Blog Tour; Cinderella Boy

I loved this book. So many feels. Make sure you check out my review and enter the awesome giveaway! 

Being perfect isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Sixteen-year-old Declan is the perfect son . . . except for one tiny issue. When his sister Delia comes home to find him trying on her clothes, he fears her judgment, but she only fears his fashion choices. One quick makeover later, Declan is transformed into Delia’s mysterious cousin Layla and dragged to the party of the year, hosted by Carter, the most popular boy in school.

When Carter meets Layla, he fumbles to charm her. He adores her sense of humor and her poise. But when she vanishes in the middle of the night, he’s left confused and determined to solve the mystery of who she is.

As their school year begins, their high school embraces a policy of intolerance, and both Declan and Carter know they must stand up. Carter is tired of being a coward and wants to prove he can be a knight in shining armor. Declan is sick of being bullied and wants desperately to be himself. If they team up, it could be a fairy-tale ending, or a very unhappy ever after.

Review 

This is such a good book. I don't often read YA anymore but once in a while one comes along that just calls to me. That's what Cinderella Boy did. 

Now, I'll admit Declan frustrated for a while, I understood him. He was young and just looking to fit in and not be so different. But when he hid behind Layla while allowing Carter to fall in love with him I was not happy. I got it, I did, but that doesn't mean I had to like it. 

Carter, I loved him. He was so good. He was popular yes, a good student, hard-working, and determined. He grew so much during the book. All the characters did. But Carter, he didn't change so much as he grew into the person he was always meant to be. 

This book sends a much needed message in today's society. These characters go against the intolerance and fight for each other and everyone else not only in their school but their community. Because what they don't doesn't just affect them and those closest to them, it opens the eyes of everyone and teaches them to open their minds. They don't have to understand it, that's not the point. The point is that they come to terms with the fact that not everyone is black and white. Some people are all colors and they show it in unique ways. 

 I love how easy Declan and Carter's relationship came about. Even though nothing about them was easy. Not with the secrets Declan was keeping. 

When everything came out. When everything Carter and the rest of his classmates worked hard for came to a head, when Declan told Carter the truth it was sweet. I loved how Kristina Meister brought the justice for Carter and everyone else. I loved how Carter reacted to the truth of Layla. I shouldn't have been surprised by it, since Carter isn't your average character, but he's just so mature, so good and sweet he blew me away with how well he handled it all. 

This book is good. I loved the ending, even though I knew what was coming. It was happy and feel good and everything that all the characters deserved. 

I wouldn't mind getting more of these characters, especially Carter and Declan, I'd love to see how life treats them away from their hometown. 

I suggest that everyone reads this book. It's on a list of favorites for me. 

-Abri 

About Kristina Meister

Kristina Meister is an author of fiction that blurs genre. There’s usually some myth, some mayhem, and some monsters. While Kristina’s unique voice and creative swearing give life to dialogue, her obsession with folklore and pop culture make for humor and complexity.

She and her mad-scientist husband live in California with their poodles Khan and Lana, and their daughter Kira Stormageddon, where they hoard Nerf toys, books, and swords—in case of zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Kristina:

Website: kristinameister.com

Twitter: @kristinameister

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristina.meister

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Cinderella Boy, Kristina is giving away a canvas swag bag (with cover art) that includes a t-shirt, an engraved pen, and a tiara! (Yes, really!) Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 7, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!