.#Review Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey

Shark Bait
by Jenn Cooksey

Published June 15th 2012
Series: Grab Your Pole #1

Goodreads

Previously homeschooled Camie Ramsey is being shoved into the shark-infested waters of public high school, where even helium filled, penguin bespeckled arm floaties likely won’t help keep her inexperienced, fifteen-year old head above water in that rip current of hormones and emotions.

Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of “social” life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists.

Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait.

Author's Note:

While the tales themselves are fictional, some of the events and characters are very loosely based in reality and on my experiences—but don’t worry, the names of the characters, most of their unfortunate fashion sense and/or questionable taste in music has been changed to protect the not-so innocent.

*Due to language and some adult content, this book may not be suitable for readers under the age of 16


Grab Your Pole Seies

Shark Bait (Grab Your Pole #1)
The Other Fish in the Sea (Grab Your Pole, #2) 
Untitled (Grab Your Pole, #3)             

Are we back in the 80's?? Well, if we are then SIGN ME UP! I LOVED growing up in the late 80's. The movies, music, style, everything about it. This book was like a throwback to my high school days, and I enjoyed reminiscing the fun times.

Shark Bait is a young adult book, that was very reminiscent to high school. It has strong characters, especially the secondary characters. The only issue I found with this book, was the way it dragged a little longer than I would of liked.


Camie the main female lead, was home schooled all her life until her mom falls ill, and doesn't have the strength to continue with homeschooling. So Camie, has to start high school as a sophomore.  Not only is she the "new" kid, but she's also the "never been in a classroom kid", but Camie seems to adjust to her new lifestyle rather quickly, she fits in and makes friends right away. On her first day she meets and is saved by Tristan Daniels, the hot male lead in this book. Camie is in awe of Tristan, and although he comes across as aloof, at first, you know these two will be sizziling up this story, soon enough!

Cami is instantly attracted to Tristan. He's hot and every girl wants him. He doesn't care for girls who throw themselves at him, but tends to use those girls for some, "somethin' somethin'". With Camie  she comes off as different and doesn't throw herself at him. Instead she figures he's not interested in her, but with friends like Kate telling her different, she and Kate seem to come up with a plan on how to "bag" Tristan when it seems every other girl has lost out to winning his attention longer than a romp in bed with him. Thankfully, Kate is his best friend and knows a lot about Tristan his likes/dislikes, etc. So these two girls become fast friends and work together so Camie  can win him over.

We see the typical high school drama, and antics, some were funny and had me lol, The secondary characters in this book were a great asset to this story. They made the story more believable and propelled the overall grouping to feel realistic. We also see these two, and there friendship grow to something more, but when things get hot and bothered for these two and it looks like their relationship has bloomed, something happens and everything seems to change, and it looks like they will have to overcome insecurities and more to be together.

As the book progresses, it feels eerily familiar to high school. The gossip, the "mean" girls, the lusting of virginal heat. Everything you can remember about high school from parties to friendships is laden throughout this book, with various throwbacks to 80's movies, music, etc. The secondary characters were a great asset to the story and helped the story grow. I did enjoy Shark Bait for what it was a young adult read with some heat. The only thing that I found that I didn't care for was, the dragged out inner dialogue, from the main character. If you were a fan of the movie, Pretty in Pink, then this book may be right up your alley.

4/5 Throwback Roses