her. They share a few ‘moments’ but when the strong and feisty girl shows up in gang turf, he knows he needs to pusher away for her own safety.
I’m walking two paths beginning right this minute, and I can’t let them cross. The collision would be deadly.
Riley’s passion is for basketball. She has mad skills, and when she heads down to the local court to try and get a game, she is completely ignored and shamed. What makes it worse is that it’s by the boy she had begun to crush on, who completely dismissed her. When the two of them end up in the same classes at school, they are forced into spending time together, they bond over their shared love of basketball, and it doesn’t take too long for Riley’s fearless bravery to overcome Tristan’s reservations as she boldly stands up to him, demanding his attention.
“You are my test, Riley. My temptation. My mother says you’re the light, and I want to stand in it with you, but…”
“So stand with me,” I interrupt.
I freaking love Riley! She’s loveable, relatable, and incredibly fierce in a way that I admire so much. Her determination to be a part of Tristan’s life, despite the danger, is just gorgeous, and I love that she bravely takes his hand and guides him into the realisation that he can be so much more.
“You don’t have to take this job, Tristan…the one that says you’re a bad guy. It doesn’t suit you.”
And Tristan, whose whole life has been about doing what he has to in order to survive, is so ready for it. He’s scared, but he can’t hold back from the girl who has started to capture his heart.
“You’re unlike any other girl. You make me wish things were different, that I was different.”
It’s a beautiful love story that develops in spite of the dangers, and I loved the honesty and intensity of all that they felt for each other.
“You shouldn’t do things like this with a guy like me,” he says, his voice rough but the pleading tone evident still. He hates himself, and he’s denying himself, but I see more than the boy in a gang.
“You’re the only boy I should do things like this with,” I say, looking deep into him and shifting until my forehead rests on his.
But when the realities of Tristan’s world become all-too real, everything will change and neither of their lives will be the same again.
I really loved this story. It’s heartbreaking, but it needed to be as the realities of Tristan’s life were revealed. The story twists and turns, and I appreciated the surprises and unexpected direction of Tristan and Riley’s journeys, and I thought the way it all played out was realistic and really well done. Would I have liked to see more? Of course I would! But there’s something ‘right’ about the way that Scott finished this story, it fit in with the book, and with the extraordinary story of these incredible characters. I finished it feeling very satisfied, and so so glad that I got to experience it all with them.
Riley has opened this window to what could be. She’s built a bridge between my reality and my fantasyland, and I can’t stop crossing it.
A fantastic read – 4.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2018
Oh my HEART!!! My heart has been hit so hard by Ginger Scott’s latest gem of a YA romance, Cry Baby!!! When you still feel a story coursing through you a day or more later, you know it’s a special story, one that sparked the soul. Cry Baby sparked my soul. Cry Baby MOVED ME from the very first page, hitting my heart and squeezing my soul, and never stopped touching me the whole time reading. I felt this hero and heroines’ story as if it were my own. I felt every word. I felt everything. I could not stop feeling this heart-touching tale.
The hero, Tristan, so broken but beneath all the hardness resides such a beautiful soul, broke me. I cried for the hero . . . Tristan and his prison of a life . . . so heartbreaking . . . so hopeless. Hopeless until a turning point of an encounter with the heroine. The heroine, Riley, is the epitome of strength, a young gal unafraid to go toe-to-toe with some of the tough-as-nails young men. Oh did I admire her! My teen self applauded her, wanting to be her. This hero and heroine were created for each other, and I felt their chemistry, their struggles, and their love.
”I see you, Tristan. Oh . . . I see you.”
Heart-wrenching and heartwarming, Cry Baby is a transformation from hopeless to hopeful, a tale of a hero trying to escape the darkness and a heroine who becomes his light, as these two young adults find solace in each other. Its plot paralyzes with each page—so raw and real—with so much detail and dialogue that the reader is immediately transported into the story. It’s HEADY and, at times, I had to hold my breath from the blast of emotions felt. Cry Baby held me captive where I could do nothing but become lost in these stirring and soulful words.
”I see your map, and I’m begging you to just look at this alternate route I’m showing you.”
The intensity pulled me under like a wave I was powerless to stop. Cry Baby was my perfect storm—an electric current that lit me up like a lightning bolt, sparked with sensations—where a force of feels flowed through me.Dark yet light. Turbulent yet tender. Broken yet beautiful Cry Baby burned a hole straight to my soul.
”You’re the light, and I want to stand in it with you.”
Cry Baby is a BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN JOURNEY of finally rising after falling, and I could not help but FALL HARD. My heart was torn apart where every fissure felt everything because Cry Baby is EVERYTHING! An unforgettable and emotionally-woven love story, Cry Baby is a tale that teaches you to grab onto every opportunity, take risks, open your heart to love, and live life to the fullest. A dark jewel of a SPECIAL STORY that shines and shatters, I could not put down this Cry Baby down . .. this broken yet beautiful book . . . this heartfelt journey that continues to melt and move me.
”You’re my person.”
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 ’but worth all’ the beautifully broken ‘Cry Baby’ stars
➡️ https://amzn.to/2te9ood
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June 22, 2018
I’m broken...this is so real it hurts.
Riley is the new girl of the neighbourood, Tristan is the boy who can't run away from there.They become kinda friends,they kinda have feels for each other but they are on different paths and their futures can't be more divergent.
Could Riley's light bright Tristan's dark and hopeless life?
I usually don't read books about mafia or gangs because these subjects are too close to home for me. I don't appreciate the "romantic" view some authors show in their works but Ginger Scott has once again pleasantly surprised me with her realistic and honest writing.
This goes straight to my favorite books of 2018 list...do not miss it!
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author
June 11, 2018
Okay I had to gather myself before I could write this review. The emotions in this book hit an intense cord in me. I was Riley. Me. I had definitely had a life like hers, and so I knew this was going to connect with me in a way other book hadn't before. Riley is strong, loud and really knows her own mind. and Tristan does too. Yes this is a YA Romance, and it wasn't too much, the author struck the right cord with this book, kids nowadays are mini adults. So I think it was really important that the right balance be struck, and the author nailed it. I won't rehash the plot, cause that isn't something I do. If you are in the mood for a gripping, heartfelt YA book, this is for you, for sure. Told in dual POV.
April 17, 2019
Four stars. :)
May 28, 2020
AUSSERGEWÖHNLICHE CHARAKTERE MIT HERZ.
Als ich den Klappentext gelesen habe, habe ich mich sehr auf die Geschichte gefreut, denn sie klang so anders als vieles, was aktuell erscheint – und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht.
Um was geht es?
Tristan ist seit dem Tod seines Vaters Mitglied in der FiftySeven, der gefährlichsten Gang in Millers, Arkansas. Wer dabei ist, gehorcht. Wer austreten will, stirbt. Alle Hoffnungen auf eine bessere Zukunft hat Tristan längst aufgegeben – bis Riley in sein Leben tritt. Doch er darf ihr seine Gefühle niemals zeigen, denn wer ihm etwas bedeutet, wird zur Zielscheibe der Gang.
Riley hat gelernt, niemals aufzugeben. Als sie nach Millers zieht und Tristan begegnet, fasziniert sie der unnahbare Bad Boys sofort. Obwohl sie ständig aneinandergeraten, sieht Riley hinter Tristans harte Fassade. Und je näher sich die beiden kommen, desto mehr möchte Riley Tristan helfen, aus der FiftySeven auszutreten. Doch er wäre nicht der Erste, der dabei sein Leben lässt …
Meine Meinung.
Ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll – ich fand das Buch von der ersten Seite an einfach nur toll und es wurde immer besser und besser. Für mich stimmt bei dieser Geschichte alles. Ich liebe die Protagonisten, die Story und den Schreibstil. Ihr merkt, ich bin wirklich begeistert und werde im Folgenden versuchen meine Gedanken zu ordnen.
Fangen wir mal bei den Protagonisten an. Riley ist für mich eine unfassbar tolle Frau. Sie ist endlich mal ein Charakter, der komplett aus der Reihe tanzt und mich so oft überrascht hat. Ihre Art und ihr Mut sind Dinge, die ich wirklich bewundere. Sie hat sich sehr schnell in mein Herz geschlichen und ich hätte sie – auch wenn es blöd klingt – am liebsten als meine Freundin. Ja, ich glaube ein Mädchen wie Riley kann alles schaffen, was sie möchte. Ihre starke Kämpfernatur hat die Autorin auf eine Art und Weise dargestellt, wie ich es selten in dieser Art von Büchern gelesen habe. Auch Lauren als Nebencharakter ist so sympathisch und passt wie die Faust aufs Auge zu Riley.
Und dann haben wir da noch Tristan. Nach außen wirkt er mürrisch und angsteinflößend, aber innen sieht es ganz anders aus. An dieser Stelle möchte ich gleich mal ein unheimlich großes Lob an die Autorin verteilen, denn sie hat sowohl Tristan als auch Riley wirklich eine Seele gegeben. Die Gedankenwelt der Beiden ist richtig toll geschrieben und gibt einen großen Einblick in die Gefühle von ihnen. Tristan macht für mich eine Entwicklung durch, die wahrscheinlich nicht jeder geschafft hätte. Er wächst mit allen Hürden und gibt nicht auf. Für mich sind Riley und Tristan wirklich das perfekte Paar.
Zur Geschichte kann ich sagen, dass sie von Anfang an einen sehr spannenden Hauch hatte. Man hat immer mehr von Tristan und seiner Umwelt erfahren und mitgerätselt, wann Riley es erfährt und vor allem habe ich mich die ganze Zeit gefragt, wie das zusammenpassen soll und was passiert. Ich für meinen Teil konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen und habe es regelrecht durchgesuchtet. Auch das Ende hat für mich einfach perfekt zu dieser Geschichte und Riley und Tristan gepasst. Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir von der Autorin noch ganz viel hören beziehungsweise lesen werden.
FAZIT.
Lesen, lesen, lesen! Ich habe nichts auszusetzen und bin so froh, dieses Buch in meinem Regal stehen zu haben. Eine außergewöhnliche Story mit Charakteren, die Pepp und Mut haben. Einfach nur toll zu lesen. Für mich ein kleines Highlight in meinem bisherigen Lesejahr.
Bewertung: 5+ von 5 Lesezeichen.
Als ich den Klappentext gelesen habe, habe ich mich sehr auf die Geschichte gefreut, denn sie klang so anders als vieles, was aktuell erscheint – und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht.
Um was geht es?
Tristan ist seit dem Tod seines Vaters Mitglied in der FiftySeven, der gefährlichsten Gang in Millers, Arkansas. Wer dabei ist, gehorcht. Wer austreten will, stirbt. Alle Hoffnungen auf eine bessere Zukunft hat Tristan längst aufgegeben – bis Riley in sein Leben tritt. Doch er darf ihr seine Gefühle niemals zeigen, denn wer ihm etwas bedeutet, wird zur Zielscheibe der Gang.
Riley hat gelernt, niemals aufzugeben. Als sie nach Millers zieht und Tristan begegnet, fasziniert sie der unnahbare Bad Boys sofort. Obwohl sie ständig aneinandergeraten, sieht Riley hinter Tristans harte Fassade. Und je näher sich die beiden kommen, desto mehr möchte Riley Tristan helfen, aus der FiftySeven auszutreten. Doch er wäre nicht der Erste, der dabei sein Leben lässt …
Meine Meinung.
Ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich anfangen soll – ich fand das Buch von der ersten Seite an einfach nur toll und es wurde immer besser und besser. Für mich stimmt bei dieser Geschichte alles. Ich liebe die Protagonisten, die Story und den Schreibstil. Ihr merkt, ich bin wirklich begeistert und werde im Folgenden versuchen meine Gedanken zu ordnen.
Fangen wir mal bei den Protagonisten an. Riley ist für mich eine unfassbar tolle Frau. Sie ist endlich mal ein Charakter, der komplett aus der Reihe tanzt und mich so oft überrascht hat. Ihre Art und ihr Mut sind Dinge, die ich wirklich bewundere. Sie hat sich sehr schnell in mein Herz geschlichen und ich hätte sie – auch wenn es blöd klingt – am liebsten als meine Freundin. Ja, ich glaube ein Mädchen wie Riley kann alles schaffen, was sie möchte. Ihre starke Kämpfernatur hat die Autorin auf eine Art und Weise dargestellt, wie ich es selten in dieser Art von Büchern gelesen habe. Auch Lauren als Nebencharakter ist so sympathisch und passt wie die Faust aufs Auge zu Riley.
Und dann haben wir da noch Tristan. Nach außen wirkt er mürrisch und angsteinflößend, aber innen sieht es ganz anders aus. An dieser Stelle möchte ich gleich mal ein unheimlich großes Lob an die Autorin verteilen, denn sie hat sowohl Tristan als auch Riley wirklich eine Seele gegeben. Die Gedankenwelt der Beiden ist richtig toll geschrieben und gibt einen großen Einblick in die Gefühle von ihnen. Tristan macht für mich eine Entwicklung durch, die wahrscheinlich nicht jeder geschafft hätte. Er wächst mit allen Hürden und gibt nicht auf. Für mich sind Riley und Tristan wirklich das perfekte Paar.
Zur Geschichte kann ich sagen, dass sie von Anfang an einen sehr spannenden Hauch hatte. Man hat immer mehr von Tristan und seiner Umwelt erfahren und mitgerätselt, wann Riley es erfährt und vor allem habe ich mich die ganze Zeit gefragt, wie das zusammenpassen soll und was passiert. Ich für meinen Teil konnte das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen und habe es regelrecht durchgesuchtet. Auch das Ende hat für mich einfach perfekt zu dieser Geschichte und Riley und Tristan gepasst. Ich hoffe sehr, dass wir von der Autorin noch ganz viel hören beziehungsweise lesen werden.
FAZIT.
Lesen, lesen, lesen! Ich habe nichts auszusetzen und bin so froh, dieses Buch in meinem Regal stehen zu haben. Eine außergewöhnliche Story mit Charakteren, die Pepp und Mut haben. Einfach nur toll zu lesen. Für mich ein kleines Highlight in meinem bisherigen Lesejahr.
Bewertung: 5+ von 5 Lesezeichen.
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June 13, 2018Good god that blurb is so intriguing! And the cover!! It's so subtle and simple and I love it 😍💓
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