Sarina Bowen is an author I have read a few books from. She is mostly known for her romance books and she’s good at them. Not too long ago she announced her first YA book: The Accidentals! This book was released yesterday. Today I want to share my review and a little excerpt. So if you’re curious, keep on reading!

A YA novel from USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.

I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.

My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.

When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.

Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.

My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.

LINKS

Amazon Global Link: http://geni.us/ACCAmazon

Audio: http://geni.us/ACCaudio

Paperback: http://geni.us/ACCpaperback

iBooks: http://geni.us/ACCibooks

Kobo: http://geni.us/ACCkobo

Nook: http://geni.us/ACCnook

 

Review

Cover As I said when I helped with the cover reveal, this is gorgeous. After reading The Accidentals, this cover means so much more! I definitely plan on adding this book to my bookshelf.

Plot The Accidentals starts off really emotional. Rachel just lost her mother and is in a group home. Her world is turned upside down and her Aunt didn’t have time for her. That is when her father shows up. Rachel knows about him, but that is about it. He sent a check every month and nothing more. Her father is a famous singer and her mother never really wanted to talk about him. While Rachel resents him for this, she needs him to be there as well. I love the journey they take together. He doesn’t know how to be a father and she’s not sure if she can trust him. Even when she has so many questions. On top of everything, her dream to go to the school her mother went to senior year came true the same day Rachel lost her mother.

First of all, I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose your mother like that and so young. I can relate to not having a father around and being curious. Rachel is strong. Even though everything is going on she is still trying to continue with her life. Even giving her father a chance when he’s never been around is very big of her when she’s in so much pain. I love reading about them getting to know each other and how awkward it was. This really grew throughout the book. Her father tried in his own way and that did lead to some issues. Rachel and her father weren’t really sure how to really talk. It took different things for them to really open up. The end of the book had me in tears, but in a good way.

Beisde the journey with her father, going to a boarding school for the year is an adventure all on its own. Rachel meets some amazing people and finds her place in a choir. Music is important to her and always has been. It kind of runs in the family I guess, haha. Her roommate is amazing and I loved reading about their adventures. The romance in this book is a slow burn and it fit this story perfectly! He is such a sweet guy and really listens. Jake is a fun character! He fit perfectly in this book.

Sarina’s first step into YA went really well!! The only reason I didn’t give this book five stars is I think I would’ve liked the music to be a bit more center stage. And Rachel’s best friend back home really annoyed me. The decisions he made were wrong ones, but I guess in ways this can happen in real life. If this author writes more YA I definitely want to read it!

Excerpt

After the last course—chocolate mousse—the three of us go tripping back across the cold lawn in the dark, Aurora in the lead. I’m the tiniest bit tipsy and wearing heels. So naturally I stumble on a frozen clod of snow and nearly fall. But Jake catches my hand to steady me. “Thanks,” I breathe.

Curiously, his warm fingers remain curled around mine until we reached the door of Habernacker.

I try not to feel ridiculously excited about it.

He lets go when we all reach the third floor. When Aurora opens the door, he follows us inside until we all collapse on the S.L.O., with me in the center.

“Oh! I forgot to steal my plate,” I realize.

“Me too.” Aurora sighs.

Jake reaches into his jacket and pulls out a plate.

“Well done, Mr. Jake!” Aurora laughs. “The party in the annex starts in fifteen minutes.” She heaves herself off the squishy couch. “I have time to redo my makeup.”

I watch her walk over to the stereo, where my phone is already ensconced, and turn on our Christmas playlist. Then she grabs her makeup bag off her desk and leaves the room.

When the door clicks shut, neither Jake nor I speak for a moment. The low chords of a Straight No Chaser song play through our little speakers.

Suddenly, it’s awkward. We’ve been circling each other for a while now—since the night he was trying to be nice and I wrecked it.

“You’re probably sick of a cappella by now,” I say, just to find something to talk about.

But Jake turns slowly toward me and says something unexpected. “Rachel, I need to ask you a question.”

My stomach does a little flip flop, and I turn to face those blue eyes I love so much. “What?” I whisper.

“Well…” He clears his throat. There is a very long pause, during which I hold my breath. “Will you come skiing some time?”

I exhale. “I guess so?” Another beat of silence passes. “That was your big question?” I ask, feeling like I’ve missed something.

His color deepens. “Well, no. I just…” His brow furrows, as if he’s trying to explain some point of astronomy. I love his look of concentration. I’ve missed it.

Jake’s blue eyes lock on mine, and I see how our own orbits might finally collide. This time, I will not send the moment winging back into space. Instead, I lean an almost imperceptible degree in his direction.

And that’s all it takes.

Reaching up, Jake cups his hand to the side of my face. I’m still processing the sweet touch of his fingers when he leans in farther, his lips brushing the sensitive corner of my mouth. His eyes are tentative, seeking permission. My heart thuds with expectation.

And then—finally—Jake kisses me for real. We come together the way a well-timed drummer kicks into the chorus of a song—swiftly, and without hesitation.

We broke apart a moment later, eyeing each other while I try not to smile. “Can I do that again?” he asks, his voice rough. “That was my real question.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely…”

Jake makes a low noise of approval, then draws me closer. I reach up for the back of his neck, my fingers grazing that golden patch of skin I’ve always wanted to touch. He kisses me again, his arm finding the velvet waist of my dress and encircling me.

My heart flutters, but not from fear. Warm lips tease mine gently apart. And when his tongue tangles with mine, I lose myself.

He tastes like champagne. Everything is wild and sweet, until the moment Aurora’s voice rings out. “Ay, caramba!”

I feel an unwelcome rush of cool air between us as Jake retreats.

“I did say I was going into the bathroom, right? And not on a trip to Fiji?”

Neither of us says a word; we only look sheepishly at Aurora.

“Just to be clear, now I’m ducking into the bedroom for my coat, which only takes a second.” She steps into the bedroom, and I hear the rustling of fabric. Then she peers dramatically around the door frame. “Good listening! Now I’m going to the party. Will I see you both there? Don’t answer that. We’ll speak later.”

Jake laughs. “Sorry, Aurora.”

“I’ve seen worse.” She departs, the door closing behind her.

And now I’m self-conscious. Rising, I decide to fiddle with the music playlist. “Do you want to go to the party?”

“I’ll go. But I’m not great at parties. It’s all shouting over the music, drinking warm beer out of a plastic cup.”

“Then let’s not.” My fingers shake as I adjust the volume. I go back over to the sofa and sit down.

“So.” He clears his throat. “Where are you going for break?” As he asks, he takes one of my hands in his, massaging my palm with his thumb.

His light touch is so distracting that I almost forget to answer. “Kansas City,” I manage. “To meet my grandfather for the very first time.”

“Um, what?” He squeezes my hand.

So I tell Jake the embarrassing highlights of my weird story—that I hadn’t met Frederick until this past summer.

“Wow. I’m sorry,” he says.

“Don’t be.”

“I guess I’m not that offended now that you wouldn’t introduce me. If the normal waiting period is seventeen years.”

My laugh begins with an unladylike snort. Ah, well. “With me it’s just all soap opera, all the time. Believe it or not, a year ago I was really a boring person.”

“I don’t see how.” He regards me with darting eyes. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“It’s Aurora’s dress,” I whisper.

But Jake doesn’t seem to care. He slips his arms around my waist. Scooting closer, he slides his lips from my forehead, down my nose and onto my mouth. And we begin again.

I really hope this author writes more YA books! Have you read anything by Sarina Bowen? If so, what was your favorite?