Ready? (Love Trilogy, No. 1) [Library Binding]

Kate Cann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2001 | Series: Love Trilogy (Book 1)

How do you know if you're ready?

A huge sort of tremor ran through me. After so long, so much fantasizing, I'd actually kissed him. I hope he didn't see that shiver, I thought. I don't want him to know how overwhelmed I am, not yet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in England (where it was titled Diving In), the Love Trilogy's first volume is a brisk-paced romance spiked with introspection. Athletic and independent, Colette (named after her feminist mother's favorite writer) dreams of the perfect romance a relationship of equals in which sex is as emotionally meaningful as it is physically satisfying. Amorous sparks fly when Colette grows closer to Art, a boy she has long admired from a distance. Attractive and exciting as she finds him, Colette feels that the sexually sophisticated poor-little-rich-boy Art is rushing her into a level of physical intimacy she's not ready for. Colette must find a way to balance her genuine passion with her equally strong wish not to go too far too fast. Broadly drawn but appealing feminist posturings co-exist with fairly standard romance novel action: one moment Colette is a textbook lovestruck teen pining for Art's call, and practically the next she's putting her self-defense training to good use, protecting a classmate against would-be sexual aggressors. Though some of the characterizations veer toward the stereotypical (Colette's earthy, housework-phobic mother and Art's appearance-oriented stepmother, for example) Colette's narration is fresh, frank and intelligent. The authenticity of the British setting is further enhanced by exotic (to American ears) local slang (gobsmacked, fug, daft), translated in a glossary at the end. Teens will likely want to spring for the next two installments (Sex and Go!) also being released this month. Ages 14-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Colette, 16, fantasizes about the gorgeous hunk who swims at the club where she does her laps. When they finally meet, she finds that Art lives up to her expectations. Not only is he handsome and rich, but he also wants to be with her. Colette's mother, an ardent feminist who refuses to clean house and completely dominates her husband and daughters, tries to discourage the relationship, especially since she fears that it is more of a physical attraction than anything else. Of course, questions about the sexual part of the relationship arise as she and Art spend more time together and Colette must decide how far she wants to go. As a result, the plot structure is that of a typical teen romance novel with a lot of kissing and talking but not a great deal of action. Since this is the first book of a trilogy, it seems obvious where the relationship is heading. Set in England, the story is similar to Louise Rennison's Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (HarperCollins, 2000), but without the nonstop humor. Despite this, Cann handles the romance in a competent way and readers will enjoy the likable, well-developed characters.

Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Library Binding: 256 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (June 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060289384
• ISBN-13: 978-0060289386
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,993,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story for budding teens & high school students, July 6, 2001

By 

P.W. Reader (Mountain View, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready? (Love Trilogy, No. 1) (Library Binding)

When I read the first few sentences of this book I expected a trashy romance-type novel. While the book does contain some of those elements, its realistic enough to teach valuable lessons about sex to those just beginning to discover it, or even those who have only been at it a few years. Colette plays a great heroine, even to the point of performing a few heroic acts herself against drunk would-be rapists. And then there is Art, the affluent, arrogant, muscular, every-high-school-girls dream type who is used to getting what he wants, sexually and otherwise, no thanks to the flighty free-spirited dad and stepmom he has who go to almost any lengths to ensure he gets the sex he "deserves as a young man." Colette's parents, and most especially her mom, play a counterpoint to Art's free-spirited folk. I didn't quite agree with the character development of Colette's mom...I believe she went much too quickly from the overbearing, highly feminist dragon-type to the loving woman willing to go to any lengths to protect her precious daughter, although the point where she storms in to yell at Art's parents had me smiling and saying "good for her" at the end. All the other friends tie in well to the story where it is appropriate, but those are the characters you remember most after reading this book.

I highly recommend this story for any teenager, sexually experienced or not, for the values and trials it teaches.

I must also state that the book is written in British dialect, and American teens may not understand some of the words used. But the glossary at the back of the book is helpful, although I would have put it in the front of the book, or at the very least a note that readers might refer to the back of the book for American translations of British words they might not understand (after all, one does not expect to find a glossary in a work of teen fiction).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relating, March 20, 2002

By 

Alicia (Johnston, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready? (Love Trilogy, No. 1) (Paperback)

I went to the library to get books for a paper that I had to write, and as I was browsing through the teenage section, I picked out a few books that I thought looked interesting. As I was walking away, this book just caught my eye. I went up to it and read the cover and I decided to get it. Well that night I started reading it at like 9:30, and I couldn't stop, and I am not an avid reader, so to find a book that I liked was interesting. I stayed up (even though I had school the next day) and I read the WHOLE thing. I was up until 1:30, I just couldn't put the book down. So, I went to school the next day and I was telling my best friends about it. I passed the book to my friend Jess, and she started reading it and couldn't put it down. Now, 3 of my other friends want it next. Stupid me didn't realize that there are 2 more books, I was sooo happy. This is one book that me and my friends can DEFINITLEY relate too. It is about something that every teenage girl is faced with and to read something that I can relate to makes me happy... I just wanted to tell all the young girls out there that are around my age, to READ THIS BOOK. You will LOVE it... I can't wait to get the next one...