Golden by Jessi Kirby

Title: Golden

Author: Jessi Kirby

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Pages: 288, Hardcover
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.

Review

I can think of only a few times in my life that I have done something that my mom did not approve of. Or stepped completely outside of my comfort zone. I am a creature of habit. I stick with what I know. What is safe. Do I wish I was more spontaneous? Sure. Do I wish I had the courage to take more chances. Of course. But it's easier said than done. It's scary to do something for which you have no reference point. To put yourself out there. Completely vulnerable. With failure as a possibility. Having no idea of what happens next. 

For these reasons and more I could so relate to Parker. Her reservations to deviate from her path. To take a chance on a boy. To let down her mother. This is so me and my entire life. And when she did do something unexpected, rebellious even, it was like I was living vicariously through her. Testing out something new, something exciting. Her journey was inspiring. Her growth even more so. This story really demonstrates that it's ok to take chances. On that cute boy. On yourself. It's amazing how far Parker comes in the end. And even though we aren't all going to go on some crazy road trip to realize that, the steps in took for Parker to reach that point, and the lessons she learned, are all real and can apply to anyone. 

And Julianna's story is just as moving. Hers is more about falling in and out of love. How sometimes perceptions can be deceiving. How there are hidden depths to everyone. And how different people can bring out different sides of you. I think we can all relate to this. People are complex. Things aren't always as they seem. And who hasn't fallen in love (or felt like they were)? Julianna had insecurities. She had doubts. No matter the choice she makes someone will get hurt. And like Parker, she was also scared of deviating from the future she has come to accept. Then something terrible happens that you can never prepare for. And when your life gets flipped upside down, how do you handle it? 

I loved everything about this book. The writing was wonderful and I was completely invested in the outcome. The story within a story was fascinating. And both spoke volumes to me. Books like Golden are the reason I love Contemporary so much. They move you. They make you feel okay about decisions you've made. And they teach you how to deal with decisions you might some day make. They give you hope. They remind you that you are not alone. They are real.