Review ~ The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing
by Robin Constantine

Publishing date: December 31st 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
384 pages

Book Description:
Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

The only thing amazing about this book is its beautiful cover, everything else is pretty much the opposite. The Promise of Amazing is not so amazing after all, so don't get your hopes up with this book and disregard the title.

The Promise of ~~Amazing~~ starts when Wren performs Heimlich on Grayson and that's how they meet. The rest of the book is pretty much about how they love each other. Insta-love, you ask? Unfortunately, yes. You could even say, mega-insta-love. Normaly, I could overlook insta-love when it makes just a little bit sense. But with this book, it's not the case. The whole romance felt forced. On their first date, Wren couldn't stand Grayson and she left, but two days later, Grayson was all she could think about. Just like that, out of the blue sky! You see, to me, that feels forced. I also couldn't feel any connection between them.

I actually couldn't connect with them either. Wren was your typical quiet girl. She did what she was told, even though she didn't like being told, but she never stick up for herself. Just plain and boring character. Nothing there to say I liked that about her or I disliked that about ther. While with Grayson, I can say I disliked a lot of things about him. I can say I disliked his whole character. From his actions to the way he talked. "That's too bad, 'cause Ima-out, my friendah." Who talks like that? Is that supposed to make me like him?

The good thing about The Promise of ~~Amazing~~ was that it was a fast-paced and a pretty quick read. If it was slow, I think I would have abandoned it. There was always something happening, even though I often got the feeling that everything was forced and just thrown in to keep the story going. But there were some parts that I liked, even got me laugh a few times.

All in all, I don't think this book is The Promise of Amazing for me, but for someone else it may be. If insta-love doesn't bother you, maybe you could even enjoy this book.