Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bow

Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe
Release Date: N/A in US yet
Publisher: Text Publishing
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288






Summary: The first time we met, Jewel Valentine saved my life.

Isn’t it enough having your very own terminal disease, without your mother dying? Or your father dating your Art teacher?

No wonder Sacha Thomas ends up in the lake that Saturday evening…

But the real question is: how does he end up in love with Jewel Valentine?

With the help of quirky teenage prodigies Little Al and True Grisham, Sacha and Jewel have a crazy adventure, with a little lobster emancipation along the way.

But Sacha’s running out of time, and Jewel has secrets of her own.

Girl Saves Boy is a hugely talented debut novel, funny and sad, silly and wise. It’s a story of life, death, love… and garden gnomes. 

My Thoughts: When I first heard of this book, I knew I had to read it! The problem, it isn't released in the US yet and has no immediate release date! I than saw it pop up on The Book Depository so I hurried up and ordered it, I didn't care that I just spent $12 on a softcover book! I wanted it that bad! The week it was supposed to come out, I got the email notifying me it was out of stock! No! I was very disappointed and had to cancel my order! I than ended up getting it from the publisher (not in the US) and put it up on the tour site! I dived right into it!

Girl Saves Boy was a wonderful novel but it felt a little short on my expectations (notice 4 cupcakes, instead of 5 that I had originally thought it would amount too). We are introduced to Sacha and Jewel. Right from the get go, you know this book is going to be intense. The opening scene Jewel is pulling Sacha out of the water because he is trying to kill himself! We find out that Jewel is originally from the town they live in but she moved away to live with her grandparents and they are both now dead so she is back to live with her mom. She did not know Sacha before she moved. He moved there shortly after.  Jewel and Sacha see each other at school and it dawns on him she is the girl who saved his life. Sacha has had a tough life, his mom died last year, he is sick and is going to die, soon....

Jewel and Sacha start an intense and heavy relationship. They really fall in love, they talk to each other, they share moments, they spend time together. Its a beautiful love story. She does not know he's going to die for a while and that just adds to the heartbreak. She goes in with her whole heart.

There are other characters throughout the story and they just enforce how sick Sacha really is and how nobody wants to face the truth. They want him to live a long life and be happy.

My favorite scene was probably when Sacha spent the night at Jewel's. Very sweet. 

Girl Saves Boy is a great novel. Its hard to believe Steph Bowe is so young!! It has a certain beauty to it that is hard to explain.

Overall:  I had a bit of trouble adjusting to some of the words. For example, realize is spelled realised in the story. I know, its because I'm from the US! It took some getting used too but I did. The ending also left me wanting to know more, and I felt like there were a few unanswered questions I really wanted to know!  I really enjoyed Girl Saves Boy and I hope you do too!

Cover: Very stunning and beautiful cover! Don't see too many with feet on them!

What I'd Give It: