You Are My Only, by Beth Kephart Review

You Are My Only, by Beth Kephart
Published On: October 25, 2011, by EgmontUSA
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery
Pages: 240
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: ½

Emmy Rane is married at nineteen, a mother by twenty. Trapped in a life with a husband she no longer loves, Baby is her only joy. Then one sunny day in September, Emmy takes a few fateful steps away from her baby and returns to find her missing. All that is left behind is a yellow sock.
Fourteen years later, Sophie, a homeschooled, reclusive teenage girl is forced to move frequently and abruptly from place to place, perpetually running from what her mother calls the "No Good." One afternoon, Sophie breaks the rules, ventures out, and meets Joey and his two aunts. It is this loving family that gives Sophie the courage to look into her past. What she discovers changes her world forever. . . .
The riveting stories of Emmy and Sophie—alternating narratives of loss, imprisonment, and freedom regained—escalate with breathless suspense toward an unforgettable climax. 

 

       After reading this book, I felt like I was bound to get into a reading slump sooner than later, as soon as possible. I've been feeling like all of my newest reads have sucked, and I'm probably going to return all of my leftover library books back to the library eventually.

         You Are My Only sucked, compared to what I wish and what I sort of expected it to become. It was honestly something that could easily sprout out of a small town news story—not to say that those aren't interesting. This story was too much contemporary and realism. Nothing was happening and most of it was the whining of the characters and depression. There were no feelings coming out of it. And I didn't feel anything, either.

          

              The title really does correspond with this story, in its funny and simple ways. The baby was Emmy's only. Was the main idea that easy to recognize and see? It was weird and sensing in its own way, but in these kinds of stories, you weren't supposed to get it, if that makes any sense. The concept of this was outrageously horrendous. IT WAS NOTHING SPECIAL. ;_;

               Emmy was reckless. She got married and had a kid at nineteen. At the same time, she's not grateful with her current life. She doesn't feel love and/or happiness whatsoever. One day, as she turns her back away, her baby is gone. Disappeared. At the same time, this is a parallel story where another character is introduced—Sophie, who's abused and keeps on running away.

           From the moment when I read this synopsis, I was like, "Sophie and Emmy are going to be connected somehow." I made up theories, and once I began reading, those theories became more and more detailed, and was I right? I can't tell you that at the moment. So if you're the type who makes such awesome and precise bookish theories, then this book is actually for you. In my opinion, I really don't care, ever. I just want to feel enjoyed and happy.

            I had huge expectations: this does seem like some sort of older contemporary classic. Like, you'll see this cover on Goodreads when browsing through HarperCollins' newest 2015 contemporary titles in the "Recommended" section. I guess I can say that I've never read anything like this before... But there's always a but in every situation. 

            I began reading and I guess you can say that it did take me quite a while to finish reading, if you take a look at my normal speed. Keep in mind that I did have school at the same time: was it three days? I don't know—this did seem like a quick read, but I never really got too much into it which made me want to finish it in one sitting. Naw—that didn't happen. I was actually getting a little scared that I just will stop caring and won't even write a review. Now—there must be a good side, yes?

             The characters weren't that bad. Emmy was a little whiny at first, but as her story went on, you were able to realize what big of a love she has for a mother like herself at her age. She was so mature and she understood the carelessness that she once took. She felt the guilt and understood everything. I honestly feel like I had to give her a huge high five for her greatness.

             Sophie, on the other hand, was reasonable too. I found that it was easy to relate to her and her situation, and she made everything seem real, from her perspective. 

              Together, hey, it wasn't bad from their own selves. But the craziness was the way the story was put together by the author and how the feelings of readers were handled. I felt like the author focused too much on the characters and their developments from everything else. And surprisingly, that was the best thing. 

           

         One of the strongest figures in this book were the characters. What I must say here is that the rest were downers and I was very disappointed with the outcome. This book has been sitting on my shelf for ages, and what it really needed to do was to keep on sitting there, because it wouldn't have made a difference in my life. Meh—just no. Go for this if you'd like something quick, and if you're looking for something you have the patience for with not-so-deep-meanings inside.