The Promise of Amazing - Softcover

Constantine, Robin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062279491 ISBN 13: 9780062279491

Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 2015

Synopsis

Robin Constantine's New Jersey romance The Promise of Amazing is a sexy, poignant, funny, and authentic debut novel that will appeal to fans of books by Stephanie Perkins, Sarah Mlynowski, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she's not popular, not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet good girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now, in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change but doesn't know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe's: star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, and on the fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a "term-paper pimp." Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change but doesn't know how.

One fateful night, their paths cross at Wren's family's Arthurian-themed catering hall. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

About this title

Review:

The Promise of Amazing Quiz - Which ’80s rom-com is your love life?

Wren was a good girl. Gray was a player. Until she saved his life.

Grab the popcorn and peanut M&Ms! Wren and her friend Jazz know that sometimes a cheesy . . . er, classic . . . ’80s rom-com is just what you need to cure anything that’s bringing you down. Take this quiz and find out which ’80s rom-com is your love life!

Then read about the one fateful night Wren’s and Gray’s paths cross, and the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale that follows in Robin Constantine’s The Promise of Amazing.

1. Your personal style:

a. Practical.

b. Trendy.

c. Quirky.

d. Feminine.

2. Karaoke time! What song are you belting out?

a. “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” from Oklahoma!

b. “Happy Birthday” by the Beatles

c. “If You Leave” by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (as OMD)

d. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel

3. Your most embarrassing moment was when:

a. You ran into your ex and you hadn’t showered, you had circles under your eyes, and you weren’t prepared to seem him/her AT ALL!

b. You sent a gossipy text about your crush to your crush instead of to your best friend.

c. You broke up with your significant other in the middle of school and caused a little scene.

d. You showed up to a party extremely overdressed. You looked like a princess but everyone stared!

4. Your favorite physical feature of a crush is:

a. Hair

b. Arms

c. Lips

d. Eyes

5. Where do you stand on the age-old question “Can men and women be friends?”

a. No way. They think they can, but someone always falls for the other person.

b. Maybe. You could never imagine falling for any of your friends.

c. Yes, definitely. And sometimes, friends of the opposite sex are the most important friends.

d. Probably not, because if you really thought about it, your friend wouldn’t be the worst person to fall in love with.

6. Your favorite TV show is:

a. The Carrie Diaries

b. Anything on Bravo

c. Sons of Anarchy

d. Downton Abbey

ANSWER KEY

If you answered mostly A’s . . .

When Harry Met Sally

The peanut butter to your jelly. The yin to your yang. The ice cream to your pie. On the side, though, of course. You fall in love with your best friend. For you, the best relationships are those rooted in friendship. Tread carefully however, because once you cross the line from friends to more than friends, it’s difficult to go back.

If you answered mostly B’s . . .

Sixteen Candles

You tend to like someone you barely know, but you’re sure is your perfect soul mate. Go after that hottie! If you never at least try and talk to the dreamboat you see on the subway every day, you’ll never know if he or she is the one for you. Be careful that you don’t place your crush on too high a pedestal without knowing more about him or her. Often, getting to know someone is the best part!

If you answered mostly C’s . . .

Pretty in Pink

You prefer your quirky crew to large groups of people, you’d rather carve your own way then go with the flow, and you’re proud to be you. But you have fallen for the complete opposite of yourself in every way.

If you answered mostly Ds . . .

Say Anything

Extravagant dates, surprise presents, and an overwhelming amount of likes on all your Instagram posts—music to your ears. Cupid tends to strike out of nowhere with you and though you didn’t know someone a month ago, you now can’t imagine life without him or her.

The Promise of Amazing - “Ultimate New Jersey Playlist”

There are so many incredible performers from the Garden State that I didn’t know where to begin—but tying their music in with some of the themes and situations in The Promise of Amazing narrowed it down quite a bit. The following is just a sampling of the amazing musical offerings from my home state!

1. “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi (Sayreville, New Jersey)

“It’s My Life” is an anthem for when you feel like no one understands you—which is exactly how Wren feels as the book opens. It’s about listening to your inner voice, standing up for who you are and what you believe in.

2. “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang (Jersey City, New Jersey)

This song reminds me of my job as a catering waitress. It was the first song the band played after cocktail hour, and wedding guests always crowded the dance floor. The Camelot band would definitely have this on their set list!

3. “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

I imagine “Teenagers” to be the kind of song Grayson loses himself in when he’s down in his basement pounding out his frustration on the drums.

4. “Maybe Tonight” by Nicole Atkins (Neptune, New Jersey)

This is the perfect mood music as Wren pages through her brother’s yearbook to stalk . . . um . . . piece together information . . . on Grayson. Wren knows Grayson might not be the best person to get involved with, but she can’t help but be fascinated by him.

5. “Close to You” by the Early November (Hammonton, New Jersey)

Grayson’s attempts to charm Wren keep failing to bring them together yet he’s determined to keep trying. This song captures Grayson’s struggle to get beyond his past so he and Wren can be together.

6. “One Way or Another” by Blondie (Hawthorne, New Jersey)

The perfect song for Andy’s party—where everyone seems to have a hidden agenda.

7. “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra (Hoboken, New Jersey)

A classic. This is the song that’s playing when Grayson tucks a flower behind Wren’s ear and she decides to take matters into her own hands.

8. “Because the Night” by Patti Smith (Woodbury, New Jersey)

Sexiest. Song. Ever. Wren and Gray in Guinevere’s Cottage. Need I say more?

9. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Lauryn Hill (South Orange, New Jersey)

Ah, young love. You know when you can’t get enough of each other? And you know how it can’t be that intense for that long, but it’s so great while it lasts? Yes, that.

10. “Only a Memory” by the Smithereens (Carteret/Scotch Plains, New Jersey)

Grayson’s past finally catches up to him. That hopeless feeling when you know it’s your fault and all you can do is watch as everything slips through your fingers.

11. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen (Freehold, New Jersey)

This song epitomizes the restlessness of being stuck in a small town that “rips the bones from your back.” It’s Luke going to Princeton, and what he means when he tells Grayson he’s “getting outta here, for good.”

12. “Having a Party” by Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes (Ocean Grove, New Jersey)

This song conveys the joyfulness at the end of the novel, when everything is fine—even if it’s just for a night.

From the Back Cover:

Wren Caswell is the quiet good girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now, in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change but doesn't know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe's—until he was expelled for being a "term-paper pimp." Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change but doesn't know how.

Then one fateful night, their paths cross. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

About this edition

• Publisher: Balzer + Bray
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0062279491
• ISBN 13: 9780062279491
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400