You Against Me Featured Hot

This book moved a little slow for me but the writing was good and the plot was definitely intriguing. I loved the cover and I thought the title was "Brilliant!" as the English would say. (I also found that the voice in my head took on an "Ee-nglish" ah-cent while reading.)

In "You Against Me", Mikey's sister Karyn has accused Ellie's brother Tom of attacking her and like a good big brother, Mikey wants nothing more than to shaft the bloke who hurt his sister with a spinner! (OK, if you're like me, you might have to search an "English" online dictionary to double check the words, "shaft" and "spinner" because they mean totally different things to us on this side of the pond.)

Ellie, is the only witness to the alleged attack and she, wanting to be a good sister, is siding with her brother. Wouldn't you? Especially if it meant your brother's life would be ruined, your family torn apart and life as you've known it would be forever changed if you didn't?

Karyn and Mikey Makenzie come from the wrong side of the tracks and she hasn't spoken to anyone outside of her family since she reported the attack to the police and word on the street is that she must be lying. Tom and Ellie Parker are upper class "good" kids and in the eyes of those around them, there's no way a guy like him could've possibly done something like this.

When the Parker's decide to throw Tom a party to celebrate his making bail, Mikey works out a plan with his BFF, Jacko (when put together, they become "Michael Jackson") to "handle" the situation themselves since the justice system isn't moving fast enough for them. What Mikey doesn't plan on is meeting Tom's younger, beautiful and interesting sister Ellie.

The story takes an interesting turn when both Ellie and Mikey decide to use each other to gain information about the others sibling in the hopes of helping their sides win their cases. The result is nothing like they planned and when the truth comes crashing out, their lives will never be the same.

Both Mikey and Ellie will not only have their family loyalty questioned but their integrity as well. Can one decision really define the rest of your life? How far would you go and what would you be willing to risk to save the ones you loved?

Oh my goodness, where do I even start with this book. This is by far one of my favorite books of 2011, hands down. I could not put this book down and when I had to, I could do nothing but think of it.

Jenny Downham does an incredible realistic job of bringing Mikey and Ellie to life. They could literally be two people who exist in this world (and honestly I hope they do!). When Mikey's sister, Karyn, claims a boy raped her, Mikey wants to be a good big brother and get the guy. When Ellie's older brother, Tom, is accused of the rape, she wants to do all she can to protect him, even if she is the only witness to the "crime". When Mikey and Ellie meet, they cannot help but fall for each other. What happens next is a whirlwind romance that shouldn't be because their families hate each other, and who can they protect their siblings and choose a side?

I am honestly at a loss for words right now. This book was THAT good. I really love reading about redemption, and Mikey and Ellie have to go through that before the book ends. Mikey is a typical teenage boy that sleeps around and doesn't really "love" the girls he hangs out, but he is a fierce big brother and would do anything he could to protect his younger sisters. When he falls for Ellie, it's beautiful to watch. It's wonderful to see him actually fall in love with someone and care about her instead of just seeing her as just another girl.

Ellie is an interesting character. She loves her older brother and would do anything for him, even possibly lie to keep him out of jail. When Ellie meets Mikey, she falls for him hard. And when she finds out who he really is (the older brother of her brother's accuser) she is furious and upset, but still can't let him go. As a reader, I really enjoyed reading all the emotions Ellie has to go through. Her first love, her protection of her brother, realizing if she lies about the rape she will not be able to live with herself, even if that means her brother going to jail. There was a particular chapter that just broke my heart. Ellie is starting to have a break down, but her family is so preoccupied with her brother that they don't' even notice. The chapter consists of short paragraphs describing her break down and it's just absolutely heart breaking and powerful.

I just cannot get over this book! I'm still thinking about it. The horrors of sexual assault, and how it can ruin families, no matter which side you are on. This is a powerful book of love, redemption, justice and family and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading more by Jenny Downham, that is for sure!