Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Something, Maybe
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Published: March 24, 2009 by Simon Pulse
(217 pages, hardcover)
Summary: Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat.
Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's 'girlfriends' and is now the star of her own website.
After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of staying under the radar . . . and that's just how she likes it. Of course, that doesn't help her get noticed by her crush. Hannah's sure that gorgeous, sensitive Josh is her soul mate. But trying to get him to notice her; wondering why she suddenly can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn; and dealing with her parents make Hannah feel like she's going crazy. Yet she's determined to make things work out the way she wants only what she wants may not be what she needs. . . .
Once again, Elizabeth Scott has created a world so painfully funny and a cast of characters so heartbreakingly real that you'll love being a part of it from unexpected start to triumphant finish.

My thoughts: Oh, Elizabeth Scott, how many of your characters is it possible for me to fall in love with? Something, Maybe was cute, quick, and meaningful. Scott writes so much like a teenager that her characters are painfully real and her story lines are unique and truthful. Hannah was sweet, quiet, and she was a great protagonist, because even though she wasn't especially strong or brave, she was your typical teenager with a little more heart.

Something, Maybe was a quick read, but Scott manages to include a lot of story into it. I was cringing at how overtly embarrassing Hannah's infamous parents were, and it was heartbreakingly true to life how she responded to her father's actions. I have to admit, I was just as gullible as Hannah when it came to her father, and while I always love a smart, snarky protagonist, it was refreshing to see a normal girl put into a horrible situation. Hannah's backstory that was given was interesting and sad, and while I was somewhat sympathetic to her situation, what really got to me was how, after everything, she still trusted in her parents. Candy, Hannah's mom, was a great character in a lot of ways, because she wasn't the perfect mom (far from, in fact) but she also wasn't a bad parent. It was sad how she ended up the way she did, but I understood why Scott wrote her like she did.

I absolutely adored Finn. He was sweet, sensitive, hilarious, and cute. I was right alongside Teagan, mentally screaming for Hannah to realize he had a thing for her. It was cute to see her slowly realize she had feelings for them, and the romance wasn't bad at all. I liked Josh at first, and, in order to not spoil anything, I'll just say that I totally agreed with Finn's feelings for him. I liked the idea of her working with them, and I especially liked how involved Hannah's out-of-school relationships were. I was totally fooled by Scott's well-written twists, and they were well-planned and executed. Not much really happened in the story line area, but the novel didn't really require much of anything to happen, and I was still hooked on it.

Teagan was the best friend I so wish I had, because not only was she a bit of a smart-ass, but she was also a great friend to Hannah. Again, I won't spoil anything, but I liked the way Scott left things with Teagan; overall, the story had 'sometimes life isn't a fairy tale, but it'll still keep going on' feel, and it worked easily with the story. Overall, Something, Maybe was a somewhat light, cute, realistic read that stays with you a little after it's over. Also, I loved the named; Hannah has spent her whole life unsure of herself, and she was constantly in a state of thinking of things as something, maybe.

Cover: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 3/5

Writing: 4/5

Overall rating: 4 stars