Torn by Stephanie Guerra

Title: Torn
Author: Stephanie Guerra
Release Date: May 15th, 2012
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Pages: 263
Format: Electronic Copy
Acquired: For Review; Netgalley
Age Group: Young Adult

Stella Chavez is your classic good girl: straight As, clean-cut boyfriends, and soccer trophies . You’d never guess that Stella’s dad was a drug addict who walked out when she was a kid. Or that inside, Stella wishes for something more.

New girl Ruby Caroline seems like Stella’s polar opposite: cursing, smoking, and teetering in sky-high heels . But with Ruby, Stella gets a taste of another world—a world in which parents act like roommates, college men are way more interesting than high school boys, and there is nothing that shouldn’t be tried once.

It’s not long before Stella finds herself torn: between the best friend she’s ever had and the friends she’s known forever, between her family and her own independence, between who she was and who she wants to be.

But Ruby has a darker side, a side she doesn’t show anyone—not even Stella. As Stella watches her friend slowly unravel, she will have to search deep inside herself for the strength to be a true friend, even if it means committing the ultimate betrayal.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this book, but there was so much hype from it that I couldn't wait to start reading it. And when I finally did, I won't lie, I was a little let down.

Stella is the all-American good girl. She has friends that she's known most of her life and a loving family - for the most part. The effects of her father's abandonment still lingers in the air, but aside from having to take care of her siblings, for the most part, everything is how it should be. 

And when Ruby enters the picture, things begin to change. From the moment Ruby walks into Stella life she makes sure to rock her world. Ruby takes Stella away from her very quiet life and introduces her to the world of drinking, college boys, and living a little wild. But, soon Stella realizes that as long as she holds on to Ruby, she will slowly lose those around her, including herself. 

Guerra did her best to show Stella's transition, and her rationalization for why she was doing what she did, but I felt like the story needed...something. Throughout the whole book I kept thinking something big was going to go on and that the reader's would make a big discovery, but it almost played out a little too well. There were no surprises and there was no....anything. In fact, I almost feel like near the end Guerra got really tired of writing and just finished with what she had. 

Personally, I neither hated this book nor loved it completely. It was a quick and easy read, but it leaves the reader wishing there was more. Or, at least it did for me. 

The character of Stella developed and change the way she would, but I sometimes felt that she went from being very plain and with no emotions, to just a little bit out there, and back again. And I felt like Guerra was trying to show how out-there-ish Ruby is, but I didn't like the way things finished.

And I especially didn't like the way things between Stella and Mike worked out. 

It was beautifully written and Guerra showed wide range of characters, but she didn't really develop them as well as she should. I don't know how to describe it really, but I would not suggests buying this book. Library or from a friend for sure.