Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison

Published: January 2014

Publisher: Harliquin Teen

Pages: 304

Copy Provided by: NetGalley:

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Nothing should come between best friends, not even boys. ESPECIALLY not boys.

Natalie and Brooke have had each other's backs forever. Natalie is the quiet one, college bound and happy to stay home and watch old movies. Brooke is the movie—the life of every party, the girl everyone wants to be.

Then it happens—one crazy night that Natalie can't remember and Brooke's boyfriend, Aiden, can't forget. Suddenly there's a question mark in Natalie and Brooke's friendship that tests everything they thought they knew about each other and has both girls discovering what true friendship really means.

Review:

Right from the beginning this novel screams awkward tension within your BFF relationship.  Cardinal sin #1 is to stay away from your BFF's boyfriend.  Every girl knows it but in Anything to Have You, the story unfolds so carefully and slowly that the relationship between Natalie and Aiden is subtle.  I definitely saw the foreshadowing Ms. Harbison used for the future events which would dictate the direction and flow of the novel but there were still some surprises.  

About 1/2 way through the story, the narrating voice switched from Natalie to Brooke.  We were able to see the real motivation behind Brooke's seemingly perfect fun personality and her character gained more depth.  I felt more empathy towards her and her situation.

I liked Aiden as a character as well but I wished we could have learned a bit more about him.  

Ultimately, this would be a great read for young women who have strong relationships with their best girlfriends.  Put yourself in Natalie or Brooke's shoes and ask yourself - What would I do? Paige Harbison nailed the relationship dynamics we have between women and our men.  Bravo!

Sex, language and subject content is why I would recommend this read to an older teen audience.  

Waiting on Wednesday - Here lies Bridget by Paige Harbison February 2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine , that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating or books that are in our TBR pile. This week’s “can’t-wait-to-read” selection is

Expected Publication Date: February 1, 2011

Summary (by Goodreads):

Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination.

I am looking forward to reading this one because the premise reminds me of Before I Fall. Does it trigger that memory for anyone else?