Be the Girl

By: K. A. Tucker

Narrated by: Katie Schorr

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

"A compelling page turner, beautifully told." (Natasha Boyd, USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of Eversea) 

"Heartfelt, relevant, and incredibly thought-provoking." (Natasha Is a Book Junkie) 

From the national best-selling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and The Simple Wild comes a poignant coming-of-age story about a girl trying to change her future while evading her past. 

Almost 16-year-old Aria Jones is starting over. New postal code, new last name, new rules. But she doesn't mind, because it means she can leave her painful regrets behind. In the bustling town of Eastmonte, she can become someone else. Someone better. 

With the Hartford family living next door, it seems she will succeed. Sure, Cassie Hartford may be the epitome of social awkwardness thanks to her autism, but she also offers an innocent and sincere friendship that Aria learns to appreciate. And Cassie's older brother, Emmett - a popular Junior-A hockey player with a bright future - well...Aria wishes that friendship could lead to something more. If he didn't already have a girlfriend, maybe it would. 

But Aria soon finds herself in a dicey moral predicament that could derail her attempt at a fresh start. It is her loyalty to Cassie and her growing crush on Emmett that leads her to make a risky move, one that earns her a vindictive enemy who is determined to splinter her happy new world.

©2019 Kathleen Tucker (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

✫✫ 4.5 Stars ✫✫

This story has such an important message. I went in blind because this is an auto buy author for me and I had no clue it would be such a strong and powerful book. This is a YA so I expected it to be a little childish and filled with annoying drama but it really wasn't. Of course it had drama but the way it is written made it so important. If I had a teenage daughter I would have her read this just for the message. I really liked the characters, especially Cassie. She made this story and Aria's friendship with her shows how much people can learn from their mistakes and change for the better.

The narration was perfect for these characters.

Powerful

I loved this book!

I am a sucker for this author she always brings out the feel for me. I never go in thinking I will have a tear and yet when I am done I remember all the other books that came before and how she can bring out all those emotions.

AJ and the Hartford's I can’t even describe how happy my heart was when they all became friends. It was interesting and intriguing and sad at times but high school is like that. In this day and age messages like this book really hit home, for anyone who has children in school with all these social media know exactly how fast it can turn. It can be amazing and wonderful until it’s not.

I loved AJ’s mother and how she did what needed to be done when it needed doing. It wasn’t easy would imagine and trust is something you very much have to earn, and how AJ and her mom forge that trust back well it's sweet and powerful.

I loved the narration I think it was exactly perfect for the age of these characters.

Dealt with bulling very well

This is a really hard book for me to rate. I put off writing this review as I was trying to really determine how I felt about this book. I will say that this author can be hit or miss for me. Some of her books have been my personal favorites and really wanted to love this story. However, it didn't really work for me.

What I did like:
1. The narrator, I listen to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job portraying the feel and angst of being a young teen. She really helps bring the story to live and did a great job of giving a voice and life to each character

2. Dealing with bullying: I think this is a really important topic to be discussed and thought the author handles this really well. We were shown how easy one comment can snowball into something much bigger and how teens can lose control so easy over things that shouldn't really matter. I just wish this was the main storyline and the whole point of the book. I felt overall it was a secondary plot to the romance in the story. I would have found the book more compelling if it focused on the topic of bullying

3. The writing. I will say no matter what the author is an amazing writer and even if I'm not fully on board with a storyline.

What I didn't like:
1. The romance. It was the main plot and tbh I hated everything about how it was portrayed. From how Aria played a role in helping end Emmets first relationship, to how quickly they started dating (especially given the sexual nature of Emmett's previous relationship was). I also felt like the author treated sex way to casual between these two, especially given their ages. Aria is only 15. Sex is something that is casual or easy for anyone, especially children who don't have the emotional capacity to deal with all the emotions that come with having Sex or sexual intimacy. This plays out when Aria truth comes out how easy Emmert just walks away from her, instead of working through it and fighting for their relationship.

**********Author provided a review copy**********

4 stars

This was a realistic read for me. Although this isn't my usual go to read, KA did a great job with the story. I also liked Katie's narration. I love the cover too!

Cassie needs a book

I loved this book about Aria and Emmett and the effects of bullying and divorce. Having been bullied as a teen, most of us don’t get the happy ever after but it was nice to hope that our bullies might one day change and become nice, caring people. That being said we need more books like Helen Hoang; romance novels where the main character is autistic. Just because you have autism doesn’t mean you don’t want to be loved too!

Disappointing. Not like her usual standard.

I was hanging out for the release date of this one because k. A. Tucker always seems to deliver quality in each of her stories. Unfortunately I was disappointed with this one. First it felt way too immature compared to her normal writing it felt like it was aimed at 12yr olds to be honest, and maybe it was? But there just wasn't enough of anything substantial to make it a good read I feel like it just missed the mark. It had potential with the storyline but failed to deliver. The audible narration of the male lead was also terrible and there was no palpable chemistry at all.

Touching. Eye-opening

K A Tucker has written such an accurate, true consequences story of typical “normal/common” actions by adolescents and teenagers. AND especially of the deep hurtful reactions resulting. I highly recommend this story be read in school and by teenagers.

Nice story line

loved it while listening.amazing story line and interesting to listen and makes eager to know the next chapter.

A wonderful story about how bullying can affect many people

This story is about a girl who moves to a new town and starts a new school. She has a past that isnt revealed until the end of the book. But it deals with bullying. Follow along with aria Jones as she falls in love with the boy next door, defends his autistic sister, and unintentionally becomes an advocate for bullying and standing up for others.

5 Stars Overall Rating...Narration 4½ Stars

Timely, and poignant, with indelible characters and a little bit of twist that I didn't see coming. This story gives you insight into bullying from different angles, that will surprise and inspire. This was a really good story and I wouldn't have expected this type of book from KA Tucker, but I know with her writing it will be not only profound but also memorable. I still remember how Ten Tiny Breaths, my first book by this author, made me feel and this book has done the same.

Katie Schoor was perfect for the voice of Aria...but I was thrown off by one little inconsequential thing, her constant pronunciation of project...she always said it <PRO-ject> instead of <PRA-ject>. I wondered if that was a Canadian thing or just her thing. Seriously, though, I really loved this.