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Lani has been best friends with Erin for forever. They’re bonded, soul sisters, and it doesn’t help that Lani owes Erin her life: they were in a car accident, and Erin helped Lani keep her head until help came. Otherwise she would have given up and drowned. So when Lani discovers that she and Jason, Erin’s latest boyfriend, are destined to be together, what’s a girl to do? Stay true to her soul sister, or give in to Fate?
Of course, she and Jason can’t stay away from each other, and it doesn’t help that Erin’s away at camp all summer. Granted, Jason broke up with Erin (via LETTER? Who does that?) before he and Lani started seeing each other, but neither one really guesses at the repercussions that will happen in their small New Jersey town once school starts. They try to stay apart, for the sake of Lani and Erin’s friendship, but you know Fate, that tricky thing, has other plans.
I don’t read a lot of chick lit, really. Though I do know good YA chick lit when I see it.
This was not it.
Granted, I can see how some people will like this book. There was a lot of drama, but no sex and hardly any language. It’s clean, which is one point in its favor. However, I have a strong prejudice against Fate and True Love, which was one strike against this book for me. The other strike was the bland characterizations: I didn’t like any of the characters, and was never shown (just told about) the chemistry between Lani and Jason. Then there was the whole backlash against Lani (but not Jason) after school started up again. Really? It was completely out of nowhere, and overly harsh for the situation. Sure, I get that Lani should have come clean with Erin from the beginning, but the punishment Erin doles out is overly harsh for the crime.
Granted, aside from the stilted dialogue and lack of characterization, most of these complaints are specific to me. If you like fluff, this might be a good way to go. (That said, if you want some smart fluff, Maureen Johnson’s books are a better way to go.)
Rated: Mild, for a few instances of mild swearing.
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