Review: The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter

Title: The Snowball Effect
Author: Holly Nicole Hoxter
Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Published: March 23, 2010
Genre: Young Adult
Main Themes: Death, Family, Love, Emotional Problems
Pages: 356
Plot (from back cover of ARC):
"Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to now about the people in her lfamily just by letting you know how they died. Her reckless stepfather drove his motorcycle off the highway and caused the biggest traffic jam in years. Her long-suffering grandmother lived through cancer and a heart attack before finally succumbing to a stroke. And Lainey's mother - well, Lainey's mother hanged herself in the basement just days after Lainey's high school graduation.

Now Lainey's five-year-old brother is an orphan, and her estranged older sister is moving back home to be his guardian. Meanwhile, Lainey's boyfriend is thinking about having a family of their own, and her best friends are always asking the wrong sorts of questions and giving advice Lainey doesn't want to hear. As she tries to pull away from everything familiar, Lainey meets an intriguing new guy who, through a series of Slurpees, burgers, and snowballs, helps her make peace with a parent she never understood."

The Snowball Effect was seriously amazing! I don't even know where to start...

When I first started reading I wasn't sure if I was going to love it... it wasn't until I was up to about page 100 that I really started to fall in love with The Snowball Effect.

I really understood and related to the main character, Lainey. She was just such a realistic and believeable character that even though many aspects of her life differed from mine, I could totally put myself in her shoes.

I loved the fact that Lainey was flawed. Sometimes she was a great sister, sometimes she was absolutely horrid. She loves her boyfriend, yet she can't stop thinking about an intriguing stranger.

Don't get me wrong, there were times when I wanted to jump right into the book and shake Lainey because she was being so ridiculous, but then I would stop and think - holy crap - I am Lainey. Holly Nicole Hoxter has gone and created a character that, in my opinion, every girl, and possibly even some guys, can relate to in some way or another. I give her major props for that... it takes some serious talent.

One of the most amazing things about The Snowball Effect was that, despite its seriousness, I was laughing aloud at parts. It has such a perfect combination emotions! There were definitely some really funny quotes in it that I'm sure my sisters and I will refer to and use later!

And The Snowball Effect... you may be wondering what that means exactly. Well, sorry, but I can't tell you. That would be a spoiler after all... but trust me, you want to know...! (And now you must read the book - or you will go crazy!)

The Snowball Effect is full of quirky characters and fun, but it has a depth that I really appreciated. I learned some lessons from Lainey that I won't soon forget!

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing style: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)

If this book is not on your most anticipated novels of 2010, you better add it now! If it already is, you will not be disappointed. I really, really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for Holly Nicole Hoxter's next book! It really is painful to think about how long I'm going to have to wait for that one... Write like the wind Holly! :)