Title: Ink Is Thicker Than Water
Author: Amy Spalding
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: 12.3.2013
Pages: 320
Genre: Contemporary
Series: No
Source: eARC for blog tour
Rating: B
Summary (from Goodreads):
For Kellie Brooks, family has always been a tough word to define. Combine her hippie mom and tattooist stepdad, her adopted overachieving sister, her younger half brother, and her tough-love dad, and average Kellie’s the one stuck in the middle, overlooked and impermanent. When Kellie’s sister finally meets her birth mother and her best friend starts hanging with a cooler crowd, the feeling only grows stronger.
But then she reconnects with Oliver, the sweet and sensitive college guy she had a near hookup with last year. Oliver is intense and attractive, and she’s sure he’s totally out of her league. But as she discovers that maybe intensity isn’t always a good thing, it’s yet another relationship she feels is spiraling out of her control.
It’ll take a new role on the school newspaper and a new job at her mom’s tattoo shop for Kellie to realize that defining herself both outside and within her family is what can finally allow her to feel permanent, just like a tattoo.
But then she reconnects with Oliver, the sweet and sensitive college guy she had a near hookup with last year. Oliver is intense and attractive, and she’s sure he’s totally out of her league. But as she discovers that maybe intensity isn’t always a good thing, it’s yet another relationship she feels is spiraling out of her control.
It’ll take a new role on the school newspaper and a new job at her mom’s tattoo shop for Kellie to realize that defining herself both outside and within her family is what can finally allow her to feel permanent, just like a tattoo.
Review:
Ink is Thicker Than Water is a fun, fast and entertaining read from Amy Spalding. This is a great book if you aren’t looking for something too heavy and just need a break—which I did when I read this.
Kellie is a likeable enough character. I felt like she was very true the image of a teenager nowadays. Spalding did a fantastic job of putting her in real, relatable situations (new relationships, family drama, etc.) that most teens can relate to.
This is very much a coming-of-age novel that I think teens will enjoy. As an adult, it admittedly felt a little young at times. Kellie made some immature decisions and reacted in ways that kept me from fully falling head over heels in love with her character and her story. But, like I said, I think teens (who this book is aimed at) will genuinely enjoy Kellie and Spalding’s story telling.
Overall, I liked this book. It was a quick afternoon read that I devoured in a few hours. If you’re a fan of contemporaries and character-driven plots, then I definitely recommend this book for you!
About Amy:
Amy Spalding grew up in St. Louis, but now lives in the better weather of Los Angeles. She received a B.A. in Advertising & Marketing Communications from Webster University, and currently works as the Digital Media Planner for an independent film advertising agency. Amy studied longform improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and can be seen performing around L.A.
Photo by Jessie Weinberg.
For more about Amy be sure to read the F.A.Q.
Giveaway:
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
11/25/2013- The Bookmark Blog- Review
11/26/2013- Donnie Darko Girl- Review
11/27/2013- Reading the Best of the Best- Review
11/28/2013- She Dreams in Fiction- Review
11/29/2013- My Reading Room- Interview & Review
Week Two:
12/2/2013- YA Story Teller- Review
12/3/2013- LeAnn's Book Reviews- Review
12/4/2013- Bookish Things & More- Review
12/5/2013- Bookworm1858- Review
12/6/2013- The Irish Banana Review- Review
This sounds really interesting and I've been seeing it everywhere. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteI get frustrated with immature heroines (and heroes) and have to remind myself that, hey, these kids are teens. Just think what I did when I was that age. *shudder*
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