Book Review: What You Always Wanted by Kristin Rae

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What You Always Wanted
If Only... #8
Author: Kristin Rae
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: March 29th 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

 

If Only . . . he was the boy she's been dreaming of. The If Only line continues in this fun high school theater-themed romance!

Drama girl Maddie Brooks has always had high standards for guys. But she has yet to find one who can live up to the romantic, classic Hollywood heartthrobs, especially the dreamy song-and-dance man Gene Kelly. When Maddie begins to carpool with Jesse Morales, her new neighbor and star pitcher of the baseball team, she's struck by his wit, good looks, and love for his family--but a guy so into sports is definitely not her style. Then Maddie discovers that Jesse was raised as a dancer and still practices in the community theater dance studio to keep in shape. Perhaps her perfect dream guy exists after all! But when it becomes clear that baseball--not dance--is Jessie's passion, can Maddie find a way to let her dream guy go and appreciate the charms of the amazing guy in front of her?

I love when a book makes you smile from beginning to end. Specially, when it's a book that you were not expecting to swoon over. Maddie is a funny character and had me laughing throughout this story. I loved how this story took me by surprise.

I went through a period in which I wanted to watch all 80s movies. It's a great way to expand your knowledge in something that you love. This is what I loved most about Maddie. I love her enthusiasm for movies and her knowledge in great cinema. Although there are titles mentioned that I need to watch. See, reading is fundamental. Not only is she into movies but Maddie is respectful and doesn't whine like teens her age. She's mature at her age in some levels.

Making a move from a big city to a small town, can be difficult for kids, but Maddie took the news like a champ. One of the things I admired is the fact that she was trying to find the perfect boyfriend. Didn't we all go through that phase? We all wanted to be perfect and to have the perfect boyfriend. And once she realized Jesse knows how to dance, she was making the effort to make him the perfect guy. Until she comes in conclusion there is no such thing as being a perfect boyfriend.

What You Always Wanted is an adorable, cute and swoony story. It's a story of a girl finding out that sometimes what you always wanted is not actually what you need. Life is a puzzle and mystery and we are here just to live it and make the best out of it. I liked Jesse and Maddie together. They're a pair that bring each other's best. Maddie learns life is full of mess and "perfection" is overrated. As for Jessie, he learns to follow his heart. This is a story worth learning.