Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Seventeen-year-old Mallory Dodge is as meek as her old nickname, -Mouse,- and Armentrout (the Dark Elements series) layers her backstory with significant challenges: Mallory lived in foster homes, was abused, and is nearly mute and trying to learn to speak again without fear. Mallory-s present is filled with equally remarkable fortune: she has been adopted by kind doctors; sparks fly when she runs into Rider, her one-time foster home protector, at her new school; and people are generally patient, welcoming, and kind to her. Though Armentrout creates a diverse cast of characters (Rider, Mallory-s parents, and several other characters share Latino backgrounds), they tend to be short on dimension. Rider is an ever-understanding hero, his girlfriend is cartoonishly mean, and Mallory-s adoptive parents are nearly perfect. Mallory spends the bulk of the novel shrinking in the face of everything, and at times her innocent demeanor feels contrived. But Armentrout-s effort to gradually coax her protagonist from her shell via a supportive, loving community succeeds, and readers looking for an inspirational comeback story will find Mallory-s to be satisfying and hopeful. Ages 14-up. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (May)

ALA Booklist

A predictable yet compelling romance blossoms between Mallory and Rider, the former foster brother Mallory never expected to see again. As children, Rider took the abuse their foster parents meant for Mallory for years, until they were permanently separated one horrific night when Mallory was nearly 13. Now 17, Mallory, who has always used silence as a defense mechanism, has just begun attending public school after being homeschooled by her overprotective adoptive parents, and she is shocked to see Rider there on her first day. Their bond quickly reestablishes itself as memories from the past reawaken, and Rider's girlfriend instantly feels threatened. Both Rider and Mallory realize that neither has fully dealt with their demons problem that becomes increasingly evident as tragedy occurs in their present-day lives. Mallory's struggle to assert herself and overcome her trauma is realistic but very drawn out, and her well-off adoptive parents are almost too good to be true. Still, Mallory's struggle to change is inspiring, many characters are ethnically diverse, and Mallory and Rider's romance is satisfying.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Armentrout has an established fan base already, and this true-to-form romance boasts an extensive promotional campaign.

Voice of Youth Advocates (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Seventeen-year-old Mallory Dodge enters her speech class, recognizes Rider Stark, the boy who protected her four years before in their abusive foster home, and begins a journey to overcome her past to become a person who can truly love. When their foster parents physically abused either Rider or Mallory, Rider confronted them and Mallory hid in the closet. Rider comforted Mallory by reading aloud The Velveteen Rabbit, her favorite story. One night, the foster father threw her doll, a gift from Rider, into the fire. She attempted to retrieve it. The surgeon who repaired her arms adopted her. Mallory is now financially privileged and emotionally supported. Rider is still in the foster system. Living with a grandmother and her two grandsons, he supports himself by painting and detailing cars. Rider again takes on the protector role as former home-schooled Mallory struggles with public school, especially the required speech class. Their worlds collide when Mallory's adoptive father questions their relationship and Rider's foster brother involves himself in drug trafficking. Mallory decides to become strong and challenges Rider to do the same.Steamy scenes and soap-opera emotion dominate. Mallory must find her voice, literally and figuratively. Rider must shed his impossible rescuer role. The conclusion is a touching interpretation of what lasts forever, but the ending requires a romanticized view of self-control, parenting, and the path of true love. Armentrout fans will line up for it.Lucy Schall.

Kirkus Reviews

After surviving a horrific foster home together, a girl is reunited with the boy who always sought to protect her. Mallory—dubbed Mouse due to her selective mutism—grew up in a foster home with two abusive addicts. The white girl relied on biracial Latino/white Rider, another ward in the home, to keep her safe and serve as her protector. When the violence in the foster home came to a head, 13-year-old Mouse and Rider were removed from it and ultimately separated. When the novel opens, four years have passed, and Mouse has been adopted by Carlos and Rosa Rivas, wealthy physicians, who have dedicated themselves to helping her heal from past trauma and have home-schooled her. Rider, however, is still in foster care and lives a more dangerous life on the wrong side of the tracks. When Mouse enrolls in high school for her senior year, she is reunited with Rider, and though they've gone in opposite directions, their mutual past—and their blazing chemistry—pulls them together. Although the intensity between Mouse and Rider is palpably sizzling, the all-too-conventional trope of the quiet girl and the bad boy is played out in classic formula fashion, sinking in its own clichés. However, die-hard romance aficionados may be able to overlook the boilerplate plotting and simply lose themselves in Mouse and Rider's smoldering glances and steamy kisses. A mainstream romance that covers well-trod territory. (Romance. 13 & up)

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Engaging characters and real-life drama make for a potential hit with teens, if they can overlook the stock, repetitive romantic descriptions. Mallory (aka Mouse) is living with successful, caring adoptive parents after a horrific childhood in foster homes. She decides to attend public high school after years of homeschooling. Her world is rocked when Rider enters her speech class; Rider was her lifeline in the foster home, taking many beatings for her and teaching her how to hide and stay quiet to avoid Mr. Henry's wrath. While the protagonist seems shackled by her past, Rider appears to have moved forward, complete with a swagger and a laissez-fair attitude. They spend time together, and their relationship starts to grow from Mouse and her white knight to much more. Unfortunately, Rider's lifestyle and family link him with some unsavory characters. Mallory and Rider must evaluate their relationshipwho really has changed, and is it for the better? The situations are gritty but presented in an accessible manner. One frankly depicted sex scene makes this more appropriate for high school readers. VERDICT An easy sell to teens wanting to experience a frank if predictable coming-of-age romance. Lisa Ehrle, Falcon Creek Middle School, CO