Published: October 3, 2017 by: Balzer and Bray
Pages: 320
Rating: 5/5 stars
Gabby is an introverted girl with social anxiety that forbids her from ever wanting to attend a party. Ryan is a popular hockey boy who is a social butterfly. Against all odds, they not only become the best of friends, but they also become each others person, willing to pick each other up when they get down and keep each other in check. Now in the midst of high school graduation, Gabby and Ryan are counting down the top ten moments of their friendship, and reflect on all the good times, and all the bad.
This was such a light, fluffy book! I have never read anything from Katie Cotugno before and was really afraid the plot would be unoriginal and bland, but instead I flew through this book and really enjoyed the representation.
This book not only touches on anxiety, but it also goes into the issue of concussions in hockey, and how toxic masculinity perpetuates hockey players to not seek medical help. It was interesting and really well written!
I also loved the characters. Gabby is literally me in every way, and Ryan was also quite sweet but also flawed. I liked how Gabby kept Ryan in check and how important he was to her, even if it wasn't a romantic relationship.
Overall, I thought this book had some great concepts in it. A boy and a girl not romantically linked and from two very different backgrounds are the best of friends, and that's not something you typically see in YA contemporary.
Have you read Top Ten? What did you think?
Emily @ Paperback Princess
A boy/girl friendship which isn't romantic (particularly when both people are straight,) is so rare in YA (...and a lot of other fiction!) But it's like: boys and girls *can* be friends - it doesn't always have to be romantic dammit!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is very rare! But definitely appreciated when it is present :)
DeleteSounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know that there are some good books out there in the YA genre that is centered on friendship rather than romance, between two young people.
Glad you enjoyed it. :)
Dinh@Arlene's Book Club
Thank you! I'm looking to find more books like this.
DeleteOh this one sounds so good! It's always lovely to read of friendships between girls and boys, especially such close ones, with no romantic connotations whatsoever. The premise made me wonder if the story would be bland, but looks like I was wrong- this sounds like a great exploration of their relationship!
ReplyDeleteYes it definitely wasn't bland! I was expecting it to not be anything special but it ended up really surprising me :)
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