Review: Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery

Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery

Published by: Page Street Kids

Released: October 8, 2019 (in the US)

ISBN: 9781624147999

Read: October 6, 2019

I seem to like to pick these books that offer diverse characters. Torrey is a black, gay boy and bloody heck, has his life been tough. We are thrown right in the deep end (just as he is). He has just arrived at his college campus and he receives a phone call from his beloved Aunt Lisa telling him the land on which his bees reside is about to be taken from him due to unpaid land taxes.

There are so many backstories and family threads that Torrey weaves between his narrative of now and present. Sad but realistic situations involving his bed-bound mother (due to a coma), his deceased uncle Miles and his narrow-minded grandfather Theo (one of the reasons the taxes have not been paid). These flow in and out of his worries. One thing, Torrey is an over thinker, a worrier, a boy who burdens the problems of the world. So really, he’s an achiever. He gets things done. But this, it’s way out of his league. Luckily, he has CAKE—four STEM girls, black girls, loyal friends—with knowledge and connections he draws on to try to find a way to keep his bees.

Torrey’s voice is full of modern slang and acronyms. Sometimes I felt quite old, unable to take meaning even with context and a solid vocabulary. But that’s ok. I am old. Younger, hippier and edgier readers will immerse themselves completely in Torrey’s determination and resilience.

The beginning of the novel moved slowly through his first few days of College. He connects to a friend and potential love interest, and his roommate is another support person. He draws the ire of one of his lecturers, who develops into an interesting character, although we can presume she challenges and supports him, unfortunately, the relationship is under-developed.

This is how I felt about the last third of the book, actually. It rushes past and problems are solved quickly, and the love story miscommunication sorted easily. The storyline involving his mother is left open, although we have no doubt how Theo feels (‘and don’t come back!’). I wanted the conclusion to feel stronger. I wanted to see Torrey more grounded, and I wanted to see more of those darned bees!

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for advancing me a copy. Torrey has really put up with a lot in life, mostly grief and rejection, so he absolutely deserves all the excellent things that come his way. Recommended for readers who like their novels diverse and inclusive. These characters are out of school, and it’s lovely to read about college-aged young adults. We really thought New Adult was going to be a thing, but it seems to have stayed in the romance realm and hasn’t really taken hold in the ‘contemporary issues’ space (let me know if I am wrong here). I loved Torrey and Gabe, Desh, Clarke, Auburn, Kennedy and Emery (the aforementioned CAKE), and Aunt Lisa. They are all terrific people. Any Means Necessary is out on October 8 in the US.

Review: 180 Seconds by Jessica Park

180 Seconds by Jessica Park

Published by: Skyscape
ISBN: 9781503943360
Released: April 25

Read: April 22 2017

180 Seconds attempts to celebrate what’s good and positive about social media. While it also shows its ugly and vicious side, it tries to say most people are good, and if when given a chance, they will show kindness and care.

Esben Baylor is a social media celebrity. His social experiments reach out to strangers and exposes life in its grimness and glory. He doesn’t seem to gain any financial rewards, but Park is evasive about that. We see him through the eyes of the protagonist Allison, an anxious college student who spends most of her days alone and lonely. She faces the world by placing impenetrable walls around herself. Apart from her fierce best friend Steffi, who lives on the other side of the country, and her adoptive father Simon, Allison keeps everyone else at a distance. Then she meets Esben, and everything changes for her.

While we watch Esben and Allison fall for each other, there is a sense of inevitable disaster. There is too much happy, too much going right. Allison realises her boyfriend is a social media superhero, someone who embraces all that’s good in the world. She has never been on these networks, so her naivety is romantic and a novelty. The trope of the love interest showing the innocent new and wonderful ways to experience the world is strong in romance novels. Esben is thoughtful and humble, and exactly what a lot of readers want in their love interests. He does hide some secrets which have impacted on his life choices, but the author sets him up as the ideal antidote for Allison’s wariness and regimented life.

Their relationship is portrayed as strong and unbending. Which means of course, it will break. In the meantime, it is excellent to see Allison be brave and reach out to Esben’s sister Kerry, and a college roommate, Carmen. She is rewarded with two new strong friendships. Another positive element is Allison’s realisation of how much fatherly love Simon provides, and by just acknowledging his efforts and finally calling him ‘dad’, she can return his affection. Sometimes it’s that simple.

But the disaster, when it finally arrives, is predictable yet jarring. I found Steffi’s demands unrealistic. I understand the reasons why the author takes this route, and I was moved by the subsequent scenes, but I also felt a bit manipulated. Despite this, I cried a lot. Some of it is quite powerful. It’s hard to talk about what happens without giving away spoilers, but many readers will work it out themselves, and maybe save themselves tissues.

My copy was provided by publisher via Netgalley and read with thanks. Recommended to readers who have previously enjoyed Park’s other novels, and to romantics who like their stories full of perfect relationships, and drama that is explained and resolved. I would argue this is New Adult because the characters are in college. There are references to sex and a rape that occurred in the past, and the characters drink (underage by American standards).

180 Seconds is out on April 25th.