Title: Em and EmAuthor: Linda Budzinski
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: September 15, 2015
Rating:
The last thing sixteen-year-old Emily Slovkowski wants is to move away from her home at the Jersey shore, gorgeous surfer boyfriend Zach, and her entire identity. But that’s kind of how Witness Protection works, and Em must prepare herself for an epic do-over as she starts a new life in the Midwest.
Even as she pines for sandy beaches and the night life of the shore, the newly-named Ember O’Malley finds herself making new friends, taking photos for the high school newspaper, and thinking an awful lot about the paper's editor, an oddly cute cowboy named Charles.
When Em stumbles upon a shady beneath-the-bleachers exchange between one of the school’s football coaches and a student, she refuses to get involved. The last thing she needs is to be witness to another crime or call attention to herself. Besides, she finally has some real friends - well, real except for the fact that they don’t know a single thing about her - and she prefers to keep it that way until the trial.
But as her day in court approaches, Em begins piecing together what she saw that day beneath the bleachers. And, as her own past secrets start to catch up with her, Em needs to figure out who she really is - Em or Em.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
✼ We may earn an affiliate commission if you make a purchase through links on our site.
Book REVIEW: Em and Em By Linda Budzinski
Em and Em by Linda Budzinski is an incredible book that is all about identity. It has an intriguing concept, many flashbacks, and a main character who attempts to discover who she really is. I actually found this book to be a sort of mystery, for the reader at least, and definitely recommend this to fans of books like We Were Liars.
❀ An Interesting Concept
Em and Em has such an interesting concept. The main character, Emily, is under witness protection and must change her name to Ember and move away. Ember has to keep her old identity a secret, which really makes the book intriguing. In her mind, Emily and Ember are two personalities that are completely different and she must decide which Em she really is.
❀ Plot Twists and Flashbacks
I really enjoyed the use of flashbacks/before and after in Em and Em. It adds more mystery to the novel. The method Linda Budzinski has used to write the book keeps the reader completely in the dark. When Em has a flashback and remembers part of her past, the reader learns more about who she is at the same time she does. I love plot twists and surprises in a book, so I enjoyed how the information is slowly revealed.
❀ Well-Developed Main Character
In a book, I love a strong main character. Em, in Em and Em, definitely has the qualities of a fantastically feisty character. She is bullied at her old school and tries her best not to give in to feeling down about herself. Em is so confident about herself, which makes her character so relatable and inspirational at the same time. One of my favourite things about Em is her photography skills, it is such a unique and interestsing hobby for a character in a young adult novel. Budzinski has certainly developed Em quite well in this incredible story.
❀ Mysterious Contemporary
Em and Em by Linda Budzinski has a very intriguing concept, various flashbacks that slowly feed information to the reader, and a strong female character who is also a photographer. This book really drew me in and I really enjoyed it. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of mysterious contemporaries.
About Linda Budzinski
Linda Acorn Budzinski decided in the second grade that she wanted to be a “Paperback Writer,” just like in the Beatles song. She majored in journalism in college and now works in marketing and communications. She spent 18 years at a trade association in the funeral service industry, where she discovered that funeral directors are some of the bravest and most compassionate people on earth. Linda lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Joe, and their chihuahua, Demitria. She has two step-daughters, Eris and Sarah. THE FUNERAL SINGER is her debut novel. She is represented by Andrea Somberg of Harvey Klinger Inc.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
This book sounds so interesting! It’s on my TBR list already. I can’t wait to read it.
Sounds intriguing! Glad you enjoyed it.
Veronica Lee recently posted…Gallimaufry#2