Kirkus' Review for ON THE LINE!

As many book lovers probably know, Kirkus Reviews is not known for sugarcoating. Their reviews are critical. Tough. Harsh.  I mean, it's right there in their tagline, The World's Toughest Book Critics.

So I think it is safe to say I was a little more than nervous while I anxiously awaited my own review from Kirkus. Would they fall in love with Islamorada? Find themselves cheering for Piper? Or would they have something, er, less flattering to say? With no idea what to expect, I prepared for the worst, but hoped for the best.

Then it happened. The review came in. So I took a deep breath. Opened the email. Read. And then started dancing around my living room. Because they liked ON THE LINE!

I've included a few quotes from the review below, though you can read the entire review here. It's a great critique of the book, which sums up the plot quite nicely.

From Kirkus Reviews:

"Bardenwerper understands her teenage characters, infusing them with a characteristic combination of moodiness, recklessness and stubbornness. The novel’s romantic plot intertwines nicely with the story of a young woman struggling to grow up and define herself, and by book’s end, Piper has emerged as a smart, self-aware teen with a bright future ahead of her. Many readers will be eager to see where her next adventure leads."

"A sweet, engaging story that neatly sidesteps YA clichés."