On the Fence
by Kasie West
Publisher – HarperTeen
Release Date – July 1st 2014
Buy – Amazon | Book DepositoryShe’s a tomboy. He’s the boy next doorโฆ
Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn’t know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she’s got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she’s falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.
โSometimes we expect more that people are capable of giving at the momentโ
On the Fence is a novel built on the basis of long term friendship and the invisible barrier of love that grew between two friends both on the opposite side of the fence. Surrounded by the influence of family and pure delight of entertainment, Miss West is an extraordinary writer to create a refreshing take of a YA contemporary taking on a beautiful moment between two best friends.
Charlotte or Charlie is your average tomboy, surrounded by her three brothers or four including Braden next door and her passion for sport she has been nothing more than a sister or a friend to her fellow team mates and family. With family pranks and brotherly banter, you really can see the open and closeness relationship that they all share. No wonder, the concept of dating and Charlie having any sort of boyfriend would be scary. I think I, myself would be rather intimated by the amount of testosterone fueled teenagers within the household. Haha. Whilst Charlie hasn’t spent her time growing up as your normal girly teenager, she led her own life through the influence and inspiration that are her family. She hasn’t had the time for boys or the concept of even dating, let alone for the boy next door… Braden Lewis.
On the other side of the fence you have Braden, an only child with a difficult father, he found himself attached like an adoptive part of the Reynolds family but also to Charlie. They have been friends for years and have never left each others side, a bond neither one of them really anticipated. Braden was the sort of character I could really enjoy reading, his perspective of what Charlie is really like, past the tomboyish looks and sporty nature, he saw her, her heart and her soul.
I could really connect with the characters and the sense of their relationship between them. What I felt for both of the characters is was I consider real, given how personal this sort of relationship is to me. I relate to the characters, the way their feelings and love ignited from such powerful connection they have together. This is true love, I find that I believe that the connection grows stronger from the waking moment they met as friends. Kasie for me showed a moral to On the Fence; never change who you are for anyone and I live by that moral to this day!
This sort of story gives that infectious smile til throughout, giggle at the embarrassment that are her brothers, and make your toes curl at certain given moment between Charlie and Braden. This novel give you the feel of a summer fling without the seriousness of reality. Kasie West creates a loveable, cute and fluffy story that will leave you sighing to the very end. While I haven’t read any of her other novel like Pivot Point, I do intend to read them very soon.
Rating – 4
Great review, Emma! I feel like On The Fence would be the perfect summer read that would make me smile, and even more since I've liked all the books by Kasie West I've read!
Thank you! It really is. Sometimes I wish I did read it in the summer but its one of those books you can settle down on any day it will make you feel smile. Hope you get to read it soon, Pili!
Yayyyyy since it was my WoW pick yesterday ๐ Such a perfect timing, Emma ๐ Thehee, I havea thing for guys named Braden ๐ (Thanks, Samantha Young!) I'm so happy that you enjoyed the characters and their romance–I hope they'll bring me some gorgeous summer romance feels ๐ Can't wait to read it ๐
Oh WoW that's definitely a coincidence! Hehe! I haven't read any Samantha Young books, you have me intrigued now with this Braden character! I hope it does too. It really brightened my week to read a summer novel like this one! Hope you get to read it soon! Siiri! ๐
Ha, I think I'd be intimidated too, only because I'm not used to that. I grew up with sisters. ๐ Though this book made me long for older brothers. I loved the emphasis on friendship and family, and totally agree that it was a cute story. I can't wait to see what you think of Pivot Point, Emma!
I'm an only child so I had neither. So think I would love to have grown up like with brothers more! The emphasis is what I enjoyed a lot, it was what I loved the most of the novel. I can't wait to read Pivot Point too, I will let you know! Thanks Sam! ๐
Like you, Emma, I was really able to connect with these characters and I loved that the focus of this novel remained on both of their growth arcs, opposed to their romance. It was such a cute aspect to the novel, I agree, but this novel really explored the depths of the family dynamics West painted, so I have hope that I'll enjoy many more of her contemporary works in the future as well. Fantastic review! ๐
I'm really glad you had the same as me, Keertana! Their family and surrounding persona's built the novel up! That's what I really enjoy about West's writing as well it being a stand-alone as well. I really want to read The Distance Between Us. Thank you, Keertana! ๐
I loved Pivot Point but I have yet to pick up KW's contemporaries. This one sounds delightful because I adore "best friends to more" romances. Wonderful review, Emma! ๐
I hope to read Pivot Point soon, Rachel. I've heard some brilliant reviews on these books so I hope to see the paranormal version of West's writing very soon. Hope you get to read this one soon. Thank you Rachel! ๐
This book sounds totally adorable Emma! And after reading your review I really do want to push some of my review books out of the way and get to this one right away. Also I think I need some more contemporary books in my life over the Summer and this book sounds perfect for it! Lovely review as always!
I know. I wish I could of held off until Summer for this one but I couldn't. It was really cute andjust kept you smiling throughout. ๐ I hope you get to read this one soon, Jasprit! Thank you! ๐
Lovely review Emma, I just love the sound of how cute and fluffy and well developed the romance is here. Braden sounds like a really good and understanding love interest as well. Sounds like it really lifted your spirits!
Braden was such a brilliant and amazing love interest and brother to the rest of her family! It was wonderful to see how it developed. Thank you for stopping by Jeann!
So happy to see that you enjoyed reading this!! I like the moral too and I love that Braden knew Charlie so well. Fantastic review, Emma!
I think the character relationships whether between Charlie and Braden or her family were so spectacular. I loved it! Thank you Heniretta! ๐
Great review! I am really excited to read this book now ๐
Rachel @A Perfection Called Books
Hope you enjoy it, Rachel. Thank you for stopping by! ๐
*sigh* I want this book! I'm officially obsessed with Kasie West after finished The distance Between Us so i'm SUPER glad you ended up enjoying this one and that it was an all around good read ๐
I haven't read The Distance Between Us yet but after this one, I do intend to! Hope you get to read this one soon, Lily! Thank you for stopping by! ๐