Book Review: A Really Awesome Mess by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin

Goodreads Description:

A hint of "Recovery Road," a sample of" Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," and a cut of "Juno." A Really Awesome Mess is a laugh-out-loud, gut-wrenching/heart-warming story of two teenagers struggling to find love and themselves.

Two teenagers. Two very bumpy roads taken that lead to Heartland Academy.

Justin was just having fun, but when his dad walked in on him with a girl in a very compromising position, Justin's summer took a quick turn for the worse. His parents' divorce put Justin on rocky mental ground, and after a handful of Tylenol lands him in the hospital, he has really hit rock bottom.

Emmy never felt like part of her family. She was adopted from China. Her parents and sister tower over her and look like they came out of a Ralph Lauren catalog-- and Emmy definitely doesn't. After a scandalous photo of Emmy leads to vicious rumors around school, she threatens the boy who started it all on Facebook.

Justin and Emmy arrive at Heartland Academy, a reform school that will force them to deal with their issues, damaged souls with little patience for authority. But along the way they will find a ragtag group of teens who are just as broken, stubborn, and full of sarcasm as themselves. In the end, they might even call each other friends.

Title: A Really Awesome Mess
Author: Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Coming of Age, Mature YA
Format: Paperback

Pages: 288
Publisher: Egmont USA
Source: Purchased from Boarders Malaysia

This book is so true to the title... one of the biggest EFF UP MESS UP book I've read and IT WAS AWESOME!

It follows a duo narration of Justin and Emmy, two newly admitted students at Heartland Academy, a reform boarding school and therapy unit to help teenagers sort out their eff up lives from addiction to depressions.

Justin has depression and was caught in a situation by his dad that got him diagnose with Sexual deviant. After a suicide attempt, it got the attention of his parents to send him to the facility.

Emmy's was adopted from China and always felt like she never fit in with her very tall blond family. She suffers low esteem and eating disorder as she diets to fit in. Things get worse when she gets caught in the middle of an internet prank which got her suspended from school.

Both characters are enrolled to the facility by their family in the hopes of helping them with their problems, wants nothing to do with Heartland and want's out as soon as possible.

Things start to change when they meet four other students in an anger management class and it might involve a piglet.

All the characters in the book are very mess up! Even so they made the book for me. This is one of the best and most diverse cast of characters I've encounter in a book! They were all well written and developed characters, each with a different personality yet compliment each other really well.

I liked how the book is told in alternative POV between Justin and Emmy as we see a different perspective of what they are both going trough in the facility. Its cool that we get the perspective of a guy and a girl. At the start both of them were very angry and rude on the idea of going to the facility but as the book progresses we see a lighter side of them where they are laugh out loud hilarious and sarcastic remarks come in place. Also they are both admitted for different reasons so its great seeing the different therapy classes they are taking and their reactions. Between Justin and Emmy I personally like Justin more as he has one of the best and sassiest humor I've read but also cause I like how they handle his problem. Emmy was okay but I was not found of her avoiding her problem and her purpose of being in Heartland whether she liked it or not.

Each side characters are more than meets the eye. They all suffer from some sort of problem whether its PTSD to an unlikely addiction, they all have layers upon layers and the more I read about them the more I like and care for the characters. I wanted them to get better and get the hell out of the facility.

My favorite side character is Jenny cause though she suffers a traumatic past and is the youngest in the group, she's the toughest and grungiest and is practically the 'leader' of the group. Also like Justin she has some of the best and sassiest lines in the book.

While the romance between Justin and Emmy sweet, it felt rush. I prefer the friendship they made in the facility as well as them mending their relationships with their families.

Though this book is laugh out loud hilarious while being grudge and full of teenage angst, it still has it serious note where they don't sugar coat the situations the characters are in. The situations feels real where there is consequences for their actions from Emmy stubbornly dealing with her eating disorder to saving a piglet. Also the ending is bittersweet (NO ONE DIES DON'T WORRY!!! LOL sorry but I just have to assure that) and also freaking awesome on how the book nicely wrap up with some really smart and mind blowing schemes that friends did.

I highly recommend this book if you are in the mood or like really snarky and sarcastic angry teen narration that is also a really quick read light hearten reads.