Jesse's Girl - Miranda Kenneally

Jesse's Girl by Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks #6
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Source/Format: Author (Thank you!) || ARC
[I received this novel for review. This is no way affects my opinions.]

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

Whenever I read a novel by Miranda Kenneally, it's always proven to be a real treat. Jesse's Girl is no exception, as I started and finished the entire thing in one sitting. It reminded me of the boy band fan fiction I used to write in high school (in a good way), but infused with Kenneally's much more charming characters. Plus, the fact that I was overwhelmed by giddiness as I read is definitely a a bonus! Jesse's Girl might not pack the same emotional punch as many of its predecessors, but it is certainly a delightful tale that holds its own.

Maya Henry, Sam Henry's little sister, is a girl with a passion for music but a decided lack of confidence in herself and direction in her life. She meets her match in Jesse Scott, a teen heartthrob who loves music but not all the obligations and pitfalls of fame. Both of them are such well-rounded characters, good, decent people with just the right amount of sass, spirit and snark in their attitudes. It's no surprise that I thought their story was really fun to read! I loved seeing them banter, rooted for them to find their way (separately and together), and just really had a great time getting to know them.

For the sake of brevity, I'm going to share the three things that stood out the most to me:

1. Jesse Scott - I've found a new Kenneally boy to crush on y'all! I still remain devoted to Will Whitfield at this point, but Jesse is his closest competition. It was inevitable that I would fall for Jesse because he's just my type. He's passionate about music, he cares deeply for his loved ones; he's smart, witty and kind. I love his various  layers, and I volunteer to be Jesse's girl anytime!

2. Music - It is music that draws Maya and Jesse together. They're mutually passionate about making it a part of their life, if not the biggest portion of it! I loved seeing how Jesse, who had a full musical career, struggle with his love for the art and the effects his resulting fame was having on his personal life. I loved seeing how Maya, who was looking for a way to start her own musical career journey, struggled with her confidence. Kenneally definitely emphasizes how music is their passion, their salvation, their joy, their creative expression, and that spoke to my own love of music.

3. Cameos - Two of our favorite Hundred Oaks characters, Jordan and Sam, make an appearance in a big way! For long-running series, I love it when an author manages to bring back some familiar faces. And the way Sam and Jordan are written into this novel? It's perfection. I was so happy to see them, and so glad to see how they played a big role in Maya's story.

It was nice to dip my toes back into the world of Hundred Oaks! I adored Jesse's Girl, and had the silliest grin on my face the entire time I was reading it. It definitely appealed to me because of the musical aspect of the tale, but I think that Jesse's Girl is much more than just the story of a girl and a heartthrob who fall in love. It's about one girl's journey to gaining confidence to pursue her dream. It's about one boy's turmoil as he tries to reconcile his passion with its unexpected consequences. Kenneally successfully managed to entertain me with Jesse's Girl, and I highly recommend this most recent installment of the Hundred Oaks novels.