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The One That I Want
Matchmaking gets mixed up in this all-original eBook addition to The Romantic Comedies series!
Gemma can't believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma's heartbroken.
Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max's friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can't help thinking that Max likes her back; it's just too bad he's already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend's?
Gemma can't believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma's heartbroken.
Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max's friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can't help thinking that Max likes her back; it's just too bad he's already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend's?
288 pages, ebook
First published December 6, 2011
65 people are currently reading
8,351 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Echols
37听books4,891听followersJennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama鈥攁 setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers鈥� Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers鈥� Choice Award, and the Book Buyer鈥檚 Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
January 2, 2012
Gemma Van Cleve has just auditioned to be a Majorette at the prodding of her "so-called" best friend, Addison. Gemma has been preparing for this tryout by practicing, and by losing thirty pounds in the last five months. Gemma doesn't feel confident that she'll make it on the team because only the popular make the majorette squad, but she aces the tryout, much to her surprise, and lands on the team. While training at majorette camp she spots a football player, Max staring her way throughout the practice. She can't believe he's paying attention to her because he's gorgeous, but he keeps staring in her direction. When practice is over, Addison convinces her to go with her and talk to Max with her. Of course, Addison assumes Max was staring at her, not Gemma and somehow he becomes Addison's pursuit. They end up going to a restaurant after practice with Max and his friend, Carter and somehow Gemma is paired up with Carter, and Addison is paired up with Max.
Normally, I would stay away from this type of scenario in a book because it sounds frustrating, but I've loved anything I've read of Jennifer Echols so I gave this a go. Max is supposed to be paired with Addison, but throughout the book the connection between Gemma and him is obvious. They connect as friends and more. Normally you'd feel bad this was happening when Max is supposed to be the best-friends boyfriend but trust me, Addison is no best-friend! When you get to the bottom of this story, then you'll really don't feel bad, at all! Addison is horrible, most of the book I wanted to choke her! Such a self-centered, shallow, cruel girl! She is queen of the backhanded compliment, and outright insult. You find out that Gemma is friends with her because she feels she has no one else. Her weight made her self esteem non-existent. However, this starts to change when she makes a new friend, and starts to excel on the majorette squad. Max also helps with these changes by challenging her thinking. Gemma on the other hand helps Max with his issues too, they're both good for each other.
Although, this story was not my favorite of Echols, I still would recommend it. It was an easy and cute read, one you could get through in a sitting. I look forward to the next Jennifer Echols book!
Normally, I would stay away from this type of scenario in a book because it sounds frustrating, but I've loved anything I've read of Jennifer Echols so I gave this a go. Max is supposed to be paired with Addison, but throughout the book the connection between Gemma and him is obvious. They connect as friends and more. Normally you'd feel bad this was happening when Max is supposed to be the best-friends boyfriend but trust me, Addison is no best-friend! When you get to the bottom of this story, then you'll really don't feel bad, at all! Addison is horrible, most of the book I wanted to choke her! Such a self-centered, shallow, cruel girl! She is queen of the backhanded compliment, and outright insult. You find out that Gemma is friends with her because she feels she has no one else. Her weight made her self esteem non-existent. However, this starts to change when she makes a new friend, and starts to excel on the majorette squad. Max also helps with these changes by challenging her thinking. Gemma on the other hand helps Max with his issues too, they're both good for each other.
Although, this story was not my favorite of Echols, I still would recommend it. It was an easy and cute read, one you could get through in a sitting. I look forward to the next Jennifer Echols book!
December 11, 2011
I'm convinced the writer of the book description never read this book. The book description just makes it sound like a generic teen book with no substance and there's actually a lot going on in this one, especially with the realistic love hate relationship between Gemma and her best friend.
Super cute, vintage Jen Echols read. I had hoped it'd be more of a romcom like Major Crush, but it was still a fun, satisfying read that I finished in one evening. I enjoyed this more than her other 2011 release, .
Oh, and the first couple chapters read like an issue book, but that doesn't continue, so don't worry. (Seriously... during the first couple of chapters, I was like, "WTF? Jennifer Echols wrote an issue book?! Arg."
And, I have to note that I always appreciate that Jennifer's books always feature diverse characters, and this one continues that trend.
The One That I Want really made me look forward to Echols' adult release, coming out next year--she's so good at creating tension and fun chemistry between characters, and does so with a sense of humor, that I'm eager to see how that'll translate to an adult audience.
Super cute, vintage Jen Echols read. I had hoped it'd be more of a romcom like Major Crush, but it was still a fun, satisfying read that I finished in one evening. I enjoyed this more than her other 2011 release, .
Oh, and the first couple chapters read like an issue book, but that doesn't continue, so don't worry. (Seriously... during the first couple of chapters, I was like, "WTF? Jennifer Echols wrote an issue book?! Arg."
And, I have to note that I always appreciate that Jennifer's books always feature diverse characters, and this one continues that trend.
The One That I Want really made me look forward to Echols' adult release, coming out next year--she's so good at creating tension and fun chemistry between characters, and does so with a sense of humor, that I'm eager to see how that'll translate to an adult audience.
June 17, 2017
Your basic chick-flick book. Easy and light, perfect for a fast summer read.
December 7, 2011
I love the feel of Echol's Simon Pulse books. This one has the same feel as The Boys Next Door and Major Crush. This one is just as good. Gemma is fabulous and Max is adorable. Great read!
December 13, 2011
I'm sorry what is this? Am I supposed to like this? Well, I absolutely love Jennifer Echols. I read endless summer and love story and forget you. I was over the moon for those books but then I picked up this one. It is about some girl who continuously points out the fact that she is fat and has horrible friends. Umm I understand that weight is a soft spot considering the world we live in where girls are pressured to be size 00 but let me just say there are people out there like me who have no hope in the world of being anything less that what we really are; size 7 and up. You want to know why that is? Because we like to play sports and have athletic yet curvy body types. We also like to EMBRACE IT! If someone calls you fat you do the logical thing and punch them in the face. Also this girl needs to get some new friends!!!!!!!! The number of times I wanted to drag this girl away so that I can make her see that her friends are assholes was in the millions. I hate books where someone complains constantly about shitty aspects of their lives and expects the reader not to SEE IT!!!!! I just can't. I tried to like it but there is nothing there for me. Maybe you might feel like she redeemed herself in your eyes but the ruined it for me in the beginning. It's not like she wines or anything. Its more stubble than that but its the fact that it was trying to be passed off as NOT wining that just makes it that much worse. I am a romance junkie and this did not feed my addiction AT ALL!
January 13, 2012
This book reads much like the first draft of what might have otherwise been an ok book. The sheer technical aspects of it made me crazy. Everything just sounded clunky in my head. For a group of teenagers, there was sure a lot of formal sounding talk. And by that I mean: where the heck are the contractions? And none of the dialogue, what little of it there seemed to be, had any kind of a natural flow. For example: "And now that you've pointed it out, I feel ashamed about my reaction to the bear. I should have more appreciation for the bear." And that's just the shortest example I could remember. Everything was told to me and nothing shown. This was especially a problem in the beginning of the book, because the first fifty pages take place inside Gemma's head. There were also weird research issues. Like, anybody who owns an Aston Martin (which, to me, felt like someone randomly googled rich person car), knows that they have the world's tiniest, most non-existent back seat. And yet you're going to offer a boy who you keep emphasizing his height a ride to his car in it when someone else is driving and when you think you're still big?
Then there were the characters. Gemma was completely unsympathetic for me. And I felt like I was being beaten over the head with the fact that she was omg so unconventional. At first, I thought it was setting up what could have been an interesting plot about a girl who is deliberately unconventional to make up for the fact that nobody in the conventional crowd is into her. But no, Gemma is quirky with purple hair and vintage clothes. And she used to be overweight but now she's a militant eater and has lost all this weight. She's also really wealthy, but for reasons that aren't explained, embarrassed by this. Sure, it's cool to get a shiny red Mercedes for her birthday, but heaven forbid someone see her big house. It wasn't consistent. She's also the most perfect baton twirler to ever twirl a baton, even though it's no big deal. In the end she stands up for herself, but it was such a convoluted thing that it didn't pack any punch for me.
Addison was just wretched. There was no redeeming quality abut her. And that's frustrating because where is the moral dilemma in stealing your best friend's boyfriend if the best friend is so CLEARLY not even a friend, let alone a best friend? The other football player (I just finished this book twenty minutes ago and can't remember his name) was not much better. And then there was Max, who could have been a good character but for some reason was just not at all interesting for me.
Plus, the relationships between all of these characters was barely even puddle deep. I didn't see a connection between any of them outside of what I was told about it, and even then. I don't know. It all just felt so very, very forced.
Like I said, this book had some potential. I think that if it had been a little longer, a little more focused, and better edited I might have been looking at at least three stars. But as it stands, I just really didn't enjoy this. There was none of the depth you'd expect from a plot like this one (Seriously, for once let's have two girls who are genuine friends and who genuinely love and care for each other fall for the same guy and watch that disaster unfold). Perhaps it was intended for a much younger reader than most of the contemporary YA I've read, but judging by a few of the scenes I kind of doubt it.
Then there were the characters. Gemma was completely unsympathetic for me. And I felt like I was being beaten over the head with the fact that she was omg so unconventional. At first, I thought it was setting up what could have been an interesting plot about a girl who is deliberately unconventional to make up for the fact that nobody in the conventional crowd is into her. But no, Gemma is quirky with purple hair and vintage clothes. And she used to be overweight but now she's a militant eater and has lost all this weight. She's also really wealthy, but for reasons that aren't explained, embarrassed by this. Sure, it's cool to get a shiny red Mercedes for her birthday, but heaven forbid someone see her big house. It wasn't consistent. She's also the most perfect baton twirler to ever twirl a baton, even though it's no big deal. In the end she stands up for herself, but it was such a convoluted thing that it didn't pack any punch for me.
Addison was just wretched. There was no redeeming quality abut her. And that's frustrating because where is the moral dilemma in stealing your best friend's boyfriend if the best friend is so CLEARLY not even a friend, let alone a best friend? The other football player (I just finished this book twenty minutes ago and can't remember his name) was not much better. And then there was Max, who could have been a good character but for some reason was just not at all interesting for me.
Plus, the relationships between all of these characters was barely even puddle deep. I didn't see a connection between any of them outside of what I was told about it, and even then. I don't know. It all just felt so very, very forced.
Like I said, this book had some potential. I think that if it had been a little longer, a little more focused, and better edited I might have been looking at at least three stars. But as it stands, I just really didn't enjoy this. There was none of the depth you'd expect from a plot like this one (Seriously, for once let's have two girls who are genuine friends and who genuinely love and care for each other fall for the same guy and watch that disaster unfold). Perhaps it was intended for a much younger reader than most of the contemporary YA I've read, but judging by a few of the scenes I kind of doubt it.
December 20, 2011
Pretty much anything Jennifer Echols writes will end up in my "Favorites" and "Wish I Wrote It" shelves. Whether it is one of her romantic dramas or a romantic comedy, she just gets teens, gets women, and gets *me*.
I inhaled this book--and quickly reread most of it again--within a few hours, loving the witty banter between Gemma and Max. To me, this book is like a "How to 101" for every writer worried about obvious premises or concepts that may've been explored before. The gist of this story is nothing new. You pretty much knew on every page what was happening and what will happen. BUT YOU DON'T CARE! She throws in a fun new twist like majorettes, something not commonly explored (but did remind me a lot of Major Crush), and keeps it fun with great writing and characters you care for, and it doesn't matter that you've seen this particular story before. Nothing is really new under the sun, after all, so all you can do is write the best story you can and pour life into your pages, and readers will flock to it in droves.
Now onto the characters. Gemma = love. She's a rock star, honestly. Loved the purple streaks, loved her self-awareness. Her struggle with weight is probably something every girl/woman can relate to, and don't even get me started on her relationship with Addison. Actually, let's explore that. What is up with every woman in America, and probably the world, having best friends like this girl? I know I did! I want to go back in time and slap myself for putting up with this particular friend's behavior and lingering effect I let her have on my self-esteem, but at the time I just rolled over and took it. I loved that Jennifer could relate to this experience I had, and I immediately understood Gemma's plight and rooted for her to overcome something I never had the guts to do. And in the end, I must confess, I so do a fist pump the air.
Max, Max, Max. How I love thee. I loved that he was Japanese, I loved his humor, I loved how sexy he was, and I loved his mojo. His family kicked a$$, and his freaky insight into Gemma's psyche--while perhaps a bit elevated for high school and slightly felt like a plot device to get the reader to realize what was going on in her head--made him defy stereotype. He was the funny, hot, smart, sensitive, athlete. But lest you think he is Mr. Perfect and therefore completely unrealistic, Jennifer throws in his ability to say the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time and his touch of anger issues, and he's right back in the world of believability.
The supporting characters were varied and realistic. I felt like I was back in high school. Simply put, Jennifer Echols' writing makes me happy, and you will regret it if you do not pick this book, and any other book she has written or ever will write, up. CANNOT wait for SUCH A RUSH :-)
I inhaled this book--and quickly reread most of it again--within a few hours, loving the witty banter between Gemma and Max. To me, this book is like a "How to 101" for every writer worried about obvious premises or concepts that may've been explored before. The gist of this story is nothing new. You pretty much knew on every page what was happening and what will happen. BUT YOU DON'T CARE! She throws in a fun new twist like majorettes, something not commonly explored (but did remind me a lot of Major Crush), and keeps it fun with great writing and characters you care for, and it doesn't matter that you've seen this particular story before. Nothing is really new under the sun, after all, so all you can do is write the best story you can and pour life into your pages, and readers will flock to it in droves.
Now onto the characters. Gemma = love. She's a rock star, honestly. Loved the purple streaks, loved her self-awareness. Her struggle with weight is probably something every girl/woman can relate to, and don't even get me started on her relationship with Addison. Actually, let's explore that. What is up with every woman in America, and probably the world, having best friends like this girl? I know I did! I want to go back in time and slap myself for putting up with this particular friend's behavior and lingering effect I let her have on my self-esteem, but at the time I just rolled over and took it. I loved that Jennifer could relate to this experience I had, and I immediately understood Gemma's plight and rooted for her to overcome something I never had the guts to do. And in the end, I must confess, I so do a fist pump the air.
Max, Max, Max. How I love thee. I loved that he was Japanese, I loved his humor, I loved how sexy he was, and I loved his mojo. His family kicked a$$, and his freaky insight into Gemma's psyche--while perhaps a bit elevated for high school and slightly felt like a plot device to get the reader to realize what was going on in her head--made him defy stereotype. He was the funny, hot, smart, sensitive, athlete. But lest you think he is Mr. Perfect and therefore completely unrealistic, Jennifer throws in his ability to say the exact wrong thing at the exact wrong time and his touch of anger issues, and he's right back in the world of believability.
The supporting characters were varied and realistic. I felt like I was back in high school. Simply put, Jennifer Echols' writing makes me happy, and you will regret it if you do not pick this book, and any other book she has written or ever will write, up. CANNOT wait for SUCH A RUSH :-)
April 8, 2012
omG!!!
THIS BOOK TAKE MY BREATHE AWAY!! LOVE IT<3
(I HATE Addison She iS So so so MEAN!!! GOD -.-!)
THIS BOOK TAKE MY BREATHE AWAY!! LOVE IT<3
(I HATE Addison She iS So so so MEAN!!! GOD -.-!)
January 29, 2012
review to come
December 7, 2011
I loved The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols. I ABSOFREAKINLUTELY LOVED IT!
I have been reading a lot of paranormal romance novels lately, so this non-paranormal romance novel by Jennifer Echols was exactly what I needed to mix things up. This novel was fabulous! It kept me up way past my bedtime.
The One That I Want was filled with genuine high school issues and drama. It鈥檚 been almost ten years since I graduated from high school, and I adored this novel! Young adults who are still in high school will relate to this story the most, but anyone can enjoy and appreciate this novel.
The characters in this novel are SPECTACULAR!
Gemma is SENSATIONAL! Her voice, personality and humor light up the pages of this novel. She鈥檚 a positive and powerful main character. She鈥檚 inspiring.
Max is ONE OF A KIND! He is superstitious. He is blunt. His honest and straight forward personality gets him into trouble sometimes, but that鈥檚 my favorite thing about his character. He also has very good insight and advice 鈥� even though it鈥檚 not always wanted.
Unfortunately there really are girls and guys out there like Addison and Carter. You may know the type. They are selfish, attention-starved, and cut throat. They want things only because someone else wanted them first. They make jokes at their 鈥渇riends鈥� expense. They like to embarrass and belittle their 鈥渇riends.鈥� Addison and Carter are that type. They aren鈥檛 nice, but they are realistic.
This novel touches on many REAL issues that young adults face, primarily Gemma鈥檚 struggles with her weight and her self-image and bullying.
At the beginning of this novel, Gemma is overweight. Throughout the novel you really see how her weight has affected her in the past and how she still struggles with her self-image even after she has lost 50 pounds.
This novel also covers bullying. Almost all of the main characters had some experience with bullying. When they were younger: Addison was ostracized because of her spiteful personality (which I hate to say it, but I kind of understand this one), Gemma was picked on because of her weight, Max was teased because he is half Japanese, and Carter was made fun of because he spoke with an accent. The biggest bully in this novel, however, was Addison. The way Addison treated Gemma was cruel, and the worst thing about it was that Addison was supposed to be her best friend. I wanted to back hand Addison a handful of times.
I'm not a big fan of conflict that is based on miscommunication or lack of communication. Therefore, you'd think that this novel would drive me crazy, but it didn't. Jennifer Echols had me so distracted with her hilarious characters and their witty banter that she was able to pull a fast one on me. I was completely entertained by this novel, and I didn鈥檛 even stop to analyze the conflict until I started my review. In other words, she completely pulled it off.
I gave The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols 4 STARS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND this novel.
-XOXO
January 19, 2014
The One That I Want solidified Jennifer Echols鈥� position on my auto-buy list.
I always have love-hate relationships with Echols鈥� books. I absolutely love the stories she creates, but the characters always make me so angry. It鈥檚 so frustrating, but it鈥檚 also a blessing because it is part of what gives them so much charm. The characters are raw and so believable, even if I am not their biggest fan, I cannot stop reading about them.
In the case of The One That I Want, it was Gemma鈥檚 鈥渂est鈥� friend Addison that made me cringe. That girl does not have one redeeming quality (that we get to see), but it鈥檚 so well done that I actually wanted to read the scenes that involved her. She infuriated me but I wanted to see what she was going to say next. Gemma put up with far too much from her, and I was glad to see her finally do something about it. But she also had her issues, and her constant need to point out how bad a friend Addison was annoyed me, particularly because I could definitely see that without Gemma going through it in her head, repeatedly.
Max is adorable, and so different from the characters I鈥檓 used to. Let鈥檚 be honest, we are supposed to fall in love with the love interest, and in most cases they are perfect because we can鈥檛 help but fall in love with perfection. Same basic formula over and over again, with some substitutions here and there. That is not the case with Max. He says what鈥檚 on his mind, and sometimes it isn鈥檛 pleasant, but it鈥檚 honest. But he also has a sweet side.
On the surface, The One That I Want is a cute love story that I couldn鈥檛 get enough of. Underneath that, it tackles rocky relationships and the effects of poor communication between friends, crushes, and even parents and their children鈥攚ithout seeming preachy. Definitely worth a read.
I always have love-hate relationships with Echols鈥� books. I absolutely love the stories she creates, but the characters always make me so angry. It鈥檚 so frustrating, but it鈥檚 also a blessing because it is part of what gives them so much charm. The characters are raw and so believable, even if I am not their biggest fan, I cannot stop reading about them.
In the case of The One That I Want, it was Gemma鈥檚 鈥渂est鈥� friend Addison that made me cringe. That girl does not have one redeeming quality (that we get to see), but it鈥檚 so well done that I actually wanted to read the scenes that involved her. She infuriated me but I wanted to see what she was going to say next. Gemma put up with far too much from her, and I was glad to see her finally do something about it. But she also had her issues, and her constant need to point out how bad a friend Addison was annoyed me, particularly because I could definitely see that without Gemma going through it in her head, repeatedly.
Max is adorable, and so different from the characters I鈥檓 used to. Let鈥檚 be honest, we are supposed to fall in love with the love interest, and in most cases they are perfect because we can鈥檛 help but fall in love with perfection. Same basic formula over and over again, with some substitutions here and there. That is not the case with Max. He says what鈥檚 on his mind, and sometimes it isn鈥檛 pleasant, but it鈥檚 honest. But he also has a sweet side.
On the surface, The One That I Want is a cute love story that I couldn鈥檛 get enough of. Underneath that, it tackles rocky relationships and the effects of poor communication between friends, crushes, and even parents and their children鈥攚ithout seeming preachy. Definitely worth a read.
December 10, 2011
Jennifer Echols did it for the second time! I thought Love Story will be the only book I would be disappointed. The One That I Want reminds me of those Lauren Barnholdt books. It was sweet,but maybe a little bit too sweet for my taste. Sure it was written for younger teens and maybe I should stop the rant because,well,younger readers tend to eat up almost everything they read as long as there is some kissing involved. I should know,I was one of those kids.
We have your typical 'fat' girl who gets a hot body,good looking guy and a mean best friend that is NOT a friend at all. Anyone who knows me would tell you that I don't put up with shit from anybody so the main reason I didn't enjoyed this book was that Gemma (the main character) takes so much crap from her besty Addison I can't even... But like in all other 'happy ending books' she lets go of the leach and sails into the sunset with her beau.
I don't know,it just wasn't right for me. Maybe I should stick to Echols' romantic dramas.
We have your typical 'fat' girl who gets a hot body,good looking guy and a mean best friend that is NOT a friend at all. Anyone who knows me would tell you that I don't put up with shit from anybody so the main reason I didn't enjoyed this book was that Gemma (the main character) takes so much crap from her besty Addison I can't even... But like in all other 'happy ending books' she lets go of the leach and sails into the sunset with her beau.
I don't know,it just wasn't right for me. Maybe I should stick to Echols' romantic dramas.
February 16, 2012
Actually better than I expected it to be after the disappointment that was . Yes, there is moping around, yes, there are insecurities and angst abound, yes, there is a best "friend" I wanted to strangle, but I was still thoroughly entertained (maybe it was the sleep deprivation??). Plus, a very cute (Japanese) love interest.
March 3, 2012
This is a witty and wry story of two friends, one of whom (our lovable MC Gemma) is growing up, moving on and getting it together. The other one(her frenemy Addison)seems mostly motivated by a desire to sabotage, subvert and otherwise sidetrack Gemma's progress. Oooh, she is so irritating, that one! I love Jennifer Echol's romantic comedies, and this one is one of the best. I think what I liked most about it was that the plot problems (miscommunication, crazy schemes that backfire, "I'll show him/her" stunts etc.) weren't (for the most part) self-inflicted wounds by the MC in misguided quest for success. No, they mostly came from external forces (aforementioned Addison, a jerkwad absentee father, an uptight baton coach), and the conflict and resolution came from Gemma's kick-butt ability to step up, face her fears and do what needed to be done. My seventeen year old me (still kickin' inside!) always gets a bit of a crush on Jen's heroines (and to me they are heroines, not just MC's), but in this case my main emotion for Gemma was pride. She not only took charge of herself, she was encouraging and inspiring to other characters as well, including her mom, in a very touching way. One of the things I especially enjoy about Jen's books is how she has her characters inhabit a real world activity (band, snowboarding, wakeboarding) in a way that adds action, but also gives depth, dimension and fun to the story and the characters. Same here with baton, I love how Gemma pours energy into this as an outlet for her frustration, as exercise and as escape, only to have it really pay off for her. Sigh, what a charming character she is, it makes her vindication and victories all the sweeter!
January 2, 2012
Cute, predictable, light and fluffy. Ms. Echols, once again, does not disappoint in the humor department. Sadly, however, she again had a hard time delivering on the drama. It's just never real believable, and it almost always leaves a bad taste in my mouth because it usually involves a misunderstanding directly following some dialogue dissecting a misunderstanding. It's like the characters are too dumb to remember what they just talked about and it makes me a little less sympathetic toward characters that I liked up to that particular point. Which just makes the whole thing worse because it's like having the rug pulled out from under you.
I think the biggest flaw with this book is that it has a hard time deciding what it wants to be. It's one part fluffy romcom, two parts angsty drama. Our main characters are 15 and 16, so the romantic aspect is juvenile, but the drama is set up to almost be geared more toward the 17-19 set. One minute you're reading about petty jealousies between two immature "best friends", the next you're reading two sentences pointing out Gemma's daddy drama and critical self-esteem issues. Serious matters are attacked with a passing lightness bordering on irreverence, and light matters are treated with almost grave severity. It was a little disorienting.
I love you, Jennifer Echols, I truly do. Your humor and candor are rare in YA fiction. But please, for the love of everything literary, stop taking the easy way out in regards to obstacles. If you need to draw out the action a bit, making one or both characters storm off in yet another huff after refusing to listen to what the other person has to say (after they just fucking complained about misunderstandings) isn't always the way to go.
I think the biggest flaw with this book is that it has a hard time deciding what it wants to be. It's one part fluffy romcom, two parts angsty drama. Our main characters are 15 and 16, so the romantic aspect is juvenile, but the drama is set up to almost be geared more toward the 17-19 set. One minute you're reading about petty jealousies between two immature "best friends", the next you're reading two sentences pointing out Gemma's daddy drama and critical self-esteem issues. Serious matters are attacked with a passing lightness bordering on irreverence, and light matters are treated with almost grave severity. It was a little disorienting.
I love you, Jennifer Echols, I truly do. Your humor and candor are rare in YA fiction. But please, for the love of everything literary, stop taking the easy way out in regards to obstacles. If you need to draw out the action a bit, making one or both characters storm off in yet another huff after refusing to listen to what the other person has to say (after they just fucking complained about misunderstandings) isn't always the way to go.
February 23, 2012
Every time I read a new Jennifer Echols book, I go in knowing it's going to be a five star because I love everything she writes. I'm always shocked when people were not impressed with this book on on goodreads, so I decided to go into this book totally indifferent, as if I were reading from a brand new author. And you know what? I still loved it! No matter what I do, I can't help but fall in love with every story Jennifer Echols writes!
Gemma was such a great protagonist. First off, I love her name. Secondly, she was so relatable! She had lost over 50 pounds and was still getting used to not being so self-conscious about her weight. On top of that, she is dealing with being a majorette for her school band and having a selfish best friend. From the first page I couldn't help but root for Gemma and hate Addison for being such a bad person towards her. But Gemma was so used to being permissive when it came to Addison that she couldn't really do anything but deal with it. And then when Max came into the picture, I wanted to take Addison and kick her off to Timbuktu where she couldn't ruin anything else for Gemma!
Max was SO cute! He may have been the kicker for Gemma's rival school, but he had no problem making Gemma feel like life was perfect and nothing else really mattered. Of course, there is a ton of drama and times I wanted to smack Max for being so stupid, but I would never have been able to blemish his adorable face (at least it was adorable according to Gemma)!
Though the story was slightly predictable, I loved every second of it! The story was sweet and the romance was even sweeter. Pick The One That I Want up now if you feel like escaping into a cute, relatable book that leaves you with a smile on your face.
Gemma was such a great protagonist. First off, I love her name. Secondly, she was so relatable! She had lost over 50 pounds and was still getting used to not being so self-conscious about her weight. On top of that, she is dealing with being a majorette for her school band and having a selfish best friend. From the first page I couldn't help but root for Gemma and hate Addison for being such a bad person towards her. But Gemma was so used to being permissive when it came to Addison that she couldn't really do anything but deal with it. And then when Max came into the picture, I wanted to take Addison and kick her off to Timbuktu where she couldn't ruin anything else for Gemma!
Max was SO cute! He may have been the kicker for Gemma's rival school, but he had no problem making Gemma feel like life was perfect and nothing else really mattered. Of course, there is a ton of drama and times I wanted to smack Max for being so stupid, but I would never have been able to blemish his adorable face (at least it was adorable according to Gemma)!
Though the story was slightly predictable, I loved every second of it! The story was sweet and the romance was even sweeter. Pick The One That I Want up now if you feel like escaping into a cute, relatable book that leaves you with a smile on your face.
June 8, 2012
3.5
I want to start by saying Jennifer Echols is one of my all time favorite authors and I was ubberly excited to get this book, and I have Such a Rush on pre-order.
Gemma is the shadow in the friendship, and in life as she still thinks she is that insecure girl before she lost the 58lbs. Her friend Addison always got the attention, the friends, pretty much everything under the sun. Gemma is the quirky person with purple streaks in her hair which was different then all of the rest of the batton twirlers. One day at camp she sees this guy at camp, was he looking at her or was he looking at Addison. In this Echols book it is a tale of love, loyality, and understanding who you are.
The book was just like all of the other Echols books that I read (4), short, fun, and quirky. For me one of the reasons I love her books is because how real her characters are, they are funny, and as I said before realistic. Oh Carter and Addison drove me crazy in this book! I know people like Addison and they just irk me. Addison really bothered me through the whole book *(and I just started to a new job where I am in guest relations so I have people coming to me so it might be a bad combination of the two...)* Gemma though was a like-able character and a strong person for the readers. I did get a little uncomfortable with the talk of eating disorders, but again that might be because I have a close friend of mine who has been battling an eating disorder for a couple of years now. Max was another sweet guy that Echols has created, and I can't wait for Such a Rush next month :)
I want to start by saying Jennifer Echols is one of my all time favorite authors and I was ubberly excited to get this book, and I have Such a Rush on pre-order.
Gemma is the shadow in the friendship, and in life as she still thinks she is that insecure girl before she lost the 58lbs. Her friend Addison always got the attention, the friends, pretty much everything under the sun. Gemma is the quirky person with purple streaks in her hair which was different then all of the rest of the batton twirlers. One day at camp she sees this guy at camp, was he looking at her or was he looking at Addison. In this Echols book it is a tale of love, loyality, and understanding who you are.
The book was just like all of the other Echols books that I read (4), short, fun, and quirky. For me one of the reasons I love her books is because how real her characters are, they are funny, and as I said before realistic. Oh Carter and Addison drove me crazy in this book! I know people like Addison and they just irk me. Addison really bothered me through the whole book *(and I just started to a new job where I am in guest relations so I have people coming to me so it might be a bad combination of the two...)* Gemma though was a like-able character and a strong person for the readers. I did get a little uncomfortable with the talk of eating disorders, but again that might be because I have a close friend of mine who has been battling an eating disorder for a couple of years now. Max was another sweet guy that Echols has created, and I can't wait for Such a Rush next month :)
February 27, 2012
With each book of Jennifer Echols鈥� that I read, I enjoy contemporary YA books more and more. The One That I Want is a quirky, fun, romantic read with a lead character that is both the underdog and the clear winner at once. Gemma is worthy of us to root for the entire way through and any moments that she has that may give us doubt are short lived as she is just a good person through and through. Yes, she has her flaws, but she works on fixing them herself and is able to achieve her goals. While the story may not have been written with the intention of learning a moral lesson 鈥� I think that those that read this one will be reminded to stay true to ones self and to trust their own instincts. The character of Addison was written so well that I wanted to jump through the pages and strangle her myself. Seriously, that girl has issues. And Max鈥h Max. Freaking adorable. Even with his mouth that doesn鈥檛 have much of a filter, he is just divine and he is such a match for Gemma it鈥檚 hard to see anything else. I can鈥檛 wait to read more of Echols鈥� writing, this is good stuff!
Reviewed by Jessica for .
Reviewed by Jessica for .
January 30, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed THE ONE THAT I WANT. It's a fast read with an incredibly appealing MC and swoon-worthy love interest. My favorite part of the book, though, had to be the setting: ATLANTA! I felt like I was back in my old home city, and I just loved that. Echols did a great job bringing the downtown and the parks to life.
So if you're in the mood for romance, fun, or a different high school crowd (Baton twirling! I never knew ANYTHING about it!), then be sure to pick up THE ONE THAT I WANT.
So if you're in the mood for romance, fun, or a different high school crowd (Baton twirling! I never knew ANYTHING about it!), then be sure to pick up THE ONE THAT I WANT.
February 19, 2012
The One That I want was a cute quick read. Not one of my favorite books by Jennifer Echols but still good. The characters in the books didn鈥檛 treat their friends very well, and I think that kind of turned me off to the book some.
July 12, 2013
Urg her friend was so mean and annoying it made me tense the whole book. But it was addicting.
June 3, 2019
2.5 stars
May 14, 2023
completely predictable teen romances we love you
December 26, 2011
禄 Review can also be found on .
Title: The One That I Want
Author: Jennifer Echols
Rating: 3.5/5
Gemma doesn't have much expierence when it comes to boys. But when a guy like Max flirts with you, it's something you notice, right? Well, obviously it's not, because otherwise he wouldn't date her "best friend" Addison. The more time Gemma spends with them and Max's best friend Carter, the more she feels drawn to Max. Too bad she has got to keep her nose clean.
Oh, oh, oh. Perfect literature for girls. I've only read Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, and I can't decide which book I like more. While Going Too Far had more aspects of an adult novel, The One That I Want reminds me of good old teenage shows like Lizzie McGuire. Don't we all miss the good old days?
I loved Gemma! (And I love the name Gemma itself) It was good to read about a girl who had issues with her looks and her weight and even though she was pretty rich, she couldn't buy herself friends and attention with that. Well, she had attention when she lost weight, but they couldn't really see her as what she wanted to be seen. That's why she stayed with Addison, the most horrible bitch I've ever read of I think. I'm still happy that Jennifer created a character like hers. Honestly, it's always good to read about mean people. You may not be sure of that, but you get all mad inside and I think that is what a book makes you want to read it on and on aswell. You want to know if that mean girl will end up in a trash bin, which she'd totally deserve. Just saying... Everybody knows a girl like Addison and sometimes I couldn't believe my eyes. Her comments were just eww. I wanted to wake up Gemma and tell her to tell Addison to screw off. I can understand that nobody wants to be lonely and have no friends, but seriously, that is no reason to stay with such a mean friend, if you can even call it a friend. I think you can not.
Carter is just like Addison in a male version. I couldn't stand him at all. This whole thing about being better than Max, or being better than anyone at all, it really annoyed me. Can't someone just once be happy with the life and things they have? I guess not.
And now, the wonderful and gorgeous Max. He was amazing! Alright, sometimes I didn't understand his acts and when he explained why he did certain things the way he did in the end, I almost wanted to scream at him, because I also want just once a guy to show and tell a girl how they feel. Not wait a whole life time for the right moment or never even tell her at all. Things like that only question love and that is never a good thing. I loved how he wanted to teach Gemma those life lessons, though he wasn't much older than her but pretend to be so much wiser. And I also loved how he and Gemma had those moments when they couldn't help but laugh over something funny that nobody else got right. Real connection here.
I loved this book a lot! I wasn't sure if this was something for me, but it totally was. The only thing I was really sad about was that there weren't so many scenes with Robert. He seemed like a really good friend, though that was different in the beginning. And Delilah was a really nice girl too. I could definitely see her and Gemma being best friends forever.
Title: The One That I Want
Author: Jennifer Echols
Rating: 3.5/5
Gemma doesn't have much expierence when it comes to boys. But when a guy like Max flirts with you, it's something you notice, right? Well, obviously it's not, because otherwise he wouldn't date her "best friend" Addison. The more time Gemma spends with them and Max's best friend Carter, the more she feels drawn to Max. Too bad she has got to keep her nose clean.
Oh, oh, oh. Perfect literature for girls. I've only read Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, and I can't decide which book I like more. While Going Too Far had more aspects of an adult novel, The One That I Want reminds me of good old teenage shows like Lizzie McGuire. Don't we all miss the good old days?
I loved Gemma! (And I love the name Gemma itself) It was good to read about a girl who had issues with her looks and her weight and even though she was pretty rich, she couldn't buy herself friends and attention with that. Well, she had attention when she lost weight, but they couldn't really see her as what she wanted to be seen. That's why she stayed with Addison, the most horrible bitch I've ever read of I think. I'm still happy that Jennifer created a character like hers. Honestly, it's always good to read about mean people. You may not be sure of that, but you get all mad inside and I think that is what a book makes you want to read it on and on aswell. You want to know if that mean girl will end up in a trash bin, which she'd totally deserve. Just saying... Everybody knows a girl like Addison and sometimes I couldn't believe my eyes. Her comments were just eww. I wanted to wake up Gemma and tell her to tell Addison to screw off. I can understand that nobody wants to be lonely and have no friends, but seriously, that is no reason to stay with such a mean friend, if you can even call it a friend. I think you can not.
Carter is just like Addison in a male version. I couldn't stand him at all. This whole thing about being better than Max, or being better than anyone at all, it really annoyed me. Can't someone just once be happy with the life and things they have? I guess not.
And now, the wonderful and gorgeous Max. He was amazing! Alright, sometimes I didn't understand his acts and when he explained why he did certain things the way he did in the end, I almost wanted to scream at him, because I also want just once a guy to show and tell a girl how they feel. Not wait a whole life time for the right moment or never even tell her at all. Things like that only question love and that is never a good thing. I loved how he wanted to teach Gemma those life lessons, though he wasn't much older than her but pretend to be so much wiser. And I also loved how he and Gemma had those moments when they couldn't help but laugh over something funny that nobody else got right. Real connection here.
I loved this book a lot! I wasn't sure if this was something for me, but it totally was. The only thing I was really sad about was that there weren't so many scenes with Robert. He seemed like a really good friend, though that was different in the beginning. And Delilah was a really nice girl too. I could definitely see her and Gemma being best friends forever.
April 7, 2012
I love the cover of this book! It reminded me of Heartstrings. And knowing I'm high with mushy madness (a.k.a drama-emotera mode) I didn't let this one pass.
I enjoy reading YA contemporaries with sports and school as its milieu. Although I get sick of it at times, it would always be part of my top reads. The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols is one of those books that would leave you smiling hours after reading it. It might be a typical high school story but Jennifer Echols pulls you into a world that will make you love (and occasionally hate) her characters.
Gemma is a regular teenage girl who鈥檚 out to discover what she really wants and where she wants to be. She is an interesting character with an undying spunk. Though a bit dramatic at times, I admire her determination to surpass her issues and to continue head on. Her struggle with weight is something I can easily relate to and I envy her discipline in dieting!
The only thing I don't get is her patience and loyalty to Addison. It took her a long time to realize that her friendship with her doesn't do her any good. But then I can't totally blame Gemma for being a stupid-martyr-slash-masochist in her relationship with Addison. I learned that people with low self-esteem (usually related with weight issues) tends to cling to what they're used to because they're afraid to get hurt and lose the relationship that makes them feel secure.
I only have one adjective to describe Addison鈥攂*tch. Ugh. I hate people like her. She's a narcissist to the core. She's a classic example of someone suffering from the Me, Myself and I syndrome. If I'd be given the chance to punish her, I'll definitely burn her to hell.
Enough with the ladies, let's talk about the man of thehour story鈥擬ax. I really don't know if I'll love or hate him. I hate him for being so damn fickle minded. One time he's totally into Gemma, the next minute he's dumping her. I thought only girls are allowed to be like that. Men don't have PMS you know. Ha-ha.
In a nutshell, Max is complex. He can be funny, irritating, cute, stupid, amusing and a jerk. Despite all of this, I love him for being... Max. (Yes, it鈥檚 contradicting but it's something I can't clearly explain. You'd understand me when you read the book.) I love it that he's Asian鈥攁 cool, awesome, drop dead gorgeous Japanese guy. I just wish that Jennifer used his Japanese name instead of Max.
I enjoyed reading the book and I finished it in one night but diverse characters aren鈥檛 enough for me. I don't know what's wrong but I felt the story is not enough for me to devour it. It made me smile thinking how the story ended, but I would still say that something is missing. I've read Major Crush and they have similarities but Major Crush and The Ex Games are better than The One That I Want.
If you're looking for a quick read, this isn't a bad choice. But if you're tired of common YA Contemporary/Chick Lit overused plots, I'd let you think about it.
The Jennifer Echol's touch is evident in this book and Echol's fan should not miss this. As for me one thing is for sure, this won't be the last Echol's book I'll read. :D
Read my other reviews at
I enjoy reading YA contemporaries with sports and school as its milieu. Although I get sick of it at times, it would always be part of my top reads. The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols is one of those books that would leave you smiling hours after reading it. It might be a typical high school story but Jennifer Echols pulls you into a world that will make you love (and occasionally hate) her characters.
Gemma is a regular teenage girl who鈥檚 out to discover what she really wants and where she wants to be. She is an interesting character with an undying spunk. Though a bit dramatic at times, I admire her determination to surpass her issues and to continue head on. Her struggle with weight is something I can easily relate to and I envy her discipline in dieting!
The only thing I don't get is her patience and loyalty to Addison. It took her a long time to realize that her friendship with her doesn't do her any good. But then I can't totally blame Gemma for being a stupid-martyr-slash-masochist in her relationship with Addison. I learned that people with low self-esteem (usually related with weight issues) tends to cling to what they're used to because they're afraid to get hurt and lose the relationship that makes them feel secure.
I only have one adjective to describe Addison鈥攂*tch. Ugh. I hate people like her. She's a narcissist to the core. She's a classic example of someone suffering from the Me, Myself and I syndrome. If I'd be given the chance to punish her, I'll definitely burn her to hell.
Enough with the ladies, let's talk about the man of the
In a nutshell, Max is complex. He can be funny, irritating, cute, stupid, amusing and a jerk. Despite all of this, I love him for being... Max. (Yes, it鈥檚 contradicting but it's something I can't clearly explain. You'd understand me when you read the book.) I love it that he's Asian鈥攁 cool, awesome, drop dead gorgeous Japanese guy. I just wish that Jennifer used his Japanese name instead of Max.
I enjoyed reading the book and I finished it in one night but diverse characters aren鈥檛 enough for me. I don't know what's wrong but I felt the story is not enough for me to devour it. It made me smile thinking how the story ended, but I would still say that something is missing. I've read Major Crush and they have similarities but Major Crush and The Ex Games are better than The One That I Want.
If you're looking for a quick read, this isn't a bad choice. But if you're tired of common YA Contemporary/Chick Lit overused plots, I'd let you think about it.
The Jennifer Echol's touch is evident in this book and Echol's fan should not miss this. As for me one thing is for sure, this won't be the last Echol's book I'll read. :D
Read my other reviews at
August 19, 2012
It鈥檚 my first Jennifer Echols鈥檚 book. Actually, I want to read her books since a long time ago because of their cover. Yes, though some friends of mine called me a verbal person, but I don鈥檛 refuse that I love visual stuff too. Including, book cover. I adore cute-romantic-beautiful book cover. I often pick a book because of its cover. And, I truly believe that Jennifer鈥檚 book cover is one reason I want to read them.
The One That I Want tells about Gemma van Cleve who has an experience to be overweight girl. She worked hard to decrease her weight and she succeed, up to 48 pound! Amazing job. From the beginning, her main goal is achieve her best performance as majorette on marching band team. Of course, she also has the courage from her best friend, Addison, though in negative way. Sadly, though she can raise her confidence level, she still doesn鈥檛 believe that there is any guy out there meant to be her boyfriend. Neither did Robert, her childhood friend who is already on her radar for so long time. Unfortunately, Robert never fell into her. He just made fun of her. Neither did Max Hirayama, a cute Asian boy who stole her heart since the first time she saw him across the field when she is on band-camp.
I had assumed I was imagining things. Boys did not look at me. They saw through me.
So, when Max comes closer, Gemma thinks that he comes to Addison. She always aware that in a battle with Addison over a boy, Addison will always win. Furthermore, the situation become more complicated when Gemma has been trapped on a few double-date series. Gemma and Carter. Addison and Max. Weird!
Wew. I agree with Jocelyn (played by Helent Hunt) on The Jane Austen Book Club the movie when she said that 鈥淗igh School never ends鈥�. Reading this book, my memory flew back a couple years ago when I still in the high school. Everything seemed easy and difficult at the same time. I could shine through my academic performance but failed on my love life. I never thought that there was a girl for me back in High School. Haha. Shame on me.
Whatever, I love this book. The awkward moment between Gemma and Max continuously chills me out. I barely had no patience while both of them stay under the blanket. I am so tense when waiting for their confession that they are into each other. I am biting my bottom lip while they kept silent. Wake up, buddy! Shout your heart out loud! Geez!
Oops, Jennifer teased me badly.
Beside that, this novel also bring a deep morality messages. One of them is about your motivation to change yourself. You must know what is the main goal that you want to achieve. Because if you don鈥檛 set that goal, you鈥檒l never know the limit of your work. Because, darling, every thing has limit in this world. Don鈥檛 push yourself too hard.
The One That I Want tells about Gemma van Cleve who has an experience to be overweight girl. She worked hard to decrease her weight and she succeed, up to 48 pound! Amazing job. From the beginning, her main goal is achieve her best performance as majorette on marching band team. Of course, she also has the courage from her best friend, Addison, though in negative way. Sadly, though she can raise her confidence level, she still doesn鈥檛 believe that there is any guy out there meant to be her boyfriend. Neither did Robert, her childhood friend who is already on her radar for so long time. Unfortunately, Robert never fell into her. He just made fun of her. Neither did Max Hirayama, a cute Asian boy who stole her heart since the first time she saw him across the field when she is on band-camp.
I had assumed I was imagining things. Boys did not look at me. They saw through me.
So, when Max comes closer, Gemma thinks that he comes to Addison. She always aware that in a battle with Addison over a boy, Addison will always win. Furthermore, the situation become more complicated when Gemma has been trapped on a few double-date series. Gemma and Carter. Addison and Max. Weird!
Wew. I agree with Jocelyn (played by Helent Hunt) on The Jane Austen Book Club the movie when she said that 鈥淗igh School never ends鈥�. Reading this book, my memory flew back a couple years ago when I still in the high school. Everything seemed easy and difficult at the same time. I could shine through my academic performance but failed on my love life. I never thought that there was a girl for me back in High School. Haha. Shame on me.
Whatever, I love this book. The awkward moment between Gemma and Max continuously chills me out. I barely had no patience while both of them stay under the blanket. I am so tense when waiting for their confession that they are into each other. I am biting my bottom lip while they kept silent. Wake up, buddy! Shout your heart out loud! Geez!
Oops, Jennifer teased me badly.
Beside that, this novel also bring a deep morality messages. One of them is about your motivation to change yourself. You must know what is the main goal that you want to achieve. Because if you don鈥檛 set that goal, you鈥檒l never know the limit of your work. Because, darling, every thing has limit in this world. Don鈥檛 push yourself too hard.
January 5, 2013
The One That I Want is a cute, fun, quick contemporary read. Jennifer Echols鈥� romantic comedies for Simon Pulse have always been some of my favorites but she really upped her game with this one. I think this is the best romantic comedy I have ever read from her.
Gemma is not the pretty, popular girl who gets the guy all the time. She鈥檚 shy, a little weak, and quirky but she鈥檚 also funny, smart, and kind. However she always gets overlooked in favor of her pretty, perky, best friend Addison. Gemma lets Addison walk all over her and she calls her a friend when she is so far from it. She is a nasty, jealous, backstabber who wants want Gemma has. While I loved Gemma, I hated Addison more than I have hated any character in quite some time. Gemma had a few flaws sure but she was still a good person. Addison was pretty much nothing but flaws. However in this case, that鈥檚 how Addison was supposed to be and so it didn鈥檛 bother me. I knew I wasn鈥檛 supposed to like her and I didn鈥檛.
Max and Gemma together were really fun. They were funny, sweet, and while they were immediately attracted to each other, they didn鈥檛 immediately fall for each other. The progression of their romance was so real and one of the best things about the book. Gemma was so awkward with Max and she just didn鈥檛 know how to handle him. Max was pretty much the same way with Gemma. They set each other off and at times it seemed like they hated each other more than they liked each other but it was just so right.
The plot is nothing too spectacular but I didn鈥檛 go in to the book expecting some crazy detailed, edge of your seat plot. I expected a romance with some complications and crazy situations and that鈥檚 what I got. I do have to say though that I couldn鈥檛 stop reading until I knew if Gemma and Max were going to get their happy ending. I read The One That I Want in one sitting and I was up way later than I should have been just so I could finish it.
Overall, The One That I Want is a perfect rainy day read. Every now and then it鈥檚 a good idea to read a cute book that leaves you with a smile on your face and this book will do just that.
Gemma is not the pretty, popular girl who gets the guy all the time. She鈥檚 shy, a little weak, and quirky but she鈥檚 also funny, smart, and kind. However she always gets overlooked in favor of her pretty, perky, best friend Addison. Gemma lets Addison walk all over her and she calls her a friend when she is so far from it. She is a nasty, jealous, backstabber who wants want Gemma has. While I loved Gemma, I hated Addison more than I have hated any character in quite some time. Gemma had a few flaws sure but she was still a good person. Addison was pretty much nothing but flaws. However in this case, that鈥檚 how Addison was supposed to be and so it didn鈥檛 bother me. I knew I wasn鈥檛 supposed to like her and I didn鈥檛.
Max and Gemma together were really fun. They were funny, sweet, and while they were immediately attracted to each other, they didn鈥檛 immediately fall for each other. The progression of their romance was so real and one of the best things about the book. Gemma was so awkward with Max and she just didn鈥檛 know how to handle him. Max was pretty much the same way with Gemma. They set each other off and at times it seemed like they hated each other more than they liked each other but it was just so right.
The plot is nothing too spectacular but I didn鈥檛 go in to the book expecting some crazy detailed, edge of your seat plot. I expected a romance with some complications and crazy situations and that鈥檚 what I got. I do have to say though that I couldn鈥檛 stop reading until I knew if Gemma and Max were going to get their happy ending. I read The One That I Want in one sitting and I was up way later than I should have been just so I could finish it.
Overall, The One That I Want is a perfect rainy day read. Every now and then it鈥檚 a good idea to read a cute book that leaves you with a smile on your face and this book will do just that.
April 18, 2014
Boy oh boy! I don't know how will I justify my ratings and comments about this book. The book was not very original, nor the subject matter was very interesting. I just read Keeping the Moon, which sort of have the same subject but Keeping the Moon was a lot serious than this one.
The One That I Want is about Gemma, who is still trying to figure out who she really is. Her only friend or so-called friend is Addison, who is always mean to her. Gemma has lost a whole bunch of weight and has just made it to the majorette team. At majorette camp Gemma and Addison come across Max and Carter, from a rival school who are their for football camp.
Gemma is instantly attracted to Max, the guy who was staring at her while she practiced her majorette routine. But then Max asks Addison out even though Gemma and Max has this incredible connection. To make the matters worse Gemma is stuck with Carter, who is dull and boring.
Normally, this is not the kind of book I like but i really enjoyed this one. The characters were nice and the writing was addictive. I loved Max, he was so swoon worthy.
Even though the story was not new, I would still recommend this book to anyone because of Echols writing.
The Good:
As i said already, the writing was just amazing, addictive, easy to read and very good.
I loved Gemma, her attitude, her purple streaks, her insecurities and her relationship with Addison. (I have had that friend!)
Max oh Max. Max was funny, charming and very very sexy. I loved the fact that he was Japanese.
The interaction between Gemma and Max was frustrating but funny and sweet.
The Bad:
I hated Addison. Addison was mean, shallow and self centered and I wanted to choke her.
It was predictable but cute nonetheless.
I wanted more of Delilah and Robert.
Overall: 4 and a thumbs up!
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
LoL Moments: 3.5/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Favorite Character: Max and Gemma
January 31, 2012
Jennifer Echols has this way of taking twisted and tangled relationships and writing a beautiful story around them. I always enjoy everything her books have to offer and I always enjoy the endings. The One That I Want is no different.
Gemma has lost 50lbs and made the majorette, but her "best friend" Addison made it too. Addison is nothing but an attention getter and things always have to go her way. While at majorette camp two super hotties from their rival school start to flirt with them. Max is the star kicker and Carter is the star quarterback... what luck huh? Gemma wants Max, but after the four of them hang out, Max chooses Addison. Still, Gemma can't seem to help but think that Max wants her back. So what's a girl to do when you want your best friends boyfriend?
I really love how Jennifer made unique quirks to her main characters. Our protagonist, Gemma, has lost 50lbs (WISH I could do that...), she has purple streaked in her hair, and she dresses however she wants. It absolutely killed me to watch her relationship with Addison. That girl is a flat out witch. She is not what I would consider a friend, and I'm honestly not sure why Gemma put up with it for so long. Then there is Max. Max is not your typical love interest, just like Gemma isn't your typical main character. Max is Asian, he's a football kicker, and he says all the wrong things to girls.
I absolutely loved watching Gemma and Max stumble through this story together. I was so happy with the ending for everything. I loved how the majorette aspect ended. I loved how the family aspect with Gemma and her mom ended. I loved how the friendships ended. And mostly I loved how the overall story ended.
If you're looking for a quick, romantic, yet tangled story... this is for you! Or if you're just a fan of Jennifer Echols, as I am, I say definitely pick the one up! :)
Gemma has lost 50lbs and made the majorette, but her "best friend" Addison made it too. Addison is nothing but an attention getter and things always have to go her way. While at majorette camp two super hotties from their rival school start to flirt with them. Max is the star kicker and Carter is the star quarterback... what luck huh? Gemma wants Max, but after the four of them hang out, Max chooses Addison. Still, Gemma can't seem to help but think that Max wants her back. So what's a girl to do when you want your best friends boyfriend?
I really love how Jennifer made unique quirks to her main characters. Our protagonist, Gemma, has lost 50lbs (WISH I could do that...), she has purple streaked in her hair, and she dresses however she wants. It absolutely killed me to watch her relationship with Addison. That girl is a flat out witch. She is not what I would consider a friend, and I'm honestly not sure why Gemma put up with it for so long. Then there is Max. Max is not your typical love interest, just like Gemma isn't your typical main character. Max is Asian, he's a football kicker, and he says all the wrong things to girls.
I absolutely loved watching Gemma and Max stumble through this story together. I was so happy with the ending for everything. I loved how the majorette aspect ended. I loved how the family aspect with Gemma and her mom ended. I loved how the friendships ended. And mostly I loved how the overall story ended.
If you're looking for a quick, romantic, yet tangled story... this is for you! Or if you're just a fan of Jennifer Echols, as I am, I say definitely pick the one up! :)
Read
February 23, 2012When I picked this up, I was in the mood for something light and romantic and heavy on all of that overdramatic teenge angst and that was exactly what I got. The One That I Want seems vastly different from the author's titles with MTV Books, but I'm sort of starting to realize that Jennifer Echols could write a 400 page novel about moldy cheese and it'd probably be just as entertaining and sexy as her other books are.
I loved Gemma and Max, partly because they were such spirited characters and partly because I appreciated that they were fighting against cliques and stereotypes. But I have to stress that I HATE ADDISON WITH A BURNING, FIERY PASSION. I don't think I've ever loathed a character so much. She almost makes Voldemort look like a cute, fluffy bunny. I was severely annoyed with the book for the longest time because why would someone as smart and mature as Gemma be "best friends" with someone as vindictive, vapid and manipulative as Addison? But I did come to an understanding of their friendship in the end. Addison - as much as I wanted to jump through the pages and kick her in the face - is very beneficial to the story and to Gemma's thickening skin.
The romance had just the right balance of sweet, sexy and downright embarrassing moments. Jennifer Echols really succeeded at capturing the fumbling awkwardness that is the firsts - first crush, first boyfriend, first kiss, first everythings.
Overall, The One That I Want was a quick, romantic, quirky and thoroughly entertaining read. I tend to hate love triangles, but this book's love "square" and the characters involved kept me turning pages until I finished the whole thing. In one sitting. If you're in the mood for something that is light on the plot and heavy on the romance, or if you just like books with cute Japanese boys, I definitely recommend The One That I Want.
I loved Gemma and Max, partly because they were such spirited characters and partly because I appreciated that they were fighting against cliques and stereotypes. But I have to stress that I HATE ADDISON WITH A BURNING, FIERY PASSION. I don't think I've ever loathed a character so much. She almost makes Voldemort look like a cute, fluffy bunny. I was severely annoyed with the book for the longest time because why would someone as smart and mature as Gemma be "best friends" with someone as vindictive, vapid and manipulative as Addison? But I did come to an understanding of their friendship in the end. Addison - as much as I wanted to jump through the pages and kick her in the face - is very beneficial to the story and to Gemma's thickening skin.
The romance had just the right balance of sweet, sexy and downright embarrassing moments. Jennifer Echols really succeeded at capturing the fumbling awkwardness that is the firsts - first crush, first boyfriend, first kiss, first everythings.
Overall, The One That I Want was a quick, romantic, quirky and thoroughly entertaining read. I tend to hate love triangles, but this book's love "square" and the characters involved kept me turning pages until I finished the whole thing. In one sitting. If you're in the mood for something that is light on the plot and heavy on the romance, or if you just like books with cute Japanese boys, I definitely recommend The One That I Want.
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