Through the Lens

I received an ARC of Through the Lens by Shannon Dermot in exchange for an honest review.

Through the Lens can be read as a standalone, but the story does continue in Broken Lens.

Description

Being a twin isn’t all that bad, nor is it all that good. Being the fat twin makes things a little worse. Seventeen year old, Jessa Shelby has been all but ignored. Trimmed down, but not skinny like her sister, she has decided to make her mark in her final year in high school. 

Things begin anew the summer before her senior year when she meets Ethan Hart, a super hot boy with a twisted past. Unfortunately, he has a girlfriend. Relegated to friend status with Ethan, she turns her eyes on football jock, Josh Macon, whose crush worthy too. No longer the ‘fat girl’, Josh seems to be interested in her too. 

Spending more and more time with Ethan causes unexpected complications and she finds herself falling for the wrong boy. Josh is sweet but wants more than she can give. His warning about Ethan’s past may have come too late. And gasping for air with a noose around her neck, she has to wonder if trust came at a very high price.

Review

Through the Lens is a fantastic story of Jessa's journey of self-discovery and coming out of her shell during her senior year of high school. Jessa's character is easy to love and connect with, as are most of the other characters in this story are. Each character faces their own little struggle, which makes them easier to relate to and seem more human.

Shannon Dermott's writing creates a beautiful young adult story that I feel many of us can relate to during our high school years. I enjoyed reading about Jessa's first romantic experiences and her journey to being comfortable with who she is and her appearance. 

Quotes

***SPOILER BELOW***

I am tempted to read Broken Lens to find out what happens next in Jessa and Ethan's story, but I am so happy with the way Through the Lens ended that I don't want to risk ruining it.