Review: Our Song

Title: Our Song

Author: Jordanna Fraiberg

Genre: Contemporary

Pages: 352

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: May 2nd 2013

Source: Library

Review:

Our Song was a fast and easy read that delved into the theme of figuring out how to cope with hard experiences.

Our Song follows the story of Olive, a senior in high school who has just gotten out of the hospital after being in a car accident. Throughout the book Olive has a hard time dealing with and understanding that she died in the accident but was luckily revived by the paramedics. Transitioning back into her home life is made difficult for her when she is placed as an outcast in her own town because the community thinks her accident was actually an attempted suicide. When her mom forces her to go to a support group she picks one for people who have had near death experiences. At her first meeting is where she meets Nick. She is immediately feels a deep connection with him and soon they embark on different adventures together all over the place. With Nick everything from Olive's life seems to just melt away and her world seems so much brighter. But what is Nick keeping from Olive? Olive's world has been turned upside down but Olive will soon see that she might not want to go back to the girl she once was and that she wants to start a new life as a new and improved Olive.

This book started off slow for me. I originally unsure if I made the right decision choosing this book. But once Nick was introduced things started to pick up. Fun and adventures started to finally happen in the book and I started to enjoy it. But I do have to admit that the scenes with Nick were the only ones that really kept me completely intrigued. Thankfully there were enough of them to keep me turning the pages

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At first I did not like Olive's character. She seemed very weak and desperate at times and it just did not work for her. But once she started to involve into a strong young woman I really grew to like her. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Olive evolve as a person. I also liked how a lot her growth came from being with Nick. Nick and Olive really helped bring out the best in each other and I think that really added to their chemistry. I will come right out and say that I loved Nick. I though he was complete swoon worthy. He was hot and mysterious and very flirty at times. He drew me in and was by far my favorite character in the book.

One thing that did bother me in the book was the superficial world that Olive lived in. I know part of the book was Olive growing up to realize that these things were not important and that she could be better than this and wanted better than this but it still bothered me at times. For example Olive's ex-boyfriend, I could not stand him he was very full of himself and acted like he knew everything. And then people in the town she lived in, in general were just very stuck up and worried with their appearance and concerned with how everyone they were associated with reflected them. I would never want to live in her town.

Our Song is quick read about starting over, finding your way in life, and finding who you are.

 

4 Stars****