I swapped my kindle back in 2018 and am unable to recover this title. I appreciate the opportunity that was given for review but sadly can't complete it for this title. Many thanks.

This book!
This book was amazing.
For whatever reason I love books that feature graffiti.
This book was very much like Elenor and Park where the two characters are dealing with issues and rely on each other to work them out.
So much thought and details in the settings.
Just amazing.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this book, as I couldn't get into it - nothing against the author or book, just not to my personal taste. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Completely LOVED this book.

The story, the characters, the secrets, how it all develops it was just too good. One of the best aspects of this book was how the backstory was introduced and how it made everything tie together perfectly.

I am a big fan of lore and backstory details and this story delivered so well in that aspect, and as well how both timelines were present at the same time and was not complicated to follow, instance is Rory's mother, that to me was a shocker (no spoilers).

The romance was presented in a way that even with the characters inner conflicts it did not seem like a problem, or cringey, or the stereotypical "I want to be with you but i can't", and the resolution of the plot was both amazing and heart warming.

Looking forward to read more from this author!

I super-duper like this book - it's not quite love but it definitely holds a special place in my heart.
This book encompasses a lot of relevant issues (view spoiler) which I found really refreshing and a teeny tiny bit heartbreaking.

This book started as a bit of a 'meh' to me but as the story progresses, it kinda grew on me. Oh, and this have a very surprising twist (which I really did not expect but that's probably just me) that changed it from 'meh' to 'wow.' I highly commend this book for a plot twist done right.

As the title suggests, there's a bit (or a lot, depends on what you mean by a bit) of vandalism. This is probably where my problem on this book lies in. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like the idea of incorporating art to a story but I guess there's just some stuff that I don't get

I really liked this book and the honesty in the writing!

**Please excuse the choppy writing, my original review is lost in cyberspace and I'm too tired to redo everything to my occasionally perfectionistic standards**

Although I did enjoy reading Love and Vandalism, the extremely cliché parts could definitely make or break the book for some people. In a good way, the writing style sort of helped to balance out some of the overly cliché aspects, including the romantic relationships, but they're kind of hard to miss, seeing as the stereotypical things are scattered everywhere.

A couple of significant themes of the book that were covered include rape, familial issues, and suicide, and I'm glad they were touched, but to me, they all could've been portrayed better.

I feel like Crompton should've developed the impact of rape on a victim, possibly by providing more of Rory's reflection of all that happened to her, since the event only had its five seconds in the spotlight, and even then, the author glossed over it.

Rory's issues with her dad were a bit difficult for me to understand, because she seemed ambivalent about him throughout the book, actively displaying how much she loathes(?) him while having some normal father-daughter stuff going on at the same time. Maybe it's only confusing for me since I thankfully don't know what it'd be like in her shoes, but either way, their relationship could've been described more clearly, even after the reveal about why Rory's the way she is.

Lastly, the suicide portion of Love and Vandalism really messed me up, and I really don't want to go into detail as to what exactly caused this because of spoilers, but the gist of it is, the way everything involving the suicide was carried out was more than disturbing. As traumatizing as it was, I feel like the emotions of the people affected could've been displayed in a better way, because I really couldn't understand why the characters acted the way they did when it came to things that involved the person that did commit suicide. To me, it felt like they just randomly had mood swings when it came to those sensitive actions that were related to the deceased, particularly Rory's reactions.

In terms of the other relationships between the characters, I really enjoyed reading about Rory and Kat, because they seemed like quite the duo, so I do wish that I could've read more about them, but I understand that their friendship was sort of put on the sidelines.

Rory and Scott confused the heck out of me, because I just could not comprehend why Rory would act the way she did after the whole messy part of her relationship happened. I get that she'd be affected by it, but not to the point that would justify what she did.

But, I'm not saying that Hayes was perfect. He had his own issues and questionable decisions as well, and it would've been more satisfactory of an ending if greater closure for his and Rory's individual problems was given, as opposed to the cliché chain of events, but I get that the title of the book is Love and Vandalism, not Healing and Vandalism haha.

I did enjoy reading Love and Vandalism, and I'm really glad I spent my free time reading this book, as the vandalism plot line, although predictable, was quite fun to read.

Props to Sourcebooks Fire for yet another great read and Netgalley for making this possible!

Love and Vandalism by Laurie Boyle Crompton is a perfectly quick, emotion-filled read. Heavily character driven and at times difficult to read because the characters themselves are dealing with issues that they aren't ready to reveal, this is ultimately an interesting read for those who enjoy a wide range of emotions from light-hearted joy and laughter all the way up to rage. It explores mental health, artistic release, vices, relationships... and yet with it being so heavy in context, there is also a certain ease and lightness to the plot.

The story, in short: angsty teenage girl vandalizes her town unbeknownst to her father, who is a police officer, and is busted in the act by a recovering alcoholic teenage boy who makes her feel things she doesn't want to feel or face (yet). Also be prepared for a nearly, if you are not paying attention, character reveal.

Rory, the teenage girl in question, isn't what you would call a teen role model. She has some incredibly questionable and destructive behavior. However, her drive to spray paint in the middle of the night isn't one of the destructive behaviors exactly. It is more of a healthy expression of what she is feeling. Her character becomes more likable and relatable as the story continues and Hayes, the love interest, helps her to see things (including her choice of painting a lion) in a different light.

Overall I found the book to be interesting and engaging. I liked it in the way that I like a not often told, but predictable, comfortable to read, angsty teen romance. 3/5 stars.

Note: Thank you to Sourcefire Books and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually started writing this review while I was still reading Love and Vandalism by Laurie Boyle Crompton. I just needed to gush about this book.

I spent a few days slowly reading the first nine chapters or so, not really getting into the plot. I did like the main character, Rory, which is what kept me interested. Then, boom. The reason for Rory's character, the reason she paints badass lions all over her hometown, the reason her relationship with her father went to shit, all of it is explained in one explosive confrontation.

I felt that thing, that tug, telling me I needed to gobble down the rest of this book. Even though the main love interest kind of gets on my nerves. But, hey, that means the character has a personality. A personality I may not be attracted to, but a personality all the same. He isn't just your usual cookie-cutter fiction man. Which is good, because Rory isn't just some typical princess-type, either. Nor is she of the magical, lost-princess variety. She is her own dreadlock-wearing, lion-painting self.

Rory's character arc was also impressive. Not in an unrealistic way, either; Crompton makes Rory's character flaws and her arc very realistic. In fact (spoilers ahead), Rory's description of her rape and her reaction to it were extremely accurate, and I felt Crompton handled it well. Rape isn't a back-alley affair. Rory didn't even fight after it became obvious that the boy wasn't taking no for an answer. He literally laughed at her when she said she changed her mind, and her brain decided to play dead (well, play sleeping) rather than try to fight, which is a realistic reaction if you have any first- or second-hand experience with survivors of assault or rape.

It did bother me a bit that when Scott tries to hook up with Rory and pretty angrily shames her for not having sex with him. She holds her ground, which is good character development, especially since she tells him to his face that what he did was wrong. But it was sort of portrayed as a "boys will be boys" moment as well as a character development, "now she's confident enough to not be raped" moment. While I truly appreciate the positive examples that were set in Love and Vandalism, I think the idea that a woman has to be strong enough to not be raped sets a bad example for both sexes. We should be taught that men should be strong enough not to rape, and to respect consent (or lack thereof). It is not a woman's responsibility to be strong enough to keep fighting over and over. One 'no' should suffice.

To be fair to Crompton, though, the scene was well-written, and it's hard to fit in a long essay about rape and sexism when you're writing a fiction novel. Rory's character development was still very impressive, and Scott's almost-assault getting swept under the rug isn't a huge issue with the book's plot or writing style. (End spoilers).

Even as lover of YA fantasy, I appreciate Crompton's writing in Love and Vandalism. Once I hit that explosive "oh" moment, I finished the book in a couple of hours. I didn't want it to end.

But end it did, and at least it wasn't a cliffhanger or some other kind of cruel ending. I am satisfied that Rory is picking up the pieces of her life and moving forward. In fact, it gives me hope.

Crompton and all who lent her a hand in the publishing process have done an amazing job. Four solid stars from me.

They had me at graffiti. They kept me with this heartbreaking/uplifting story.

Rory is the town's secret vandal. She's been tagging lions under the cover of night, somehow dodging the watchful eye of her sergeant father who's forbidden her from art. She's remained anonymous until Hayes catches her one evening, but instead of turning her in, he turns her into his own personal tour guide. It's definitely blackmail, but Rory sees an opportunity to complete her magnum opus - painting a lion on top of the town's water tower.

This is definitely a compelling story that tackles several sensitive topics. Hayes is recovering from an addiction, so it's quite interesting to see how how he comes to terms with the damage he's done to others near him and how he tries to put his life back together in a new place. Rory initially seems like an angsty teenager who just wants to rebel for the sake of being combative. Her fractured relationship with her suspicious father and near idol-worship of her artist mother factor prominently. It's not immediately clear why her father is so adamant that Rory not indulge in art anymore, but once it's revealed in a significant plot twist, there is a new depth to the entire story that also clarifies Rory's motivations.

Generally, I found Rory and Hayes to have been well-developed characters. Crompton held back pieces of their story until later in the book that definitely changed how I viewed the two. Rory definitely became more robust as the book continued, and her network of friends/family began to feature more prominently. I also appreciated that the reactions of everyone seemed to be genuine and believable. There wasn't always an immediate "happy ending" to each conflict, which felt apt for this story.

Aside from the vandalism, this story includes the usual romantic undertones, both for Rory and Hayes as well as other characters. Rory is dealing with so much personally, that she actually comes across as messy in how she deals with people. She teeters between inconsiderate and naive in regards to what she asks of people and how she balances her relationships. I often found that when things went wrong for her, it was because she'd failed to see that others react to what she gives them. She often jumped to conclusions, but had little sympathy when others did the same to her.

Overall, I recommend Love and Vandalism. Its main plot is engaging, but even the subplots have some humor to balance out how emotional of a story this is.

A decent book. Not super compelling though. The grief and anger are kind of transparent. They;re lacking in nuance. Characters are not particularly complex either. I found myself increasingly frustrated with the protagonist and her decision making.

Love & Vandalism was mostly slow-paced, I thought about putting it down so many times but there was something about it that kept me reading up until about 60% in at least. I couldn’t read on after that.



I tried, I really did. As much as it pained me to leave this book unfinished when I was so far in, I just couldn’t read on. I was still trying to “connect” with the female lead character at 60% in and to be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to finishing it so I put it down. Better that than to force myself to finish/read a book I wasn’t enjoying right?



To be honest, I was a little iffy about Rory as early on as 5% in (when she talks about reading a fashion magazine “ironically”, I waited for the punchline but then realised the author/Rory was actually serious. Who says you can’t be an artist & love fashion at the same time?) but I decided to give her/the book the benefit of the doubt but I really should start believing my first impressions, they’d save me so much time.

Love and Vandalism could have been a quick and enjoyable read. It’s not one of the best or worse books I’ve read but I highly disagree with the way the author handled certain topics in her novel.
I have to do a trigger warning here. This novel is very graphic in two scenes depicting suicide and rape. So graphic even, that I could be quite harmful for some readers.

The plot is exciting and never really gets boring. We have a (very cliché) relationship, between a snarky and sarcastic girl and an overly charming but slightly broken guy. Not a very original or new concept, but hey, some people love this kind of romance. Our main character, Rory, has a few family issues, especially with her father, who banned her from creating art. As a result and as an act of rebellion, Rory runs around town and sprays graffiti lions on walls in the middle of the night. Her one big goal is to spray paint the water tower, where her lion will be seen from all around.
When it comes to the writing, I loved Rory’s comebacks. I’m always a sucker for sarcastic dialogue. Oftentimes Rory is overly dramatic, though and it’s too much of a cliché. I think we’re past the point where we nod along when a character throws a fit or sulks because they got their feelings hurt and need some alone time for self-pity. It’s childish, and twelve year old girls reading this might not think about it too much, but overall it’s melodramatic and unrealistic. Same thing goes for those huge misunderstandings between a character and the love interested that could be solved in a minute if they would just talk. These are tools that have been overused, especially in the YA genre. I really cannot read one more “I’m not your little girl anymore!” But I think I just did.

Spoiler alert:
What really bothered me, though, is the way the author handled rape. It’s used as a plot point, only to further show the brokenness and sadness of the main character. It comes out of nowhere and really doesn’t fit in. It is wrong, to use something so terrible in such an off-hand way.
The second thing that really has me worried is the way Rory’s mother staged her suicide, like it was an art project. Before slitting her writs, she stripped down, put on red lipstick and a pearl necklace, so as to look as dramatic as possible.
I added a quote so you know what I’m talking about. The videos mentioned show Rory’s mother talking about art.
“Monitors lined up in a row with her videos playing in a loop. Photographs of the crime scene blown up and arranged on the ground for visitors to either walk over or around as they choose. It would be a powerful installation.”
This is honestly so sick. As if it’s not enough that this girl lost her depressed mother. Nope, this cold woman plans her suicide for weeks, tapes around 50 clips where she advises her daughter on what it means to be an artist, and makes her suicide an art installation. This reads like a glorification of suicide. Especially because the author fails to declare the wrongness of this act. It’s a complete no no.

I’ve heard one reviewer voice her concern about cultural appropriation in this book, because the (supposedly) white main character has dreadlocks. I don’t agree. If she was wearing a hijab because she thought it was stylish, that would be wrong in so many ways. But dreadlocks don’t belong to a race. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

In a nutshell: this could have been a simple and light read, if it wasn’t for the many concerning ways the author handled rape and suicide. When you write books for teenagers, keep in mind what message you are sending your readers, especially if they are easily influenced or triggered. Not everyone can distinguish between what is written and what is real or put controversial topics in a critical context.

This is an engaging, emotive story of teenage angst and turmoil, rebellion and reconciliation, grief and loss, romance and family. Trying to issue warnings without giving spoilers away, the story does involve alcoholism, rape, graffiti, suicide, death, grief and different forms of rebellion. The two main characters have dramatic pasts which are seriously impacting both their attitudes and behaviours.

Rory is rebellious, determined to prove her independence, self reliance and that she’s in full control, even when she really isn’t. It is her way of coping with tragedies and has been for more than eighteen months. Hayes has revelled but is now living with the consequences and is determined to make the right choices, even when that is difficult. He’s recovering, but isn’t there yet. He is seriously attracted to Rory and her lions, even though he acknowledges she could be detrimental to him but he also wants to help her heal and to get to know her.

Their relationship is a real roller coaster ride, with so many twists and turns it feels in danger of derailing at times. As the story progresses, the reader discovers he reasons from their pasts which have influenced them both. The journey to a possible HEA has so many obstacles but love and art are the key. I have to say that Rory’s Mum’s constant strive for perfection and her messages are so focussed that I can understand why her Dad was so worried about Rory! The ending is a brilliant one, helping to show that love and friendships are key. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Narnia references!

I found this a very different, totally enthralling read and highly recommend it to adults as well as YA readers. I’ll certainly look out for more by his author in future!

I was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

"I roar and scream again and again until all the lions are overcome by my passion

* *
2 / 5"

This was an odd book. It had one spectacular twist and some exploration of art, mental health, alcoholism, family relationships and the like, but there was also a whole load of eye rolling and cringe-worthy scenes.

"I sigh. I'm way to stubborn to be a true artist because I don't give a shit if he's dripping and deformed and his colours are all wrong, wrong, wrong; this lion is going to freaking roar at the break of dawn"

Rory paints graffiti in secret, hiding her art from her (vaguely) abusive cop father. She spray paints roaring lions across the city as some sort of artistic therapy and teenage danger high. When she is caught spray painting by a stranger, Rory strikes a deal: Hayes won't turn her in and she'll show him all the best spots around town: the best restaurants, the most beautiful natural spots, the secrets the locals keep.

As a character, I found Rory a bit bland, to be honest. I read this book under a week ago and I'm having a bit of difficulty recalling much about her, other than that she loves art. She's gritty and brash and angry and impulsive. I've noticed that other reviewers don't much like the fact that she does weed and has sex - I can't say that this bothered me; I found Rory's character to be understandable, if a touch annoying. I found that I did prefer her to the love interest, Hayes. He's a weird variation on the nice guy trope with a penchant for talking about fate and sounding pseudo-spiritual.

I wasn't really a fan of their romance; I wasn't convinced by them as a couple. Frankly, I think it would have been best for the pair of them to leave each other alone and go to therapy. Hayes only ever manages to upset Rory, whilst she's constantly risking his parole in order to satisfy her dream to paint a lion on the town's water tower. The best romance here is in the subplot between Rory's manager at the art store and her coworker. It's cute and nerdy and made me smile.

"Our stars have aligned," Ken says. "Your Wars and my Trek."

The art was the standout feature of this book for me. How it weaved it's way through Rory's life via her mother, how it impacted her childhood and the angry teenager she became. How it is now a sort of therapy for her. I was disappointed by the lack of actual graffiti-ing in Love and Vandalism. I wanted to know more about it! How do you create all the effects? How do you do it with a stencil by yourself? Rory's lions are pretty awesome and the ending scenes of this book involving graffiti are great and really heartwarming.

This book is emotional and sometimes hard hitting in a good way. Unfortunately, I didn't much care for either of the two main characters, which dampened the joy I got from the artistic scenes.

Love and Vandalism is a great book for upper YA readers. While Rory started off a little annoying to me, always going on about how tough and in control she was, (which made her sound the opposite of those things by how much she talked about them), she actually grew on me after the first third of the book. I love characters who are devoted to their art, and Rory certainly was. Hayes was one of the most flawed YA love interests I've read, yet he was written really well and you rooted for him throughout the story.

I loved the plot twist that I definitely didn't expect to see coming. It made the whole story more real to me. The relationship with Rory and her father, and her struggles in life is what made this a five star book for me. The romance was an added bonus.

If I am being honest, I didn't read this book. It wasn't because of any reason other than my 2 year old got pretty sick with a cold and I just didn't get around to it. I bet it is a lovely book!

Flat characters. Story seemed unrealistic. Not a fan. Full review on Goodreads.

First off, I love the book description: "He calls it fate. She calls it blackmail." I was in from the get-go based upon that one line! Rory and Hayes are going through so much, and I questioned whether or not I was ready for their journey, but I'm so glad I was there for the ride. Rory's got a lot going on when she encounters Hayes with his own path to recovery - their witty banter and chemistry jumps off the pages. Their interactions are priceless, and it's what kept me turning the pages when I should've gone to bed instead! Highly recommend this book!

As they spend more time together, Rory worries she made the wrong choice. Hayes has a way of making her want things she shouldn’t want and feel emotions she’s tried to bury. Rory’s going to have to distance herself from Hayes or confront a secret she can’t bring herself to face…

At first, though, I found myself not really liking the protagonist, Rory. It might have been because of her attitude towards other people in general that threw me off. Or it might have been her tiff against Starbucks (I'm such a Starbucks fiend, it isn't even funny). As I got to know her, however, I started to empathize and like her more and more. Partly because I understood that she was going through a really hard time and partly because I thought that she was growing as a person by developing connections with others, and not just on the romantic front.

I was also interested in how Rory's relationship with her art. I find with most YA novels I read involving art, the protagonist is usually looking for some form of recognition for their work, whether it's praise or monetary success. It's just something I've been noticing at times. But I liked how Rory was using her art to express herself and in an attempt to manage her grief.

On the romantic front, I thought that Rory and Hayes were a good mix of cute and intimacy, sharing the darker parts of themselves with each other. But I like how the author treated their relationship as neither of them trying to improve the other; rather, they were more focused on themselves. I honestly felt like it was more compelling to read. I've read too many books where love is the cure-all for everything, so it was intriguing to see that even though they did care for each other, their problems didn't just disappear. As for Rory's relationship with her dad, I really wish that I got to read more resolution from them. Sure, the ending was satisfying for them, but I felt as if it was just the beginning of their reconciliation and wanted to see more!

Well, that's all I have to say about Love and Vandalism by Laurie Crompton Boyle for now! For anyone whose interested, Love and Vandalism comes out on May 2nd, 2017. Warning though: if you are not in the mood for some heartbreak, then this is not the book for you! Otherwise, keep on reading and let me know what you think!