Review: Hooked by Liz Fichera

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.

It's been a long time since I read a contemporary book based on a sport, I haven't read any of Miranda Kenneally's books which i hear are the go to YA sporting contemporary romances, however I am a massive fan of contemporary books where two opposites come together and fall in love like Pushing the Limits and Perfect Chemistry and Hooked was no exception to this rule, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I won't say it was the best contemp I've ever read and I won't say that I'll remember this book for a long time, it's not absolutely unforgettable (barely any books are for me) but it was fantastic and really sucked me in whilst I read it.

Fred was the appeal to me in this book, unlike most book girls Fred is a vulnerable and at times very weak character, it isn't until the end that she starts to stand up for what she believes in and this character development is the center point of the novel. alongside the romance. Ryan was also a flawed character because he does seem embarrassed to be  with Fred until the end and this made the characters and their narratives seem very authentic. There were a fantastic backing characters as well, Yolanda and the other girls from the reservation, Sam was also a great character. I also liked how Seth and Gwyneth were put across, they actually seemed really evil as opposed to fake over-the-top contemporary bad guys.

I did feel that at times the bad things were over dramatic, I kept expecting worse things to happen to Fred like when Seth is chasing her in his car I would have preferred her to actually be hurt (Oh dear, I sound so evil) and everything seemed so cookie cutter wrapped up in a ribbon perfect at the end which always annoys me a little bit.

Overall, Hooked was a great, though not completely unforgettable and flawless contemporary that i would recommend to fans of Pushing the Limits and Perfect Chemistry.

Book released 1st February 2013 by Harlequin Teen (UK)
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (eBook)