Reviewed: Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

Friday 29 January 2016

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
Publishing Date: April 28th 2016
Rating:
Goodreads | Book Depository
Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.
When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.



Not If I See You First is one of those contemporaries that stands out from the rest because it doesn't follow the crowd. It tells the story in a refreshing and unexpected way.

A main character who feels real
Parker has been blind since she was seven years old but her disability isn't the focus of the book. She's sarcastic and not easy to like a lot of the time. She has trust issues and really just wants to be as normal a teenager as possible. I liked that it wasn't always about her disability and that she isn't perfect. She is flawed and I appreciated that.

A refreshing romance
The romance was quite refreshing in a way. Both Parker and Scott have demons and issues with trust and you can easily understand both of their points. I liked that the focus wasn't on how they are completely made for each other and will be together forever. Childhood romances don't always last and sometimes it's better to take things one step at a time to rebuild a strong relationship. I like that it wasn't just fixed in an instant. The romance also takes a little bit of a backseat in favour for friendship.

Friendships that are supportive rather than toxic
The friendships were one my favourite aspects. It was so nice to see girls being supportive of one another and not bitching behind each other's backs. They talked through their problems and were better off for it. It was a nice touch to have a friend who became "the popular one" but is still friendly and in touch even if they aren't as close. That was a really nice change from the usual becoming-popular-and-becoming-a-bitch cliche that we usually see. And a boy who is just a friend without underlying romantic feelings!

A cover with an added touch
I also have to just say that I love the cover for this book as it has Braille on it. I love little extra touches like that and it fits so well with the story.

From the realism to the great friendships, this was a really enjoyable, gripping and well-written story.

What are your favourite books with a disabled character?

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1 comment:

  1. I'm glad to see that you liked this one! I've seen it around but this is the first review I've read! It sounds pretty good.
    Krystianna @ Downright Dystopian

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