Review: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne
Publication date: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Dial
Category: Young Adult - Contemporary
Source: Purchased
Summary: Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option? (greads.com)

The good
Political campaigns, the complicated layers of truth and family, romance (with a seemingly bad boy) and standing by who you are. I don’t know what I expected going into this book but by the end I was thinking that The Wrong Side of Right was one of the best contemporary YA novels I’d read so far this year. Kate Quinn is still dealing with the death of her mother when the father she never knew existed shows up at her uncle’s home, ready to acknowledge her in front of the whole country. Because that’s what you do when you’re a senator about to run for President. (No pressure there.) Now Kate has a choice to make. Join the campaign and get to know her father and his family or stay where she is. Despite the unknown and the craziness, she decides to join them and thus begins Kate’s new life on the political trail.

I admittedly don’t follow politics much but I do find what goes on behind the scenes fascinating (maybe that’s why I love Scandal!). Now that Kate has been thrust into the spotlight it’s all about how to spin her story in a positive light. How to make her father look better. Everything from what she wears, to what she says, to who she spends time with is carefully calculated all for the benefit of this election. It’s an intense amount of pressure for a teenager to handle and I admired the strength and grace Kate displayed. She’s constantly torn by the desire to know and please her father but be true to her own beliefs, particularly the ones ingrained in her by her mother. But there isn’t just her father she’s getting to know. She’s getting to know his wife and two children and getting to know who her mother was at her age. This book is just as much, if not more so, about family than it is about politics and that’s what affected me the most as I read.

Of course, there is romance too and it’s perfectly balanced against everything else that’s going on. Kate needs someone her age who understands the craziness that is her life and this guy provides exactly that. It also helps that he’s cute, persistent and appreciates who she really is instead of the Kate the people on her father’s political campaign want her to be. Between the romance and family drama, there wasn’t a single part of the book I wasn’t completely engrossed in.

(No) Reservations
I loved it as is!

Do I recommend?
Yes yes yes! I highly recommend checking out this book. Like I said, it’s definitely a fave this year and I hope my review convinces you to pick it up (and soon!).

2 comments

  1. I read this book not so long ago and really enjoyed it as well. I think the family dynamic that developed was really interesting. To witness the wariness of her younger siblings as they decide whether or not to accept this strange newcomer and the sweet and terrible moments that can happen between siblings that are so typical of family for a bunch of people that aren't always sure what family is. I also found it interesting how her stepmom reacted to it all and how she was the solid parent in a home where she could have very well ended up hating her. It was all so weel done, the obvious story was not written, and that made it so better, her dad was nothing like I would have expected, nor was the family as a whole and I really loved it. It was such a sweet book at times, definitely a fantastic contemporary release for this year, of that you are right. Great review.

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  2. YAY! I'm so happy to hear that you loved The Wrong Side of Right. It's a shame that there hasn't been much buzz about this one, because it's really, really good! As you've mentioned, it captures the nuances of family, friendship and romance set against the backdrop of politics SO well, and it also just happens to be a damn good read.

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with love,

Rachel