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Lovesick
It is 1953 and Jeanmarie Dowd is crazy about handsome Chuck Neary, captain of Rainier High School’s hockey team and boy wonder musician. But he belongs to Terry Miller, her best friend, the school’s reigning beauty. But Jeanmarie has a few things going for her, too. She is smart, fun loving, and energetic with a wicked sense of humor. She accepts her role as Chuck’s chief confidant, knowing that it might lead to betraying her best friend. She also must deal with her sister Iris, suspected of being a communist. Can she be loyal to both her sister and Terry without betraying those she loves most?
210 pages, Paperback
Published December 20, 2017
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 31, 2018
Why This Book
Someone suggested the book to me after I completed reading something else, noting the two had similar tone and style. I really enjoyed the first novel, which made me keen to read Lovesick by Jacqueline Levering Sullivan. It was one of the remaining books I have in my queue that I committed to read in early 2018 (I'm on a role -- this was the seventeenth book I read in January), so I dove right in; I'm glad, too. It gets a very high 4+ star rating from me... probably a 5 on Amazon given the definition there and a 4 on Goodreads.
Plot, Characters & Setting
The YA novel takes place in 1950s in a small US town focusing on Jeanmarie Dowd, a 16-year-old girl trying to get through high school without falling apart or getting in trouble. She's had a crush on her best friend's boyfriend, Chuck, for years. Jeanmarie's older sister, Iris, has somehow gotten herself involved with a few people suspected of being Communists. Her mother and step-father are at a loss over what to do with both girls. Throw in a few crazy friends, escalating health issues and a situation with the police, Jeanmarie is caught between every possible teenage issue in a time when forgiveness wasn't very easy.
Approach & Style
I read this 170 page young adult novel on my iPad through Kindle Reader in about 90 minutes -- it's short and easy to digest, but very full of emotion and complexity. It is broken into 29 chapters, each relatively short between 4 and 8 pages, focusing on specific scenes or events that happen to the main character, her family and friends. It is told in first person POV with a perspective focus on the main character, Jeanmarie Dowd.
Key Thoughts
If there were ever a book to transport you into the feel of the 1950s, this was it. I may not have been been born until a few decades afterward, but I still know what it was like... and Sullivan found a perfect balance of fear, loyalty, rigidity, change and intimacy. Between the words and the setting, you are transported to a different world and understand why things happen the way they do for each of the characters.
Jeanmarie is a beautifully written character. Although she does something wrong/bad, you know she never intended to hurt anyone, and you easily recognize she probably should have had it all along. That said, the punishment she (and others) suffer, is quite a tearjerker. I love the balance of rivalry and connection with her sister. I adore the relationship she has with her parents. It's amazing to see how she and Chuck remain friends, including her connection to his parents. The end will hurt a bit, but in a way, you almost know from the very first page, it's gonna happen.
There's a fine balance of detail regarding the Communist plot, the health scares and the way life actually happened in the 1950s. It's never too little or too much, just the right amount. You want more, and maybe the book could have had another 40 to 50 pages to draw out even more emotion, but it's quite good as it stands. The pages turn themselves as you excitedly fall into their magic.
Sullivan creates strong characters within a charismatic setting. She excels at defining relationships not only in words and dialog, but also in distance and what is never actually said between people who should have had a conversation. Less is more sometimes, and this might be a perfect example of that old adage.
Summary
I recommend this book highly, especially to those who can handle a few tears and a couple of punches to the gut. It won't make you cry the whole time, but in just the right places, you'll get a tad weepy... then find your happiness. It evokes a 1950s ambiance which isn't always easy to do. I look forward to reading more from this author.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
Someone suggested the book to me after I completed reading something else, noting the two had similar tone and style. I really enjoyed the first novel, which made me keen to read Lovesick by Jacqueline Levering Sullivan. It was one of the remaining books I have in my queue that I committed to read in early 2018 (I'm on a role -- this was the seventeenth book I read in January), so I dove right in; I'm glad, too. It gets a very high 4+ star rating from me... probably a 5 on Amazon given the definition there and a 4 on Goodreads.
Plot, Characters & Setting
The YA novel takes place in 1950s in a small US town focusing on Jeanmarie Dowd, a 16-year-old girl trying to get through high school without falling apart or getting in trouble. She's had a crush on her best friend's boyfriend, Chuck, for years. Jeanmarie's older sister, Iris, has somehow gotten herself involved with a few people suspected of being Communists. Her mother and step-father are at a loss over what to do with both girls. Throw in a few crazy friends, escalating health issues and a situation with the police, Jeanmarie is caught between every possible teenage issue in a time when forgiveness wasn't very easy.
Approach & Style
I read this 170 page young adult novel on my iPad through Kindle Reader in about 90 minutes -- it's short and easy to digest, but very full of emotion and complexity. It is broken into 29 chapters, each relatively short between 4 and 8 pages, focusing on specific scenes or events that happen to the main character, her family and friends. It is told in first person POV with a perspective focus on the main character, Jeanmarie Dowd.
Key Thoughts
If there were ever a book to transport you into the feel of the 1950s, this was it. I may not have been been born until a few decades afterward, but I still know what it was like... and Sullivan found a perfect balance of fear, loyalty, rigidity, change and intimacy. Between the words and the setting, you are transported to a different world and understand why things happen the way they do for each of the characters.
Jeanmarie is a beautifully written character. Although she does something wrong/bad, you know she never intended to hurt anyone, and you easily recognize she probably should have had it all along. That said, the punishment she (and others) suffer, is quite a tearjerker. I love the balance of rivalry and connection with her sister. I adore the relationship she has with her parents. It's amazing to see how she and Chuck remain friends, including her connection to his parents. The end will hurt a bit, but in a way, you almost know from the very first page, it's gonna happen.
There's a fine balance of detail regarding the Communist plot, the health scares and the way life actually happened in the 1950s. It's never too little or too much, just the right amount. You want more, and maybe the book could have had another 40 to 50 pages to draw out even more emotion, but it's quite good as it stands. The pages turn themselves as you excitedly fall into their magic.
Sullivan creates strong characters within a charismatic setting. She excels at defining relationships not only in words and dialog, but also in distance and what is never actually said between people who should have had a conversation. Less is more sometimes, and this might be a perfect example of that old adage.
Summary
I recommend this book highly, especially to those who can handle a few tears and a couple of punches to the gut. It won't make you cry the whole time, but in just the right places, you'll get a tad weepy... then find your happiness. It evokes a 1950s ambiance which isn't always easy to do. I look forward to reading more from this author.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
February 3, 2018
Jeanmarie and Terry are the best of friends. In the early 50s, them, along with their girls Bernie, Mimi, and Jen are in the glory days of high school and all the drama that comes with growing up.
Then, there’s Chuck Neary. He’s the star football player, all around nice guy, Jeanmarie’s favorite guy she’s had a secret longing for as long as she can remember, and oh yeah, he’s Terry’s steady boyfriend.
For Jeanmarie, high school is full of ups and downs which is difficult enough. Throw in some extras, and she has to do everything she can to keep from going crazy. She’s learning how to drive, how to navigate not telling Terry that she’s in love with Chuck while somehow still hanging out with Chuck behind Terry’s back, and then her older sister, Iris, is accused of being a Communist. You know, just another day in America.
The sweet, stolen moments with Chuck seem to be where Jeanmarie finds solace from life’s insanity. The lines between them begin to blur and she feels like she’s on cloud nine, until Chuck gets sick. The two realize there’s no moment like the present and their time together becomes their most cherished memories.
She’s there for him through thick and thin while her life becomes an absolute tornado. Instead of being the good and faithful sister and friend who sits on the sidelines cheering for everyone else, Jeanmarie begins to mature and takes charge of her future.
I can’t say that I agreed wholeheartedly with how she approached certain situations with her friendships and her entanglement with Chuck, but I do appreciate watching the growth of a character from beginning to end of a story, and Jeanmarie did just that in Lovesick.
This story is not quite what I expected when it came to how I thought it might turn out. I could only make assumptions based on the synopsis that was given to me, and needless to say, I was way off in my predictions. I got a fair taste of love, betrayal, heartbreak, determination, conflict, and more. For a shorter, young adult novel, this book had a lot to offer and I’m glad I got to experience it, even if my heart still has mending to do!
Then, there’s Chuck Neary. He’s the star football player, all around nice guy, Jeanmarie’s favorite guy she’s had a secret longing for as long as she can remember, and oh yeah, he’s Terry’s steady boyfriend.
For Jeanmarie, high school is full of ups and downs which is difficult enough. Throw in some extras, and she has to do everything she can to keep from going crazy. She’s learning how to drive, how to navigate not telling Terry that she’s in love with Chuck while somehow still hanging out with Chuck behind Terry’s back, and then her older sister, Iris, is accused of being a Communist. You know, just another day in America.
The sweet, stolen moments with Chuck seem to be where Jeanmarie finds solace from life’s insanity. The lines between them begin to blur and she feels like she’s on cloud nine, until Chuck gets sick. The two realize there’s no moment like the present and their time together becomes their most cherished memories.
She’s there for him through thick and thin while her life becomes an absolute tornado. Instead of being the good and faithful sister and friend who sits on the sidelines cheering for everyone else, Jeanmarie begins to mature and takes charge of her future.
I can’t say that I agreed wholeheartedly with how she approached certain situations with her friendships and her entanglement with Chuck, but I do appreciate watching the growth of a character from beginning to end of a story, and Jeanmarie did just that in Lovesick.
This story is not quite what I expected when it came to how I thought it might turn out. I could only make assumptions based on the synopsis that was given to me, and needless to say, I was way off in my predictions. I got a fair taste of love, betrayal, heartbreak, determination, conflict, and more. For a shorter, young adult novel, this book had a lot to offer and I’m glad I got to experience it, even if my heart still has mending to do!
March 22, 2018
Review: Lovesick is such a lovely novel. It's whimsical, funloving, and smartly written. It begins with Jeanmarie and her best friend Terry. Together, they navigate their high school careers during the 1950s. Jacqueline describes the 1950s era fantastically with the local hotspot diner, milkshakes galore, and appropriate lingo. You will definitely feel like you took a blast to the past when reading this book. Jeanmarie is portrayed as the charismatic and charming best friend to the beautiful and popular it girl, Terry. They balance each other well within their friendship and I found myself reminiscing the days before social media when there was more genuine interpersonal contact. As the story unfolds, readers learn of Jeanmarie's lifelong crush on Chuck, who just happens to be her best friend's boyfriend. Terry and Chuck find their relationship in a precarious position as it appears they are both developing into different people than when they entered the relationship. Jeanmarie is essentially caught in the middle, providing support to her best friend as well as to Chuck. As I was witnessing the dynamic of Jeanmarie's situation, I found myself having a lot of empathy for her. Her character is easy to connect with and she reminded me a lot of myself and my friends from high school. On top of her friendships, Jeanmarie also maintains an interesting relationship with her sister Iris. Iris is the typical young woman who is searching for meaning and attempting to figure out what she stands for and what her values are. In the midst of her own journey, she is accused of being a Communist. Even though there was a complex interplay between all of the characters, Jacqueline maintained order with her writing and I never felt confused or lost within the story. There was excellent character growth from Jeanmarie. If you enjoy coming of age novels with a compelling cast of characters I highly recommend checking out this book!
May 16, 2019
What can I say about this book...
First of all, I jumped at the chance to read it, since it seemed to be something right up my alley.
Set in the 1950s, the story follows Jeanmarie Dowd, a young high school student, who finds herself helplessly falling in love with her childhood friend, who unfortunately also happens to be her best friend's boyfriend. But while she tries to make a decision between love or friendship, far greater problems arise.
I loved the idea of the story, but I didn't fall head over heels in love with it. There were a few things that dampened my enthusiasm a little.
I found it hard to get into the story and stick with it. It felt like certain aspects of the story were brushed over a little where I would have liked a little more depths. That being said, the story itself was one I did enjoy. It was funny, quirky and sad all in one. It highlights the struggles of high school life (nothing much has changed there since the 1950s), family life as a teenager, and the far greater life struggles you can find yourself confronted with, even at such a young age.
I received a review copy of this book for free, and leave this review voluntarily.
First of all, I jumped at the chance to read it, since it seemed to be something right up my alley.
Set in the 1950s, the story follows Jeanmarie Dowd, a young high school student, who finds herself helplessly falling in love with her childhood friend, who unfortunately also happens to be her best friend's boyfriend. But while she tries to make a decision between love or friendship, far greater problems arise.
I loved the idea of the story, but I didn't fall head over heels in love with it. There were a few things that dampened my enthusiasm a little.
I found it hard to get into the story and stick with it. It felt like certain aspects of the story were brushed over a little where I would have liked a little more depths. That being said, the story itself was one I did enjoy. It was funny, quirky and sad all in one. It highlights the struggles of high school life (nothing much has changed there since the 1950s), family life as a teenager, and the far greater life struggles you can find yourself confronted with, even at such a young age.
I received a review copy of this book for free, and leave this review voluntarily.
February 11, 2019
It is 1953 and Jeanmarie Dowd is crazy about handsome Chuck Neary, captain of Rainier High School’s hockey team and boy wonder musician. But he belongs to Terry Miller, her best friend, the school’s reigning beauty. But Jeanmarie has a few things going for her, too. She is smart, fun loving, and energetic with a wicked sense of humor. She accepts her role as Chuck’s chief confidant, knowing that it might lead to betraying her best friend. She also must deal with her sister Iris, suspected of being a communist. Can she be loyal to both her sister and Terry without betraying those she loves most?
"Lovesick is a beautiful story" Jacqueline explores grief, love. She did a good job balancing fun and emotions. If you love books about family, friendship and romance with splash of political issues, then Lovesick is for you!
"Lovesick is a beautiful story" Jacqueline explores grief, love. She did a good job balancing fun and emotions. If you love books about family, friendship and romance with splash of political issues, then Lovesick is for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2019
This is my first book by this author, and I must say, I liked it, but I wasn't in love with it. It was a little slow and very hard to get into. It took me a little longer to read this one than my other books, and for that, I have to give this book a 3 in ratings.
Jeanmarie, Chuck and their friends are wonderfully created. They were good for their roles in the story, I will admit. The plot line, while slow, did make me smile at times, and at others, I had to grab a tissue because, well, the ending it had was really one of emotion!
That said, I still recommend this book to others to try. Others may find that they don't have a hard time reading and will love it wholly. As for reading more of this authors work, I definitely look forward to trying more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jeanmarie, Chuck and their friends are wonderfully created. They were good for their roles in the story, I will admit. The plot line, while slow, did make me smile at times, and at others, I had to grab a tissue because, well, the ending it had was really one of emotion!
That said, I still recommend this book to others to try. Others may find that they don't have a hard time reading and will love it wholly. As for reading more of this authors work, I definitely look forward to trying more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 29, 2020
Lovesick is a beautifully written, heartfelt story about the power of love, family, and friendship. Lovesick is the second book that I have read from Jacqueline Sullivan, and her powerful ability to tell a story will leave you breathless. Jeanmarie Dowd is the main character in Lovesick, a teenage wallflower among her peers and family. However, Jeanmarie has a big secret. She is in love with her best friend, Terry Miller's boyfriend, Chuck Neary. To make matters, worse Jeanmarie has been friends with Chuck since elementary school. When Chuck and Terry's relationship takes a turn for the worse, Chuck finds solace in the arms of Jeanmarie and reveals a terrible secret? Torn between two best friends, should Jeanmarie risk everything for Chuck? But how can she abandon him when he needs her the most?
March 4, 2019
Jeanmarie is in loves with her childhood best friend, however he has a girlfriend. Jeanmarie has to grow up quiet quickly and tackle a lot personally, as well as some family matters. Chuck and Jeanmarie grow closer during Chuck's illness.
The storyline is good. Friends become lovers, angst, drama and friendships, however it didn't work for me unfortunately. I found it quiet slow getting into and then it just lost it's flare.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The storyline is good. Friends become lovers, angst, drama and friendships, however it didn't work for me unfortunately. I found it quiet slow getting into and then it just lost it's flare.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 5, 2019
I have mixed feeling about this book. I found it hard to get started with but then couldn't put it down. I could relate with the characters in the beginning but not towards the end. There were pieces that seemed very realistic and some that I questioned. Overall, I would say it is a good story. I'm certainly not disappointed I read it. I would recommend to older readers that could relate to the 1050s setting more so than the teenage love story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 26, 2018
Wondrous and beautiful story
This story takes the reader into the 1950s, a few decades before my time, but it was very enjoyable and telling about the era. The characters had depth, and a reality about them. There was a great relationship between Jeanmarie and her family and friends. It was one of those page turners that bring the reader in on the emotional rollercoasters of it story. I enjoyed the is story and look forward to more of Sullivan's work.
October 10, 2019
This was a lovely book with a good story line. Set in the 50's, Jeanmarie and her friend Terry are crazy about the same boy, Chuck. Terry was his girlfriend until Chuck made a play for Jeanmarie.
There are problems within Jeanmaries sister Causing an uproar. The sisters are always arguing with one another until something dramatic happens bringing them back together.
It's a touching love story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There are problems within Jeanmaries sister Causing an uproar. The sisters are always arguing with one another until something dramatic happens bringing them back together.
It's a touching love story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 15, 2018
This is one of the best books I've ever read. Lovesick made me laugh and cry. Jacqueline Levering Sullivan writes similar to Nicholas Sparks so get ready to fall in love and have your heart broken.
April 24, 2018
Cue the McDonald's jingle. This book was absolutely amazing. It had me feeling the feels from the start to the finish. I really want to read the rest of her books to see if I would love them too.
April 27, 2018
“Chocolate’s been known to cure even the worst case of lovesickness.”
When a teenage girl finds herself in love with her best friend’s boyfriend, she fights hard to leave him alone. He treats her like his best buddy and when he gets sick, he leans on her more and more until they can’t deny the spark. Lovesick is a bittersweet teenage love story shows the importance of friendship.
The author asked me to review this book through my blog. The synopsis of Lovesick sounded interesting and I agreed to receive the book in exchange for a fair review.
Set in the 1950s, there is an innocence to the teenagers in this story that isn’t often found in new young adult fiction. Jeanmarie is best friends with Terry, but Terry is spending more and more time with her boyfriend, Chuck. Chuck and Jeanmarie have always been friends, but as Chuck and Terry fight more and more, he starts spending more time with Jeanmarie. Then, Chuck gets injured and is diagnosed with cancer. Their carefree teenage years turn into a place where death is lurking and it affects all of them in different ways. Can Jeanmarie and Terry’s friendship survive if Jeanmarie ends up with Chuck as her boyfriend instead? Can any of them survive if Chuck doesn’t?
Lovesick is a good short novel for young adults. There is a seriousness to it as it deals with friendship, love and death. As an adult, I wanted the book to go deeper, but I think it provides enough for young adults to think about such topics without getting weighted down. Mature high schoolers would enjoy this book.
When a teenage girl finds herself in love with her best friend’s boyfriend, she fights hard to leave him alone. He treats her like his best buddy and when he gets sick, he leans on her more and more until they can’t deny the spark. Lovesick is a bittersweet teenage love story shows the importance of friendship.
The author asked me to review this book through my blog. The synopsis of Lovesick sounded interesting and I agreed to receive the book in exchange for a fair review.
Set in the 1950s, there is an innocence to the teenagers in this story that isn’t often found in new young adult fiction. Jeanmarie is best friends with Terry, but Terry is spending more and more time with her boyfriend, Chuck. Chuck and Jeanmarie have always been friends, but as Chuck and Terry fight more and more, he starts spending more time with Jeanmarie. Then, Chuck gets injured and is diagnosed with cancer. Their carefree teenage years turn into a place where death is lurking and it affects all of them in different ways. Can Jeanmarie and Terry’s friendship survive if Jeanmarie ends up with Chuck as her boyfriend instead? Can any of them survive if Chuck doesn’t?
Lovesick is a good short novel for young adults. There is a seriousness to it as it deals with friendship, love and death. As an adult, I wanted the book to go deeper, but I think it provides enough for young adults to think about such topics without getting weighted down. Mature high schoolers would enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews