Title: Return to Paradise
Author: Simone Elkeles
Format: paperback, 291 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Source: personal shelf
Published: September 2010 by Flux
Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She’s determined to make a new life for herself.
But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie’s accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.
Why I Read this Book: Ever since I finished reading Leaving Paradise (what a cliffhanger ending!), I’ve been anxiously waiting to read Return to Paradise. I’m a fan of Simone Elkeles’ work. She has the ability to tap into that inner teenager with ease. It brings me back to my 17-year old, which is the reason I enjoy reading YA. I also enjoy reading her books because she writes using alternating POVs between her main characters, which allows the reader to know what they’re both feeling and thinking. For me, this gives me a more thorough impression on their personalities. Simone Elkeles grabbed me with Perfect Chemistry and I’ve been enjoying her novels ever since.
What I Liked: Return to Paradise picks up 8 months after Leaving Paradise ends. I was able to jump right back into Maggie and Caleb’s story with ease, even though it has been almost a year since I read Leaving Paradise. Maggie and Caleb are brought back together in an interesting way. It’s a bit of an awkward meeting since the two of them haven’t spoken to or seen each other in 8 months. There’s tension right off the bat and I like tension. Maggie and Caleb have each moved on in their own way but once they get face to face, they realize that they each still have strong feelings for the other. And even though Caleb finds himself in not the best of situations, he’s still a good guy.
Lenny’s character was a great additional to this story. I truly hope he gets his own story. This guy was funny! Class clown funny and completely, utterly honest (he seriously has no mouth filter). He cracked me up!
What I Didn’t Like: Although I got closure with Return to Paradise, it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I was expecting for a big BANG! impact, like I got with Leaving Paradise but what I got was more like a POP.
There was a lot of teen angst in this book, maybe a little too much for my liking. Maggie and Caleb are fighting each other off for no good reason. Caleb is stubborn and makes some dumb choices. I found myself rolling my eyes a couple of times.
I’m not a fan of the cover for Return to Paradise. This is a good example where I do not want faces on the cover because the people on this cover is not how I envisioned the main characters. I love this cover for Leaving Paradise and I feel that the Return to Paradise cover doesn’t go with the theme of the first cover.
Overall Impression: I didn't get the same affect from Return to Paradise as I did with its predecessor; I was expecting a little more. Leaving Paradise was so powerful, it left an impact of me for days. I expected the same with Return to Paradise and while it didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I still enjoyed reading the story and getting closure.
The Book Vixen’s Rating: 
I felt the same way about Return to Paradise. I loved Leaving Paradise but bk 2 felt like nothing new happen just more of the same. Though I still love Caleb and Maggie.
ReplyDeleteToo bad it wasn't as good and big, but if you still enjoyed it then it was good enough :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of her books, but I definitely want to!
ReplyDeleteGosh! I LOVE that feeling you get when you finish a book and jsut can't wait for the next one. You're almost shaking with anticipation. Then, when it is finally in your hands, the story engulfs you just like THAT!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that it wasn't exactly what you thought and that there wasn't that big bang effect at the end. The last couple books I have read, that has happened and it's a bummer. Although, it makes those other books that do have that bang all the better :)
Thanks for the review!
AubrieAnne @ http://whosyoureditor.blogspot.com/
The more I visit blogs the more I think what exactly have I read? I keep finding more and more that I haven't. I am adding these two to my list. Glad you still enjoyed it though it wasn't what you had hoped for.
ReplyDeleteI recently read and loved Leaving Paradise (the ending disappointed a bit) but haven't read this one yet...thanks for reviewing it!
ReplyDeleteI read the first one and really didnt like the ending....Ive been on the fence about reading the second. Thanks for the review..:)
ReplyDeleteWhen I finished Leaving Paradise I couldn't wait for this book, but then the more I thought about it the more worried I became. LP was great and I was ok with the open ending. I'm not sure if I want to read Return or not. I don't want to spoil my good memories.
ReplyDelete