Review: From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer, Valerie Thomas

**Note: a copy of this book was provided via Netgalley - thank-you! - in exchange for an honest review.**

From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer, Valerie Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 genies
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance, Adventure
Published: May 15, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 462
Publisher: Hyperion
Source: Netgalley
Format: eBook
Purchase: The BookDepository.com or Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

KYLIE: Mexico? What a nightmare! I should be putting the finishing touches on my valedictorian speech. Graduation is TODAY! Wait! Is this a wedding band on my finger
MAX: It started with Kylie's laptop and a truck full of stolen electronics and it ended in Ensenada. It was hot, the way she broke us out like some chick in an action movie. But now we're stranded here, with less than twenty-four hours before graduation.
WILL: Saving Kylie Flores from herself is kind of a full-time occupation. Luckily, I, Will Bixby, was born for the job. And when I found out she was stuck in Mexico with dreamy Max Langston, sure, I agreed to bring their passports across the border - but there's no reason to rush back home right away. This party is just getting started.
LILY: This cannot be happening. It's like some cruel joke. Or a bad dream. I close my eyes and when I reopen them, they're still there. Max and Kylie Flores, freak of the century. In bed together. If Kylie thinks I'm giving him up without a fight, she's dead wrong.

My Thoughts

This book is just so fresh, it had humor, wit, and characters so loveable, that I just know I’m going to need a more permanent copy ASAP.


Hardback, that is, baby! Keeping it legit…

Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title! I’ve wanted to read it for a while now, and this book ended up making me smile and “aw” in all the right places. I’ll do a rundown on the more memorable characters, just so you guys know who to watch out for, and an overall summary will be at the end.

Exhibit A: Kylie Flores, the main girl is anything but ordinary, and such a treat! She starts off majorly uptight, wanting to do an assignment even on the last day of school, and this is what ultimately lands her and Max - the other lead guy - in trouble, but Kylie lightens up by the end thankfully. I loved how smart she was, and how well she seems to manage stress. There are examples of her level-headedness throughout the book, the car-jacking incident being one, along with her brother’s Asperger’s; she has a lot on her plate. In her family, Kylie takes responsibility, mostly, and she manages not to be typical nerdette/braniac in personality despite being her high school’s Valedictorian. The girl had spunk, smarts and a voice that kept me reading, wanting more even past the end.

I especially love her and Will’s quirky habit of spouting off script from various movies, this was such an interesting facet to their characters and definitely played up their relationship in a really good light. You have to be good friends with someone to quote Pretty in Pink back and forth, amIright?? I also have to comment about her sense of humor: it’s quirky and I like it.

Exhibit B: Max Langston, you guessed it, the main guy, wasn’t what I expected either. He’s selfish and conceited, the jock who’d rather not care about anything or anyone but himself…until Kylie changes him. D’aww. Yeah, I’m a sucker for the romance and especially when it happens to be good. Kylie and Max together…these two are really good. Max, while trying to get Kylie’s laptop back from two thieves ends up in Ensenada, Mexico on the last day of high school. He didn’t mean to cross the border, but he’s stuck and both he and Kylie need to find a way home before graduation the next day, all while avoiding the same thieves from earlier.



This boy…he perplexes meh.

Max had me rooting for him when he was a decent human being; stepped up to the plate and acted like a man, but then I wanted to actively throttle him when he left everything to Kylie and spazzed like a little girl over a pimple when tensions ran high. Dude, are you for real. He could have been better then, and looking back, there really is little excuse for his douchey behaviour in the beginning; good thing he cuts that shit out fast. Max proves himself, and I love that he ends up falling for Kylie for her, he made me crush - hard - on him. *Grins* This is also a weird addition, but his curiosity is very winning, the respect he uses to approach Kylie’s culture makes me think that the two of them could work long-term. He might annoy some readers because of his whiny behaviour, however, I think his transformation overall should even things out.

Exhibit C: Lily. I will not bother with a last name, all you need to know is that Lily is the girl you hear about, the psychotic Queen B rarely perfected in YA fiction, this is her. My gosh…this girl bitched like it was a freaking national sport and she was going for platinum, forget bronze, silver, or gold! I flinched at her bitchiosity and had to concede that no other character really compares from any of my more recent reads. Even her semi-nice act at the end was laden with selfish motivation. Lily cares about Lily and she will do everything in her power to ensure that she is well taken care of. *Sigh* She’s a piece of work and manipulates the emotions of others to her benefit. This girl was so nasty to Kylie! There was no sympathy on my end for her situation.

There are people in this world who do not need to speak. I am firm in my belief that Anne Coulter is first and foremost one of them, Donald Trump being second, and Lily undoubtedly third.



Here guys, take it, duck-tape is on me. *Silence* Ah, that’s better.


Exhibit D: Will! I loved Will! He is by far my dearest fictional homosexual. He’s a bundle of life and humor, the authors did a great job with him. He also excels as Kylie’s wingman, this boy took Lily down. I am well pleased. Will’s personality added lightness to the whole book, I loved him.

Overall: This book is a solid 4 genies out of 5. I recommend it to Young Adults within the age bracket of 15 and up, it has sexual situations and rougher language, coarse, so be mindful. Like I mentioned, I want it semi-mandatory that Stacey Kramer and Valerie Thomas always collaborate together. They’re magic together and should make another book about Will, Max and Kylie’s adventures in college; this would make me very happy. Obviously, if I’m looking for a sequel then this book has to be worthwhile. Read it, and tell me what you loved/hated. I enjoyed it!

4 genies: A good read. I enjoyed this book, not quite loved, but it 

isn't far off from being amazing.