Way To Go by Tom Ryan & A Giveaway

Way To Go
by Tom Ryan
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Pages:  224
Source:  ARC from Tom Ryan via Goodreads First Reads
Available as of April 1, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Books A Million | The Book Depository

Kierce has a rule for everything, not to mention his whole future planned out. Jay has bad grades, no plans, and could care less. As for Danny, he’s stuck somewhere in the middle and can’t stop stressing out about it. His dad keeps nagging him about his post-high school plans, his friends won’t stop bugging him about girls, and a run-in with the cops means he has to to get a summer job – about the last thing he had planned. Worst of all, the secret he’s been keeping for years is threatening to spill out into the open.

Just when he’s beginning to wonder how he’ll get through the summer, let alone survive another year in Deep Cove, Danny meets Lisa Walsh. Lisa is dynamic, beautiful, and different from any girl he’s ever known. She’s also from New York City, which is about as far from Deep Cove as the dark side of the moon. For the first time in a while, things begin to look like they might turn out all right after all – that is, if friends, family, and reality don’t get in the way.

Rating:

My Review:

I was intrigued after reading the summary, but it doesn't do the book justice. From page one I was swept into Danny's world.  Tom Ryan wrote a book that I will read over and over again.

Danny has just finished his junior year of high school and he isn't sure who he really is or what he wants to do with his life.  It takes getting busted by the cops and forced into a summer job he didn't really want to push him to figure it out. He ignores his two best friends, Kierce and Jay, for the first few weeks of summer because of a girl, Lisa.  She is energetic, beautiful, and easy going.  With his reluctance, she gets him to dance, let loose, and have a little fun, something Danny doesn't do well on his own.  Kierce is pushy and thinks the world of himself. Jay is the friend everyone needs.  He is relaxed, easy to get along with, and accepting.  

What I loved most about this book was Danny's little sister Alma.  She is thirteen, loves classic movies, and she attempts to lighten the mood when things get tense.  I found myself laughing throughout the book whenever she would make a reference to a movie. Another thing I liked was Kierce's rules.  The book is littered with them.  I would find myself rereading the rules because they were either true for most people I know or they were so ridiculous that I thought maybe I should add this to my list.  For instance, "Rule Two:  If you want to get rich, you've got to do well in school.  Study as hard as you party."  If you know where I go to college, then you know I attend the #1 party school in the US.  This rule applies to everyone on campus.

Overall, this book was phenomenal and I recommend it to everyone.  It was amazing and held some life lessons that not every one achieves.  Acceptance being the number one lesson on that list.  

Giveaway!!

Because I loved this book so much I am going to order one lucky winner a copy of Way To Go.

Giveaway is international as long as The Book Depository ships to you!

To see if The Book Depository ships to you, click here.

Must be 13+

Giveaway Policy Applies

Ends April 2 @ Midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This book satisfies one of my books for the 2012 Completely Contemp Challenge, one of my minimum 12 books for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge, and one of my YA Contemporary Challenge books.