Sunday 14 June 2015

Dismissed - Kirsty McManus


Brandon Thomas isn’t like other teachers. He’s very young and is a rock star on the side. Of course his good looks have every girl in the school swooning over him including Lizzie White. Lizzie isn’t the kind of girl who’d normally be besotted over a teacher; she’s quite mature for her age and smart. Unfortunately, Lizzie’s best friend, Taylor, see’s him first so automatically puts her stake in him and due to that fact that Brandon is forbidden to have any form of relationship with a student, a relationship between them both cannot happen. However, there’s something about Brandon that Lizzie just can’t get out of her head so instead of dwelling on it she throws herself into a relationship with classmate Gabe which ultimately only ends up confusing her feels and hurting her in the long run even more. 

Although I’ve read a lot of books from this genre, I’ve never actually read a book that focusses on a teacher student relationship before. Unfortunately that story plot just wasn’t for me. Although the age difference between Lizzie and Brandon wasn’t anything to be frowned upon, I just found the whole concept weird. I never had the whole crush on a teacher thing at school so perhaps that may have something to do with the fact I couldn’t jell with the story. Despite this, I still ended up reading Dismissed in a weekend so I think if you’re a fan of this kind of story plot you will absolutely love this book. 

Lizzie is a likable character even if Taylor does completely walk all over her. I particularly liked Lizzie’s loyalty when Brandon’s twin brother, Jason, invites Taylor back to his place which he shares with Brandon. Although she knew it was wrong to be in a teachers apartment, especially one that she has feelings for, she sticks by her friend to make sure that she doesn’t get into trouble. Even though she sticks by Taylor, Taylor isn’t so nice to her back which only escalates more and more as the book progresses. However, I think all the teenage characters are believable and illustrate the confusing emotions that you have as a seventeen year old. 

The adult characters are equally as well fleshed out. Brandon knows that it’s more than his lives worth to fraternize with students and he tries so hard to keep up the barrier he has between himself and Lizzie and does everything in his power to stop his brother from getting involved in his students too. His twin brother, Jason on the other hand was completely the opposite and flirts with any legal girl with a pulse. Interestingly it’s discovered later in the book that he in fact has another side to him. I actually would quite like to read a book told about Jason. My disappointment character was Lizzie’s dad. He’s portrayed as quite a main character but very little is revealed about him. However, I don’t think that the lack of information and detailing about him ruins the enjoyment of Dismissed one bit.    

Even though Ive discovered that books teacher/student storyline aren't my plot of choice, I think that if you’re a fan of young adult, forbidden romance book you will love Dismissed. 

Synopsis – 

The second Lizzie White lays eyes on her new English teacher Brandon Thomas, she is hooked. Brandon is young, cool and sexy - and nothing like the other teachers at her school. But of course he is forbidden from fraternising with the students or forming any sort out of outside hours relationship. And combined with the fact that Lizzie's best friend Taylor declared her feelings for Brandon first (and has therefore claimed theoretical ownership), Lizzie decides it's all too hard and focuses on a budding relationship with fellow student and class clown Gabe instead. But then Jason shows up. Jason is Brandon's trouble-making twin brother who seems to have no qualms about flirting with students or leaving a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes. Before she knows it, Lizzie is dragged into a confusing world of blurred lines and lustful thoughts, where loyalties are tested and true feelings are explored. 

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