Book Review – Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy
However, everything comes with a price, and for Cherry, her mother comes along with five new stepsisters.
Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy is about a girl who just wants to fit in, but has trouble moving on from her past and accepting the world isn’t just fiction. Cherry Costello’s life is about to change forever. She and dad are moving to Somerset where a new mum and a bunch of brand-new sisters await. And on Cherry’s first day there she meets Shay Fletcher – the kind of boy who should carry a government health warning. But Shay already has a girlfriend, Cherry’s new stepsister, Honey. Cherry knows her friendship with Shay is dangerous – it could destroy everything. But that doesn’t mean she’s going to stay away from him…
Summary
Cherry Costello and her dad are ready to leave their old life behind in Glasgow and move to Somerset, to Tanglewood house with the Tanberry’s. They are ready to leave behind dad’s old job, searching for wonky chocolate bars and their old apartment which was just enough for two. And Cherry is definitely glad to be leaving behind her school bully Kirsty Mcray; a perfect girl with no room in her life for a misshapen chocolate bar like Cherry.
But one thing Cherry is looking forward to the most is finally having a mom. Her mom was Chinese and died when she was little and since then she’s felt different from others and can’t wait to have girl talks with her new mother. However, everything comes with a price, and for Cherry, her mother comes along with five new stepsisters! Summer and Skye, the twins, Coco- the youngest animal lover and lastly her eldest stepsister, Honey.
The thought makes Cherry shiver with both excitement and doubt. Her new siblings sound like they have come out of a fashion mag; even their names sound perfect and cool. Cherry expects the worst on her way to the house, but what happens when she gets there exceeds her expectations. All her sisters are as excited as she is, from the welcome banner to the excited talk.
But there is one minor detail; Honey, a beautiful teenager who makes Cherry look like a little kid, with glowing skin and long waits length hair, a person who doesn’t have time to spare a glance at Cherry. But it isn’t just her new sister that troubles her with her hot temper and bully-like attitude towards Cherry, oh no. It’s her boyfriend, Shay Fletcher who is the biggest bombshell in Cherry’s new life. A boy who makes her heart do summersaults and makes her hands and feet go numb. But the last thing she wants is to fall in love with her edgy step sister’s boyfriend…
Review
Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy is the first book in the Chocolate box girl series. It has blown away my expectations! I am not a big fan of drama and tend to avoid it as much as possible, so when I was given the opportunity to read this book, I was a little hesitant, but I was gripped by the first few lines. And as I read on, the plot just really got me involved, as it was in the perspective of Cherry and you could really sympathize with her and the constant conflict she was going through in the book. And even though it didn’t have the best ending, the read was definitely worth it.
Not only is Cherry portrayed perfectly coinciding with the storyline and plot. But the way Cathy Cassidy writes leads you to believe that Cherry herself is writing the book. what we don’t always know is whether Cherry is truly talking about her past or just make-believe.
That is a favorite aspect of this series, each book reflects the character as well as a mirror reflection. When you read Cherry Crush, you are immediately drawn into the story and all the characters with their individual problems. The entire series is hard to resist once you’re read the first book. I would say it is as irresistible as chocolate!
The only disclaimer I would have about this book is the fact that it’s very predictable. Like I mentioned earlier, the ending is very predictable, and I wasn’t very satisfied when I finished the read. Cliché as it may sound, I think Cathy Cassidy could be more imaginative with the ending.
“I wonder why I still want to slap her. I must be a very mean and unforgiving person.”
However, I’m glad to say the plot witnesses a lot of twists and turns in the second book in the series which is Marshmallow Sky. Overall, I think the book increase significantly, adding more characters, and an unforgiving plot; with lots of bombshells in every chapter!
Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy is for readers between the ages of 10 to 14. This book is of the following genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Children’s, Fiction, Family and Drama.
Overall, I would give Cherry Crush by Cathy Cassidy a 4 out of five, as it was a very enticing read, down to the details.
About the Author
Kathy Cassidy was born in 1962 in Coventry and is currently a full-time author. She went to an Arts College in Liverpool, and then later worked as a fiction editor on the fab and legendary Jackie magazine. She has also worked for many other magazines including, Agony Aunt on Shout magazine.
One of her other jobs included working as an Art teacher in her local Primary and Secondary schools and as a freelance illustrator. However, she is currently working as a full-time author and has written over 15 books so far. She loves her family and “living in nowhere” as well as her work. Kathy Cassidy is a big fan of being an author because it’s a good excuse to daydream after all ….!