Review
Title: A Little Something Different
Author: Sandy Hall
Publication: August 26, 2014 by Swoon Reads
Format: Paperback
Source: Independent Bookseller
Genre: YA; Contemporary; Romance
The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.
But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.
Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together….
My Thoughts:
I think that before I even review A Little Something Different, I should at lease give you all some background on it’s unusual publishing journey.
Swoon Reads is an imprint under Fewiel and Friends and Macmillian Publishers that operates using online manuscript submissions. Similar to fan fiction sites or even Wattpad, authors post their ‘manuscripts’ for online members to read and review. The manuscripts that are chosen for publication are voted on by readers of the site. However, Swoon Reads is a YA imprint and only accepts Romances. The different sub-genres however, are limitless.
Following the initial deal with the author, the manuscript continues through revisions similar to that of traditional publishing processes. Fans are encouraged to participate in other parts of the publication process, including the direction and design of the cover.
I went into A Little Something Different with the mindset that it would be a fluffy romance. I was not wrong, however, Sandy Hall certainly took the time to plan out and organize an intricate fluffy romance. I enjoyed all of the point of views that Sandy Hall wrote from, excluding the squirrel. I understood why it was added into the story, but I think that it made the book more unprofessional.
Sandy Hall’s plot was not exactly surprising, but the build up and character input was fun to read about. Hall had you ripping through the pages, immediately connecting to her characters and simply wanting them to find their happy ending. Which they do, of course, after much dilly-dallying around.
The only thing that particularly stuck out for me was Hall’s seamless integration of a lesbian relationship into the background of the story. I appreciated this addition, as well as the lack of fuss there was about including it. This is the sort of representation that should be expected in all YA.
Final Thoughts:
A Little Something Different may read like a manuscript taken off the internet, but that is exactly what it is. Readers who embark on this book with that in mind and keep their expectations in check will find everything that they are looking for in this contemporary. Upon finishing the book, I tweeted Sandy Hall.
And that is the emotion that I was left with upon finishing the book. I was dying for more, due to my emotional investment with the characters. While A Little Something Different may not be the most well written book in the world, it is certainly a talent to make a reader feel as I did.
For fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins who want something just a tad bit lighter, and a tad bit quirkier.
Other Opinions on A Little Something Different
Debby | Snuggly Oranges
Gillian | Writer of Wrongs
Hazel | Stay Bookish
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