Thursday, March 10, 2011

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler


Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.
She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?
Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery. (from goodreads)

Sarah Ockler debuted with Twenty Boy Summer ~ an addictive, emotional yet fun must read for fans of contemp YA. I became an instant fan of her writing and themes handled so dexterously for teens. Twenty Boy Summer was like a blend of Sarah Dessen mashed up with The Sky is Everywhere (Jandy Nelson) in a cute little beach read with a huge emotional punch.

Anyways, I was MOST thrilled to read her sophomore novel, Fixing Delilah.

Fixing Delilah is quite different to Twenty Boy Summer, but equally as gorgeous.

Ockler's prose is JUST STUNNING. Gorgeous and lyrical and surprising. It's the sort of book you don't want to skim ahead. Each sentence is written to be savoured ~ it's a book where I'm crushing big time on the writing.  The way Ockler finds the perfect rhythm with her prose, and the eye for details and the gift she has for expressing emotion sets her apart as a talented author to keep your eye on.

As for the story ~ it is another book set over summer. Not at the beach this time, but in a small country town. The plot focus's on relationships:  Delilah's relationships with her mum, her mum's relationship with her sister, family relationships and secrets from the past AND Delilah's relationship with The Boy Next Door.


The Boy Next Door is Patrick and I'm sure he is leaping onto people's literary crush lists all over the world.  He's one guy you really should meet ~ often shirtless, plays guitar, sings, mucks around and is Delilah's childhood playmate. Ockler also knows how to write some verrrry sweet make-out scenes heating it up while keeping it PG. SWOON


It's a classic coming of age. Working through your stuff and growing up, Delilah's character ARC was wonderfully done, subtle and quiet and ultimately touching.


This is very much a book for fans of literary fiction. It's plot may not be as dynamic/addictive as Twenty Boy Summer for some readers, but the setting is just as rich and it's a book you can fall into and find yourself lost in.


I ADORED it and plan on re-reading it. It's on my keepers shelf, guys :)


Thank you thank you thank you Jess for sending me this book (and for giving me Patrick, another literary crush)! :D


Fixing Delilah @ goodreads

20 comments:

  1. you are invited to follow my blog

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  2. Ermmm.. anyway *side eye* LOL Great review!! I have this on my shelf and I just know that I am going to love it. Glad that you enjoyed it :D

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  3. "This is very much a book for fans of literary fiction"
    I must read it then! Its been lying on my shelf since months. I love a well-written coming-of-age story.
    Thanks for the review!

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  4. This sounds really good. I have Twenty Boy Summer on my TBR shelf and hope to get round to reading it sometime soon (unlikely, looking at my review books, but ho hum) - I almost ordered Fixing Delilah on a whim the other day and now suspect that it will be part of my next big book buy. Thanks for such an articulate and interesting review!

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  5. Ooooh, I love it when you are crushing on the writing, and of course on fictional boys. Me thinks I do need to meet this Patrick, maybe even hand him the shirt off my back if he needs it.

    *sighs* Why do I always have to sound so creepy. LOL

    Thanks for the awesome review. I've been looking forward to checking it out since reading Nic's review on the book.

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  6. I loved this book as well! Books about family problems are always intriguing to me.

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  7. A mash up of Sarah Dessen and Jandy Nelson? I have an ARC of this on my shelf as well. Looks like I need to get to it sooner. Thanks for the great review as always. :)

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  8. This books seriously has like, everything I am destined to love, like gorgeous writing and small towns and relationships... so why haven't I read this yet?!?! I need to soon, it looks just amazing!! Thanks so much for the review Nomes :)

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  9. YOU'RE BACK!! Had to go through and read all your posts over the last week - obviously I've been neglecting my blogging duties. Oops. Got lots to add to the TBR pile now. :) I loved your cover comparison.

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  10. Agreed, her writing is so lyrical and beautiful.

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  11. I really enjoyed Twenty Boy Summer, so I'm glad to hear Fixing Delilah is also wonderful. Sarah Ockler's writing really is a treat!

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  12. It sounds good and I do have this book somewhere in my TBR pile but Ihave been putting it off because though I loved the writing in Twenty Boy Summer, I didn't really actually like the characters.

    But you have made me wonder :D

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  13. Lovely review! I'm glad to hear it's so great, because it's in my TBR pile.

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  14. ~swoons~ I adore Patrick from Fixing Delilah. He makes a great book boyfriend. This book is so gorgeous and just a complete pleasure to read. Great review Nomes.

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  15. Looking out for this. Twenty Boy Summer is sitting on my shelf currently. Planning to read it real soon :)

    Love the review, Nomes.

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  16. Oh I am so glad you like this one. I have it on my TBR shelf and have read a few reviews that were not as taken with it as I had hope after reading Twenty Boy Summer, which I really liked. Think I will move this one up on the pile.

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  17. I've got this one coming up soon and I'm so glad to hear it lives up to Twenty Boy Summer ... I agree Sarah Ockler's writing is sublime. *sigh* can't wait to read Fixing Delilah :)

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  18. Okay, man, now I have to book depository it (watch me turn book depository into a verb, haha). I was so excited when this one came out and then I totally forgot to get it, but it's on my list again, now :)

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  19. Great review! This one is on my wish list and I can't wait to read it.

    Patrick sounds yummy!!!

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  20. i really need to get this book. nic @ irresistible reads mentioned lots of shirtlessness also. sounds like a swoon winner to me!

    nomes: i also know what kind of book i'm getting when you review. you have this great way of just hitting them in a nutshell.

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Thanks for the commenty love :)