Book Shelf: Red Girl, Blue Boy (If Only . . . #5) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Enjoy Red Girl, Blue Boy and the other standalone titles in Bloomsbury’s contemporary If Only romance line centered around an impossible problem: you always want what you can’t have!

Sixteen-year-old Katie and Drew really shouldn’t get along. After all, her father is the Republican nominee for President of the United States while his mother is at the top of the Democratic ticket. But when Katie and Drew are thrown together in a joint interview on a morning talk show, they can’t ignore the chemistry between them. With an entire nation tuned into and taking sides in your parents’ fight, and the knowledge that—ultimately—someone has to lose, how can you fall in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate?

This title in the If Only line is a frank and funny romance that shows how sparks fly when opposites attract.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Red Girl, Blue Boy is the fifth novel in the contemporary If Only series, this time told by author Lauren Baratz-Logsted and is another deeply enjoyable read about wanting what you know you shouldn’t want and really shouldn’t have….. 

When I first began reading and reviewing this series, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was looking for a light, contemporary read and the series certainly continuously nails that on the head, but I didn’t expect to find myself eagerly anticipating the release of each instalment and enjoying the different, romantic tales to the extent that I do. I know going into each of the If Only books that I’m going to find a fun, sweet and endearing romance and I’m yet to find a book that hasn’t satisfied. 

And Red Girl, Blue Boy is no exception. In this novel, Lauren Baratz-Logsted introduces her readers to Katie Willfield whose father is the Republican nominee in the race for President of the United States, and Drew Reilly, whose mother is his opponent as the face of the Democratic Party. While Katie has spent her life in the public eye and breathes politics, Drew abhors public life and tries to reframe from participating in the circus that is his family's political life. Both couldn’t be more different and their parents opponents, but when sparks fly between Katie and Drew, both teens are about to discover something more powerful than politics……love.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted details Red Girl, Blue Boy through the dual POV’s of both Katie and Drew with chapters switching back and forth between the teens. With the story nicely written, I absolutely loved Katie and Drew! They were both so down to earth and sweet and just downright good characters to follow. Having the story told through both their eyes was perfect—I loved seeing Katie and Drew’s lives as well as their thoughts and feelings on the situations they were in. 

Something that made me smile about Katie wasn’t the fact that she was socially awkward---it was the fact she didn’t know she was socially awkward. Here’s a sixteen year old girl happily dressing in pantsuits and picking out china patterns; a sweet, naïve teen who’s never owned a pair of jeans or had friends or much social interaction. Katie was hopeless and clueless and just happily went along with things; having no idea on occasion how she appeared. I found it sweet and endearing; especially when Drew couldn’t help but want to protect her.

As a proud Aussie, I admit I don’t know much about the US presidential election or the campaign in the lead up, but I did enjoy Katie and Drew’s parents and their fictional battle against each other. Lauren Baratz-Logsted does a good joy mixing it together with teenage romance and first love.

Romantic and endearing, Red Girl, Blue Boy was another great If Only instalment and I’m more than ready to dive head first into the next novel!   

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Bloomsbury (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Contemporary fans.
Cover: Super cute--love the blue and red!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes! Can't wait for more.....