Monday, February 27, 2012

Review: Nothing Else Matters

Title:  Nothing Else Matters
Author:  Leslie DuBois
Genre:  Romance
Publisher:  Little Prince Publishing
Release date:  January 18, 2012
File Size/Pages:  388 kb/241 pgs
Source:  Bought
Challenge(s)Personal A-Z Challenge; eBook Challenge

My Rating:  5/5

Summary:  When racism tears a school apart, can love put it back together?  As the senior star quarterback of Charleston Preparatory school in South Carolina, Scott Kincaid is poised for a spectacular professional career in sports. Though he and Reyna Lewis have been best friends for six years, between leading Charleston Prep to victory week after week, and seeking the approval of his tyrannical, racist mother, he doesn’t have time to develop anything more with her. But when his once perfect, healthy body is attacked by a debilitating disease, he reevaluates what is important in life. Just when he finally realizes he’s in love with his half black, half Puerto Rican best friend Reyna, a presidential election throws their small private school into racial turmoil. Now it’s up to Scott and Reyna to unify their school and their city. But it just might cost them their newfound relationship.

Review:  This is the third book that I've read by Leslie DuBois, and I think that she is the most amazing author ever!!  "Nothing Else Matters" is told from two point of views, Scott Kincaid and Reyna Lewis.  Scott Kincaid is the main character of the story, he is the quarterback on the football team, and he is a Senior at Charleston Prep.  Reyna Lewis is Scott's best friend, and has been since the sixth grade; she is super smart, and half-black, half-Puerto Rican.  We learn that Scott has been suffering from muscle spasms and joint pains, but he brushes it off as if it's nothing.  Sam, Scott's overbearing and racist mother pushes Scott to go above and beyond, NO MATTER WHAT.  Despite Sam's feelings towards Reyna, Stu (Scott's younger brother) and Scott are really close to Reyna.  After losing her mother at the age of 5, Reyna decided she wanted to be a doctor, so she is filled with all kinds of information about diseases and its symptoms.  Later on in the book, Reyna and Scott gives a relationship a shot, but it doesn't last long after an offensive banner is put up at the school.  The banner segregates the ENTIRE school and has Reyna suspicious of every Caucasian person in school, even Scottie.  Before the banner mishap, Reyna made Scott promise her that he'll go to the doctor to get checked out.  When Scott goes to the doctor, he finds out that he has Lupus and a hole in his lung; his doctor tell him that he can't play in the championship game on Friday, but does he listen??  No!!  What happens at the game is the scariest/most life changing event ever.  As always, Leslie manages to shock the readers with an ending that you WOULD NOT EXPECT AT ALL!!!  I was literally sitting at the edge of my seat towards the end of the book and on the brink of tears!!  By the end of the book, I was literally speechless.  I felt like I could really relate to this book; I know the struggles that an interracial friendship with the opposite sex can face.  This book sort of hit home with me, but my story isn't as drastic.  This is definitely a must read!!!

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