Review: On the Fence by Kasie West
SYNOPSIS:
For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn’t know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she’s spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.
To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can’t solve Charlie’s biggest problem: she’s falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
REVIEW:
Kasie West to the rescue! I absolutely adored On the Fence and want to distribute it to ever teenage tom-boy who is struggling to find themselves. This book will resonate with teens, heck it resonated with my 20-something heart. Kasie West is the author I go to when I want a palette cleanse. On the Fence was filled with plenty of smiles, giggles, and just left me feeling happy and content. Kasie masterfully crafts a story that tackles tough topics with a light-hearted touch that won’t weigh heavy on you after the last page ends.
Charlie is me as a teen, it has been a while since I resonated so deeply with a character. Athletic, always hanging with the boys, and struggling to find her identity…Charlie is the definition of a tom-boy. I loved watching her learning how to balance her two worlds while also figuring out who exactly she wants to be. Her story and progression as a character throughout the novel had me smiling non-stop. Braden was all the swoon, I wish I had a Braden growing up next door to me when I was younger. He is charming, witty, and his banter with Charlie has me giggling, blushing, and squee-ing.
While the story, itself, is a quick read, Kasie leaves no loose ends and I am still smiling as I type this review. This is the type of book that teens need to know exists. The story shows that its okay to like multiple things, you don’t have to be one-dimensional. I feel that this is a big issue right now with our society. You can have more interests outside of sports, makeup, science, politics, etc. In the end, Kasie teaches and reiterates again that the only way we will ever truly be happy is by being ourselves…and that is a message I want to take with me.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
