Don’t deny yourself a better shot because you messed up in the past.
the right side of reckless, whitney d. grandison
Author: Whitney D. Grandison
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pub Date: 13 July 2021
Page Count: 416
Reading Method: Physical ARC [Thank you to the publisher!]
Dates Read: July 17
Synopsis:
Guillermo Lozano is getting a fresh start. New town, new school, and no more reckless behavior. He’s done his time, and now he needs to right his wrongs. But when his work at the local community center throws him into the path of the one girl who is off-limits, friendship sparks…and maybe more.
Regan London needs a fresh perspective. The pressure to stay in her “perfect” relationship and be the good girl all the time has worn her down. But when the walls start to cave in and she finds unexpected understanding from the boy her parents warned about, she can’t ignore her feelings anymore.
The disapproval is instant. Being together might just get Guillermo sent away. But when it comes to the heart, sometimes you have to break the rules and be a little bit reckless…
Review:
What are your favorite elements on covers? I saw a dog on the cover of this one and instantly needed it! This story, while it does involve a few dogs, if so full of all the things that make a book great.
If you’re looking for a story with bad boy/good girl vibes, this is the one for you! Guillermo moves into town with the intent of moving on from the mistakes of his past, while Regan is looking to shake up the picture perfect future her family has laid out for her. No matter how hard they try, the pull between them is undeniable.
The story is told in dual perspective. I seemed to enjoy Guillermo’s chapters just a tiny bit more than Regan – mostly because I HATED her boyfriend and her parents frustrated me. That’s like… the whole point of the story (I KNOW) but I just wanted to shake them all and tell them to back off and let Regan do her thing! Grandison did a great job of bringing the overbearing pressure of familial expectations to life through Regan and her family. Guillermo, on the other hand, is trying to earn back the trust of his family. He’s got a long road ahead of him, but I was rooting for him all the way.
The chemistry between Regan and Guillermo was off the charts but the slow burn is real with this one, y’all. Normally I am not a slowburn gal, but it worked here. I like the idea of allowing characters to take time for themselves to figure out what they want and to just be by themselves for a little while.
The only complaint I have with The Right Side of Reckless is the situation with the dog(s). No spoilers, but if you’ve read it, let me know so we can talk about it! (Don’t worry, no dogs die – I wouldn’t have kept reading if they did).
The Right Side of Reckless is a story of love, redemption, self-discovery, and very cute dogs.
