ARC Review: Hannah Harrington - Saving June

Hannah Harrington - Saving June

• Pub Date: May 1, 2011
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen
• Format: eGalley
• Age Range: Young Adult

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

I received this book through Net Galley. Here is my honest review:

The whole 'obsessed with old music' thing got really old, really fast. It didn't help me with the story because I don't know the lyrics to a lot of these songs, so there was no way for it to help me understand better. It just seemed to take up space. Again, as with a David Levithan novel, these teens sound so profound for only being 16-18 years old. And holy hell with the smoking, people! I got so tired of hearing about cigarettes hanging out of people's mouths. Ugh.

Besides all that, the story was deep and meaningful. Harper is really hurting after her sister's death, and she wants to do the right thing by her since she feels like she didn't do it for her in life. She plans a road trip with her best friend, and somehow this Jake gets involved. I knew from the beginning how that would work out, and I was pleased with the way it progressed. With Harper feeling the way she is, it isn't surprising how far she goes. Laney, her best friend, is an interesting character, and the way Harper talks about her is almost touching. They know each other so well. It must be nice to have a friend like that.

I was almost wishing through the whole story that June wasn't really dead. That's basically impossible, but Harper's hurt was so bad. And I hated the rest of her family. However, I did feel like a lot of things were brought up that didn't get fleshed out all the way. #1 - The protest thing. It's clear that Jake used to partake in all that, but it didn't really explain why. #2 - Jake's ex. She was brought in but left just as quickly without very much impact. #3 - The religion stuff. By the end, I thought maybe Harper would have some momentous religious finding, but she didn't (thank goodness). I thought those were big parts of this story that didn't really go anywhere. Seemed pointless for them to have entered in the first place.

Bottom Line: I enjoyed this one. I liked their road trip memories and the drama and experience. I just wish there would have been a little more substance and a little less music.

Rating:

3.5 / 5 book sharks