By Your Side

Title: By Your Side

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: HarperTeen

Year: 2017

Pages: 352 (Paperback)

Rating: 3/5

“If you don’t, I might,” Jeff said. “That was hot.”

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Her seventh book?! I'm just as surprised as Kasie is about this. I can't believe I have turned into such a sucker for her works. And now I'm patiently waiting for her next book which better not turn me down...like this one slightly did. Halfway, I almost could not believe Kasie Mighty West wrote this. There are no everlasting impressions and everything and everyone goes so flat I almost panicked. The conversations didn't grow on me, and the main characters are too likable...or have no characteristic at all there is no between. I'M SAD OKAY. Especially there's a love triangle indication here which is a book trope I'm trying to avoid.

Although this is a first book by Kasie West that brings up about mental illness and she did a good job here, portraying a girl with anxiety. But unfortunately, with a topic that she recently brings up which her previous books have never been mentioned, this is slightly failing. I do not suffer from mental illnesses (I really hope so, because....Well, save it for next time) but I can tell that it's not that easy to turn off a panic attack. The conversations about this topic also seem offensive. The main character is somehow forced to reveal her condition to her friends, and even if this could do her a favor, she has her own reasons such as: being treated normally. People who don't know how it's like being on her shoes can suggest but have no right of forcing, it somewhat annoys me. And Autumn, our main leads here, is just like another West's protagonists, a strong girl. But this time, I feel like her characteristic is weak. I want to know more about her older brother, Owen and her family, but this is not explained widely like The Fill-In Boyfriend did to Gia's family. I'm sorry I'm being repetitive, but this is a point I need to emphasis. Other than that, Dax is very charming, yes. But he's too good to be true. Plus, he's weird. He can be a total jerk one time but then turn into a sweet candy bar the next. What even. As for Autumn's friends. God, they're the MVP. Especially Lisa and Avi. Maybe it's because they represent me so much as being a friend. Lmao. Confident much? BUT, except the fact that they are being insensitive--I mean, how the hell could you leave your friend at the library with unreasonable excuse at all? That's very opposing my personality, lmao. Despite their goodness, there's this twat called Dellin. I knew it. I had a senior named the same and he's a pain in the back. I guess, being all generalized and occult talking, the jerkness takes place on every Dellin. For you who is named Dellin/Delin, alter your name ASAP. And because this is Kasie West, this book cannot be possibly absolute horrible after all. 3 stars is worth all my smirks and its cuteness.

Anyway, this book mostly revolves around Jeff and his condition, his best friend (Dellin) being a total twat, Autumn's various games that helps us know more about Dax, and Dax's mother which I don't know how it turns out because this book doesn't talk about the resolution of this issue???? I'm pretty disappointed on that one because I really want everything to be okay between Dax and his mom, and even if it doesn't, it was not a good explanation to end a problem. Anyway, I really hope her upcoming book will be much better.

#BookTalk #3