Review: Waiting on the Sidelines by Ginger Scott

Waiting on the Sidelines (Waiting on the Sidelines #1)
Author: Ginger Scott
Release Date: November 13, 2013
Publisher: Ginger Scott
Source: NetGalley
Review by: Nahomi

Nolan Lennox had things figured out. Named after a baseball legend, she enjoyed being the Tomboy, her closet filled with her brother’s hand-me-downs, cut-off jeans and soccer shorts. But when her first trip to high school results in a broken heart from the first boy to ever make her heart flutter and cruel words from an older girl she once thought a family friend, Nolan starts to question the very person she thought she was and wonders if her humble upbringing can compete with the afforded luxuries of her privileged peers.

Throughout the next four years, Nolan struggles to maintain herself throughout her path of discovery, learning just how cruel teenagers can be through the pressures of underage drinking, sexuality and class. And despite how life seems to continue to work against her, she still manages to listen to her heart, falling deeper and deeper for the guy the entire town adores, even if he only sees her as a friend. Can Nolan strike a compromise between her own integrity and the boy she loves? And can she make him notice her before it’s too late?

Reed Johnson came to Coolidge High School with a lot of fanfare. The son of a hometown football legend and the brother of a local football hero, Reed wore all the pressures of carrying a town without hope into the spotlight. Thankfully, he had the talent to back it up. But when he meets a girl who makes him think twice about exactly what being a hero means, he starts to wonder if following in his brother’s footsteps might be all wrong.

Nolan Lennox was everything that was opposite of expected. She didn’t flirt, she didn’t drink and she didn’t sleep around. Nothing about her was easy, but something about her made Reed want to try harder. Though she didn’t look the part, she seemed to be spending a lot of time in Reed’s thoughts, and he wondered if she could be the one who made it all worthwhile. But could Reed handle letting her down? And would breaking her heart break him beyond repair?

3 stars out of 5 stars
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

      This story was exhausting. It follows Nolan from right before high school starts until she graduates and is in her dorm at college. Let me tell you there is a lot of drama that happens in those four years. So much so that I felt completely spent by the time I finished the story. But I have to admit that I also felt invested in the characters because of all of the things I had experience with them. I don't want to go into too much detail of the story because I don't like spoilers.

The story is good, but the time span during which in took place was way too long. This book could have been split up into two or more different stories and it would have been a little more manageable. With that said there was so much happening in the book that there were sections where the plot dragged on and I felt like the story would never end.

I like Nolan and how her character grew through out the story. There was a certain point in the book where I just wanted to slap her because she was acting stupid in reference to a certain relationship with a really nice guys who didn't deserve to be treated that way by her. Other than that, Nolan definitely held her own when it came to her relationship with Reed. She didn't let his status in town alter what she was willing to accept from him. I also liked that she made her own decision of where she would go to school and what she wanted to do with her future.

Nolan and Reed's relationship is tumultuous to say the least; their timing sucks all the time. They just don't seem to get it right. It's not until the very end that they finally figure something out and they are at separate Universities and then you are left wondering so what happens now. Well, there is a second book Going Long where you can find out what happens to Nolan and Reed.

Overall this is a good story, even though it just exhausting to get through. But if you can get past that, the characters are endearing and the story leaves you wanting more.