Mundie Moms

Thursday, September 26, 2013

WILD CARDS by Simone Elkeles, Book Review


By: Simone Elkeles
Published by: Bloomsbury Teen
To Be Released on: 10.1.213
Source: arc from publisher to review
4 Stars: I Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to Goodreads

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?


A sexy, competitive YA romance that fans of Simone Elkeles will love. No one can blends the realism and grittiness of teenage life, love, angst and drama like Simone does. I loved that Wild Cards had football, snark and that fiery character chemistry Simone's characters are known for. 

 Similar to Simone's Perfect Chemistry series, Wild Cards felt more like I was reading about real people and watching their story unfold in front of me vs reading a book about two fictional characters. I think part of that has to do with the fact that Simone doesn't sugar coat anything in her books. She gives you characters with real emotions, and real problems, and I immediately want to know more about them. Not only that, Simone makes me root on her characters. She does a fabulous job with making me love her underdog.

Ashtyn Parker is a girl I would have loved hanging out with high school. She's tough of nails, and proves to every girl who's ever wanted to play sports with the guys, that you can do it. Being the only girl on the guys high school football team, let alone the captain her senior isn't easy. Luckily she's a dedicated girl, a tough player and does all she can to prove herself. Ashtyn's a girl who proves she belongs there, despite the hurdles that are always in her way. Her biggest hurdle named Landon, aka also known as "the boyfriend" just walked away with her heart, and the dreams of her team. 

Enter the love interest Derek Fitzpatrick, also known as Cowboy as Ashtyn likes to call him. I seriously love how these two ruffle each other's feathers. This southern hot football star is running from his past, and ends up living in Chicago, because Ashtyn's sister is the Derek's stepmother. Oh yeah, be prepared from some fabulously written banter, tense moments, and plenty of sizzling character chemistry between both Derek and Ashtyn. Derek has snark, an attitude, and plenty of rebellion. But his rebellion isn't that real bad boy kind of way. Once you learn more about his past you understand why he is, the way he is. 

In true Simone fashion, the relationship between Derek and Ashtyn is complicated at times, swoon worthy other times, vulnerable and sometimes it's heartbreaking. Not only do these two have broken families, but they both carry around hurt that they try so hard to keep locked up. My heart broke for both Derek and Ashtyn, but I loved how Simone created this relationship between the two of them. Sure it's hot, but I loved how real she made it between the two of them. They've both scared to admit how they each feel about one another. On top of that, both Ashtyn and Derek feel they have a lot of prove, not just to each other, but to themselves, and those around them.

Overall this is one fabulous Simone Elkeles read. I LOVED the football plot line, the romance, and the closeness Ashtyn and her team have. They'd do anything to protect her, and she'd do anything for them. I loved that. If you're looking for read that is real, gritty, hot, and combines sports with a sizzling chemistry, pick up WILD CARDS. I was surprised with how into the book I got. I literally devoured this book right after I received at BEA. I will say, this book does have some language, sexual content, and a well written sex scene, making this a read I'd recommend to those who have read Simone Elkeles book before and mature readers. 

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