Boys of Brayshaw High

Boys of Brayshaw High 

by Meagan Brandy 

       Before we being I just wanted to share with you guys that this book has an average 4.3 star rating on Goodreads, with over 1,000 reviews and 7,000 ratings.........................................

          I’m sorry, but what? Now they're quite a few things wrong with this book, but my number one complaint is that the writing and editing is horrible. I’m really baffled that it has the rating it does. You’re probably like well what if this is the authors first book...it isn’t. Now I’ve read PLENTY of books with editorial mistakes in them and can usually overlook it, but when the entire book seems like an editorial mistake it’s hard to overlook that and enjoy the book. Especially if the plot or really any part of the book isn’t making up for the editing. Listen, I’m not a perfect writer and I’m sure some of the best authors out there are crap at grammar and editing too, but they know when to get an editor. I felt like maybe there wasn’t one with this book, and it was painstakingly obvious... Anyways  I’m done picking on the editing, let's move on.

     Now the plot, well let’s just say there really isn’t one. I read almost like 75% of this book and at that point in the story I was STILL waiting for some kind of plot to make it’s appearance. Spoiler I don’t think it does... Now the characters. I really have no words to describe them. Our main female character is ridiculous. She has crazy anger problems and not only does she work in a fighting club, but she punches random people. I think my two most common phrases during this book were, “This is ridiculous, and What the F***.” Our main female character was written almost like the author wanted her to really embody a foster care, tough ass girl who needed nobody but herself. A few times during this book the main character kept reminding us how she needs nobody but herself and blah blah blah. Well, then she goes and gets involved with the group of boys at Brayshaw high who rule the town. Which is kind of ridiculous, teenage boys ruling the town? I felt so ridiculous when I read about them commanding the school faculty around. When could a student EVER get away with that. Also it’s not like we get very much background on really ANY of the characters so really it’s just a sentence or two that says that these boys families own the town and now they rule or whatever. It’s really confusing! And once we start getting scenes between the group of boys and our main female character, I literally kept shaking my head. They're some scenes that are just WEIRD. 

     The part when the group gets to the cabins is where I pretty much knew I was going to DNF it. *Spoiler* There is this one scene where Raven goes inside a house and the lights go off and she’s scared, and so what does our lovely group of guys do to calm her down? They all participate in sexual acts with her. It was so random, no build up to this scene whatsoever and it was weird. I know some people like books where the main character is with a group of guys or dates all of them or whatever, but I’m not so this really threw me off. I kept reading on though, and not long after that I just put it down. I couldn’t stand our main character,  also couldn't stand Raven’s mom (don’t get me started on her sex working drug addict mom), and even all the girls and some guys at Brayshaw High. It’s like every student there (boy or girl) was Regina George. Really ridiculous and unrealistic, like this entire book. I feel like I’m in the minority when it comes to this book and I’m really shocked. There was not ONE positive thing in this book for me and I hate making such negative reviews but I can’t quite understand how this book got to such a high rating. I wanted to share my thoughts because someone might be in the same boat as me and see the high rating and get sucked into they hype only to read a plotless book filled with teenage sex. SO. This is New Adult so at least it’s categorized right, and younger readers won’t accidentally pick this up. I’m 24, and this book was WAY to much for me, so I don’t know what that says. I’ve read some steamy stuff too.. Also this will not be just a standalone, it’s a trilogy so more books in the work. Maybe they’ll get better with each book, but I won’t be continuing this series so I’ll never know.... If you did like this book, please tell me why or maybe tell me the ending does get better or whatever. I need answers because this book has a freaking 4.36 rating... I’ve read books with a 3.8 star rating I’ve loved way more then this. I don’t know man, I just don’t.
     Let me know too if you had issues with this book. I’d love to hear from you guys, xo