Review: Sia by Josh Grayson

Title: Sia
Series: No
Author: Josh Grayson
Publisher: Josh Grayson

Goodreads

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review, this has in no way swayed my opinion or the contents of this review.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:
When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family. At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie. Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse yet, she discovers she was the cruelest one. Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented. Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle.

What I thought:
This is an incredibly sweet story that with a good message to the teenagers it's intended for. Sadly I don't think stuck up bullies like the ones pictured in the book spends a lot of time reading. At least the stuck up people during my high school years didn't, which is a shame.

As to how I feel about this book, well, I'm thoroughly conflicted.

First of all, I don't feel anything for these characters. They're flat characters in an otherwise good book, but that feels like a horrible thing to say because they're actually quite likable. But I feel that it's intended for a younger audience then the usual YA readers, say like actual younger teenagers, and that I may be the language of the book that made me unable to connect with the characters, not the characters per se. Let's go with that because I kinda like Sia, I just can't feel her.

Every character in this book has a very specific role to play. Amber is the Queen Bee of the school, Duke is the rock star QB, Stacy is the follower and Kyle's the loser love interest. They play their roles perfectly, which makes the whole book a bit predictable.  Sia got a very rational head on her shoulders and wisdom beyond her years, which also makes this book feel more of a moral story intended for younger readers and less like a book. Although, if had actually been one of those younger people I think I would have liked this book very much.

Sia takes a very stereotypical approach to the cliques of the high school cafeteria and and turns them in to a sweet story about finding yourself and throws a little bit of love into the mix. It is predictable and a bit flat but it has a very good and very important message to all those high schoolers out there. Although I have to say that this story has been written before, many times, and this is not particularly different from any of them. But that doesn't make this one any less good, and if you had to choose one of all those out there, this will be as good choice as any!

You see? Conflicted, I go back and forth so much i think I might get whiplash.

I like the idea of the story and I really recommend it to the younger audience but for the 22 year old me this was a let down.

My rating:

About the author:
Josh Grayson was born in Mexico, raised in Massachusetts, and now lives in Martinsville, Virginia. It was his move to the South that stirred his imagination and gave him the courage to start writing. During his free time, Josh enjoys reading, jogging, swimming, and watching YouTube videos.

Josh currently works as a medical driver, shuttling people all over Virginia and North Carolina. He has also worked as a machinist, film sales rep, admin. assistant, and telemarketer (he apologizes if he called you).

To reach Josh, contact him here through Goodreads or by any method below!

Website: joshgrayson.com
Facebook: Josh Grayson
Twitter: @Josh_Grayson