Review: Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

Not If I See You First
Author: Eric Lindstrom
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: December 1st 2015
Book Length: 320 pages

Publisher: Poppy

The Rules:

Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.

Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.

Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter.

Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.

When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

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Review

Not If I See You First was an exceptional debut that managed to captivate me from page 1 and not let go until long after reading. Lindstrom creates a MC that refuses to let her lack of sight get in her way, she’s downright ferocious at times. Parker is strong, funny, and sarcastic, she wants to be treated like any other teenager. This book will make you laugh, cry; both with joy and sadness and more profoundly change your outlook on life, I can’t think of a better way to start your 2016 than with this heartwarming book.

            Parker was in a car accident at age 7 in which Parker lost her mother and her sight. Parker’s life has been difficult ever since but she refuses to let her lack of sight hold her back, she still attends school, hangs out with her friends and even going on daily morning runs. What really rocks Parker’s world is losing her father, as a result her auntie and cousins have come to live with Parker so she can stay in her home and school, an environment that she is already familiar with. Adding to Parker’s traumatic few months, she soon discovers that Scott, her former best childhood best friend and boyfriend, who betrayed Parker so deeply years ago, is now in her high school.

Parker is fantastic, she’s just so inspirational and not because she’s blind or considered disabled and you feel sorry for her, nope none of that bullshit, because of her no nonsense attitude is freaking infectious, she’s a thorny rose and I absolutely adore her and what’s more is that she’s a little bit of a mess and selfish and inconsiderate at times; in short, she’s no perfect princess and hallelujah for that! More main character’s like Parker and her relationship’s with her friends are what we need more of in YA books and of course it’s terrific that we get to read about character’s with disabilities but to write it well is another thing, Lindstrom’s writing was so emotional and wonderful allowing you to experience everything Parker goes through.

            The romance was my favorite; oh there aren’t enough words to express how much I enjoyed it! I understood both characters, I understood their worries and concerns and was able to be on both sides at the same time, but I also see why each held on to their past mistakes but watching them break away from that was so heartwarming and uplifting; Parker and Scott’s bond is truly one of a kind.

Overall Not If I See You First was an emotionally charged debut that will take you on a roller-coaster of emotions and soon enough you won’t want it to end. I was so sad to say goodbye to Parker, her character development was so fantastic but I look forward to more of Lindstrom’s work. I highly recommend this to literally everyone, go read it!