Accidentals
by Sarina Bowen
A YA novel from USA Today
bestselling author Sarina Bowen.
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.
I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.
My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.
When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost.
Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.
There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.
My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.
5 Stars
Sarina Bowen has dipped her toe into the young adult genre, and did not disappoint. Honestly I'm not a huge fan of contemporary young adult titles, particularly when the romance takes a back seat, but this story is incredibly well written, with complex, flawed, yet realistic characters.
Sometimes in life the most unforeseen and unexpected events, result in remarkable events.
When Rachel's world implodes mere weeks before her eighteenth birthday, she becomes acquainted for the very first time with her father. The man behind the monthly cheques is a famous, talented rock star. Their path to finding their footing, and forming a father/daughter relationship is full of twists and turns, anger and mistakes.
The pain, loss, agony and betrayal is heartfelt but blended perfectly with moments of heart and humor. Although this title has both drama, and angst, it's not over the top and works perfectly with this story line.
I adored the friendships that Rachel cultivates that are supportive, sweet and heartwarming.
I highly recommend The Accidentals, a title that is completely captivating and enthralling, and just as enthralling as Sarina's previous titles.
After
the last course—chocolate mousse—the three of us go tripping back across the
cold lawn in the dark, Aurora in the lead. I’m the tiniest bit tipsy and
wearing heels. So naturally I stumble on a frozen clod of snow and nearly fall.
But Jake catches my hand to steady me. “Thanks,” I breathe.
Curiously,
his warm fingers remain curled around mine until we reached the door of
Habernacker.
I
try not to feel ridiculously excited about it.
He
lets go when we all reach the third floor. When Aurora opens the door, he
follows us inside until we all collapse on the S.L.O., with me in the center.
“Oh!
I forgot to steal my plate,” I realize.
“Me
too.” Aurora sighs.
Jake
reaches into his jacket and pulls out a plate.
“Well
done, Mr. Jake!” Aurora laughs. “The party in the annex starts in fifteen
minutes.” She heaves herself off the squishy couch. “I have time to redo my
makeup.”
I
watch her walk over to the stereo, where my phone is already ensconced, and
turn on our Christmas playlist. Then she grabs her makeup bag off her desk and
leaves the room.
When
the door clicks shut, neither Jake nor I speak for a moment. The low chords of
a Straight No Chaser song play through our little speakers.
Suddenly,
it’s awkward. We’ve been circling each other for a while now—since the night he
was trying to be nice and I wrecked it.
“You’re
probably sick of a cappella by now,” I say, just to find something to talk
about.
But
Jake turns slowly toward me and says something unexpected. “Rachel, I need to
ask you a question.”
My
stomach does a little flip flop, and I turn to face those blue eyes I love so
much. “What?” I whisper.
“Well…”
He clears his throat. There is a very long pause, during which I hold my
breath. “Will you come skiing some time?”
I
exhale. “I guess so?” Another beat of silence passes. “That was your big
question?” I ask, feeling like I’ve missed something.
His
color deepens. “Well, no. I just…” His brow furrows, as if he’s trying to
explain some point of astronomy. I love his look of concentration. I’ve missed
it.
Jake’s
blue eyes lock on mine, and I see how our own orbits might finally collide.
This time, I will not send the moment winging back into space. Instead, I lean
an almost imperceptible degree in his direction.
And
that’s all it takes.
Reaching
up, Jake cups his hand to the side of my face. I’m still processing the sweet
touch of his fingers when he leans in farther, his lips brushing the sensitive
corner of my mouth. His eyes are tentative, seeking permission. My heart thuds
with expectation.
And
then—finally—Jake kisses me for real. We come together the way a well-timed
drummer kicks into the chorus of a song—swiftly, and without hesitation.
We
broke apart a moment later, eyeing each other while I try not to smile. “Can I
do that again?” he asks, his voice rough. “That was my real question.”
“Well,
since you asked so nicely…”
Jake
makes a low noise of approval, then draws me closer. I reach up for the back of
his neck, my fingers grazing that golden patch of skin I’ve always wanted to
touch. He kisses me again, his arm finding the velvet waist of my dress and
encircling me.
My
heart flutters, but not from fear. Warm lips tease mine gently apart. And when
his tongue tangles with mine, I lose myself.
He
tastes like champagne. Everything is wild and sweet, until the moment Aurora’s
voice rings out. “Ay, caramba!”
I
feel an unwelcome rush of cool air between us as Jake retreats.
“I
did say I was going into the bathroom,
right? And not on a trip to Fiji?”
Neither
of us says a word; we only look sheepishly at Aurora.
“Just
to be clear, now I’m ducking into the bedroom for my coat, which only takes a
second.” She steps into the bedroom, and I hear the rustling of fabric. Then
she peers dramatically around the door frame. “Good listening! Now I’m going to
the party. Will I see you both there? Don’t answer that. We’ll speak later.”
Jake
laughs. “Sorry, Aurora.”
“I’ve
seen worse.” She departs, the door closing behind her.
And
now I’m self-conscious. Rising, I decide to fiddle with the music playlist. “Do
you want to go to the party?”
“I’ll
go. But I’m not great at parties. It’s all shouting over the music, drinking
warm beer out of a plastic cup.”
“Then
let’s not.” My fingers shake as I adjust the volume. I go back over to the sofa
and sit down.
“So.”
He clears his throat. “Where are you going for break?” As he asks, he takes one
of my hands in his, massaging my palm with his thumb.
His
light touch is so distracting that I almost forget to answer. “Kansas City,” I
manage. “To meet my grandfather for the very first time.”
“Um,
what?” He squeezes my hand.
So
I tell Jake the embarrassing highlights of my weird story—that I hadn’t met
Frederick until this past summer.
“Wow.
I’m sorry,” he says.
“Don’t
be.”
“I
guess I’m not that offended now that you wouldn’t introduce me. If the normal
waiting period is seventeen years.”
My
laugh begins with an unladylike snort. Ah, well. “With me it’s just all soap
opera, all the time. Believe it or not, a year ago I was really a boring
person.”
“I
don’t see how.” He regards me with darting eyes. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“It’s
Aurora’s dress,” I whisper.
But
Jake doesn’t seem to care. He slips his arms around my waist. Scooting closer,
he slides his lips from my forehead, down my nose and onto my mouth. And we
begin again.
