Jennifer Belle

Wow, I wasn't sure what to expect knowing the synopsis, but I really felt AND felt bad for Swanna, who at 14 is an afterthought for her divorcing, narcissistic parents. Growing up in NYC, she only thinks she's sophisticated and dreams of men, not boys to rescue her from her prosaic life. She craves experiences with people, doing new things, going places. But while Swanna is good at setting her sights on things and people, she has a tender inner core which causes her to start to break down at a moment's notice if triggered. Getting involved with a married, more than 20-years-older man, she thinks is HER idea, that she is running the show, that she groomed him, but her inner dialogue more than belies that. What Swanna really wants is to be taken care of and, more importantly, sincerely loved. Mature beyond her years but still essentially a little girl. It is a sad, funny and sometimes uplifting cautionary tale about giving kids your time and attention so they don't make these blunders.… (más)

The novel opens with a promising premise - Seanna is told to get off the bus to NY - her mother is coming to pick her up from camp. THis throws Swanna for a loop since her mother is not the type to change plans like this. Swanna had been looking forward to getting home to NY.
Mom does come get her with her new boyfriend, Borislav. He is an artist and they are going to an artists' colony in Vermont - after they pick up Swanna's little brother Madding,
About this artists' colony... they do not allow children. Swanna and Madding must sleep in the back of the pickup truck.
One evening, at the bowling alley where the colony puts on an art show, Swanna meets Dennis, a married man there at the alley with his two children, Dennis is smitten with Swanna. NOTE - Swanna is fourteen years old.
The rest of the novel had me questioning everything that Swanna did and said. I stopped liking her and that made me stop caring about her story until near the end when she seemed to try to come to her senses.

Overall, the book is well-written, but the unlikable protagonist left me wanting something different from her story.… (más)

Swanna is a 14-year-old girl whose first love happens to be an older, married father of two. Set in 1982, Swanna has just finished summer camp. Her mother and father are not typical parents and basically have neglected Swanna and her younger brother, Madding. Now they are separated, and both are far more interested in their new partners.

After Swanna is abandoned by her mom at an artist's colony that does not allow children, she meets Dennis. In his 30's, married and with 2 little children, he becomes obsessed with Swanna. Despite a few uncomfortable scenes, the book was a really good read. Swanna has such a sarcastic sense of humor and her interactions with those around her was addictive. If you want to read a coming-of-age book involving first love and the end of childhood innocence, then this is the book for you. The only disappointing part was the abrupt ending. It ended way too suddenly but it did not stop me from enjoying the book. I received a complimentary book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for a review.… (más)

3.5 out of 5 stars Fourteen-year-old Swanna and her younger brother are taken (dragged) to an artist colony by her mother and her mother's new boyfriend.  Unhappy Swanna soon meets Dennis, a much older married man, and they begin a chaotic sexual affair.  Told from Swanna's perspective, we see her emotional roller coaster ride while dealing with a dysfunctional family and the conflicting feelings regarding Dennis.  I liked the story, but there came a point where Swanna's "poor little rich girl" type of self-pity really started to get on my nerves.
… (más)