Book Review - Jessie Hearts NYC

Jessie Hearts NYC
Author: Keris Stainton
Standalone
Genres: Contemporary | Childrens, Young Adult
Release Date: July 2011
Publishers: Orchard Books
No. Pages: 255
Source: Purchased
Rating: 
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Jessie's just arrived in New York, hoping to forget about her awful ex.
New Yorker Finn is in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

They might be perfect together, but in a city of eight million people, will they ever find each other?

I believe it's fair to say, Jessie Hearts NYC is exactly what I was hoping it would be; a teenage contemporary with easily relatable characters and a setting to die for, and I would die to spend a day in New York. After a few weeks of not reading or reviewing and struggling to find comfort in a book I'd chosen, I picked this newbie off my shelves and was instantly hooked; I could have read it in one sitting, the writing was so simple it may as well have flew off the page. However, while I may have loved it, there were things not necessarily wrong with this book, but things that could have been improved upon, and it's those things that make this rating a clash of head and heart.

To begin with, the writing style was lovely, but that's as far as it went. This book is listed under Young Adult, however, I think the tone and style of writing would make it cater to those a little younger, maybe teenagers around 14+. I felt the writing lacked a sense of maturity, and didn't give me very many details at all about the characters, especially when it came to visualising them, which I've come to expect from Young Adult books. Staintons strength in her writing came when describing New York though, and in a mad and strange way, that was all I really wanted the book for. I personally have wanted to visit New York before, and in truth, I've only ever seen it featured on TV programmes I like, so to experience New York through writing instead was a beautiful change. I felt I was there, in the setting of New York throughout the book, whether it was on the streets, in the park, in the taxi's, it was wonderful. My heart seriously overruled my head when it came to the setting and how much I didn't care for the characters physical looks.

However, the lack of description didn't mean that the characters weren't good overall. Our two leading characters, Jessie and Finn, both went through a lot of character development throughout the story, and while Finn at times frustrated me with his pining, Jessie's personality and friendship with Emma won me over. Stainton covered a lot of subjects that are usually awkward to cover in books, a relationship with a 8+ year gap, gay relationships and parenting overseas, and I think she covered them both gracefully and quite wonderfully actually. I could really relate to the characters struggle to decide their futures, as I can recall what that feels like, and while the ending was wrapped up pretty well and cleanly, I think it may have been a little too clean for my liking.

Jessie Hearts NYC is a really quick, easy, light read that could easily be enjoyed by New York lovers like myself, or people wanting to get out of a slump. The writing style could have been stronger for me personally, and while this affects the rating, it didn't affect my enjoyment. I wouldn't recommend you buying the book for more than £5 anywhere, however, I would definitely advise you look out for it.