PROMISCUOUS by Isobel Irons

Item: Promiscuous
Rating: 5
Author: Lillian

Posted February 17, 2014 by Lillian in Reviews / 1 Comment

I received this book via the author, Isobel Irons. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Promiscuous by Isobel Irons
Series: The Issues Series #1
Published by Vivid II Ink on January 2, 2014
Length: 243 pages
Reviewing eARC Rating:

Natasha “Tash” Bohner just turned eighteen. Theoretically, that should mean escaping from trailer park purgatory—and her less than stellar relationship with her widowed mother—and running away to Los Angeles with her anorexic best friend, Margot. But as we all know, life is known for taking some very shitty, unexpected turns. Already the scourge of the Guthrie High gossip mill, Tash’s undesirable reputation explodes into infamy when she assaults the captain of the wrestling team. (Despite the fact that he deserved it,) the principal tells her that she’s on her last strike.

Again, see: above. Re: shit happens. When Margot’s will to live is finally severed by the leader of the Guthrie Bitch Squad, Tash vows to get revenge on the most popular girl in school—no matter what it takes. Because of a promise she made to her favorite teacher (to not get expelled), Tash is forced to get creative. She realizes she’s going to have to beat the popularity-obsessed Becca Foster at her own game, by running against her for prom queen. And winning.

In order to succeed, Tash will have to do the unthinkable: she’ll have to join student government, pretend to be well-adjusted, and actually try in school. Also, she’ll have to quit swearing so goddamn much.

It’s like a fucking Cinderella story up in here. Only, it’s high school. So there aren’t any happy endings. (Just beginnings.)

Note to Readers: this book’s plot centers around sexual abuse, teen bullying, eating disorders, and suicide. Also strong language. Read at your own risk

PROMISCUOUS is a story told by Natasha “Tash” Bohner, an eighteen year old who at a very young age learns to distrust everyone. Tash is angry at the world and how she feels it views her, as a slut, trailer trash, and dirty. But after her best friend “checks out” of life, Tash decides to get revenge. Through this, she meets a boy, Grant Blue who in her estimation is perfect in every way. And it is Grant that helps her see herself for what she could be, not for what everyone believes her to be.

First let me just say I loved this book, I hated this book, and then I loved it even more! The writing is outstanding. It’s funny, ironic, and at times I feel like I’m gabbing with my best friend. Throughout the story Tash is talking to you the reader, she even insults you many times making it very hard to like her. But in spite of those things, I loved her! I related to her struggles even though I personally have never experienced the horrors that she did as a child.

The author creates a world of high school hell, one I remember well. And with Tash’s words, I felt like I was right back there. Her best friend Margot is lovable, frail, and so relatable to many of the girls I went to school with. Then there’s the perfect guy, Grant Blue who “seems to deserve a classification apart fom everyday human beings.” He’s valedictorian, her tutor, and for some reason she can’t fathom he thinks she deserves “better.” I think we all had a Grant Blue! I know I did. Oh and Becca Foster!!! The penultimate mean girl……the way this character is described by Tash made me want to find this person and shove her head in a toilet (and I am not a violent person, but she would so drive me to it)! I hated her with a passion! Not sure I’ve ever felt that kind of hatred towards a fictional character, yet maybe it’s because we all knew a girl just like her in high school. Ugh! and Trent Gibson….yuck! That’s all I’ll say about him.

This book, for no better way of explanation, is somewhat of a modern day telling of Cinderella, without the fairy tale part. It sends a good message to young women to stand up for yourself, that you are worth it, and you did not ask for it. So my parting thought, Tash deserves a second chance and a happily ever after!

About Isobel Irons

As you might have already guessed, Isobel Irons is a pen name.

In real life, I am (among many things) an indie film director and TV producer with a deep–some might even say obsessive–appreciation for onscreen storytelling and a lifelong book habit that I just can’t seem to kick.

In film, there’s nothing I like better than a JJ Abrams “show, not tell” character reveal, or a Joss Whedon banter session. Or an Erik Kripke-level “bromance.” And of course, I’m a die-hard fan of the will they / won’t they trope, where the fans start shipping two characters agonizingly long before they share their first kiss. Or in Hart Hanson’s case, like three frigging years before. (That’s right, Hart. I’m talking to you, you incorrigible tease.)

In my novels, I use my visual storytelling skills to show the reader an entire menagerie of hidden worlds. When it comes to imagination, there is no production value and no budget. But if there was, I would spend it all and then some. To me, my characters are real people, who just happen to live in my mind. Before I write, I scout locations to set the scene, I hold exhaustive casting sessions to find the perfect quirks that will ignite the maximum amount of conflict. Then, I throw in some tricky, but believable situations that allow my characters to expose themselves–sometimes in a figurative, emotional sense, other times quite literally. Rawr.

Finally, I sit back and let the story unfold. If it sucks, I cut it. I tell my characters–sternly, but calmly–to reset and do it again, but this time give me MORE. Show me MORE. Make me laugh or cry or want to hit something MORE. And then, when I realize I’ve read through the entire thing in one sitting and–Holy shit, is it really that late, and Oh my God I am SO hungry! Have I even eaten today? That’s when I know it’s ready to be unleashed into the world.

Vivid characters. Vibrant settings. Relatable problems. Together, these elements combine to form the Ultimate Literary Crack. Or, as I like to call it, “Promoting Literacy through Shameless Addiction.”

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