This was a 3.5 star kind of book. It was quite a charming and intriguing book to read. Ben Philippe has a great writing voice that is quite relatable. This book will have you on the edge but it accurately expresses how the college application process can be intense, overwhelming, and stressful. Plus, there is teen love and a happy ending.
About:
This is a young adult novel about Henri, a Haitian American boy embarking on the journey to get into his dream college.
Review:
This book starts off as a wholesome read then it sends you off on an emotional roller coaster. Henri has all the charm in the world but his charming skills can’t compete with the resources other students have at their disposal when it comes to getting into college. As a child of Haitian immigrants Henri’s college dreams become a family dream that involves an immense amount of pressure to commit to only one kind of future. However, Henri’s life intertwines with Corinne, a fellow classmate who helps him realize there might be value in pursuing your true passion and still having a successful life. This novel was an emotionally heavy read with the way it coincided with my own life. There were a few twists and turns that made me even reconsider my own path about college and that’s part of what reading is about. Sometimes it’s about decompressing but other times the reading journey can really help a reader navigate or affirm certain emotions.
The Bootleg Book Club 