This post is part of the Ann Not Annie Blog Tour on Xpresso Book Tours

Ann Not Annie

by Sage Steadman

Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
14-20 for mature themes
Trigger Warning: rape, alcoholism
Published September 20th 2017 by MmHmm Books
★★★★★

Summary

Ann, not Annie, is tired of her nominal existence and has vowed to turn things around by dating the hottest guy in school, Jacob Waters. Easier said than done since Jacob isn’t even aware she exists. The truth is, due to Ann’s lively temper she spends more time in detention with the rest of the school rejects than she does fantasizing about Jacob Waters wearing spandex.

Her best friend and devout alien believer, Lisa, doesn’t like the changes she’s seeing in her BFF. Neither does Danny Feller, a fellow detention inmate and resident lost boy who has started keeping an extra watchful and unwanted eye on Ann.

When a chance encounter in an empty hallway changes everything, Ann finds all her dreams coming true and she is well on her way to living the perfect life she’s always wanted. But appearances aren’t always what they seem and Ann is going to have to face not just cold hard facts, but also her past.

Review

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Ann Not Annie, something extremely rare for me when I read. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover an interesting take on the classic romance (a genre I typically hate). There was one part that sticks out in my mind where Lisa mentions how Ann’s life has become the stereotypical romance, and she begins to tease her about it, which sticks in Ann’s mind throughout the next couple days. However, there are a couple parts of the story that I’m not such a fan of. The first of these is the relationships. The whole story centers around relationships, but there are quite a few toxic ones. The biggest example of this is between Danny and Ann, a relationship which is romanticized throughout the story. This upsets me because it is obviously a very toxic relationship, yet Danny refuses to acknowledge it. He sticks with

Ann under the impression that he can “fix” her, and refuses to acknowledge that she is bad for him. This upsets me because it is viewed as a good relationship, and people experiencing this same situation may view it as normal, when in all actuality it is a very dangerous place to be. The other thing that really irked me was how Ann never considered herself beautiful. Not only that, but she changed the way she looked so others would see her as beautiful, and still refused to acknowledge her beauty. This is something common among teenage girls, and honestly, I believe more authors should include characters who love themselves, as it could really leave an impression upon their audiences.

Recommendation

I recommend this book to anybody looking for the stereotypical romance with a slight twist. I wouldn’t say it’s a unique story, as it has most definitely been done before, but it does provide an interesting take on the plot. It has all the elements of an overused storyline: missing parents, outcast girl, hot jock boy TOTALLY out of said outcast’s league, and a love triangle. However, the third person narrative allows us to see not only what the main character is thinking, but also how she’s acting, as seen by other people. However, and this is very important, IF RAPE IS ONE OF YOUR TRIGGERS, DO NOT READ THIS STORY!! I cannot stress this enough. Seriously, put yourself first. It is a wonderful book, and if you feel comfortable reading it, I really think you should, but don’t risk yourself for it. Nobody will look down upon you for putting your safety first. And if they do, send them to me, I’ll talk to them. Just tweet me at Book_Attic I’m happy to help!

About the Author

“Sage Steadman was awarded a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. While pursuing her passion for writing, she worked as a licensed mental health therapist. She published her debut novel, “Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter,” in 2010 under her pen name, The Hippie, and since, re-released the second edition under her real name. The novel has been deemed an “idyllic” read, filled with love, humor, romance and heart. She is also the co-author of the gritty and inspiring historical fiction novel, “Upon Destiny’s Song,” alongside classical guitarist, Mike Ericksen, and has penned an article on teen cutting for Canadian Magazine, “Edmonton’s Child.” She has recently produced a stunning and thought-reflecting novella entitled, “The Waking Dream.” Sage is heralded as a talented writer who tackles her novels with a witty, raw and honest approach. She currently lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with family.” – SageSteadman.com