Monday, March 16, 2020

Mouthful by C.R. Grissom | Book Review*

Life after high school still blows 
Between a judgmental beauty advice columnist mom who sends clothes several sizes too small, and social media sex-shaming her senior year of high school, Faith Lacerna needs a self-confidence boost. Being a freshman at Fortis University in Silicon Valley will be fine, as long as she doesn’t attract attention. Except wearing oversized hoodies in sunny California isn’t the best choice for blending in.

When football jock Caleb St. John shows interest, she recommits to studying anything but the hot tight end. Caleb wants to lose himself in football, avoid his unfaithful ex-girlfriend, and – unlike his cheating dad – live his life with integrity. He knows there’s more to Faith than baggy clothes. Her humor and audacity spark more than Caleb’s competitive nature.

Faith doesn’t want to be interested, but Caleb’s kindness and sense of adventure has her hooked. She soon realizes she needs to confront her hurts and fears if she wants to embrace a relationship with Caleb and not let the past intercept her future.


Mouthful tackles online/in real-life bullying and family drama. Faith is ready to start college on the other side of the country and move far away from the classmates who shared an intimate photo of her online. However, it doesn't take long for her to meet Caleb and build a relationship with him. As they get closer, she realizes that having her worst memory a simple internet name search away can be tricky, and she has to decide whether or not to confide in him. Caleb wants nothing more than to be considered trustworthy. After writing off his dad for being unfaithful, he's willing to do whatever it takes to prove to Faith that he cares about her. I liked the dynamic between these two characters. As Faith finally feels like she's getting over a rough patch in her life, Caleb's is just getting started. They're trying to help each other with different experiences, but sometimes that's good. This book is also nice because of the strong presence that Faith and Caleb's respective friends play. It's not just Caleb and Faith against the world, but rather a whole team of people fighting for (and sometimes against) each other. Outside perspectives allow Caleb and Faith to start to come to terms with things from their pasts. However, when everything seems to catch up with them, they're relationship is tested, and they have to decide if the other's understanding of what they're each going through is enough. This novel does an excellent job of showing readers that sometimes things happen in life that can never be fully resolved, but we have to be able to find a way to move on. To recreate a "new normal" and learn to be happy.

Buy the ebook here:

C.R. Grissom lives in San Jose, California—smack dab in the middle of Silicon Valley. She works for a high-tech company by day, and at night writes contemporary sports romance featuring young adults as they transition to college. Winner of the 2018 RWA® Golden Heart® Award in young adult romance for her debut novel: Mouthful.
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