Review: Mouthful by C.R. Grissom

Life after high school still blows

Between a judgmental beauty advice columnist mom who sends clothes several sizes too small, and social media sex-shaming her senior year of high school, Faith Lacerna needs a self-confidence boost. Being a freshman at Fortis University in Silicon Valley will be fine, as long as she doesn’t attract attention. Except wearing oversized hoodies in sunny California isn’t the best choice for blending in.

When football jock Caleb St. John shows interest, she recommits to studying anything but the hot tight end. Caleb wants to lose himself in football, avoid his unfaithful ex-girlfriend, and – unlike his cheating dad – live his life with integrity. He knows there’s more to Faith than baggy clothes. Her humor and audacity spark more than Caleb’s competitive nature.

Faith doesn’t want to be interested, but Caleb’s kindness and sense of adventure has her hooked. She soon realizes she needs to confront her hurts and fears if she wants to embrace a relationship with Caleb and not let the past intercept her future.

My Review:

This book pulled me in from the start and I had a hard time putting it down. 

Faith Lacerna had it rough from the start.  Her mother left her when she was young and through the years when Faith needed her most, she wasn’t there except to insult her weight and nitpick everything about her life.  Faith grew up with low self esteem and when she finally found a boy that paid attention to her, he used her and posted an embarrassing photo on social media which only made Faith’s life worse.

Faith was glad to start college some place where no one knew who she was or what she had done.  When she met Caleb St. John she still didn’t trust boys, but Caleb had a way of convincing Faith that he was different and really was interested in her.  They started dating and soon fell in love.  But the past reared its ugly head and Faith soon found herself in another embarrassing situation that ruined their relationship.  With the help of her new friends, Faith finally sees what they have all been seeing in her all along.  Now it’s up to her to finally put the past to rest and make amends with Caleb and move forward with their life.     

I really enjoyed this book.  I was able to identify with Faith and the things she went through as I felt the same way growing up.  To this day I still struggle with self-esteem issues and social anxieties.  I liked seeing how Faith was able to move on and finally find love and a new life in college.  I have never read any of this author’s books before and will definitely be looking for more in the future.  She went into depth with her characters and their stories, along with their friends and family issues.  Everything just added up to a unique and inspiring book.