Review by Alex- Lipstick Apology

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…

When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”

Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

So this is another book Lauren has already read and reviewed, here. I know! I'm so behind! Trying to catch up... :/

First Impressions: Wow! Sounds so good. A mix of light high school drama/romance but also heavier with the death of her parents. Seems like a good combo to me!

And indeed, I found the lightness and heaviness to be equal and well balanced. There's the typical new girl at school, attracting the attention of the popular girls and that one popular golden boy (hellooo player). But there are also some meatier parts, dealing with some tougher subjects such as death and trying to live on.

But I actually really liked all the characters. As Lauren said, Emily doesn't change completely, she doesn't ditch her old friend back home. On the contrary, her old friend and new friend actually talk and become friends themselves. And the popular mean girls, aren't really that mean. One of them is actually quite sweet and enjoyable. Not only the teens, but the adults in the book are lovely too. Emily's aunt, who Emily goes to live with after her parents die, is a cosmetician for celebrities. She lives large and falls for the big end players, but she has a great heart. Also in the novel, Emily's aunt's best friend, a hairdresser who adds humor and liveliness to the story.

While the plot is pretty average and nothing really new, it's done well. Sure, it's predictable, from the boy Emily will end up with, to her mother's big secret. But there are many parts that are heartwarming and give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Although some of the scenes seemed a litte forced... no matter. I still really enjoyed reading those bits.

The writing is smooth. While not different or special enough to make it stand out, it makes the reading easy on the brain.

Final Impressions: I really don't have much to say. It won't drastically change your life, but it's certainly very great. With equal parts guilty pleasure drama/romance reading and deeper life tips and meaning, Lipstick Apology is enjoyable and a pleasure to read.

And because Lauren seems to have invented another category, I'll adopt it too (with maybe pictures of my shelves later on...):

Add To Shelf: Sure! Lipstick Apology also comes out on paperback, so it's worth it! I wouldn't run out and buy it the day it came out (which was August 11) but I'd maybe buy it to keep eventually.