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Rarity
Brogen Mathers can’t deal with teen drama… As an empath, she is constantly bombarded with other people’s energies. Despite coping techniques taught by her psychologist mother, it’s often too much to bear, forcing her to avoid most activities a typical high school junior would enjoy. Jay Wilken won’t let his past define him… A dead mother and an alcoholic father brought Jay to Stanton, but he doesn’t want pity. His good looks, charisma, and friendly nature quickly win over the whole student body, but he has his eye on one girl…Brogen. Brogen can’t believe anyone could be so genuinely nice. It has to be an act, right? But when Jay literally saves her from deadly jaws, she has to admit he’s exactly what he appears, and he’s worth risking the potential emotional upheaval. “Drama” might as well be Becca Grant’s middle name… Another newcomer to Stanton, Becca’s blonde beauty and abundant attitude shoots her straight to the top of the popularity charts—and she believes Jay belongs right there beside her. Accustomed to getting exactly what she wants, she launches a relentless mean-girl campaign to shake up Brogen and claim Jay for her own. Everything changes with a devastating diagnosis… When Jay learns he has a rare and potentially fatal disorder, he keeps it secret and begins to push Brogen away to spare her future pain—which is exactly the sort of opening Becca is waiting for. As Jay’s well-meaning deception unravels, Brogen realizes there is much more than her heart at stake… But how far is she willing to go to fight for someone she loves?
180 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2014
About the author
D.A. Roach
20 books447 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author. I love reading and writing, especially YA/NA fiction. I have self-published and also used a traditional publisher. Each experience has brought new knowledge and new friendships.
When I'm not chasing after my kids or writing, I enjoy painting, drawing, listening to music, and watching horror movies. I am also a rare disease advocate, a gardener, and a believer in true love.
When I'm not chasing after my kids or writing, I enjoy painting, drawing, listening to music, and watching horror movies. I am also a rare disease advocate, a gardener, and a believer in true love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 9, 2017
I'm so thanful that author provided me with the copy of the book.
I was impressed by D.A.Roach idea to make Brogen an empath. It was really new thing for me to find in a fictional book. It was one of the main things why "Rarity" got my attention in the first place. It's just such a different point of view when main character not only try to understand other people, but she can also feel them. It just... I would like to be able to do the same thing, even if often it's overwhelming. But that's the point. How Brogen deal with that - makes you admire her. And yet, even I liked her (despite some stupid choices she made) and I really liked Jay (mean Jay I liked much more that cute and puffy) - I wasn't such a big fan of the story line rush.
Want to read full review? You can do this here: https://gutreadingtime.wordpress.com/...
I was impressed by D.A.Roach idea to make Brogen an empath. It was really new thing for me to find in a fictional book. It was one of the main things why "Rarity" got my attention in the first place. It's just such a different point of view when main character not only try to understand other people, but she can also feel them. It just... I would like to be able to do the same thing, even if often it's overwhelming. But that's the point. How Brogen deal with that - makes you admire her. And yet, even I liked her (despite some stupid choices she made) and I really liked Jay (mean Jay I liked much more that cute and puffy) - I wasn't such a big fan of the story line rush.
Want to read full review? You can do this here: https://gutreadingtime.wordpress.com/...
September 21, 2020
Brogen Mathers and Jay Wilken are the teens that will both capture your heart. Jay is new in town and he just happens to be one of the nicer guys, he's positive, encouraging, and charismatic. Brogen falls for his looks and personality hard core and one day as they are saying goodbye, she gets this overwhelming foreboding but she has no idea why. She is an empath she knows that something is terribly wrong. Thankfully her mother is a psychologist, so she is able to get help when her "premonitions" occur and she has panic attacks.
Jay gets bad news from his doctor and that prompts him to push Brogen away because he doesn't want her to deal with what he knows he'll be going through; however, thanks to the help from her mother Brogen realizes that if nothing else she needs to be a good friend to Jay. So they continue to build on their relationship.
I have already given away spoilers but I don't think I gave away much more (if any) than the blurb on this book. It's definitely YA in my opinion. The romance is very minimal so if anyone is concerned about that aspect for their young teenager, this book is very clean.
Jay gets bad news from his doctor and that prompts him to push Brogen away because he doesn't want her to deal with what he knows he'll be going through; however, thanks to the help from her mother Brogen realizes that if nothing else she needs to be a good friend to Jay. So they continue to build on their relationship.
I have already given away spoilers but I don't think I gave away much more (if any) than the blurb on this book. It's definitely YA in my opinion. The romance is very minimal so if anyone is concerned about that aspect for their young teenager, this book is very clean.
December 30, 2015
When I received this book to read and write an honest review, I had no idea how much I was going to like this story. I was really surprised to see how a book doesn't need to be huge in pages to make us more than satisfied.
The synopsis makes us expect that this would be another book full of teenagers dramas and therefore I was a little discouraged to read another book with this central theme.
We have, in this book, one hundred and eighty pages that tells us the story of Brogen, a teenager with the rare gift of capturing the energies of people who surround her, whether it is good or bad energy. She has to deal with it every day and at a certain point, she does, with her mother's help, who is a psychologist and puts her on a meditation program and daily exercise to try to work around that accumulated energy. It would be expected that a young man appeared on the road, because it would not be a story of teenagers if it were otherwise. He is Jay.
Complete Review
http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
The synopsis makes us expect that this would be another book full of teenagers dramas and therefore I was a little discouraged to read another book with this central theme.
We have, in this book, one hundred and eighty pages that tells us the story of Brogen, a teenager with the rare gift of capturing the energies of people who surround her, whether it is good or bad energy. She has to deal with it every day and at a certain point, she does, with her mother's help, who is a psychologist and puts her on a meditation program and daily exercise to try to work around that accumulated energy. It would be expected that a young man appeared on the road, because it would not be a story of teenagers if it were otherwise. He is Jay.
Complete Review
http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
July 6, 2015
Rarity
D.A. Roach
#Ya
I was really intrigued with the synopsis of this book. A teen empath? Pretty cool! The writing drew me in almost immediately. Characters were likeable and so realistic. Their interactions weren't forced at all.
I really liked how the author wrote about a real condition and didn't sugar coat. It was very informative. Jumping into this story I never thought that i was going to learn so much. Not only about the condition, but it's a great reminder that you should never take anything for granted. I look forward to reading more from this author.
http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-D-Roach-...
D.A. Roach
#Ya
I was really intrigued with the synopsis of this book. A teen empath? Pretty cool! The writing drew me in almost immediately. Characters were likeable and so realistic. Their interactions weren't forced at all.
I really liked how the author wrote about a real condition and didn't sugar coat. It was very informative. Jumping into this story I never thought that i was going to learn so much. Not only about the condition, but it's a great reminder that you should never take anything for granted. I look forward to reading more from this author.
http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-D-Roach-...
July 17, 2017
“Would it be all right if I visited Meg after school each day for a few hours?” “Actually, that would be great, but only if you are up for it.” I reached my hand to Meg’s foot and wiggled her socked big toe.”
The topic of this story was something fresh, new. I knew nothing of this condition prior to reading this book. But being a YA romance addict, I'm kinda picky. Hence the three stars.
The topic of this story was something fresh, new. I knew nothing of this condition prior to reading this book. But being a YA romance addict, I'm kinda picky. Hence the three stars.
July 2, 2015
I received this book from Enticing Journey Book Promotions in return for a fair and honest review.
I honestly can't put into words how this book simply blew me away. Reading the synopsis gave me an idea but I still wasn't sure what I'd be getting when I started to read this. I assumed it would be a typical teen drama with hot guy, shy girl and Queen B making waves. Well, I was almost right but this is also so much more.
Brogan is an empath and being around others can be emotionally and mentally draining for her. Jay is charming and good-looking and also the new boy in school. He has his own past though and history that he has to deal with, but he is determined that he will make the best of it that he can. Becca is also a new girl and usually gets whatever it is she wants, in this case, Jay. She can't understand why Jay is interested in Brogan rather than her so her attitude towards Brogan changes and the Queen B makes an appearance.
More than any of this though is the developing relationship between Brogan and Jay. How they spend time with each first to see if they actually like each other. How a friendship develops between them before any other confusing feelings get in the way. When we find out about Jay and see his, and Brogan's, reactions - it gives this story a whole new level. Be prepared for some tissues as there are parts of this that are packed full of emotion but so worth reading.
I won't say anything else because I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I do want to thank D.A. Roach for writing such a unique and informative book in a way that you don't even realise it until afterwards. This is a complete page-turner that will grip you from the first page to the very last. Absolutely fantastic and the epilogue at the end was a perfect way to finish. I know that Brogan and Jay are only characters, but I still wish them well and would love to hear more from them!
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I honestly can't put into words how this book simply blew me away. Reading the synopsis gave me an idea but I still wasn't sure what I'd be getting when I started to read this. I assumed it would be a typical teen drama with hot guy, shy girl and Queen B making waves. Well, I was almost right but this is also so much more.
Brogan is an empath and being around others can be emotionally and mentally draining for her. Jay is charming and good-looking and also the new boy in school. He has his own past though and history that he has to deal with, but he is determined that he will make the best of it that he can. Becca is also a new girl and usually gets whatever it is she wants, in this case, Jay. She can't understand why Jay is interested in Brogan rather than her so her attitude towards Brogan changes and the Queen B makes an appearance.
More than any of this though is the developing relationship between Brogan and Jay. How they spend time with each first to see if they actually like each other. How a friendship develops between them before any other confusing feelings get in the way. When we find out about Jay and see his, and Brogan's, reactions - it gives this story a whole new level. Be prepared for some tissues as there are parts of this that are packed full of emotion but so worth reading.
I won't say anything else because I don't want to give out any spoilers, but I do want to thank D.A. Roach for writing such a unique and informative book in a way that you don't even realise it until afterwards. This is a complete page-turner that will grip you from the first page to the very last. Absolutely fantastic and the epilogue at the end was a perfect way to finish. I know that Brogan and Jay are only characters, but I still wish them well and would love to hear more from them!
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
December 16, 2021
I read this because there are so few books about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, especially fiction. Pretty typical young adult romance with the added complication of a rare disease. Not a fan of the main character. She's supposed to be an empath but seems more like a psychic the way she can "sense" things. The only thing this book did well was Jay (the character with Vascular EDS) handling his diagnosis. 1 star for the story, 1 star for bringing attention to EDS.
December 29, 2015
I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.
Brogen is a teenage girl who is an empath and still in high school. Brogen has had a hard time of dealing with being an empath as her abilities are very strong. But she is a lucky girl having a mom that is an empath too and has been a big help to her by trying to teach her how to deal with what she feels from others. She also has this best friend for most of her life who accepts her she the way she is. Meg is a very good person and has stood by Brogen for many years. Actually Meg is one of the few people that Brogen has let into her life.
Brogen is just starting a new year at school and only has two years left before graduating and she can’t wait. With the new year starting up they get two new students in their class. One is a guy, Jay who is very good looking and all of the girls want him for their selves especially the other new student who just happens to be a girl, Becca thinks she is the QUEEN of the whole school or the whole town for that matter. And guess what yeah you guessed it she wants Jay all for herself and is determined to get him no matter what it takes. But Jay only has eyes for one girl and that is Brogen.
Brogen can’t believe that he likes at all much less has chosen her over the QUEEN Becca. But to Jay Brogen is the QUEEN and not Becca. But with Becca doing everything she can to get him Brogen may end up with a broken heart. She is not use to fight for want she wants. She usually just sits back and lets everyone have want they want without interfering. Brogen hates drama and being the center of attention unlike Becca who loves it and would just rather let everyone have whatever it is they want. But this time just may be a different story after she meets Jay one night when she is out for a run and is attached by a rabid dog and Jay comes to her rescue. Jay and Brogen have a connection after that night.
Jay is new in town and is living with his cousin because his father is having problems with a bottle and is getting help for it. Jay lost his mother not long ago and this has been his father’s way of dealing with it. But Jay is trying to deal with everything and get on with his life the best way he knows how. Now he has met a new girl who he cares about a lot and who cares about him too. But when Jay finds out some devastating news about himself he starts to push Brogen away and she doesn’t understand what is going on. Why is he all of a sudden pushing her away? Jay doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body. It breaks his heart to push Brogen away but he doesn’t want to get so involved with her that he breaks her heart as well. But just maybe that should be Brogen choice and not his.
Rarity touched me way more than I ever thought it would when I read the summary. I knew when I read it that I just had to read it. While reading Rarity I cried a lot and it was ugly as they say. I cried just about the whole time I was reading it. I felt so much for both Jay and Brogen but I can really and truly relate to Brogen on more than one level. But the main one is that I know what it is like to love someone who has problems like Jay but they are different.
I love D.A. Roach’s writing style. I love how she can make you see the world that she has written through the eyes of the characters. You get so lost in the story that you feel like it is more than watching a movie. She makes you feel like you are a character in Rarity like you are standing on the side lines watching what is going on and feel what the characters are feeling. At times I cried and laughed all at the same time. I cried because I felt happy, I cried because I felt sadness and hurt. I don’t guess I have to tell you I really and truly loved Rarity and can’t wait to check out more of D.A.’s work.
Brogen is a teenage girl who is an empath and still in high school. Brogen has had a hard time of dealing with being an empath as her abilities are very strong. But she is a lucky girl having a mom that is an empath too and has been a big help to her by trying to teach her how to deal with what she feels from others. She also has this best friend for most of her life who accepts her she the way she is. Meg is a very good person and has stood by Brogen for many years. Actually Meg is one of the few people that Brogen has let into her life.
Brogen is just starting a new year at school and only has two years left before graduating and she can’t wait. With the new year starting up they get two new students in their class. One is a guy, Jay who is very good looking and all of the girls want him for their selves especially the other new student who just happens to be a girl, Becca thinks she is the QUEEN of the whole school or the whole town for that matter. And guess what yeah you guessed it she wants Jay all for herself and is determined to get him no matter what it takes. But Jay only has eyes for one girl and that is Brogen.
Brogen can’t believe that he likes at all much less has chosen her over the QUEEN Becca. But to Jay Brogen is the QUEEN and not Becca. But with Becca doing everything she can to get him Brogen may end up with a broken heart. She is not use to fight for want she wants. She usually just sits back and lets everyone have want they want without interfering. Brogen hates drama and being the center of attention unlike Becca who loves it and would just rather let everyone have whatever it is they want. But this time just may be a different story after she meets Jay one night when she is out for a run and is attached by a rabid dog and Jay comes to her rescue. Jay and Brogen have a connection after that night.
Jay is new in town and is living with his cousin because his father is having problems with a bottle and is getting help for it. Jay lost his mother not long ago and this has been his father’s way of dealing with it. But Jay is trying to deal with everything and get on with his life the best way he knows how. Now he has met a new girl who he cares about a lot and who cares about him too. But when Jay finds out some devastating news about himself he starts to push Brogen away and she doesn’t understand what is going on. Why is he all of a sudden pushing her away? Jay doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body. It breaks his heart to push Brogen away but he doesn’t want to get so involved with her that he breaks her heart as well. But just maybe that should be Brogen choice and not his.
Rarity touched me way more than I ever thought it would when I read the summary. I knew when I read it that I just had to read it. While reading Rarity I cried a lot and it was ugly as they say. I cried just about the whole time I was reading it. I felt so much for both Jay and Brogen but I can really and truly relate to Brogen on more than one level. But the main one is that I know what it is like to love someone who has problems like Jay but they are different.
I love D.A. Roach’s writing style. I love how she can make you see the world that she has written through the eyes of the characters. You get so lost in the story that you feel like it is more than watching a movie. She makes you feel like you are a character in Rarity like you are standing on the side lines watching what is going on and feel what the characters are feeling. At times I cried and laughed all at the same time. I cried because I felt happy, I cried because I felt sadness and hurt. I don’t guess I have to tell you I really and truly loved Rarity and can’t wait to check out more of D.A.’s work.
October 21, 2015
You can find this review and more like it on my blog, Declarations of a Fangirl.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There may be spoilers. Read at your own risk.
I had high expectations for this book. The synopsis boasts a teenage girl with empathy, a sweet new guy, and a mean girl. I envisioned some kind of spin on Mean Girls, and I guess I'm partly to blame for that, but this book just did not work for me at all.
It seemed like there was this underlying bitter current about the "pretty girl" always getting the guy. The word 'blonde' was overused to the point of annoyance. We get it. Becca was blonde and pretty. But blonde does not equal popularity, no matter how many times the author tried to stress that point. Brogen's dad cheated on her mom with a "pretty blonde" and now she refuses to go near Jay because Becca, who is a "pretty blonde," has her sights set on him. It was so damn superficial.
(Brogen is reflecting on the fact that her dad is dating the "Blonde-squad's" newest leader's (aka Becca) mom)
Linda was the adult version of Becca. She was so unlike my mom, exact opposites. I was like my mom. Why did the attractive blondes always get the guys? Even if I dyed my hair blonde, I still wouldn't land the guys. I didn't have that goddess look-long and thick wavy hair, big bosom, curvy hips, and long legs. I was trim from all my running and had muscular calves and thighs, but I got short changed in the boob department. My hair was dark brown, long enough for a pony tail, but nothing remarkable.
Becca was supposed to be the mean girl, but aside from being blonde, having big boobs, having friends, being interested in the same guy as Brogen...she didn't really do anything that mean. Brogen walks past Becca & her group of friends a couple of times and she overhears the word 'loser' but given that Brogen is a self-proclaimed drama avoider and doesn't care about what other people think about her, I would think that that wouldn't bother her that much. The word 'slut' was painted on her locker with nail polish. THAT is the only true 'mean' thing that was credited to Becca and Brogen brushes it off like it's no big deal. I just don't see where the 'mean girl' hype is.
The most realistic part of the book was Jay. I felt like his reactions to his diagnosis were spot on and understandable. The guy has just found out that the life expectancy for his disease is 38 years old. Of course he's going to be conflicted and emotional.
And I'm once again reminded why I avoid the YA contemporary genre.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There may be spoilers. Read at your own risk.
I had high expectations for this book. The synopsis boasts a teenage girl with empathy, a sweet new guy, and a mean girl. I envisioned some kind of spin on Mean Girls, and I guess I'm partly to blame for that, but this book just did not work for me at all.
It seemed like there was this underlying bitter current about the "pretty girl" always getting the guy. The word 'blonde' was overused to the point of annoyance. We get it. Becca was blonde and pretty. But blonde does not equal popularity, no matter how many times the author tried to stress that point. Brogen's dad cheated on her mom with a "pretty blonde" and now she refuses to go near Jay because Becca, who is a "pretty blonde," has her sights set on him. It was so damn superficial.
(Brogen is reflecting on the fact that her dad is dating the "Blonde-squad's" newest leader's (aka Becca) mom)
Linda was the adult version of Becca. She was so unlike my mom, exact opposites. I was like my mom. Why did the attractive blondes always get the guys? Even if I dyed my hair blonde, I still wouldn't land the guys. I didn't have that goddess look-long and thick wavy hair, big bosom, curvy hips, and long legs. I was trim from all my running and had muscular calves and thighs, but I got short changed in the boob department. My hair was dark brown, long enough for a pony tail, but nothing remarkable.
Becca was supposed to be the mean girl, but aside from being blonde, having big boobs, having friends, being interested in the same guy as Brogen...she didn't really do anything that mean. Brogen walks past Becca & her group of friends a couple of times and she overhears the word 'loser' but given that Brogen is a self-proclaimed drama avoider and doesn't care about what other people think about her, I would think that that wouldn't bother her that much. The word 'slut' was painted on her locker with nail polish. THAT is the only true 'mean' thing that was credited to Becca and Brogen brushes it off like it's no big deal. I just don't see where the 'mean girl' hype is.
The most realistic part of the book was Jay. I felt like his reactions to his diagnosis were spot on and understandable. The guy has just found out that the life expectancy for his disease is 38 years old. Of course he's going to be conflicted and emotional.
And I'm once again reminded why I avoid the YA contemporary genre.
July 29, 2015
Brogen is an empath; she is affected by the moods of those around her. She is also in high school. Trying to walk through the halls with all of the drama is not what she enjoys most in life. Her psychiatrist mom is empathic too so she helps Brogen learn how to tune out other people’s emotions and center herself. Brogen’s one true friend Meg, really seems to get her. Meg doesn’t buy into the teen drama game either so the girls are a great match and really help each other. When junior year starts and two new kids start really making waves in Brogen’s life, things get interesting.
Jay is the hot new guy who just moved in with his cousin. Being new and attractive makes him the new shiny object to all the girls in school, especially Becca the pretty blonde is also new in town. She has her eye set on Jay and everyone else should beware. When a crazed dog is about to attack Brogen on her evening run she is saved by Jay, and everything changes dragging Brogen into the world of high school drama she tried so hard to ignore. Jay definitely makes things difficult for her. As they get closer, Jay opens up about his life. Now Brogen knows how affected he is over the loss of his mother at such a young age and his father’s turning to alcohol over his son to deal with his grief. She feels as though they have a deep connection. When Jay is diagnosed with the condition that killed his mother, his emotional tail spin sends him out of control and he pushes Brogen away. With Becca circling Jay and lashing out at her, is it worth it to Brogen to walk through all the pain and difficulties it will bring to be a part of his world?
I loved this story. The characters are so vivid, it is easy to get into their emotional space. Brogen is a caring sweet girl who doesn’t want to make waves. She is happy with her life. A close relationship with her mom and her BFF Meg is enough to keep her fulfilled, but when Jay saves her a bond is formed that she just can’t ignore. It is easy to feel her frustration and fears. Jay is complex and charismatic. His reaction to life is mostly positive when everything around him can be negative. He of course struggles with reconciling his emotions over the young death of his mother and his father’s alcoholism. When he gets devastating news it makes sense that he would spiral.
How Jay and Brogen connect and interact is very fluid. It isn’t a pretty little love story that follows the path of boy meets girl and life moves along merrily. They are real characters with realistic emotions. As a reader I was drawn deep into them, feeling anger, joy and fear as the story progressed. The author painted a realistic picture of living through a life changing diagnosis. Instead of characters that wallowed in it, he wrote a beautiful touching story about learning to live in spite of it.
This book touched me and I appreciated the end section that breaks down information on Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It is important that he wrote a story about a person with this condition, but the story is not about the condition.
For this and other reviews, please visit https://fangirlsreaditfirst.wordpress...
Jay is the hot new guy who just moved in with his cousin. Being new and attractive makes him the new shiny object to all the girls in school, especially Becca the pretty blonde is also new in town. She has her eye set on Jay and everyone else should beware. When a crazed dog is about to attack Brogen on her evening run she is saved by Jay, and everything changes dragging Brogen into the world of high school drama she tried so hard to ignore. Jay definitely makes things difficult for her. As they get closer, Jay opens up about his life. Now Brogen knows how affected he is over the loss of his mother at such a young age and his father’s turning to alcohol over his son to deal with his grief. She feels as though they have a deep connection. When Jay is diagnosed with the condition that killed his mother, his emotional tail spin sends him out of control and he pushes Brogen away. With Becca circling Jay and lashing out at her, is it worth it to Brogen to walk through all the pain and difficulties it will bring to be a part of his world?
I loved this story. The characters are so vivid, it is easy to get into their emotional space. Brogen is a caring sweet girl who doesn’t want to make waves. She is happy with her life. A close relationship with her mom and her BFF Meg is enough to keep her fulfilled, but when Jay saves her a bond is formed that she just can’t ignore. It is easy to feel her frustration and fears. Jay is complex and charismatic. His reaction to life is mostly positive when everything around him can be negative. He of course struggles with reconciling his emotions over the young death of his mother and his father’s alcoholism. When he gets devastating news it makes sense that he would spiral.
How Jay and Brogen connect and interact is very fluid. It isn’t a pretty little love story that follows the path of boy meets girl and life moves along merrily. They are real characters with realistic emotions. As a reader I was drawn deep into them, feeling anger, joy and fear as the story progressed. The author painted a realistic picture of living through a life changing diagnosis. Instead of characters that wallowed in it, he wrote a beautiful touching story about learning to live in spite of it.
This book touched me and I appreciated the end section that breaks down information on Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It is important that he wrote a story about a person with this condition, but the story is not about the condition.
For this and other reviews, please visit https://fangirlsreaditfirst.wordpress...
June 30, 2015
Rarity by D.A. Roach
Brogen Matthews is a junior at Stanton High School. Unlike her fellow students, Brogen doesn’t participate in most activities because she is an empath. She is heavily affected by the energies and emotions of others and it causes physical, mental and emotional drainage.
Meg is Brogen’s best friend. They have known each other a long time, but their junior year they were lucky enough to have classes together. Meg and Brogen tried to stay under the radar of high school drama, but that is all about to change when two new students arrive to shake things up.
Jay Wilken moves to Stanton under some unfortunate circumstances. His mother died and caused his father to end up in rehab due to his alcoholism, so he moved in with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, Soren. Jay is easily likable and adjusts well into school with his friendly demeanor, good looks and overall charm. He catches Brogen’s attention with his genuine friendliness and she suddenly feel butterflies when he is around.
One evening while running, Brogen is stopped in her tracks by a growling, snarling dog that was ready to attack her. Out of nowhere, Jay appears to distract the dog and save Brogen, while ending up being bitten. A drunk driver hits and kills the dog, nearly missing Brogen and Jay. This was the beginning of the friendship to relationship blooming between them.
Becca Grant is every high school girl’s worst nightmare. She is beautiful, blonde, and quickly jumps in to rule the most popular group in school. Becca has her eye on Jay and is not ready to let anything get in her way, including Brogen. Becca starts to be really mean to Brogen and try to get closer to Jay, planning to push Brogen out of the picture.
Amidst all of this, Jay learned that he has a rare genetic disorder that could be fatal. He has to walk away from most activities that he participates in. Feeling broken, he starts to push Brogen away in an attempt to protect her. Brogen doesn’t want to give up on her and Jay, but feeling hurt she doesn’t know how much she can take.
Is Brogen strong enough to fight for her relationship with Jay? Read it and find out!
This is the first book that I have read by D.A. Roach and I really enjoyed it. She gave enough background information about the characters to make them realistic and kept the storyline running. I hope to read more from her!
I gave Rarity 4 out of 5 stars.
Reviewed by Barbi S. for the Art of Romance
Brogen Matthews is a junior at Stanton High School. Unlike her fellow students, Brogen doesn’t participate in most activities because she is an empath. She is heavily affected by the energies and emotions of others and it causes physical, mental and emotional drainage.
Meg is Brogen’s best friend. They have known each other a long time, but their junior year they were lucky enough to have classes together. Meg and Brogen tried to stay under the radar of high school drama, but that is all about to change when two new students arrive to shake things up.
Jay Wilken moves to Stanton under some unfortunate circumstances. His mother died and caused his father to end up in rehab due to his alcoholism, so he moved in with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, Soren. Jay is easily likable and adjusts well into school with his friendly demeanor, good looks and overall charm. He catches Brogen’s attention with his genuine friendliness and she suddenly feel butterflies when he is around.
One evening while running, Brogen is stopped in her tracks by a growling, snarling dog that was ready to attack her. Out of nowhere, Jay appears to distract the dog and save Brogen, while ending up being bitten. A drunk driver hits and kills the dog, nearly missing Brogen and Jay. This was the beginning of the friendship to relationship blooming between them.
Becca Grant is every high school girl’s worst nightmare. She is beautiful, blonde, and quickly jumps in to rule the most popular group in school. Becca has her eye on Jay and is not ready to let anything get in her way, including Brogen. Becca starts to be really mean to Brogen and try to get closer to Jay, planning to push Brogen out of the picture.
Amidst all of this, Jay learned that he has a rare genetic disorder that could be fatal. He has to walk away from most activities that he participates in. Feeling broken, he starts to push Brogen away in an attempt to protect her. Brogen doesn’t want to give up on her and Jay, but feeling hurt she doesn’t know how much she can take.
Is Brogen strong enough to fight for her relationship with Jay? Read it and find out!
This is the first book that I have read by D.A. Roach and I really enjoyed it. She gave enough background information about the characters to make them realistic and kept the storyline running. I hope to read more from her!
I gave Rarity 4 out of 5 stars.
Reviewed by Barbi S. for the Art of Romance
September 21, 2014
Sometimes the most vulnerable, courageous warriors teach us the most priceless life-lessons. This is what you'll discover in this book. I absolutely loved this book and the name, “Rarity" = "Priceless". It is a beautiful, true to life story where the author teaches many invaluable life lessons. Whether it is about true friendship, or figuring out what truly matters and is important in this world. The characters are compelling and relatable. This book takes you on a teenager's journey through overcoming fears, heartaches, hardships, emotional struggles and dealing with life's adversities. It's these life experiences, the people we meet along the way who help to shape us and make us stronger and into the people that we are meant to be in this world. The author was so right, there are no coincidences! Life events can mold us and change our lives in ways that we could never imagine. They also teach us alot about ourselves. If we're blessed to meet that one special person whom we emotionally connect with, they are the ones that help us to look deep inside of ourselves and that's when we will be profoundly changed in positive ways. Our eyes begin to open to a whole new world where time, moments and memories are so very precious..."priceless" in fact.
This would be a great read for those teenagers who are struggling with a diagnosis and for their family members. Those who have been personally touched in one way or another by Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) or any rare disorder. It's a raw look at the true ups and downs of life and what you have to do to overcome and continue on to live life to the fullest...no matter what circumstances are put in our path. I believe whoever reads it will be able to gain strength and learn one of the most important lessons in life...love, live and laugh.
I have been personally affected by his rare disorder so it was a very emotional read on so many different levels for me. I laughed, felt many different raw emotions and I even cried. I think the author nailed all the pertinent issues, the feelings, emotions, advice and symptoms of vEDS, perfectly. And...
"The gift of knowledge"... I think we all wish we could be given this gift. I know I did!
Thank you for writing this beautiful, enlightening book. And bringing awareness and education to Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS)
This would be a great read for those teenagers who are struggling with a diagnosis and for their family members. Those who have been personally touched in one way or another by Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) or any rare disorder. It's a raw look at the true ups and downs of life and what you have to do to overcome and continue on to live life to the fullest...no matter what circumstances are put in our path. I believe whoever reads it will be able to gain strength and learn one of the most important lessons in life...love, live and laugh.
I have been personally affected by his rare disorder so it was a very emotional read on so many different levels for me. I laughed, felt many different raw emotions and I even cried. I think the author nailed all the pertinent issues, the feelings, emotions, advice and symptoms of vEDS, perfectly. And...
"The gift of knowledge"... I think we all wish we could be given this gift. I know I did!
Thank you for writing this beautiful, enlightening book. And bringing awareness and education to Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS)
July 31, 2015
RARITY by D.A. Roach was like a breath of fresh air. I’ve been quickly becoming a huge fan of YA Romances, and DA Roach solidified it. Her writing style was so easy to follow and connect with, that I could not help but love it. If you’re a fan of Young Adult novels, you really need to pick this one up!
While reading, I couldn’t contain my need to hug Brogen and Jay. You see, Brogen was an empath, so having your emotions get all screwed up because of other people’s feelings, is NOT a walk in the park. I felt for her. And she was in high school, mind you, which is the place where hormones and emotions run on full speed!! Let’s not even discuss the drama factor. Sheesh. But thankfully, her mom would guide her and help her deal with everything so that she wouldn’t suffer panic attacks. To top things off, she had to deal with her dad, whom I was NOT a fan of.
“You, Brogen, have the gift to make Jay’s life a little brighter during this hard time.”
Jay. Oh, gosh. Jay. What a guy!!! He and his story definitely pulled on my heart. Once he and Brogen met, they became friends. How could they not? It’s like they were made for each other. They didn’t have things easy though. From rabid dogs to catty girls...to Jay’s condition. Yeah. But Brogen stood by his side. While reading, certain scenes made my heart ache, beat faster, and even STOP. So the fact that DA Roach evoked such emotions from me was yet another plus!
“Life is so complicated. Some days it takes everything just to get out of bed.”
I’m a sucker for angst and there was tons of it in this book! Have I mentioned how much I enjoyed RARITY? Because I sure did!! And oh!! Meg – LOVED HER. She was the funny and awesome best friend that always called it like she saw it. Ha. Her character really made me giggle more times than I can count.
“He put his hands on each side of my face, and then gently but possessively, he took my mouth against his.” (…)
“I’ve been wanting to that for a long time.”
“Well, what took you so long?”
“Life, but I won’t let it happen again.”
THAT ENDING. OMG. I COULD NOT LOVE IT MORE. I’m truly a hopeless romantic, so endings like THAT, endings that provide closure in the most beautiful way, are my TOP favorites!! All in all, RARITY was a great book I highly recommend you one-click! Look forward to reading more from DA Roach! FIVE STARS!
While reading, I couldn’t contain my need to hug Brogen and Jay. You see, Brogen was an empath, so having your emotions get all screwed up because of other people’s feelings, is NOT a walk in the park. I felt for her. And she was in high school, mind you, which is the place where hormones and emotions run on full speed!! Let’s not even discuss the drama factor. Sheesh. But thankfully, her mom would guide her and help her deal with everything so that she wouldn’t suffer panic attacks. To top things off, she had to deal with her dad, whom I was NOT a fan of.
“You, Brogen, have the gift to make Jay’s life a little brighter during this hard time.”
Jay. Oh, gosh. Jay. What a guy!!! He and his story definitely pulled on my heart. Once he and Brogen met, they became friends. How could they not? It’s like they were made for each other. They didn’t have things easy though. From rabid dogs to catty girls...to Jay’s condition. Yeah. But Brogen stood by his side. While reading, certain scenes made my heart ache, beat faster, and even STOP. So the fact that DA Roach evoked such emotions from me was yet another plus!
“Life is so complicated. Some days it takes everything just to get out of bed.”
I’m a sucker for angst and there was tons of it in this book! Have I mentioned how much I enjoyed RARITY? Because I sure did!! And oh!! Meg – LOVED HER. She was the funny and awesome best friend that always called it like she saw it. Ha. Her character really made me giggle more times than I can count.
“He put his hands on each side of my face, and then gently but possessively, he took my mouth against his.” (…)
“I’ve been wanting to that for a long time.”
“Well, what took you so long?”
“Life, but I won’t let it happen again.”
THAT ENDING. OMG. I COULD NOT LOVE IT MORE. I’m truly a hopeless romantic, so endings like THAT, endings that provide closure in the most beautiful way, are my TOP favorites!! All in all, RARITY was a great book I highly recommend you one-click! Look forward to reading more from DA Roach! FIVE STARS!
October 14, 2015
If I were to fill this entire review with WOW ... would you like it?
Rarity pulled on my heart strings like you can not even imagine. I laughed, I cried, I awwwed and I cried some more. There are so many emotions in this book that are truly hard to evoke from a reader, knowing that it is a story. However, Rarity is much more than a story. It is reality. There are way too many sufferers of the rare disease, named vEDS.
Brogen ... a sweet and simple girl who doesn't know where she quite fits in. She knows that she does NOT like drama. It causes her too much turmoil. It's a good thing that she has her best friend Meg by her side. Meg is a cute and funny best friend that Brogen simply can't live without. She is the yin to Brogen's yang. Where you find one, you will fid the other.
On the first day of school, they are introduced to two newbie's .. Jay and Becca. Jay is the cousin of a popular guy named Soren, who is actually a pretty big character as well. Jay is tall, lean, big eyed and gorgeous. Brogen catches his eye and is immediately attracted to him, but she would never tell you that! Becca fit right in with the blonde, popular crowd and had her sights set on Jay from the word jump.
Jogging one night, Brogen ran into a vicious dog and was saved by her knight in shining armor and felt an actual spark from that night on whenever she would come across Jay. The two started getting closer, until Becca decided to come between them. Becca was determined to make Jay hers if it killed her. Because Brogen doesn't do drama, she backed off. Jay convinces her to not give up, for Brogen to only be brushed off by him. Something was happening with Jay, but he won't open up. She can't even begin to imagine what Jay was facing.
Will Jay open up and let her in on his secret? Has he lost interest because Becca sank her ugly nails into him? Does love conquer all??
PLEASE .. whatever you do ... drop what you are doing and purchase this book. The story is amazing. The characters are loveable and D.A.'s writing is impeccable. Rarity is a story that will stick with me for a very long time. Hands down ... the BEST YA book of 2015!!!
Rarity pulled on my heart strings like you can not even imagine. I laughed, I cried, I awwwed and I cried some more. There are so many emotions in this book that are truly hard to evoke from a reader, knowing that it is a story. However, Rarity is much more than a story. It is reality. There are way too many sufferers of the rare disease, named vEDS.
Brogen ... a sweet and simple girl who doesn't know where she quite fits in. She knows that she does NOT like drama. It causes her too much turmoil. It's a good thing that she has her best friend Meg by her side. Meg is a cute and funny best friend that Brogen simply can't live without. She is the yin to Brogen's yang. Where you find one, you will fid the other.
On the first day of school, they are introduced to two newbie's .. Jay and Becca. Jay is the cousin of a popular guy named Soren, who is actually a pretty big character as well. Jay is tall, lean, big eyed and gorgeous. Brogen catches his eye and is immediately attracted to him, but she would never tell you that! Becca fit right in with the blonde, popular crowd and had her sights set on Jay from the word jump.
Jogging one night, Brogen ran into a vicious dog and was saved by her knight in shining armor and felt an actual spark from that night on whenever she would come across Jay. The two started getting closer, until Becca decided to come between them. Becca was determined to make Jay hers if it killed her. Because Brogen doesn't do drama, she backed off. Jay convinces her to not give up, for Brogen to only be brushed off by him. Something was happening with Jay, but he won't open up. She can't even begin to imagine what Jay was facing.
Will Jay open up and let her in on his secret? Has he lost interest because Becca sank her ugly nails into him? Does love conquer all??
PLEASE .. whatever you do ... drop what you are doing and purchase this book. The story is amazing. The characters are loveable and D.A.'s writing is impeccable. Rarity is a story that will stick with me for a very long time. Hands down ... the BEST YA book of 2015!!!
September 16, 2014
When this book begins, it appears to be about typical high school friendships eventually developing into a relationship between two seemingly normal teenagers, Jay and Brogen. But as the story progresses, we learn that Brogen is an Empath and she can sense when something bad is going to happen to someone she cares about. We also see Jay learn that he has a genetic disorder, Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects all of the collagen in his body. Throughout the book, we see how Jay responds to Brogen and others around him as he learns how to process this diagnosis and the profound effect it has on his future and his life. We see instances of how fragile his skin, blood vessels and organs are due to this disorder. Because of this, we also get a taste for how serious this condition is and the extra precautions needed if surgery is indicated, as it is such a life-threatening condition.
Being a person who lives with Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) myself, I was eager to read this book and see how it was portrayed. Although this is a fictional book, I was very happy with the realistic portrayal of the lives surrounding someone diagnosed with vEDS. It shared the emotions of the person with the diagnosis as well as the emotions of the close friends and family members who support the person living with this diagnosis. It fairly represented the disbelief, anger, sadness and fear that a person goes through when receiving this diagnosis. Although this book was not a biography for any one specific person, it certainly could be many people's story who live with vEDS in their lives somehow. There were situations in the story that brought tears to my eyes, and situations that made me very happy. I appreciate the author taking the time to write a story that can create more awareness to the community about what it is like to live with vEDS or to be a friend or family member of the person living with vEDS.
I highly recommend taking the time to read this book!
Being a person who lives with Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) myself, I was eager to read this book and see how it was portrayed. Although this is a fictional book, I was very happy with the realistic portrayal of the lives surrounding someone diagnosed with vEDS. It shared the emotions of the person with the diagnosis as well as the emotions of the close friends and family members who support the person living with this diagnosis. It fairly represented the disbelief, anger, sadness and fear that a person goes through when receiving this diagnosis. Although this book was not a biography for any one specific person, it certainly could be many people's story who live with vEDS in their lives somehow. There were situations in the story that brought tears to my eyes, and situations that made me very happy. I appreciate the author taking the time to write a story that can create more awareness to the community about what it is like to live with vEDS or to be a friend or family member of the person living with vEDS.
I highly recommend taking the time to read this book!
June 26, 2015
D.A. Roach gives us a sweet, yet sad YA love story. While I'm not usually a YA reader, this book interested me from the blurb and kept my interest peaked until the very end.
Brogen is an empath (the first thing I learned from this book) and she feels for others deeply. For a young girl, that is a lot to handle along with normal teenage stuff. Luckily for Brogen, her mom has the same issue and helps her get through the tough times. Starting her junior year, Brogen hangs with her bestie Meg and belongs to no crowd really. Her and Meg pretty much connect with everybody, choosing to steer clear of the snotty girls by choice.
Jay is new to the neighborhood and school this year. After he saves Brogen from a freak incident, he realizes he wants to get to know her better. Unfortunately for Jay, the new snobby girl at school also has eyes for him and once she catches wind of Brogen liking him, she makes Brogen's life hell. Jay is pretty good at standing up for Brogen until the point where he is diagnosed with a rare disease (the second thing I learned).
Once diagnosed, Jay turns into something Brogen doesn't like and she knows it isn't the real him. Once all the cards are on the table, Jay and Brogen figure out they can do this together and a sweet relationship blossoms. I am reviewing a bit vague as to not spoil any of the storylines.
The book is told from Brogen's point of view with Jay getting a say towards the end. I absolutely loved the epilogue D.A. Roach gives us, leaving me wanting more from this cute couple, however understand if this is it.
Reveiwed for Renee Entress's Blog
Brogen is an empath (the first thing I learned from this book) and she feels for others deeply. For a young girl, that is a lot to handle along with normal teenage stuff. Luckily for Brogen, her mom has the same issue and helps her get through the tough times. Starting her junior year, Brogen hangs with her bestie Meg and belongs to no crowd really. Her and Meg pretty much connect with everybody, choosing to steer clear of the snotty girls by choice.
Jay is new to the neighborhood and school this year. After he saves Brogen from a freak incident, he realizes he wants to get to know her better. Unfortunately for Jay, the new snobby girl at school also has eyes for him and once she catches wind of Brogen liking him, she makes Brogen's life hell. Jay is pretty good at standing up for Brogen until the point where he is diagnosed with a rare disease (the second thing I learned).
Once diagnosed, Jay turns into something Brogen doesn't like and she knows it isn't the real him. Once all the cards are on the table, Jay and Brogen figure out they can do this together and a sweet relationship blossoms. I am reviewing a bit vague as to not spoil any of the storylines.
The book is told from Brogen's point of view with Jay getting a say towards the end. I absolutely loved the epilogue D.A. Roach gives us, leaving me wanting more from this cute couple, however understand if this is it.
Reveiwed for Renee Entress's Blog
December 9, 2015
The topic was very serious , but the heroine was very immature. She was too judgmental. She sees two new kids in her class and she immediately thinks about what social ladder and rank they will be in. I loved the premise, but some things did not work for me. First the heroine's mother is the hero's doctor. I don't think doctors are even allowed to tell people who is or isn't their patient. Then the heroine tells her BFF, Meg, everything. EVERYTHING. I was surprised she did not call her to tell her how many times she used the bathroom.
The relationship and verbiage felt awkward and immature. The heroine has this "gift" empathy. I honestly thought that this book was going to be a paranormal the way the heroine went on and on about how she can feel things.
A new boy comes to school. The heroine and he develop friendship or relationship, I don't know for sure. It all felt off and forced. She thinks he flirts with the other new girl, but he doesn't, then he does when he thinks that the heroine has blown him off. The heroine has a lot of trust issues since her father abandoned her. The father cheated on her mother and started dating an attractive blonde woman. The heroine stresses that she does not want a man who will do that to her. There is a lot of miscommunication. Later, the hero finds out some awful news and the story takes a different turn.
The heroine and the verbiage did not work for me.
The relationship and verbiage felt awkward and immature. The heroine has this "gift" empathy. I honestly thought that this book was going to be a paranormal the way the heroine went on and on about how she can feel things.
A new boy comes to school. The heroine and he develop friendship or relationship, I don't know for sure. It all felt off and forced. She thinks he flirts with the other new girl, but he doesn't, then he does when he thinks that the heroine has blown him off. The heroine has a lot of trust issues since her father abandoned her. The father cheated on her mother and started dating an attractive blonde woman. The heroine stresses that she does not want a man who will do that to her. There is a lot of miscommunication. Later, the hero finds out some awful news and the story takes a different turn.
The heroine and the verbiage did not work for me.
August 2, 2015
I start out with the fact that I don't read nearly as many YA books these days but Rarity caught my interest. I'm so glad that I did read it as it was awesome.
Brogan Mathers is a seemingly typical teenager with the exception of being an empath. She stays to herself because she simply can't handle being bombarded with other people's energies. Jay Wilken is a good looking, popular, and friendly boy. His mother is dead and father is an alcoholic but he refuses to let it define him. Although, he could probably have anyone girl, he has his eye on one, Brogan. She can't believe anyone is honestly that nice. After he saves her, she finally admits he's exactly as he appears. When Jay learns he has a potentially fatal disease, he starts to push Brogan away. This leaves an opening for the new, not so nice girl, Becca, she has been waiting for. How far is Brogan willing to fight for Jay?
D.A. Roach's writing had me pulled in from the beginning. Her characters were realistic teenagers and I loved them. She did a great job in their development, and their interactions flowed smoothly. She didn't put a spin on a real medical condition, and showed all of Jay's feelings like you or I would probably feel. I found myself very emotional during this book and thankfully it ended beautifully for me. I highly recommend you run and one click this amazing book as you won't regret it.
Brogan Mathers is a seemingly typical teenager with the exception of being an empath. She stays to herself because she simply can't handle being bombarded with other people's energies. Jay Wilken is a good looking, popular, and friendly boy. His mother is dead and father is an alcoholic but he refuses to let it define him. Although, he could probably have anyone girl, he has his eye on one, Brogan. She can't believe anyone is honestly that nice. After he saves her, she finally admits he's exactly as he appears. When Jay learns he has a potentially fatal disease, he starts to push Brogan away. This leaves an opening for the new, not so nice girl, Becca, she has been waiting for. How far is Brogan willing to fight for Jay?
D.A. Roach's writing had me pulled in from the beginning. Her characters were realistic teenagers and I loved them. She did a great job in their development, and their interactions flowed smoothly. She didn't put a spin on a real medical condition, and showed all of Jay's feelings like you or I would probably feel. I found myself very emotional during this book and thankfully it ended beautifully for me. I highly recommend you run and one click this amazing book as you won't regret it.
March 27, 2017
Actual Rating: 2.5 but I decided to up it to a 3 because it was an interesting story concept.
I felt like Rarity was too much on the juvenile side of YA for my tastes. But I guess the High School genre should have warned me. Actually that's not always the case, I've read several High School books that come across with much more maturity.
The synopsis sounded so promising and had some really interesting and intense elements that I was really looking forward to, but I was kind of let down. It was a very quick easy read and I liked the characters for the most part, but not always, at times there was too much going back and forth regarding will they or won't they get together (again juvenile), that got annoying.
I think the premise is very interesting and unique and feel if it were written a bit differently this could have been a really good book. I think that Brogen's empath abilities were barely touched on, and that was one of the things that drew me to the book. And I still don't get the whole Jay and Becca thing, it was a waste of writing. And I can't believe how unbelievably shallow some of the characters were but there was not enough of a back story for me on them.
I have to say I did like the Epilogue, it wrapped it up nicely and leaves you with good thoughts and hope for the future.
I may give D.A. Roach another try, who knows maybe I might like the next one.
I felt like Rarity was too much on the juvenile side of YA for my tastes. But I guess the High School genre should have warned me. Actually that's not always the case, I've read several High School books that come across with much more maturity.
The synopsis sounded so promising and had some really interesting and intense elements that I was really looking forward to, but I was kind of let down. It was a very quick easy read and I liked the characters for the most part, but not always, at times there was too much going back and forth regarding will they or won't they get together (again juvenile), that got annoying.
I think the premise is very interesting and unique and feel if it were written a bit differently this could have been a really good book. I think that Brogen's empath abilities were barely touched on, and that was one of the things that drew me to the book. And I still don't get the whole Jay and Becca thing, it was a waste of writing. And I can't believe how unbelievably shallow some of the characters were but there was not enough of a back story for me on them.
I have to say I did like the Epilogue, it wrapped it up nicely and leaves you with good thoughts and hope for the future.
I may give D.A. Roach another try, who knows maybe I might like the next one.
September 27, 2015
Oh my, I was so caught up in this book and couldn't stop reading, even if I wanted to--and I didn't!!! This is a beautiful young adult love story about love, friendship, drama--the usual stuff, right? Wrong. These characters are so different, and I felt so connected to Jay and Brogen that I wanted to hug them! Brogen is an empath, which basically means she's bombarded by everyone's emotions around her. It's so overwhelming for her that she withdraws from most people and activities. But the new guy--sweet, handsome Jay--won't allow that to happen any longer. He's crazy about her, even though he has other mean girls vying for his heart. Like Becca, whose character I loathed! But then Jay finds out he has a dangerous, rare disorder called VEDs. Instead of telling Brogen, he retreats, threatening to destroy the one good thing they both have. Boy, this story was intense and beautiful. The writing was superb and loved every bit of the plot. The ending is perfect and the beginning had me hooked. Needless to say, I'm a total D.A. Roach fan now! This book also brings awareness to a disorder that I know the author herself is passionate about, which tugged on my heart strings and made me love it even more.
July 27, 2015
Personally I didn't care for this book. I think the author is great but the story just wasn't there for me. I didn't realize that the story was set in high school time frame.however the story is well written and flows pretty well.
With that being said I did like the characters. The mom mostly she was very insightful and a great mom. Brogan was a great character also, I liked that even though she was a high school girl she didn't give up in jay. She stuck by his side, but it was difficult with jay pushing her away a lot. There was a lot of drama it seemed like but I guess that expected for the high school background.
Jay I didn't feel was a solid character. I get he was going through a lot of ups and downs that would tear a poor teenage kid apart but he seemed a little selfish when he kept just ditching brogan.
The end of the story was my favorite though I would have liked to have a little more leading up to it, I'm a sap for a happy ending and the end left me reeling with happiness for these two.
Overall the book wasn't bad, the author is fabulous and I think the author did a good job with getting the word out a serious matter.
With that being said I did like the characters. The mom mostly she was very insightful and a great mom. Brogan was a great character also, I liked that even though she was a high school girl she didn't give up in jay. She stuck by his side, but it was difficult with jay pushing her away a lot. There was a lot of drama it seemed like but I guess that expected for the high school background.
Jay I didn't feel was a solid character. I get he was going through a lot of ups and downs that would tear a poor teenage kid apart but he seemed a little selfish when he kept just ditching brogan.
The end of the story was my favorite though I would have liked to have a little more leading up to it, I'm a sap for a happy ending and the end left me reeling with happiness for these two.
Overall the book wasn't bad, the author is fabulous and I think the author did a good job with getting the word out a serious matter.
Read
September 23, 2014I loved reading "Rarity". I finished the book in one evening. It was a story about five young people and how their paths in life crossed and the direction each of them took. It showed a young man Jay who as the book developed discovered that he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome(VEDS4). His body was not producing enough collagen, which is the glue that held his body together. Jays relationship with Brogen in the book showed that there is an educational uplifting message in this book for anyone dealing with such a serious prognosis. Everyone of us have an expiration date. This book gives the folks with VEDS4 hope in the form of an question mark as an expiration date, instead of a life span of no more than 40 years. A portion of the money from the sale of this book will be donated for research for VEDS4. I recommend "Rarity" for the information on Veds4 and the desperately needed research. Plus the bonus "Rarity" has is a sweet ending.
August 6, 2015
Great story.
This is your typical high school story about falling in love with a handsome boy, but these characters are anything but typical. Jay and Brogen each suffer from their own disorder, and together they find life gets a lot easier when you have someone who understands by your side. I loved Meg and her relationship with Brogen as well as Brogen's mom. I despised Becca just as I probably would've back in high school. It was well written and super informative. I smiled throughout the whole epilogue. After almost always pushing each other away, they finally got it right.
This is your typical high school story about falling in love with a handsome boy, but these characters are anything but typical. Jay and Brogen each suffer from their own disorder, and together they find life gets a lot easier when you have someone who understands by your side. I loved Meg and her relationship with Brogen as well as Brogen's mom. I despised Becca just as I probably would've back in high school. It was well written and super informative. I smiled throughout the whole epilogue. After almost always pushing each other away, they finally got it right.
September 29, 2014
This book is about a teenager who finds out at an early age that he has
the same disorder that his mother suffered from. He misses his mother
very much and was devastated by her death. And now he has the same
disorder and has a hard time coping with it. But he has a friend that
values their friendship is not at all intimidated by his disease. She makes him realize that he is not different from other teens, he is just limited with some of the things he will be able to do.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was written well, I could not put it down.
the same disorder that his mother suffered from. He misses his mother
very much and was devastated by her death. And now he has the same
disorder and has a hard time coping with it. But he has a friend that
values their friendship is not at all intimidated by his disease. She makes him realize that he is not different from other teens, he is just limited with some of the things he will be able to do.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was written well, I could not put it down.
July 6, 2015
5 Stars
I loved this YA contemporary novel. It’s a romance and coming-of-age story with an important undercurrent of a chronic illness. The characters were engaging and I learned about a disease I had no idea existed.
I absolutely loved Jay and thought it was great how Brogen stuck by him through everything. This story brings hope and encouragement to people suffering from vEds as well as other chronic illnesses.
I highly recommend this book and will be looking forward to more from this author!
I loved this YA contemporary novel. It’s a romance and coming-of-age story with an important undercurrent of a chronic illness. The characters were engaging and I learned about a disease I had no idea existed.
I absolutely loved Jay and thought it was great how Brogen stuck by him through everything. This story brings hope and encouragement to people suffering from vEds as well as other chronic illnesses.
I highly recommend this book and will be looking forward to more from this author!
June 18, 2015
5 Stars
I loved this YA contemporary novel. It’s a romance and coming-of-age story with an important undercurrent of a chronic illness. The characters were engaging and I learned about a disease I had no idea existed.
I absolutely loved Jay and thought it was great how Brogen stuck by him through everything. This story brings hope and encouragement to people suffering from vEds as well as other chronic illnesses.
I highly recommend this book and will be looking forward to more from this author!
I loved this YA contemporary novel. It’s a romance and coming-of-age story with an important undercurrent of a chronic illness. The characters were engaging and I learned about a disease I had no idea existed.
I absolutely loved Jay and thought it was great how Brogen stuck by him through everything. This story brings hope and encouragement to people suffering from vEds as well as other chronic illnesses.
I highly recommend this book and will be looking forward to more from this author!
September 4, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
This was a really great book. Loved the characters. Broken was a really strong female lead with a good heart. Being an empath, I think she really gets how people feel and what they need. Her best friend was another great addition to this story. Jay... Jay was pretty great. He had a ton of trials throughout the book and really tried to deal the best way he could. Yes at times he was mean, but I really do get why he was. Overall, this was a really good book with a real issue addressed.
This was a really great book. Loved the characters. Broken was a really strong female lead with a good heart. Being an empath, I think she really gets how people feel and what they need. Her best friend was another great addition to this story. Jay... Jay was pretty great. He had a ton of trials throughout the book and really tried to deal the best way he could. Yes at times he was mean, but I really do get why he was. Overall, this was a really good book with a real issue addressed.
September 27, 2015
Rarity by D.A. Roach was such a great read. I finished it in a day (which never happens). It is a young adult book and a quick read. I just love Brogan and Jay's story. They both have issues that affect them in ways you wouldn't imagine. Rarity helps shed light on a disorder I knew nothing about previous to reading this book. I love when books can educate you and you don't even realize it. I do think that some parts of the book could have used some more detail but over all it is a great book, I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 1, 2015
Loved this book! Rarity starts as a seemingly typical high school talethe cute new boy, the cliques, the insecurities and trying to pave a smooth path through the ups and downs of being a teen.
The main characters Brogen and Jay have such depth. Both the simple and the complex interactions are beautifully portrayed as their relationship develops while dealing with typical high school issues and then dealing with a life altering diagnosis. It really did tug at my heart.
The main characters Brogen and Jay have such depth. Both the simple and the complex interactions are beautifully portrayed as their relationship develops while dealing with typical high school issues and then dealing with a life altering diagnosis. It really did tug at my heart.
October 2, 2014
Very informative book. Great reading for both teens and adults. Loved the story line.
The medical information on Vascular Ehlers Danlos was very informative. Would love to see a sequel of Brogen and Jay's life after the birth of their baby.
The medical information on Vascular Ehlers Danlos was very informative. Would love to see a sequel of Brogen and Jay's life after the birth of their baby.
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