Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now – Dana L. Davis – Harlequin Teen – Published 1 May 2018
♥♥♥♥♥
Synopsis
For sixteen-year-old Tiffany Sly, life hasn’t been safe or normal for a while. Losing her mom to cancer has her a little bit traumatized and now she has to leave her hometown of Chicago to live with the biological dad she’s never known.
Anthony Stone is a rich man with four other daughters—and rules for every second of the day. Tiffany tries to make the best of things, but she doesn’t fit into her new luxurious, but super-strict, home—or get along with her standoffish sister London. The only thing that makes her new life even remotely bearable is the strange boy across the street. Marcus McKinney has had his own experiences with death, and the unexpected friendship that blossoms between them is the only thing that makes her feel grounded.
But Tiffany has a secret. Another man claims he’s Tiffany’s real dad—and she only has seven days before he shows up to demand a paternity test and the truth comes out. With her life about to fall apart all over again, Tiffany finds herself discovering unexpected truths about her father, her mother and herself, and realizing that maybe family is in the bonds you make—and that life means sometimes taking risks.
My thoughts
Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is a magical kind of book. It is a book that made me laugh and cry, a book that challenges the reader on everything from the definition of family and existential life questions, to acceptance, forgiveness, and the crazy things we do to make the world make sense. It’s a book about never giving up – on life or people. It’s a book about looking past the surface. It’s a book about life. And I loved it.
Tiffany Sly is on a plane to meet her father for the first time. A father she only just learnt about. Still reeling from the death of her mother, a new father is the least of Tiffany’s troubles. Because there is another guy who claims to be her father – and who wants a court-ordered DNA test to prove it. Tiffany has just seven days to meet her ‘father’, find a place in his family, and decide if staying is what she wants.
It struck me again, just writing that synopsis, that Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now takes place over just seven days. It feels like there is so much more jam-packed into this story than could possibly fit into seven days. Love, laughter, God-talks, so much attempted conversion, tears, mad rushes to the pharmacy, police visits, awesome neighbours, lists of crazy rules, music, basketball mishaps, grief, memories, confusion, multiple plane rides, car crashes, and pretty much anything else you could think of. So much, and yet the story just flows so beautifully. It captures all the crazy emotions of trying to fit into a new family, making them fit with you, deciding if you belong, and learning to live with the risk of living. The characters leap from the page and make you laugh, shake your fist in fury (seriously, Anthony made me incredibly frustrated!!!! It’s no wonder that Pumpkin screams, “I so fus-tated!” I hear you, girl!), cry, and shake your head in profound shock.
Oh, I just adored Tiffany. She is uniquely herself, and isn’t afraid to let people know that. Fitting into a new family is hard, and while Tiffany doesn’t want to hurt the people around her, she isn’t shy about sharing when she is unhappy about something or when she believes something is wrong. I think that’s what I loved most about her – that way she is gentle but so very strong. And that strength has the power toward create change.
There were so many amazing moments in this book (that punch!!!!! and the pet-zoned conversation!!!) and I loved them all. Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now is a gorgeous book that is easy to read and easy to enjoy. It will be a pleasure to recommend this book to other readers.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
More information
Category: Young adult fiction.
Genre: Contemporary.
Themes: Grief, parents, family, heart conditions, anxiety, high school, sisters, fathers, father-daughter relationships, alopecia, mental health.
Reading age guide: Ages 14 and up.
Advisory: Coarse language, f*** (22), sh** (12), bit** (8), as***** (16). Sexual references, references to sexual relationships, some details about oral sex, minimal details about other sexual relationships.
Published: 1 May 2018 by Harlequin Teen.
Format: Hardcover, ebook. 304 pages.
ISBN: 9781335994134
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I am so excited to read this book. It was one of my anticipated reads, and your review made me all sorts of happy.
It is so very good. Hope you enjoy it!