(ARC Review) Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

WHERE I BELONG
Author: Gwendolyn Heasley
Source: Around The World Tours

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (February 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061978841
• ISBN-13: 978-0061978845

SUMMARY:

Corrinne Corcoran’s upscale Manhattan life is perfectly on track—until her father announces he’s been laid off and she’s shipped off to Broken Spoke, Texas, to live with her grandparents. All alone in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the glamorous life she’s supposed to be living. But as she grudgingly adjusts—making new friends and finding romance along the way—this city girl begins to realize that life without credit cards and shopping sprees may not be as bad as it seems…. 

MY THOUGHTS:

When you read the first page of the book, you know exactly how the main character is going to be.  Basically the first page is a letter from Corrinne to the reader.  She tells you that when reading this book, you are going to not enjoy her attitude and demeanor.  I found this to be very accurate.


When Corrinne’s Father loses his job due to the recession, her family is forced to sell their home in New York.  While her father travels abroad to find work, Corrinne is forced to move to Broken Spoke, Texas with her brother Tripp.  While living with her Grandparent’s, Corrinne whines about anything and everything.  She can’t stand to live in a place where Sonic is considered fine dining, and football is the favorite past time.


Throughout this book I agreed with the letter from the character.  I couldn’t stand Corrinne.  She was spoiled, whined on almost every page, and basically a teenage brat.  If she didn’t get exactly what she wanted, she made sure to tell everyone who was listening a poor-me tantrum.  I didn’t see much of an improvement in the character by the end of the book either.  Sure, she learned to like Sonic and Texan fun, but she still had the spoiled princess persona that grew irritating with each chapter.  There isn’t much romance in the book, and it is left with no real resolve at the end with what romance it does have.  


To me this was an okay book, but not one that blew me away like I was hoping. I think the ending of the book needed more to it, and a better outcome that what is revealed in the last chapter. 


MY RATING: