I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally Series: Hundred Oaks #6
Published by Sourcebooks Fire on July 7, 2015
Genres: Contemporary YA, Relationships, Romance
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Also in this series: Catching Jordan
Also by this author: Catching Jordan
Source: the publisher via NetGalley
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Goodreads
Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.
But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?
JESSE’S GIRL by Miranda Kenneally is super fun, guys. The few books I’ve read of Miranda’s have all been very cute, emotionally satisfying, and swoony. Her Hundred Oaks series features all kinds of wonderful characters, and JESSE’S GIRL is no exception. Maya and Jesse are fun and adventurous and really, really fantastic together. Reading about them was a great time.
So, Maya Henry (she’s Sam Henry’s, the guy from CATCHING JORDAN, sister) is this awesome, really unique, kind of punky girl. She loves music and is in a band. So when Hundred Oaks has their career day, the principal sets Maya up to shadow one of country music’s most popular young artists, who also happens to be his nephew: Jesse Scott. Their day together isn’t at all what Maya expects from Jesse, but Jesse has some issues of his own that he’s dealing with, as well as some hesitancy about dating. Maya also has her secrets, so their relationship has its ups and downs.
Maya and Jesse are SO ADORABLE, you guys. Their relationship has so much energy! They spend their first day together riding around Nashville on Jesse’s bike, talking about music, jumping in water fountains, crashing birthday parties. Maya opens up to Jesse about her fear of singing; he opens up about his family and why he’s planning on quitting the music business. Their chemistry is palpable. So when Maya and Jesse can’t seem to make it work all the time, it obviously creates the drama in JESSE’S GIRL, but it also gave me a sad because they were just one of those couples that you KNEW should be together from the way they pushed and supported each other when it mattered. I really loved them.
I thought Miranda Kenneally did a great job with Maya and Jesse as characters on their own as well. Maya is funny and confident and her family is wonderful–not the least because Sam Henry is her brother and I missed him so much. Her family struggles with money, but once she overcomes her fear of singing in front of people, she wants nothing more than to audition for an American Idol-like competition, but she scrimps and saves to get herself there without asking Jesse for anything and her family supports her decision.
Jesse is the same. He’s got his own family struggles, as well as the negative trappings of being super famous. We got some insight into his family relationships in JESSE’S GIRL, but since we’re in Maya’s head, we really see more of her and learn more of her other relationships. But I still thought Jesse was a good character: fun, flirty, good at making Maya feel at ease, but not in a creepy way.
It was also really, REALLY super fab to see Jordan and Sam again in JESSE’S GIRL. They are exactly the way I imagined they’d be: so in love but also still arguing over sports and giving each other a hard time for fun. I especially loved the way Sam was so awesome with Maya. I love a good brother angle, guys, and OF COURSE Sam Henry is one.
If JESSE’S GIRL had a weakness, I’d say it might’ve been the singing competition, although I’ll give Miranda Kenneally big props for not being as cliche about it as she could’ve been. I’m not a fan of those shows, so I don’t love reading about them. But since I really enjoyed reading about Jesse and Maya, I also enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom and confront some issues.
I really need to read some more of Miranda Kenneally’s books. I’ve read a few, but I’m a little behind on her Hundred Oaks series. JESSE’S GIRL is a great addition to the ones I have read, though, and it only makes me want to read more of Miranda’s books. It’s the perfect summer romance.
Now, I know you guys are stoked to read JESSE’S GIRL, as you should be! So the wonderful folks at Sourcebooks Fire have an excerpt that I can share with you to whet your appetite, AND THEN there’s a giveaway! WOO!!!
First things first, though: the excerpt.
As much as I love music, I am generally not a fan of country. I don’t like banjos. I don’t like sappy lyrics about trucks and hauling hay. Dolly Parton is my mortal enemy—my mom plays “Jolene” over and over and over and over, and it makes me want to chop my ears off like van Gogh. Yeah, yeah, I’m from Tennessee, where it’s a crime if you don’t love country, but I like deep, rumbling beats and singing loud and fast and hard. I do not like closing my eyes and crooning to a cow in the pasture. Yet here I am at a Jesse Scott concert, getting ready to meet him and to see if he’ll let me shadow him next Friday.
My school requires every senior to “shadow” a professional for a day. It’s their way of helping us figure out what kind of career we want. Like, if you want to be president when you grow up, you might get to shadow the mayor. Want to be a chef? Have fun kneading dough at the Donut Palace. When I said “I want to be a musician,” I figured they’d send me to work in the electronics section at Walmart.
I certainly never expected to shadow the king of country music.
It turns out that Jesse Scott is my principal’s nephew. Jesse won TV’s Wannabe Rocker when he was ten and has gone on to become very successful. In sixth grade, every girl in class—myself included—took the Teen Beat quiz: “Would Jesse Scott Like Your Kissing Style?” (Obviously the answer was yes.) In middle school, I had a Jesse Scott poster on my ceiling. It’s hard to believe he’s only eighteen, because he’s already won three Grammys. When he was younger, his songs were about family, fishing, and playing baseball, but lately they’re about love and making love and all things sexy.
I wouldn’t say I’m a fan anymore, but I would never give up an opportunity to learn from a professional with such a gorgeous, pure voice. I want to learn what it’s like to perform day in and day out. Despite what everyone and their mom says—that I’ll struggle as a musician—all I want is to play guitar in front of a crowd and hear people cheer for me.
I can’t believe I’m backstage at the Grand Ole Opry! I bounce on my toes. Jesus, is that an archtop Super 4, the model Elvis played? I’ve never seen one in real life. It probably cost more than my house. I’m ogling the guitar when Jesse Scott comes out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. He pads across the room to the couch, wearing nothing but a pair of rugged jeans with more holes than Swiss cheese. The lighting is dim, and he doesn’t seem to notice I’m here, which is good, because I’ve moved from ogling the guitar to ogling him.
Who wouldn’t? He was one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People,” and it is a truth universally acknowledged that you should stare at people who’ve made that list. The guy’s gorgeous. Like in the boy-next-door way. His wet, wavy, brown hair curls around his ears and nearly hits his shoulders, and while he doesn’t have a six-pack or anything, his body is fit. I wish he’d look my way so I can see his famous brown eyes. They always remind me of those caramel chews Poppy gives me when I visit. Jesse has some sort of Gaelic symbol tattooed on his left shoulder blade. I want to reach out and trace the design.
God, get ahold of yourself, Maya. Don’t be a horndog. Besides, he’s so not my type. I don’t do pretty boys.
Now to the fun stuff! Giveaway time! Guys, this is seriously an AWESOME one. Sourcebooks Fire is giving away three prize packs of Miranda Kenneally’s books! AHHH!!! Enter below for your chance to win!
I absolutely adored Jesse’s Girl! It’s another lovely read from Miranda, and I really liked Jesse and Maya. Of course, this might have been totally influenced by my love for musicians in general… but nevertheless, it was a great novel! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it as well 🙂
I really enjoyed this one as well! Their day together was so perfect and cute.
I just picked this up from the library. My favorite of the series so far out of the ones I’ve read is Catching Jordan. I’ve also read Racing Savannah and Breathe Annie Breathe.