Review: The Lighter Side of Life and Death by CK Kelly Martin

Acclaimed YA author C. K. Kelly Martin offers a sexy, soulful story of one confused boy, two girls, and all the complications that ensue in this romantic feel-good love story that celebrates friendship, first love, first lust, and second chances.

Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world.

My Review:

The Lighter Side of Life and Death is a great book about a boy's life.  It touches on relationships between friends, family, and couples.  The male POV is well-written and the characterization is amazing too.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD

Mason is a good guy, easy to get along with, but still having some problems with people.  He is struggling with his feelings for his best friend, Kat Medina.  When they end up sleeping together after a party, he is happy because he thinks she might finally return his feelings.  Unfortunately for him, she decides to ignore him and she refuses to talk about that night.  Mason is really confused and doesn't know why she's acting this way.

Mason's relationship with Colette is well-written into the story.  She is friend's with his new stepmother's sister, and he meets her at the wedding shower.  He immediately feels attracted to her when he starts talking to her, so he makes an effort to meet her other times.  He has had his heart broken by Kat, so he is determined to make a relationship between him and Colette work.  When he first starts running into her at different places, she thinks he is stalking her, and she is reluctant to start any kind of relationship with him.  She is twenty-three, and he is sixteen, so she thinks that is too much of an age difference.  Six years isn't that big an age gap, but he is still in high school, and she is an adult.  Eventually, she gives in and they begin a relationship.  This relationship between them is very well-done.

The relationship between Mason and his family members is also well-done.  His dad sometimes gets mad at him for things Mason says to his stepsister, but they have a pretty good relationship.  They've been on their own together for many years.  His stepmother, Nina, seems like she cares about Mason and wants him to get along well with her kids.  Brianna is Mason's 13-year-old stepsister, and she doesn't seem to like Mason that much.  They have a few good moments, though.  Burke, Mason's younger stepbrother, is a sweet kid who gets along well with his new stepbrother, Mason.

If you like YA contemporary from the male POV, read this book.

Katie