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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riding With Your Eyes Closed, August 14, 2009
This review is from: Riding the Universe (Hardcover)
Chloe Rodriguez is a girl with a solid family life, but when her beloved uncle dies she begins to question everything she thought was right with her life. In the tumultuous time after her Seth's death, Chloe's life is thrown for a loop and she searches wildly for an answer that can make her world right again. She has known since she was little that she is adopted, but now she begins to wonder why her birthparents didn't want her. Her best friend has always had a scandalous attraction to the fast life, but he is no longer available to her whenever she needs him, and, as he neglects her and her other best friend, her motorocyle, Lolita, she withdraws and flies off through her life alone, trying to find her own answers.
This story about a high school girl fighting to get her grades up so she doesn't lose her beloved Harley is not just a story of teen angst and self discovery. OK, it is, but the way Gaby Triana has written her characters and the relationships they weave and entangle themselves in is definitely a reason to pick up this book. There's the best friend who wants to be a boyfriend but, while he waits, he'll just chase skirts like Bret Michaels. Then there's the tutor who wants to stay focused on his lifeplan, but he can't get Motor Girl out of his head. And then there's Chloe. Her angst is real, her sadness goes deep, and her passions run wild.
I loved the love triangles and the family issues and the realistic motorcycle runs. I loved the precarious love encounters and how they made my palms sweat and my heart flutter with the romance. I loved the surprises that I had guessed and those that jumped out of nowhere. Riding the Universe is a fun book with just enough love scenes to tease eager teenaged readers, but not too much to shock their moms.
In the end, Riding the Universe is a story of a girl searching for something, but she doesn't know what. When she finally opens her eyes to the truth, Chloe realizes, just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, that "There's no place like home." I highly recommend this book as a worthwhile and fun stressbuster!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Story Siren Reviews, June 10, 2009
This review is from: Riding the Universe (Hardcover)
Riding the Universe was fast and fun read. There are some serious elements presented, so I wouldn't describe it as fluff, but it was just an easy read. If that makes any sense at all. The plot was engaging, but at the same time it was pretty simplistic.
This was my first experience with Triana's writing and I'm a fan. Her characterization is fabulous. Chloe was definitely a well developed character, and I enjoyed watching her focus throughout the story change. It was refreshing to read about a character that seemed so real.
It may have been a little predictable, I had the story figured out fairly soon, but it didn't take away the enjoyment of reading the story. Basically it was just a really fun book to read, and Chloe made it all the more worthwhile.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Biker Chicks Rock!, June 1, 2009
This review is from: Riding the Universe (Hardcover)
hloe Rodriquez values three things above all else - her family; her best friend Rock, and Lolita, her Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster. With a black body, blue airbrushed flames and perfect sloping ape hangers, Lolita is Chloe's last connection to her beloved uncle, Seth, who left her the bike when he died last summer. So when a failing grade threatens to seperate Chloe from her motorcylce, she vows not to let that happen... no matter.
Once confronted with the option of losing her bike Chloe signs up for after school tutoring. Embarrassing yes, but worth it. Gordon, her new tutor is cute, brainy and pretty uptight. After a few sessions with Chloe he seems to be loosening up and Chloe is developing a hardcore crush. When the pressures mount, Chloe even gets Gordon to skip school and they find themselves in some serious make-out sessions.
Chloe is falling hard for Gordon, but is it worth risking her heart? She vowed to never get hurt again after Seth died but maybe Gordon is worth it. On top of everything else Rock has been coming on strong telling Chloe he would change his womanizing ways if only she would be his girl. Is he serious? Probably not and Chloe won't risk their friendship for a roll in the hay. Speaking of that...is either boy worth losing the big "V" to anyway?
Compound all of this with grades, a pair of three month old twin brothers, questions about her adoptive parents and it's no wonder Chloe has been spending so much time at her private sanctuary down on the Murphy's dock.
I really enjoyed this book. I zipped through it in a matter of hours. I just couldn't put it down! As I was reading I kept thinking how cool it would have been to have a friend like Chloe when I was in high school...actually she probably would have scared me, a 5'10" biker chick! In reality she is a sweet girl devoted to her family and friends. The love triangle between Chloe, Rock and Gordan plays out until the very end as Chloe finds out who will be there for her no matter what.
An enjoyable read about life, love and loss that will make your heart all a'flutter with memories of first love. There are a few expletives and limited sexual scenes but I think this book would be great for 7th graders and beyond. Read it!
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