Title: Beggars and Choosers
Series: Beggars and Choosers #1
Author: Mia Kerick
Genre: YA
Length: Novel (284 Pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 21st, 2012)
Heat Level: Medium
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: After a hard life filled with experiences, he’d rather not remember but can’t forget, Brett Taylor decides he doesn’t need anyone or anything. He gets a job at a bar in a nothing little town where he can fish and race dirt bikes and hide from the world. So naturally as he’s walking across the parking lot at his new job, reminding himself how self-reliant he is, he meets someone he can’t shove aside.
Brett can’t help but admire Cory Butana, the kid who lives above the bar where his father is the principal bartender. Unwanted by either parent, the sweet, personable Cory grew up neglected and hungry for affection. Now he’s determined to make something of his life, even if he has to work himself ragged to do it.
Cory shouldn’t have to suffer like Brett did, and Brett wants to lend a hand. But when their relationship evolves into something Brett isn’t ready to need, he reacts… and the consequences may destroy their fledgling future. With scars like theirs, forgiveness is never easy.
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3230
Reviewer: John
Review: I have to be honest. I really wanted to like this novel, but a huge part of me, didn’t like it or didn’t connect with the story. Beggars and Choosers stars Brett and Cory. Two very different boys sharing the same problems.
I loved Brett. I found him to be interesting and unique. Brett was a school dropped out and lived alone in a small apartment after his mom kicked him out. She was a very popular prostitute and drug addict. He got a job at a small pub and it was there where he met Cory. I somehow didn’t connect with Cory. He was almost in the same predicament as Brett. He had an alcoholic dad and he had to work to buy his personal belongings. All his father did was play his crappy music and get drunk. I have no idea why I didn’t connect with him like I did with Brett.
This novel was well written and it covers a period of several years of their lives. Now, this is the confusing part of the novel. All throughout the novel, the author kept jumping from one POV to the other. Add that to the fact that the story was written by months and it confused me a little. It made it hard to keep up and sometimes there were huge gaps in the story. I really did not like that. I would have loved that this novel was written in Brett’s POV only. It would have made it easier to read.
I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read a good young adult novel about two very diverse boys as they become one and find the true meaning of love and happiness.