Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Razorbill, August 2009

Summary from Goodreads:

Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning...
When Emily Carson's parents die in a plane crash, she's left with nothing but her mother's last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: "Emily, please forgive me."
Now it's fall and Emily moves to New York City where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

I have to say that the summary of this book had piqued my interest for several months now, and for some reason my library refuses to purchase it (although to be fair, I haven't asked them to. They might have, had I asked.). I saw it in Barnes and Noble just before the holidays and my interest was renewed. Thankfully Santa hooked me up with some gift cards so I was able to purchase it for my nook!

Of course the story is interesting--poor Emily's parents are killed in a plane crash and she's uprooted from rural PA to urban NYC. That alone is enough drama for me. But then add into the fact that Emily's mom had time to write a mysterious apology before the crash--an apology that made national headlines--and NOW we've got a story! What does it mean? What does she have to be sorry for?

We have to wait for Emily to venture out of her self-induced hibernation, though. Which is completely understandable. It's only when Emily is ensconced in her new, ritzy NYC high school, making friends (and potentially a hottie boyfriend!)and tentatively reinventing herself as one of the popular kids that Emily decides she needs to know what her mom apologized for.

I LOVED the characters in this story, and I really wish I had an awesome aunt like Jolie, who is best friends with someone like Trent. Not without their faults but they always act with the best of intentions. Emily's new friends are great, too, for the most part. Of course you've got the stereotypical high school jerks (doesn't every high school have those?), but some of her friends are just absolute gems.

There is some romance in the story, as you'd expect, and I thought this was the only weak spot in the story. This might be me, though, and not the fault of the author--I've read a couple of books recently with very similar romantic storylines, and I think I'm just done with it. I'd prefer a different sort of twist, not the same old. But like I said, that's probably just me. If I were rating this book (why don't I do that more?), I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

Enjoy your reading!
Christi