From the beginning there is a current, that only builds and builds leaving you absolutely no choice, but to drown in the plot. You want to know Edy, you want to grow with her, sympathize with her, and yet you want to give her that push she needs to realize her self-worth. Shewanda was able to brilliantly capture the plight of what is obviously the average (or not so average) teenage girl. She wants to fit in, but not to conform. She wants to be loved and have friends, but not be taken advantage of. She wants to be accepted for who she is, not because of what is expected of her and who she knows. She wants Hassan, her best friend, but how can she compete with centuries of cultural beliefs that promise the two of them could never be. Then there was Wyatt. I’m still on the fence about his character. I wanted to like him. I wanted Edy to like him. Heck, I even wanted Hassan and the boys to take him under their wings, but overall he just kind of gave me the creeps. At first I thought there would be some sort of love triangle – Edy, Hassan, and Wyatt – but I was pleasantly surprised; there was never any competition and for that I’m eternally grateful!
The characters instantly become living, breathing, everyday people caught up in a maelstrom of challenges, friendships, love, and pain. You root for them just as much as you want to haul off and slap them. The development of relationships and the pace at which the writing flowed was a refreshing distraction in an industry that has been oversaturated with lack of skill and prowess. Shewanda Pugh is an exceptional writer, by far one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
I would definitely recommend this book to others and I know that this series will be one that will have me begging for more. Bravo, Shewanda!
Love Edy is heartwarming, exciting, intimate, beautiful, and everything that one could possibly want in a romance. From the very first page, the novel will captivate readers and keep them along for the ride. I could not put down the book until I reached the final page (and even then, I didn't want to, there was just nothing left to read).
There are plenty of traps to fall into with romances, but Pugh manages to avoid all of them. The plot never gets boring, and I always found myself needing to read more. First, I wanted Edy and Hassan together almost as much as they did. I loved the relationship between them, and thought that they worked so well together. As a highly invested reader, I was practically pulling hair out for every moment they didn't admit their true feelings for each other. Even outside of their relationship, there was enough going on to keep the story interesting. Wyatt had a past that I wanted to learn more about, and the ending grew absolutely explosive. (I definitely didn't see it coming, but it was fantastic.)
Characters don't need to be likable for a story to be well-written, but all of the characters in Love Edy were likable to me, and I definitely cannot complain. Edy and Hassan, both coming from extremely wealthy backgrounds, were both 'spoiled' in a sense, but it didn't take away from their characters at all. They both are strong and witty in their unique ways, and I loved reading each of their perspectives. Being as wonderful of a relationship as they have, I probably should not be fond of Wyatt. But I was. I loved his character. Not only does he have a shady past and seems to get the short stick in life, but he's a wild card...you never quite know what to expect. Aside from the three perspectives the story took, all of the secondary and minor characters were interesting to read about. The Dyson twins were funny, and it was great to see the girls like Alyssa and Chloe show that they have substance (and even serve as a wake up call to Edy).
Books like Love Edy make me incredibly happy in the way that they bring diversity into YA. Not everyone in the world is one race, one socioeconomic classification and one religion, and blending cultures to more accurately mirror reality is wonderful. It also shows the conflicts that still exist between cultures and beliefs. Edy and Hassan are perfect for each other, but they have to face a difference in religions, and the tradition of arranged marriages that exists in Hassan's culture. These are real-world issues, and it is nice to see them tastefully done in a YA fiction.
Love Edy is a beautifully written novel with wonderful description and incredible dialogue. I loved every second of it, from the lighthearted scenes of friendship and the swoon-worthy romance to the portions that got darker. I can easily recommend this novel, although I would put aside some time to begin - once you do, you'll have trouble stopping. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment.
Why you should read it: Once again, Shewanda Pugh displays a wonderful mastery of the true essence of multicultural fiction. Nuances of culture and upbringing are interwoven in natural, creative ways that don't detract from the beauty of this Young Adult story.
Love Edy is laden with Young Adult angst — a plus for my taste, but also glimpses of mystery, mayhem, and suspense that have me clamoring for book two. The buildup is deliciously paced, not too slow and not too fast, that I couldn't wait to read the next page for more excitement. And where some Young Adult books make the adults one-dimensional, Pugh didn't leave out the parents when doling out the who, what and why in character building. All around a great read. Let me just say that, while both guys are yummy, I'm ready to wear my Team Hassan T-shirt.
