Carrie Firestone sure knows how to write! The Unlikelies is likely your next amazing read and you’re gonna want to request or order this book pronto.
First, if you’re turning your nose at the genre of young adult, just no. My friend Beth introduced me to this galaxy of books and I’m so very glad I was open to it. You get the interpersonal relationship issues, the romance, the real-life-ness of our world without the steamfest love scenes or too many swear jar words. Such a fun recipe!
I came across this book in my search for fictional dessert books. I’m a sucker for a fun cover. Post coming…at some point. 😊
Before we begin, I am convinced I had it so much easier to go through my teen years without social media and cell phones. Can you imagine all the hashtagging and updates and filtering that these kiddos (painfully) endure for every outing? Crikey. We had to call on house phones to make plans. And there wasn’t changing of plans until everyone was in the same spot. Because, no options. It was a beautiful thing.
Anywho.
We meet Sadie the summer between her junior and senior year in high school. Sadie’s bestie, Shay, just graduated high school and is off to California for the summer before she starts college. Sadie’s always hung with that grade, so she’s doesn’t have big ties to her own class. And thus, feels a bit deserted.
Sadie jumps to the rescue at her summer job and consequently rescues a baby from her drunk-driving dad. (Can you even imagine?!) A long-time customer at the end of his days witnesses this act of bravery and upon his death, bequeaths Sadie a mysterious suitcase in his backyard shed. She is instructed to do good with the contents.
Sadie’s act of heroism gets her an invite to the Hometown Heroes luncheon where she connects with other kids who have shown heroism in the community. All peeps she knows but either didn’t get close with previously (Val and Jean), lost touch with (Alice) or had a years-long crush on in middle school (Gordie).
The five exchange numbers at the event. Alice suggests the crew gets together and like the Breakfast Club, they seem to all gel better than expected.
Sadie is trying to manage the after-shock of the incident at work + Shay never having time for her + the expected teen angst as she prepares for her swan song year in high school.
If that wasn’t enticing enough to lure your purdy eyes to this book, these five decide to shame internet trolls. They go on a vigilante online campaign to stick up for those with smaller voices. (I was SO hooked by this point)
The group builds momentum, shares layers of themselves with one another and there is a bit of romance at play, too.
Additionally, there is a sub-plot to help Alice’s bestie with her heroine addiction. (Did that just make you get book whiplash thinking this novel was all ice cream cones and ponies?! Don’t you LOVE these kinds of books?!) Think Adventures in Babysitting but clearly more dangerous and legit scary.
My four aren’t in that chapter where we need to be worried about drugs, but apparently it’s an issue everywhere. Even in our town where I swear it was the fodder for Footloose. And kinda still is.
The Unlikelies was such a bright spot to end my weekend and I cannot wait for Carrie’s next book, Dress Code!