Review of Knee Deep by Jolene Perry

Yup, it's time for another post about how freaking awesome Jolene Perry is! :D But first, the details about Knee Deep!

Knee Deep Summary

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both. 

 

**

 

This is the second book I've read by Jolene, and if it's possible, I think I love it even more than I loved Night Sky (though I hope Jolene won't mind that my heart will always belong to Jameson!). I honestly have nothing but praise for this book, but what I'd like to do is pick up on something Jolene said when she posted on her blog about Knee Deep. 

 

A large part of the story has to do with abuse to Ronnie from her boyfriend, Shawn. Jolene said this:

 

"People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.

But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable."

 

I remember reading those words and wondering exactly what Ronnie's reactions might be to make people think they weren't believable. I'm not gonna lie - I was concerned that I might be disappointed in the story. However, that just didn't happen. There were certain things Ronnie said or thought about Shawn's actions that made me angry because I needed her to get out of that situation instead of finding ways to explain what he was doing. But that was what made it real for me. Her judgement was terrible at times, but there was not a single moment when I thought it wasn't believable. 

 

The magic of Jolene Perry is that her words make people feel something. I won't give away any spoilers, but there were parts, especially towards the end of the book, that were so clear, I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. I finished reading Knee Deep more than a week ago, and yet I can still replay full scenes in my head. When words are so vivid that they create not only pictures, but full, moving scenes, inside your mind, you know you're reading something amazing. 

If you don't believe me, check it out for yourself! 

Knee Deep on Amazon

Knee Deep Nook

Knee Deep on Smashwords