The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne Published by Penguin on March 17th 2015
Genres: Family, General, Love & Romance, Politics & Government, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option?
Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be.
Talk about a timely read you guys… if you’re sick of the rhetoric in the current campaign that’s happening in real life, this book might just be the perfect escape.
Kate Quinn’s mother died last year leaving Kate in the care of her aunt and uncle. She’s never known her father, and in all her thoughts about it, she definitely never would have imagined him to be a politician vying for the presidency of the United States… but that’s exactly who he is.
Kate is suddenly thrown into a life that she isn’t in the least bit prepared for. Determined to get to know her new family, her twin sister and brother and her step-mom she throws herself into her father’s life and campaign… yet he continues to remain a bit of stranger as the countdown to the election continues.
One person she has no problem connecting with is Andrew Lawrence… rebellious son of the competition and the one who knows exactly what the campaign trail can do to a person.
Kate has to decide to toe the party line or stand up for what she truly believes and feels and it’s definitely a bumpy ride.
First I have to say that I truly loved Kate. I can’t imagine her predicament, but I loved that she put the effort into the relationships around her. Even when things got tough… and believe me they get tough, she doesn’t throw in the towel and give up on these people who are now her immediate family.
The relationships in this story are completely complicated and I was waiting for Meg, (Kate’s step-mom) to be this evil person as stepmom’s often are depicted. But she never did. When the Senator didn’t step up to the plate and wasn’t there emotionally for Kate, Meg absolutely was and after the circumstances that Kate appears it had to be a hard pill to swallow for her. The relationship that forms between them was lovely and exactly what I wanted to read. I also loved the bond that formed between Grace and Gabe, her half-siblings. These two 8 year olds were adorable and I thought the mix of trepidation and acceptance was done incredibly well.
I’m going to mention Andy here too – I was worried, I’m not going to lie. I wanted him to be everything that he was being portrayed as and I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed. He’s sweet, and swoony, and I loved that these two bonded over their situations.
Now for the complicated. I struggled with the political parts of this story. NOT because it wasn’t believable, because it most certainly was, but because it was seriously heartbreaking. I can’t tell you how many times I felt my heart crack just a little bit more as the days passed and Kate’s father didn’t reach out to her, or Elliott was condescending or cruel and I was honestly so angry at so many points in this story on behalf of Kate.
The Wrong Side of Right was an engrossing story, the characters so incredibly layered and complicated and in an election year in real life incredibly timely and fun to read. Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for a fun read filled with complicated family issues, politics and a sweet love story!
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