Don't Forget Me (Ridgewater High Romance)

I normally do not have time to write book reviews but I am definitely making an exception on this book, Don't Forget Me. I loved this book. The characters, Jess and Eliana are so normal and yet so unique. Judy Corry captured high school life very well within the pages of her book. The scenes were believable and real but at the same time refreshing like a gulp of clean air. Most of romance YA plots follow a cookie cutter plot and involve morals that are either crumbling or completely abandoned. But in Don't Forget Me the main characters, while acting like average high schoolers, have and keep their high standards. Because of this I would actually recommend this book to the teenagers in my life.But back to the plot--it is so engaging and page-turning. The twists that it takes and the suspense that is built keeps you reading and reading. Eliana is faced with difficult challenges, even events in her life that could completely destroy her. Yet despite the fact that her life turned upside down, she continues to hang on believing that good will return. There is a point where she decides to rise above her circumstances and take control of her responses. I loved that she came to that conclusion instead of wallowing in defeat.I loved that Jess was her best friend and that they were so comfortable with each other. His character grew right along with Eliana discovering and realizing what he really wants in life and in a girl friend. He is so lovable among all the miscommunications and misunderstandings. You can't help but silently cheering for him to just believe in himself and in Eliana. His actions truly show his love.And I love how Eliana's parents face almost dehibilitating road blocks yet they learn from their poor actions and try to fix their mistakes.Judy Corry is simply a genius to create this lovely book. I cannot wait for her to keep writing. She is now on my favorites list. Wonderful, Mrs. Corry, unexpectedly wonderful! Thank you!

Sooooo good!! I laughed, I cried, and I shouted at my kindle a time or two. I LOVED the characters. All of them! The story was wonderful and at times fantastical. Even though things like this happen, I found myself having a hard time believing it was happening in my book. Yep, that's about how deeply invested in this story I was. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride with endless ups and downs. Such a good, clean read. I wouldn't hesitate to let my teenager read this.

Don't Forget Me is one of those rare general market YA romances that doesn't include any sex or foul language, which was a pleasant surprise. Eliana and Jess have loads of chemistry, and, overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I mean, I read it all in one sitting, so that says something, right?A few things did bother me about the book, though. 1). Jess was a jerk when it came to dealing with his feelings for Eliana. He stayed in a dysfunctional relationship far too long, and then he acted more like a 7th grader than a college freshman when Eliana hurt him. 2). There are sooooooo many twists in this novel that it really felt like it should've been twice the length or split into two books.Those gripes aside, I did enjoy the novel. It's deeper than many YA romances, yet it never becomes dark or depressing. Corry is a good writer, and I'll definitely be looking for more of her books. She (along with others like Kasie West, Shari Tapscott, and a bunch of Christian YA writers) proves that YA romance can sizzle without the sex and profanity, and I so appreciate that. 3-1/2 stars.

This was so fun and cute and sweet! I loved these two and their back and forth of will they get together or won’t they. And the twists and emotional rollercoaster this book took me on had me on the edge of my seat! I loved this book! Judy’s writing is amazing. You instantly love the characters she writes from the very first chapter. This is a must read great book!!

Why the low rating? Well, look…when I picked this book, it was after a LOT of consideration of many others with this trope. I wanted a best friends to lovers romance. I wanted one where one or both of them suddenly REALIZED that their BFF was more than just that to them…and then we got to be on the journey with them as they came to terms with it and then acted on it and then got their HEA.Sadly, that is NOT what this book offered. It was so filled with angst and hard issues and topics. Which were NOWHERE to be found in the synopsis! But, I could put up with all of the issues their MC faces in her life if the relationship with her best friend kept her grounded and was sweet and supportive and had all the feels. BUT, again, that was NOT this book.Instead we have all the angst. All the denying of their feelings, the misunderstandings, the dramatics, the illogical decisions, the lack of empathy and support for what either one was going through as well as the majority of the book having the two main characters be separated.The more I think about it, the lower I want to make the rating on this. This wasn’t what I signed up for nor what was advertised.Potential spoilers, but here are your angst/trigger warnings:-alcoholism-illegal activities-parental abandonment-parental abuse (physical and verbal)-cheating (parental)-financial hardships-deliberate misunderstandings-not communicating vital information-running away from problems-bullying/gossip