Review: Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Just Call My Name

(I'll Be There # 2)

By: Holly Goldberg Sloan

Pub. Date: August 5, 2014

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 352

Source: Netgalley

The happily-ever-after of Holly Goldberg Sloan's acclaimed debut, I'll Be There, is turned on its head in this riveting, emotional sequel about friends, enemies, and how those roles can shift in a matter of moments.

Emily Bell has it all. She's in love with a boy named Sam Border, and his little brother has become part of her family. This summer is destined to be the best time of their lives--until a charismatic new girl in town sets her sights on Sam. Now Emily finds herself questioning the loyalty of the person she thought she could trust most.

But the biggest threat to her happiness is someone she never saw coming. Sam's criminally insane father, whom everyone thought they'd finally left behind, is planning a jailbreak. And he knows exactly where to find Emily and his sons when he escapes...and takes his revenge.

 I received this galley in exchange for an honest review.

I read last years, I'll Be There in a few hours on my way to Disney this summer. I have been wanting to read it since it came out, and when I got the second book, Just Call My Name for review, I knew it was finally time. I loved it so much and couldn't wait to read the second book. Unfortunately, Just Call My Name did not live up to the first one, and I found myself disappointed. I'm not sure if it was because the first one was just that good that nothing could live up to it, or it was the story itself.

I fell in love with Sam and his brother Riddle in the first book and I was so happy to see them settling in their new life filled with family, friends and love. They both deserved it so much. They are coming out of their shells, and for the first time in their lives, they are truly happy. Sam is the gorgeous new boy in town, but all he wants is Emily, Riddle and his music. When he meets Destiny, the new girl in town, things start to get a little shaky. To make matters worse, Sam and Riddle's crazy, abusive father is back and he wants nothing more than to ruin his son's happiness.

Between Destiny and Sam's dad, I couldn't help but reading as fast as I could. I needed to know how it was all going to play out, and I was nervous the whole time. While I love the way Holly Goldberg Sloan writes, almost with a lyrical quality, I did not like the way the story was going. I thought there was too many negative things going on and I found myself wanting a simpler story.

While I didn't enjoy Just Call My Name as much as the first book, it's still a book and series that I would recommend. Everyone should get a taste of how beautiful Sloan's writing is.