Let me start off by saying Kasie West is one of my favorite authors. The way she weaves in family, self-exploration, angst, and romance is genius. I'm not a re-reader of many books but this one definitely is going on my re-read list.
I've read a lot of Kasie West books (obviously) and On The Fence is my second favorite book by her (right behind PS I Like You). Yes, it is that good. Yes, it will require a re-read. Yes, the audiobook is worth buying.
On the fence is a story about a girl named Charlie, her three brothers, her brother's best friend Brayden, and her father. Charlie is a tomboy and a bit of a daredevil. I loved this about her. She was real, rough, and surprisingly very funny. At the same time that she's playing sports and pulling pranks with her brothers, Charlie is dealing with the death of her mother. This really softens the character and gives her depth, as well as showcases the insecurity that comes with a girl on the verge of womanhood losing the one person that is supposed to lead her through it. Charlie's father does a good job, but every girl needs a mother's touch, especially Charlie.
When she gets pulled over for speeding, her police officer father makes her get a job to pay the speeding ticket. That job is in a clothing store, run by an eccentric woman who reads people's auras. Along the way, Charlie discovers makeup, boys, womanhood, and what it really means to be herself.
The characters were beautifully written. Charlie was hard baked but likable. Her brothers were realistic, funny, and genuinely cared for her. My favorite character was Brayden. He was a classic book Boyfriend. Dreamy, tough, a good listener, and willing to go after what he wanted.
5 stars!!!
Blurb:
She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door.
With three older brothers, Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, has always been more comfortable calling the shots on a basketball court than flirting with the opposite sex. So when her police officer dad demands she get a summer job to pay for the latest in a long line of speeding tickets, she's more than a little surprised to find herself working at a chichi boutique and going out with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game. Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with her neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden, sitting back-to-back against the fence that separates them. Braden may know her better than anyone. But there's a secret Charlie's keeping that even he hasn't figured out—she's fallen for him. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.
On the Fence is a sweet and satisfying read about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect it.
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