For sixteen years, Josie Gardner and her mom, Kate, have been a team. It's been the Gardner Girls against the world, and that's how Josie likes it. Until one day, they find out that Paul Tucci, Kate's high school boyfriend-the father Josie has never met-is back in town. Josie's mom suddenly turns back into the heartbroken teenager she was when Paul moved away. Meanwhile, Josie's on the verge of having her first real boyfriend. And when Josie learns some surprising truths about Paul Tucci and the past, she begins questioning what she thought she knew, and finds out what happens when a girl gets the guy she always wanted and the dad she never knew she needed.
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"While I agree with others that For Keeps has a big similarity with the fun mother-daughter relationship between the young teen mother and quirky daughter in Gilmore Girls, the similarities stop there. Josie is a stronger character than Rorie--the daughter in Gilmore Girls, she is also more outgoing. I can say the opposite goes for Katie, Josie's mother. She likes to shy away from things more, however, she still makes people feel better about themselves when she feels like crap. When the parent's of Paul Tucci--the boy (now man) that got Katie pregnant--come into town, they think they're son won't be far behind. Josie goes with what she's been told and speculates on sight what the return of her father might mean. With a hard-cold-truth of a friend, Josie faces the secrets and differentiates the half-truths that she's believed her whole life from what really happened sixteen years ago between her mother and father. What happens when the truth and nothing but is revealed for Josie to hear? Plus, while the romance relationship between Matt "Riggs" Rigby and Josie was nice to see grow continuously, it did not take on a dominant role in the story line; however, I still loved how the author was able to incorporate that into the story. This did not in any means take away from For Keeps enjoyable, fantastically well-written points. The author made all of the conflicts that was caused by Josie's flickering rage, be understandable and, as a reader should feel, sympathetic. Through her writing, the author tried to make the instability caused by Josie's mother's new relationship into something you'd see--and for others, experience--in real life daily. I have to say that my favorite character was Big Nick. Mostly because I liked the way he kind of went behind his wife's back just to visit a bakery for some sweets. A lot of others have been saying that Liz was their favorite. While I believe she was an admirable character, not say she was my favorite by the way she always got into Josie's very personal business. I know they're best friends but still. Anyway, besides that quality her straight-forward attitude definitely resembles that ones of some friends I have myself in school. Natasha Friend did a great job in making For Keeps a touching, perceptively influencing read. Recommended for anyone of YA fan-dom that wants a book that's insightful and so pleasant that you'll be done in just a few hours wanting to know how it ends. Grade: B" — Lilibeth (4 out of 5 stars)
"While I agree with others that For Keeps has a big similarity with the fun mother-daughter relationship between the young teen mother and quirky daughter in Gilmore Girls, the similarities stop there. Josie is a stronger character than Rorie--the daughter in Gilmore Girls, she is also more outgoing. I can say the opposite goes for Katie, Josie's mother. She likes to shy away from things more, however, she still makes people feel better about themselves when she feels like crap. When the parent's of Paul Tucci--the boy (now man) that got Katie pregnant--come into town, they think they're son won't be far behind. Josie goes with what she's been told and speculates on sight what the return of her father might mean. With a hard-cold-truth of a friend, Josie faces the secrets and differentiates the half-truths that she's believed her whole life from what really happened sixteen years ago between her mother and father. What happens when the truth and nothing but is revealed for Josie to hear? Plus, while the romance relationship between Matt "Riggs" Rigby and Josie was nice to see grow continuously, it did not take on a dominant role in the story line; however, I still loved how the author was able to incorporate that into the story. This did not in any means take away from For Keeps enjoyable, fantastically well-written points. The author made all of the conflicts that was caused by Josie's flickering rage, be understandable and, as a reader should feel, sympathetic. Through her writing, the author tried to make the instability caused by Josie's mother's new relationship into something you'd see--and for others, experience--in real life daily. I have to say that my favorite character was Big Nick. Mostly because I liked the way he kind of went behind his wife's back just to visit a bakery for some sweets. A lot of others have been saying that Liz was their favorite. While I believe she was an admirable character, not say she was my favorite by the way she always got into Josie's very personal business. I know they're best friends but still. Anyway, besides that quality her straight-forward attitude definitely resembles that ones of some friends I have myself in school. Natasha Friend did a great job in making For Keeps a touching, perceptively influencing read. Recommended for anyone of YA fan-dom that wants a book that's insightful and so pleasant that you'll be done in just a few hours wanting to know how it ends. Grade: B"
" This was a good book. At times it was a little slow but pretty good. "
" Really great read just like her others. It was inappropriate for most of the students in the grade level that I teach though. I was disappointed with the ending and had hoped it would take another route. "
" It has some mature content. It's a really good story though!! "
" please read my review at thebookbabesreads.blogspot.com "
" It took me only a few hours to read. It wa a really good story but wasn't fond of the cussing.. "
" Normally Natasha Friend is spot on with her tween fiction dealing with issues like divorce, anorexia and alcoholism. This time she tackles a real teen book and in the process pretty much writes a Gilmore Girls episode. It's so sweet you'll wind up with a cavity if you aren't careful. "
" i really like this story and even the "teen drama" involved! which if you know me...i'm not a big fan! It was funny and well written and all the characters were a lot of fun. Not for BDJH shelves though...too mature for us! "
" Meh...I may have liked this more if the adults didn't talk and act like teenagers. the best friend had the most insight. It was just okay. Maybe I should have given it a 2. "
" girl with single mother, unknown grandparents show up, meets father "
" pretty standard girl book, one I think female students will enjoy, but not my cup of tea. "
" I love this author. Everything she writes is so authentic, you wonder if its all true stories or if they really are just coming from her head. How she seems to understand a teenager's mind THIS well is beyond me. "
" Nothing revolutionary, but still, a (mostly) satisfyingly sweet piece of teen chick lit. "
" I liked this one quite a bit. "
" This book as great i loved i would recommand it to teens. This is a about a girl who lives with her mom, ,she doesn't know who her father is. She later learns new things about her father when she sees his parents. "
" this book is pretty freaking adorable. "
" For Keeps was a pretty good book, really easy to read. Finished it in a couple of days. Can't say it was my favorite book, but it has a good plot and it was worth reading. "
" Classic coming of age story. Good read, and definitely worth picking up if your looking for something fresh. "
" Loved it! Great story for teens. Material is relevant and timely. Writing is fantastic! Teens should be able to relate well to this great book. I'm not even a teen and I did! "
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