Review and Giveaway: Waiting on the Sidelines by Ginger Scott

Synopsis

Nolan Lennox had things figured out. Named after a baseball legend, she enjoyed being the Tomboy, her closet filled with her brother’s hand-me-downs, cut-off jeans and soccer shorts. But when her first trip to high school results in a broken heart from the first boy to ever make her heart flutter and cruel words from an older girl she once thought a family friend, Nolan starts to question the very person she thought she was and wonders if her humble upbringing can compete with the afforded luxuries of her privileged peers.

Throughout the next four years, Nolan struggles to maintain herself throughout her path of discovery, learning just how cruel teenagers can be through the pressures of underage drinking, sexuality and class. And despite how life seems to continue to work against her, she still manages to listen to her heart, falling deeper and deeper for the guy the entire town adores, even if he only sees her as a friend. Can Nolan strike a compromise between her own integrity and the boy she loves? And can she make him notice her before it’s too late?

Reed Johnson came to Coolidge High School with a lot of fanfare. The son of a hometown football legend and the brother of a local football hero, Reed wore all the pressures of carrying a town without hope into the spotlight. Thankfully, he had the talent to back it up. But when he meets a girl who makes him think twice about exactly what being a hero means, he starts to wonder if following in his brother’s footsteps might be all wrong.

Nolan Lennox was everything that was opposite of expected. She didn’t flirt, she didn’t drink and she didn’t sleep around. Nothing about her was easy, but something about her made Reed want to try harder. Though she didn’t look the part, she seemed to be spending a lot of time in Reed’s thoughts, and he wondered if she could be the one who made it all worthwhile. But could Reed handle letting her down? And would breaking her heart break him beyond repair?

Waiting on the Sidelines explores young love to its fullest, exposing how real young heartbreak and passion is and how important it is to discover yourself and hold onto your own identity. The story follows two young characters as they deal with mature situations, including the prevalence of bullying and promiscuity in today’s high school setting. Ultimately, Waiting on the Sidelines is a story of hope, honesty and those powerful, first true loves—the ones worth holding onto at any cost.



4 Star Review by Guest Reviewer Nicole Lorenzo


Nolan Lennox is a tomboy. She prefers basketball shorts and converse over dresses and heels. And she would rather be playing sports with the boys instead of playing around with hair and make up. Her family lives in a trailer; they have an old beat up car and do most of their shopping at K-mart instead of the mall. Nolan is completely content with the way she dresses and her two best friends except her for who she is.

When she starts high school her first experience with peer pressure rears its ugly head, when the cool kids make fun of her name, lack of wealth and the way she dresses. Among them is Reed Johnson, son of the hometown football legend. Despite his cruel words Nolan finds herself really liking Reed and they become friends. It hurts her when Reed starts dating the hot cheerleader, Tatum, who also happens to be Nolan’s bully. Through the next few years Nolan’s crush on Reed forms into full-blown love. They both date other people and dance around their feelings for each other, until finally they give in and admit their feelings and start dating. But their happiness is short lived when the pressures of college, and an injury that could change Reed's life forever, seem to be too much to handle. Nolan knows she will never love anyone as much as she loves Reed, and the idea of moving on without him is scary.

“I was done. I knew it the first time I saw him, but tonight solidified every stray emotion rattling in my body. I loved Reed Johnson, and I was pretty sure I always would.”

Reed Johnson is privileged. As the high school quarterback and the son of a local football legend he has everything a kid could want. He got a shiny new car for his 16^th birthday, he’s dating Tatum the older hot cheerleader, scouts are already sniffing around for college, and he has a great group of friends. One of those friends is Nolan Lennox. The first time he saw her he made fun of her. Once he got to know her he couldn’t get her out of his mind. She was beautiful, insecure, loyal and knew him better than anyone. He found himself jealous when she was dating other guys, even though he was dating the hottest girl in school. He knew he had feelings for her but found himself not being able to admit them. When they finally do get together, its not for long. An accident leaves Reed second-guessing everything and he winds up hurting the one person he loves most in the world. 

“I mean it and I want you to hear me. You. Are. Beautiful.”

This is a sweet story about first love and heartbreak. Meeting as freshmen high school students; Nolan and Reed grow up together and go through all the trials and tribulations that it entails. Peer pressures on fashion, drinking, sex, and class don’t deter Nolan from staying true to herself. She’s strong but very insecure. She loves Reed with her whole heart and proves it to him time and again. Reed on the other hand is confident but has trouble not succumbing to the peer pressure. He’s scared of failing everyone including himself.  Together they journey from teens into adults. It’s a very sweet coming of age story. I enjoyed every minute of it!

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