Review: Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy of a Single Girl.
Series: Anatomy, #2.
Author: Daria Snadowsky.
Publication Date: January 8th, 2013.
Publisher: Delacorte Books.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Hardback, 227 pages.
Source: Provided By Author.
My Rating:

After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one.

The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.

But I couldn’t avoid my future forever.

 

Review

It really didn’t take me that long to finish this book at all, I sat down one evening and flew through half of it – and did the same thing the next night! Anatomy of a Single girl was just as good, if not better than the first book in this series. Although it may be short, the amount of information and drama that Daria has managed to put into this book was incredible. In the first book, Anatomy of a Boyfriend, we learn about Dom falling in love and having her first and sex for the first time – in this novel, Dom is learning how to move on from her heartbreak and explores the lines between love and lust in a summer fling.

Dom, our main protagonist is back once again and has grown up and developed so much since the first book and I think she was definitely more mature. I really love Dom’s character; she’s smart, funny and such a pleasure to read about. Even though I have a bit of trouble connecting to Dom’s character in general – it didn’t make the book any less fun to read. I also loved how open-ended the book was, and how Dom closed off her story for the time being. I hope there will be a sequel, because I really want a happy ending for this girl!

Guy is Dom’s ‘boyfriend’ for the summer, and to be perfectly honest; I wasn’t that keen on him. I preferred him over her previous boyfriend, Wes – but not by much. I can completely understand Guy’s actions and why he decides to make their relationship only a summer thing – but his thoughts on love, marriage and kids were really immature and annoying. Guy seemed like a nice enough guy though, he was funny, kind, caring and patient – but there was just something about him that I just wasn’t keen on – I’m not entirely sure what though.

Overall I really enjoyed Anatomy of a Single Girl; it was fantastic and was a funny, thought provoking book. I love how Daria can get across a serious message through her novels, but can still be fun and upbeat about it at the same time. The reason that this book didn’t get more than 4/5 stars, is because, once again – I really wasn’t that keen on the love interest. Daria Snadowsky’s writing is really unique, interesting and beautiful all at the same time – she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for. I can’t wait to find out if there will be another book in this series, and if so; what will happen and where the characters will end up!

Quotes

There’s something about the sight of a gorgeous guy in an open convertible heading in your direction that makes all bad feelings evaporate into thin air. - Page 75.

I wasn’t expecting him to light candles or scatter rose petals. But I just made myself infertile for him, so the least he could’ve done was make the bed. - Page 154.

"High school sweetheart" is such an innocuous-sounding term for something that can tear out your guts. - Page 212.

Review: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy of a Boyfriend.
Series: Anatomy, #1.
Author: Daria Snadowsky.
Publication Date: September 23rd, 2008.
Publisher: Ember.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 272 pages.
Source: Provided By Author.
My Rating:

Before all this happened, the closest I’d ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Then I met Wes, a track-star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too.

I couldn’t believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing – and touching – parts of the body I’d only read about in my Gray’s Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring.

It was scary. It was fun. It was love. And then came the fall.

 

Review

I would like to start off this review by saying, Anatomy of a Boyfriend is definitely not a book for younger readers – or for people in general who just don’t like sexual scenes. This is probably already obvious because of the title (and cover for that matter), but I just wanted to give you guys a heads up. I really enjoyed reading Anatomy of a Boyfriend; it’s a sweet and lovely story about first love and discovering sex. By the end of Anatomy of a Boyfriend, I was actually crying; not overly obsessive sobbing, but tears that trickled down my cheeks. I’m sure everyone remembers the first person they fell in love with – whether you’re still together or not, you know what it feels like; to feel you’re flying above the clouds and that nothing else matters but that person. But can you remember the feeling of losing the person you love? If not, I’m not really sure how you’ll be able to identify with the emotions in this book. But if you do, it’s sure to bring up some emotions about how it felt when you did.

Dominique is our main protagonist and plans to be a premed student in the fall when she goes to college. She has her entire life planned out in front of her and didn’t think anything could distract her from her path – until she meets Wes. I really loved Dom’s character; she was funny, kind, caring, interesting and really smart. All of these qualities I find really great to read about in characters. All of the emotions that Dom felt, were so raw and fresh that you could almost feel them radiating off the page. Even though Dom is seventeen in this book, I didn’t really feel like she was. To me, she seemed much younger throughout the book, maybe even about fifteen years old. Although there were times where she acted more her age, mostly she seemed very young. I don’t have any issues with this though, because so many people are like Dominique – and I believe that love has to ability to make someone seem younger or older than they are. It’s just the way it goes.

Wes is the love-interest in this novel, and quite frankly, I didn’t really like his character very much at all. I thought he was a little bland and dry, with not much personality. Sure, we learn that he’s shy and is a track runner – but that’s pretty much it. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a little more depth to his character, as I really couldn’t see what Dom saw in him. However Wes’s and Dom’s relationship was lovely and the chemistry between them was fantastic. They didn’t seem to do anything but make-out or sleep together in the book, but they’re teenagers – what do you expect? The only reason this book didn’t receive a 5/5 star rating, was because of Wes’s character, I’m not sure whether this is because he’s just not my type – or whether it’s to do with the fact that he wasn’t developed enough in my opinion. Either way, I thought his character let the book down quite a bit.

Even though I’m no longer a teenager and have been ‘of age’ for quite some time now, I found myself quite worried about leaving this book alone in the same room as my mum. Of course I’m not embarrassed about reading a novel with sexual scenes in, but I am embarrassed about the idea of having a conversation about these matters with my mum when it really isn’t necessary. My mum is an open adult and I’m sure she’s come across her fair share of sexual scenes whilst reading her own books – so why was I worried about leaving it alone? I honestly have no idea – maybe I just don’t want my mum thinking I’m constantly reading erotica. (Which I don’t – not that it matters though) As I have no experience in reviewing books that fall into this category, it’s hard to give my opinion on them. The sexual scenes in Anatomy of a Boyfriend were a little dry, but overall were pretty good. However, they did seem a little clinical, like they were written for a textbook – but giving the fact that the main character, Dom, is a premed student – it doesn’t seem that strange at all.

Overall, I thought Anatomy of a Boyfriend was a great read with some interesting and unique characters that I thought were really relatable. Daria Snadowsky’s writing is fun and quirky, but she can also create an air of seriousness when she needs too. I don’t believe this book should be read just by teenagers, I believe even older adults would probably enjoy it and identify with it – mostly because of the rawness of it. Daria Snadowsky is definitely an author to keep an eye on, I’m sure she’ll continue to grow and become an even more fantastic writer than she is now.

Quotes

On the second day of no reply, I ask Dad to time me as I play Operation in a feeble attempt to rekindle my interest in medicine and forget about Wes, even if just for a few seconds. But my hands are shaking so much I can’t even tweeze out one piece without sounding the buzzer. I never realized before that this red-nosed patient is suffering from unrequited love too. He has a butterfly in his stomach, and his plastic heart is broken. My god, I’m actually identifying with the man in Operation. How much lower can I go? - Page 71.

“Does he try to have intercourse with you?”
“Grandma” I gasp. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no!”
“Good. Remember, no ring, no ring-a-ding-ding. Because once you spread your legs for him, do you know where he’ll race once he’s done? He’ll race to another woman, that’s where.” - Page 92

“I love you, Dom.”
There, the final piece of the jigsaw.
He shakes his head. “It’s insane how much I love you. I never knew I could feel this way.”
“I love you too,” I say quietly, holding back my tears. I feels so good to have said it, finally, and to be this honest and exposed. It’s like I’ve discovered the meaning of life – to love and be loved. Sure, my parents and I love each other, but we have no choice. We’re family. Love seems so much more special when it comes from someone who has no obligation to feel it. - Page 154.