Review: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library Loan

Find it here: GoodReads

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again. 

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things delivered so much more than I expected. To be honest, when this was released a few years ago it didn’t make much of a blip on my radar. It wasn’t until I saw a review by a trusted blogger friend (see Nicole's review at Feed Your Fiction Addiction) that it truly caught my attention and convinced me I had to read this one. And thank goodness I did because I was gifted with a warm, funny, heartfelt, and genuinely emotional story of a girl doing her very best to overcome a devastating past and become the best version of herself.

I'm so not enough. I can't be. I smile, and I act happy, and I pretend. I'm the queen of bright and shiny things, eternally looking for the positive and seeking a silver lining in the dark... the real me is horrible, and I wanted to leave her behind, along with the group home and the court-mandated therapy sessions. I want so bad to be normal, but I never can be. 

Sage came to live with her aunt three years ago and has spent that time cultivating an image of herself that she wishes were true. The carefree girl, the do-gooder girl, the girl that leaves encouraging notes on her classmates lockers. Internally, Sage struggles with guilt and an almost overwhelming anger that she must always keep contained. When a new guy arrives at school, Sage is instantly drawn to him. Shane is dealing with his own grief and guilt and seems determined to stay on the fringes and not engage.  As these two slowly form a friendship, and more, they find in each other a way to truly be themselves – and just maybe make peace with the past.

“I want to be the person who never lets you down.”

I fell in love with both Sage and Shane. These two people had already been through so much at such a young age and were dealing with it in the best way they could – although not always successfully. Sage’s evolution felt completely realistic and watching her slowly change and open herself up to wide variety of friends made me want to cheer her on. And her loyalty to those friends and her desire to help others made me wish she was my friend. Shane quickly won me over as well. This was a kid who was virtually on his own at the age of seventeen and, instead of feeling sorry for himself, he was simply doing what it took to get by. He truly didn’t know what to make of Sage and her eagerness to help at first and I loved how her persistence slowly chipped away at his aloofness. Neither of them seemed to know exactly how to navigate their budding relationship and it made for such a sweet and believable connection.

“I don't know how to be a boyfriend," he warns me.

I cock a brow at him, smiling. "That's too bad...since I have a PhD in girlfriendology from the University of So Many Feelings.”

As more of Sage’s background was revealed, and as Shane’s circumstances took a drastic change, the book took on a slightly darker tone and this was where my emotions were really put through the wringer. I definitely shed some tears for Sage and Shane. This is also where the relationships they had formed with others began to pay off and Sage’s aunt in particular was a shining example of love and support.

“God,” he whispers. “What am I supposed to do with you? Why do you care when nobody else does?”

Sage fought hard – both for herself and for Shane. I loved her determination and the lengths she was willing to go to for herself and for those she loved. Aguirre did an amazing job of developing both characters (as well as the cast of secondary characters) and had me totally invested. My heart may have broken a few times along the way, but it was totally worth the experience.

4.25/5 STARS