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A review by bookishhollow
Firsts by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
4.0
I started my review and then I lost it when my computer shut down on me. So hopefully this is just as good as the first one.
Okay, I was recommended this book by an author and decided that now that I read their book I would read something they recommended. I knew the basic premise of the book but was still taken aback at the boldness of it. Mercy invites virgins into her bed so that she can help these boys give their girlfriends the best, most romantic first time. That's right, these boys are in happy relationships all except the fact that they are scared witless about their first time. Mercy treats this like a service, one in which she is helping the girls get the best first sex that they deserve, unlike Mercy's traumatic first time.
It was hard to like Mercy as a character at first because I was obviously appalled by what she was doing, whether it was being kept secret or not. As the story went on though I was intrigued by her personality, her ambitions, and her belief that she was really helping these couples. What she does is not okay but in a way it is her coping mechanism and she needs to be able to feel in control of her self in every situation. Obviously sh*t hits the fan because she is a teen in high school and when doesn't someone's secrets get blasted on the internet for all to see?
I like Mercy's commitment to her education and her love of science. I can be sympathetic towards Mercy because trauma of any kind can damage someone enough to do a number of unhealthy things. I can also, to some extent, empathize with her need for control and to compartmentalize her life. The level to which she takes these things are a bit extreme but everyone copes in their own way.
My favorite characters are Zach and Faye, they are both funny and complex characters. I like that Zach and Faye are there for Mercy through thick and thin but that they, especially Zach, struggle to come to terms with the direction Mercy's life has taken. In some ways I feel that Zach deserves better than Mercy (about 70% of the time) but I also think that is shows great strength of character for both Zach and Mercy that they can overcome their odds. The chemistry scene and the spaghetti scene had me all *heart eyes emoji* (this is vague enough to not need a spoiler warning I think).
I enjoyed the writing and the drama of the story and it touches on so many topics that surround teenage sex and high school politics.
Interesting quote:
"Virginity is supposed to be something a girl gives up only when she is ready and feels comfortable, something a girl discusses at length with her friends and flip-flops over a million times in her mind before actually doing it. A guy is expected to be born ready."
^ This kind of sets the tone for the whole novel.
Okay, I was recommended this book by an author and decided that now that I read their book I would read something they recommended. I knew the basic premise of the book but was still taken aback at the boldness of it. Mercy invites virgins into her bed so that she can help these boys give their girlfriends the best, most romantic first time. That's right, these boys are in happy relationships all except the fact that they are scared witless about their first time. Mercy treats this like a service, one in which she is helping the girls get the best first sex that they deserve, unlike Mercy's traumatic first time.
It was hard to like Mercy as a character at first because I was obviously appalled by what she was doing, whether it was being kept secret or not. As the story went on though I was intrigued by her personality, her ambitions, and her belief that she was really helping these couples. What she does is not okay but in a way it is her coping mechanism and she needs to be able to feel in control of her self in every situation. Obviously sh*t hits the fan because she is a teen in high school and when doesn't someone's secrets get blasted on the internet for all to see?
I like Mercy's commitment to her education and her love of science. I can be sympathetic towards Mercy because trauma of any kind can damage someone enough to do a number of unhealthy things. I can also, to some extent, empathize with her need for control and to compartmentalize her life. The level to which she takes these things are a bit extreme but everyone copes in their own way.
My favorite characters are Zach and Faye, they are both funny and complex characters. I like that Zach and Faye are there for Mercy through thick and thin but that they, especially Zach, struggle to come to terms with the direction Mercy's life has taken. In some ways I feel that Zach deserves better than Mercy (about 70% of the time) but I also think that is shows great strength of character for both Zach and Mercy that they can overcome their odds. The chemistry scene and the spaghetti scene had me all *heart eyes emoji* (this is vague enough to not need a spoiler warning I think).
I enjoyed the writing and the drama of the story and it touches on so many topics that surround teenage sex and high school politics.
Interesting quote:
"Virginity is supposed to be something a girl gives up only when she is ready and feels comfortable, something a girl discusses at length with her friends and flip-flops over a million times in her mind before actually doing it. A guy is expected to be born ready."
^ This kind of sets the tone for the whole novel.