Review: 99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: April 21st 2015 by Balzer + Bray

Terri's Thoughts

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  The expected publication date is April 21st 2015.

I sit to write my thoughts about this story with mixed feelings.  There were times when I was truly invested in Molly's story and I was in her corner and then there were times when I felt she deserved everything coming to her.  I just couldn't support her the whole way through the story.

The beginning of the book was exactly what I was looking for.  A girl who had made a mistake and was coming back to face them.  I enjoyed watching Molly try to move forward and enjoy a new romance.  I thought this would be a story about growing up, moving forward and healing old wounds.

Wrong!  Halfway through the story it became clear that this was about a girl who had zero self control and whose actions were dictated by hormones alone without any regard for what was right or wrong.  This could have been pulled off if the focus was more on the emotional connections between the characters but alas it is not.  I really do not enjoy reading about someone who does not learn from her mistakes.

While the story does head towards a type of redemption near the ending it felt a bit too little too late for me.  I just really couldn't stand in Molly's corner as much as I tried.  I also could not see any appeal in Patrick as he seemed self centered and self serving throughout the entire story.

I just wish the story took a slightly different angle.  Its hard to stay invested when you can't support the leading character.

About the Author

     

Katie Cotugno went to Catholic school for thirteen years which makes her, as an adult, both extremely superstitious and prone to crushes on boys wearing blazers. She routinely finds herself talking about the romantic endeavors of characters on TV shows as if they actually exist in the world.

Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Broadkill Review, The Apalachee Review, and Argestes, as well as on Nerve.com.

The great loves of Katie's life include child's pose, her little sister, and mozzarella and honey sandwiches. She lives in Boston (and in sin) with her boyfriend, Tom.

Website:  http://katiecotugno.com/