Such a cute romantic tale about a high school couple who seem wrong for one another until they give each other a chance. It definitely reminded me of a Sarah Dessen or Kasie West book, which are my favorite YA roms to read. I have a lot of students who are going to love this book when we get it in the library!

By all accounts, this sounds like my normal dream read: cute romance, YA and witty/sarcastic protagonists. But something just didn’t grab me about this. It wasn’t bad. But it also wasn’t great. Everything felt very rushed, like massive chunks of time were missing and it wasn’t indicated clearly when they did a time jump. The basic premise of the plot I loved though! Because it was very real and authentic problems they dealt with, a major one being split by college choices which is a problem for many people and I liked that. Realism sells a book for me and this was one of the redeemable features of the book for me.
Another issue I had was with the climax of the book. There could be spoiler-esque things in this paragraph so just skip to the next section if you don’t want to be spoilt. Basically, stereotypical big fight over college and lies and all that teen drama stuff and then like a couple of time jump later and no talking between the two protagonists and they instantly make up and it’s like they both completely ignore that nothing about their situation has changed. I know for a fact that real life arguments do not resolve themselves that easily. Also, the whole climax of Seth (the ex) and his return was played out in literally 2 pages! A whole book’s worth of waiting for two pages. Seth was so adamant and determined and then all of a sudden, once Claire spoke to him, he just got over it and didn’t seem bothered anymore. Very bizarre and plot-forced and not because it actually flowed.

Writing Style: I liked her writing style. It was very accurate to a teenager, apart from the abbreviations that aren’t explained and you’re just meant to know and this might be because I’m British and it’s not a thing here but it was marginally confusing to follow at times and I had to search up the slang on occasion. But other than that it was very well written, a nice mix of teen-appropriate words and eloquent words to keep it interesting.
I loved the witty humour used and I found myself laughing on multiple occasions because it was so believable and just my humour to a T.

Characters/Relationships: Here is really where the book falls down for me. You didn’t get to know the characters very well at all. You found out all the plot-relevant stuff but nothing obscure to give them depth. It made them very two-dimensional and hard to sympathise with them or like them even.
I’ve decided I don’t like Claire. She annoyed me. I loved her humour and her quick wit but her decisions infuriated me. Why not tell Adam the truth? There is literally no reason to lie to him. Not one. And most of the time I am fine with letting book characters annoy me because usually, their bad decisions are written in for an overall moral reason or so they can overcome something. But Claire – not the case. She just made bad decisions for no reason and then complained when she mucked up, then waited for Adam to forgive and then let nothing change so that she is still mad about everything. SO ANNOYING.
Then there was Adam. Now, I like him more than I like Claire but he still annoyed me. He forgave her and instantly forgot all about his own opinion for no reason. Same as Seth! What is it with the males and forgetting what they want as soon as they see her? Also, the plot point of Adam’s parents seemed as if it was meant to be important and tear-jerking but because the characters were two-dimensional and had no depth then I didn’t care. I felt nothing for him when he told Claire this. But as I have already said, I did like the sarcastic conversations and the cute moments between Adam and Claire though.
All the other characters you barely got any information on them or any reason to get to know them or like them because again they were empty of character and substance. So they were all pretty blah.
The only two exceptions to this are Wanda and Case. These characters both had plot driving goals but they also had odd and unrelated goals that made you want them to succeed and want good things for them. I am going to read the second book in this series because of them. I want to know what happens to them and how their struggles end. Also because the next one seems to be told from Adam’s POV and I think I might enjoy that more.

3 Stars overall.
Link to my review on my blog: https://hawthornbookreviews.com/2018/08/14/surviving-adam-meade-review/

Book Review- Surviving Adam Meade by Shannon Klare

Claire has moved to a new school where her father just took a new job. She had to leave her friends, her boyfriend and her life behind. She is heartbroken because her boyfriend broke up with her as long-distance relationships were too hard. So, her attitude is not the best at the beginning of the story. She doesn’t want to be there.
Enter Adam Meade and he comes across at a complete jerk. The author gives several instances where they would both like to strangle each other. Claire refuses to put up with his crap. I love her. She gives it right back at him. It is fun to read the banter they have back and forth. You know they will fall for each other. Claire is torn about what her future holds, and Adam doesn’t believe in long-distance relationships. Both have issues they are dealing with. They battle against family illness, exs and college decisions. I like the pairing and how they deal with what is thrown at them by the author. The reactions are very realistic for all characters. The added excitement of the football season gives another layer to the story. It was a great read and I liked the ending. I give it a 4 out of 5

I truly appreciate a good love story with a ton of sarcasm in it. I could relate to Claire and her family as if they were my own. After being uprooted to a new town her senior year and leaving her old life behind, Claire was determined to push through her last year in high school being unnoticed. Her plan didn’t last long. She quickly made friends with Riley, a friendly cheerleader and her boyfriend and football star, Tate. And then there’s Adam Meade. Star quarterback wise guy, who has an enormous ego and is not afraid to say what’s on his mind and is often hanging out with Riley and Tate. With Claire’s great sarcasm and Adams big ego, they quickly find themselves in a game of war over revenge for one another. And boy was it glorious! After taking it a step too far, Adam apologizes to Claire and tries to build a friendship with Claire.

Adam and Claire begin to develop a connection and feelings towards each other. And with graduation approaching, Adam decided not to move forward with a relationship with Claire. That arrangement lasted a few weeks until they took a trip together to tour a college campus. But even a brand new relationship has its struggles. With a mix of hidden secrets, Adams history and Claire’s ex. They find themselves in a struggle to hold onto each other.

I felt Shannon Klare did an excellent job with providing a background for Claire and bringing her characters to life. Her writing took me back to my high school days! I really enjoyed reading this book and plan on rereading it again soon.

Posted to www.bickeringbookreviews.com

Summary: Claire Collins is not happy. Her parents relocated their family just in time for her senior year. She has lost her home, her friends, and her boyfriend. Now, she stuck in a town she doesn’t know trying to avoid the one thing that reminds her of what she’s missing…football. But Claire can’t avoid football Her father is the new coach and there is Adam Meade the star player who has made it his goal in life to annoy Claire. But is there something more than annoyance between them?

Review: I had such a mixed reaction to this book. There were parts of it that I really enjoyed. Claire was a well developed strong female main character who didn’t put up with anything. She didn’t backdown and she would not be pushed around. She was just a great character and we need more characters like that in YA. Plus, Adam was delightful in his flirtiness. Together they made a wonderfully adorable pair that made me want to keep reading. However, the actual narrative of the story didn’t quite work for me. It didn’t quite flow with parts of it feeling disjointed as if the pages were stuck together. Adding, to that was an ending that felt a little rushed and convenient and didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story. Yet,the book was a fun fast read and will appeal to fans of YA romance.

Overall, I loved this book so much! I really enjoyed how light and easy it was to read. It was the perfect break from the high fantasy I was currently reading. I loved how the writing carried the emotions of the story. The plot pulled me in from the first page and was a fantastic journey. The characters were likeable and honest a real jewel. Thank you so much to Lola Blog Tours for providing me with a copy of this book.

While I enjoyed this book I had a hard time distinguishing it from other contemporary romance books. I would love to have it as an option for reluctant readers who may not read a lot and are looking for a romance, especially in the wave of Lara jean and the kissing booth. 3 our of 5. Not bad, but not super memorable.

This book started off with some sarcastic family banter, which grabbed me right away. It was definitely an easy read, kept me turning pages, which was good because I got started on it later than planned to try to get it done in time for this review. Now Claire was a bit annoying, of course part of that is just some of the normal teenager in her, being heartbroken over an ex-boyfriend that she'd had to move away from. Part was annoying because she was totally whiny to Adam at times. She got to be a bit of a clinger, and even after he'd tell her that he didn't want more, she'd still do that. To be fair, there were times that Adam was totally embodying the whole "Hot and Cold" song by Katy Perry though. Definitely a bit of whiplash, a-la Edward and Bella in Twilight. But his honesty was actually somewhat refreshing for a teenage boy, to me at least. Loved his grandma for sure, and how great she was. Even with Claire's grumpy teen self, she had a great family that you had to love. Including her brother Case. Almost kind of rooted for him to get Riley, although she was with Tate, and it was hard not to like those two as a couple as well. All in all this was a satisfying teen contemporary romance, not a lot out of the ordinary, so an easy read as well.

First of all this book is way too rushed. I would say it was too short, but by the end I was so over the entire story. Also, why wasn't the last chapter an epilogue? A six month time jump between chapters is a bit much.

The hate to love happens way to quick. A true hate to love is slow, with the characters slowly growing to tolerate, appreciate, and then eventually love each other. Adam and Claire are already friendly within the first 10% of the story. Their hate includes some mean words and some pranks. Then suddenly they are hanging out in the same friend group. I honestly couldn't care less about their relationship, which was the entire plot line of the book.

I also HATED that Claire's Ex kept getting brought up and how Adam kept getting jealous and angry about this.

The characters acted like children:
Adam: If I am mean to a girl it means I like her
Claire: I get angry over everything, but will get distracted two seconds later
Seth: Even though you said no, I am going to pursue you

I was hoping this would be a cute (and slightly cheesy) high school sports romance, and I was very disappointed. There were some authentic conversations and some "fun" moments, but it was not worth my time.

Review can also be found on my blog, Sincerely Karen Jo ( https://sincerelykarenjo.wordpress.com/2018/08/17/blog-tour-surviving-adam-meade-by-shannon-klare), during my blog tour stop on August 17, 2017.

OH-EMMMM-GUSHHHH! This book was super adorbs to the max! Surviving Adam Meade by Shannon Klare gave me the butterflies, the swoons, the laughs, and even some tears. I enjoyed every moment and cannot stop gushing about Adam and Claire!

Adam Meade, the local quarterback star, is popular, dangerously handsome, and never fails to get what he wants. He’s also a ladies’ man and dodges serious relationships in order to focus on having a successful football career. He’s arrogant, frustratingly rude, and everything Claire knows she should avoid. And she does try…

Claire Collins, daughter of the football coach, is beautiful, smart, and incredibly driven to fulfill her goals. She’s also trying to heal her broken heart and focus on getting into the college of her dreams. She has no problem standing up for herself and challenging Adam – even if she gets on his nerves and annoys him like crazy. Adam should want nothing to do with Claire, but he just can’t seem to resist her. But he does try…

This book was definitely a page-turner and such a wonderful read. I really enjoy love/hate and enemies to lovers books. The angst, the drama, the constant bantering, and the undeniably swoony chemistry are just so much fun and never fail to make me smile. I was sure this novel wouldn’t let me down… and it most certainly did not! Surviving Adam Meade wholeheartedly had me swooning and smiling like a dork. The bantering between Adam and Claire was so entertaining and had me completely hooked. They were both so sarcastic and stubborn that when they finally decided to kiss and make-up, it was the sweetest thing ever! Definitely gave me one of the best warm fuzzies and FEELS. Oh and the ending… SWOOOOON! Totally melted my heart!

I honestly didn’t have a difficult time falling for Adam… I mean some part of me wanted to smack him sometimes –probably just as Claire wanted to do – and I should have been annoyed with his cocky personality, but he was giving off that more than meets the eye kind of vibe that I knew there were so much more to him than his “jerkish” persona. I wasn't surprised when he finally started to show his softer side. Without his arrogance, Adam's actually really sweet, caring, funny, and a genuinely good guy.

Claire’s totally my girl. I loved her from the very beginning and felt so much for her. Changing schools, specially on your last year in high school, and dealing with heartbreak is never easy. Claire certainly had her bad days, but she handled the challenges she faced really well. I thought she was a strong heroine and I loved how motivated she was throughout the story. She may be stubborn and snarky but I honestly really loved that about her. She also had spunk, fire, charm, and a great sense of humor. No wonder Adam couldn’t resist her.

I absolutely enjoyed the romance in this book. While I personally wanted more swoons, there were more than enough spine-tingling, heart-melting, and adorable moments that gave me the FEELS. The spark between Adam and Claire was instant and palpable that you just knew they were going to fall for each other. Their deliciously playful bantering, flirty dialogues, and intense tension was so entertaining and fun. Cannot tell you how much I ship these two! Adam and Claire were perfectly witty and so darn cute together.

You already know how much I adore Adam and Claire, but if you ask me, I thought the characters in this book were fantastically likable, quirky and just so delightfully amusing. Claire’s parents were amazing and I loved how they would playfully tease her. They had some really humorous moments that had me chuckling a few times. I also liked Claire's brother, Case. He can be an annoying little brother, but he did want what was best for his sister and had an adoringly protective side. Claire's family was just so awesome and had this wonderful bond that makes you AWW. I also really loved Adam and his grandmother, Wanda. Their relationship was endearing, so sweet, and made me want to hug them both so much. Tara and Riley were awesome too and I liked their parts in the story.

Another thing I really liked about this book was how the lighthearted bantering wasn’t just limited between Adam and Claire. Sure they had plenty of them, but there were also many between the other characters that were so hilarious! Seriously, you need this book ASAP… it’s just so cute, and funny, and the perfect summer read that will make you laugh, smile, and swoon.

Surviving Adam Meade is a fantastic story about friendship, family, self-discovery, taking risks, and falling in love. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and a delightful read from start to finish. The writing was engaging, the pacing was great, the characters were lovable, and the romance was a hit! Looooveeeed this book so much and cannot wait to read more from Shannon Klare. Maybe a Tate and Riley story... or give Case a HEA story of his own.

If you enjoy YA contemporary and romance books, then I highly suggest you grab a copy of this book and lock yourself in a room without any distractions. You’re going to want to finish it in one sitting. I sure did (except for the locking part since I read it on and off during and after work) and had the most swoontastic time!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher and Xpresso Book Tours. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book so all thought and opinions are my own.

Surviving Adam Meade was a book I struggled with a bit at the beginning. Claire the main character is funny and sarcastic. She recently moved to town her senior year because of her dad's new job as the head football coach. Her heart has recently been broken and she is a little angry and sad about it, enter Adam. Adam is the quarterback and when we first meet him, he's a jerk. It was really difficult for me to really root for these two at the beginning because he was such a jerk. Even though Claire gave as good as she got, somehow Adam just didn't endear himself to me right away. Once I got past the 50% mark, I liked Adam more, but only a little bit. I loved Claire's family. They were all about being in each other's business, but in a way that showed they cared. Overall this book was pretty good and I'd recommend it to anyone who really loves sarcastic main characters!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Publishing via NetGalley.

Surviving Adam Meade was a kind of swoony read. You know the stories where the girl is attracted to the bad boy and we all actually like that douche-faced bad guy because of his attitude though he is broken from inside? Well, yeah I basically summed up the story in two lines 😛 Except not? This story was about chasing your dreams too. I really enjoyed the book overall.

This story is about Claire Collins who has moved to a new town in her senior year, thanks to her dad who is a football coach. She is trying to forget her past and to move on. She never again wanted to fall for a guy who plays football but then she meets Adam Meade who is in the football team coached by her father. Claire just wanted to graduate and go to Auburn, her dream school but Adam Meade turns out to be an unexpected thing in her life. Adam is the star of the high school’s football team and basically the most popular guy in the school. Claire and Adam are like enemies and both get under the skin of each other. Both are stubborn and strong-willed, but what happens next is something to look out for.

What I Liked:
=> For the starters, the initial plot of the story was quite realistic. Claire moved to a new town in her final year, leaving her friends there and also faced a terrible breakup. I think this was something that most teens can relate to really well? In my opinion, the life of high-school was portrayed pretty well.
=> Adam was certainly a favorite character. He was popular and always tried to show himself as a strong person. But when he met Claire and realized that he wasn’t able to woo her by his charm like other girls, he was really irritated. But soon he started showing his vulnerable side to her.
=> Claire actually came out as a strong character. She tried to hold her life together after a messy player and to a great extent, she was able to. I really loved how she was focused on her dream school and wanted to get there on any condition. We get to see rare teens in YA these days who are actually focused on their future. I really liked how much she was motivated and determined.
=> I personally love “hate-to-love romance” trope and I enjoyed all the heated banter between Claire and Adam. Both were stubborn though they had chemistry from the beginning. What started as heated arguments and sarcastic comments, soon turns to something more passionate.
=> Apart from all the swoony things, we also get to see the various problems through which both Claire and Adam were going through. While Claire was trying to forget and her past and was trying to adjust to the new world, Adam had more things related to her family.
=> I really appreciate the author for showing the senior year challenges in a realistic way. All the challenges like filling applications, going to college visits, deciding on long-term relationships – all felt real and relevant.

What I didn’t like:
=> The biggest problem that I had with this story was its speed. It was way too fast and at times it felt as if it missed so many days and weeks in between. I felt that this book could have been a little longer to miss out some basic details. One moment it was like Monday and the next chapter was moving two weeks after. The storyline definitely felt all over the place.
=> I felt that character development was okay but it could have been better? The depth was missing from the characters. I felt that the relationship between Claire and Adam was too rushed. I wanted them to be friends first so that they know each other better, but I think within the length of the book, this was all we could have gotten.
=> The ending was not my favorite but considering that there is a next book in the series, I am hoping that the story would take a better turn.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. This can be a perfect beach-side companion or a summer read. If you love YA contemporary, definitely give this book a try! It’s a quick and engaging read that will make you laugh and smile in equal measures.

All the heart eyes for this book and these characters... Adam and Claire started off all wrong for each other, and things got worse from there, until they decided to open up and be real with each other. Sweet story with plenty of sass and heart.

The characters seem so real that I felt like I could go to Pader,, NC and visit them!

I really enjoyed this story. A bitter senior girl battling feelings of loss over the high school/town that she spent the last 3 years in, and the boyfriend who dumped her instead of giving long distance a try. She finds herself running into (at time literally) her new school's quarterback, who is snarky, sarcastic, but oh so handsome. They become "frenemies", but as time passes they both realize that they have other feelings for each other. the QB has a past filled with his own losses and their tentative, protective defense mechanisms might stand in the way of a love match.

I was a little annoyed by the use of profanity in this teen-oriented book. And the blasé attitude of the parents to underage drinking, assuming that they would probably drink at a party, but totally fine with it if they got a "DD" (designated driver).

The only real complaint I have is the ridiculous overuse of the word "raked". People must have "raked their hands" over their faces or through their hair at least 20 times. combed. ran. slipped. so many other choices to use there.

Overall it was a good read for the 16+ crowd.

A cute love story and a quick read. Claire Collins is not only the new girl in town, but the football coaches daughter, she is determined to stay as far away from football as possible. Adam Meade is one of the best players on the team and he can't seem to stop teasing Claire. This is a cute love story that definitely can be a beach read.

I loved this book from start to finish! Claire and Adam had so much chemistry and it had me swooning! Being from South Carolina I could relate to the small town setting and how it is to grow up in that environment. The pace of the book was just right and I don't feel like the romance developed too quickly like other YA books. I will be recommending this to my YA bookclub and for purchase for my collection.

-Surviving Adam Meade sounded like it would be a fun hate-to-love romance, and you guys know I'm all over that. I picked this one up with some high expectations, especially after reading a couple of rave reviews, but I never entirely clicked with the book.

-Let me get to the positives first. I enjoyed the high setting in Surviving Adam Meade. It's been a while since I have read a YA book that predominantly takes place in school. I thought Klare captured a lot of the high school feels I was missing here quite well.

-I also liked some of the new friendships that Claire forges in the book. Riley seemed to be a positive influence in her life and it was sweet seeing the two become friends despite Claire's initial wariness.

-As for the parts I didn't like? Pretty much everything else. I didn't think the characters were developed in Surviving Adam Meade. They were very one-dimensional and most of them were shallow. The main character, Claire, rubbed me the wrong way quite a bit. I never quite understood the reason for her constant attitude throughout the book. I normally like reading about prickly heroines, but I feel there needs to be some part of them that's redeemable and likable. I didn't find that with Clare. The love interest, Adam, also didn't particularly stand out to me.

-The romance between the two also did not work for me. I thought it was rushed. Typically I enjoy banter between my couples - I mean who doesn't? Here, the banter sometimes felt mean and toxic. When the two get together, I couldn't understand what they saw in each other. I wanted swoons and romance from Surviving Adam Meade and the book didn't deliver.

-In the end, this book was predictable and boring for me, with the writing almost coming across as fanfic style (which there's nothing wrong with, but it just was not what I wanted from Surviving Adam Meade). There's supposed to be another book in the series with the way the book ended and I won't be picking it up.

This book just didn’t do it for me. The story wasn’t very original. Girl moves to new town, boy back home broke her heart and she swears off dating. Meets guy at new school, they have a hate/love relationship. Have you read that before? The characters came off very one dimensional and this isn’t a story thats going to stay with me.

*4.5/5*

Surviving Adam Meade tells the story of Claire and Adam. Claire changed schools in her senior year and she just wants to finish high school and go to college. Everything is going well until she meets Adam. Adam is determined to get a football scholarship and always gets what he wants until he meets Claire.

I really liked this story because I think every senior who’s in a relationship can relate to this book. When I was a senior, I was also thinking about studying and missing my boyfriend. I also really like Surviving Adam Meade because it’s such a light read. You can read this whenever you’re feeling down or happy because it’s such a nice distraction but not something that takes too much effort like some of the fantasy books I read.

I really loved Surviving Adam Meade because it was fast paced and well written. I had to keep reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen between Claire and Adam. I think that this book would’ve been even better if it would be New Adult instead of Young Adult. There was so much chemistry between Claire and Adam and a New Adult version would’ve made the book perfect!

Overall I loved reading Surviving Adam and I cannot wait to read Finding Claire Collins!

I totally loved this book. Brooding arrogant male and female lead ready to knock him off his pedestal. Where do I sign?

Adam Meade school quarterback, goodlooking, cocky, rude and a heartbreaker. He is everything Claire Collins wants to avoid. Her father has taken a new job which means they are moving yet again. Claire loved her old school and her ex-boyfriend. Unfortunately, he didn't want to do the whole long distance thing. Claire is trying to mend her broken heart but because her dad is the football coach she can't get away from the team. She wants her parents to let her visit her old school friends. Her dad wants her to help out with the football practices. Adam Meade wants his water girl to deliver it cold and so the fun begins.

Adam is a complex character, who doesn't want anyone to get too close. He is more than meets the eye, but his goal is to concentrate on football. He wants a college scholarship and everything else is a distraction.

Surviving Adam Meade is told from Claire's point of view. She isn't looking for love. Her ex still has a hold on her heart. She doesn't want a new set of friends or a new school but what she finds is a perfect fit. Fate plays a hand to give her everything she didn't expect.

I really like stories that have a love/hate relationship and this one does it well. I really liked the way the book is written and I couldn't predict what the characters were going to do. There is similar storyline out there, but this one has all the right twists and turns to make it unique. I loved every minute of it. This is a great book. It's easy to laugh with and kept me hooked. 5 stars out of 5.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review as part of the Xpresso Book Tours. My date is August 16th.