Publisher: HQN Teen
Where did you get the book from: e-ARC
Release date: February 1st
When Native American Fredericka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.
But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.
But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile…
GET HOOKED ON A GIRL NAMED FRED.
*blurb taken by Goodreads*
I really wanted this book to be great because the blurb sounded so awesome. Sport romances are a favourite of mine, and I’ve never seen golf take centre stage in a romance before. Unfortunately, Hooked didn’t hold up to its potential. Ryan was a horrible character, and Fred’s attraction to him left me feeling really puzzled.
I really liked Fred and I loved the golfing aspect of the book. What I didn’t like was the romance. Fred’s attraction to Ryan made no sense to me. Ryan treated Fred like shit when he first meets her. For a good portion of the book he stayed friends with people who were racists, constantly calling Fred ‘Pocahontas’ and making fun of her heritage. Why would Fred be attracted to a boy like that? Ryan was the typical rich white boy that Fred couldn’t help but be attracted to. The boy was an asshole, and the author’s attempts to turn Ryan into a nice person didn’t gel with me.
There were too many subplots that were left hanging which should have been cleared up. Fred’s mom is a drunk and yet nothing is delved into the history of this. Fred’s mom is bitter about her life, but we’re not given reasons on why she turned to drink–and Fred’s relationship with her mom was never developed. Why did the family do nothing about this or attempt to get her any help?
Ryan’s best friend, Seth, was a racist and a psychopath. Seth hates all Native Indian people because a person who happened to be Native Indian killed his father whilst drunk-driving. Seth’s Step-Father beats up on him so for most of the book Ryan constantly defends Seth’s crazy behavior. It all comes together in such a melodramatic plot that I couldn’t take this book seriously anymore. Another plot hole that was left gaping was Ryan’s relationship with his father who supposedly cheats on his mom. There was no conclusion to that discovery.
The one big positive is Fred who I really liked. But I wanted to see more of her history with her family, and see Fred build strong relationships with other people than Ryan. I wanted to see strong female friendship connections, but nothing like that appeared. Fred is such a strong character and she showed grace and dignity in the face of the taunts from the bullies and racists.
The ending was too overdramatic, and along with Seth’s disturbing behavior where the police were never called, Hooked ended up on a poor note for me. The romance was weak in the face of a very weak hero. I give Hooked a C-.
You took one for the team and I appreciate it. When I saw this one on NG I thought that maybe it would be a second Pushing the Limits, but now I’m glad I didn’t request it.
Sorry you did not like this one, and it sure does not appeal to me. That blurb is striking me against my hair (is that an English expression?). Get hooked on a girl like Fred, like that is supposed to be original? How about Fred the Mermaid by MaryJanice Davidson? Also short for Fredricka.
@Brie: I never understood the romance because what on earth Fred saw in that jerk of a hero.