Don't Kiss the Messenger

CeCe Edmonds is used to people not being able to see past the disfiguring scar that runs down the side of her face. She's used to the staring, the pointing, and the taunting. To protect herself she's hidden behind a thick emotional armor and a witty talent for self-deprecation. She spends so much time focusing on her classes and her varsity volleyball team at her prep school, Edgelake, in Madison, Wisconsin that she can almost forget that she never gets asked out on dates and guys usually don't want more than a hook-up from her. Almost.

Enter the incredibly hot new quarterback, Emmett, who captures CeCe's attention while playing classical music while CeCe is on her way to class. Emmett first lays eyes on the bold girl with the scar when he arrives late to his Shakespeare English class and he doesn't seem at all bothered by the scar. Could Emmett finally be the guy who could look past CeCe's scar and appreciate the girl underneath?

CeCe doubts it because when Emmett spots Bryn, the Volleyball team's newest member and Edgelake's other new transfer student he instantly is attracted to her model-like looks and CeCe casts herself into the role of matchmaking best friend. But Emmett is looking for more than good looks, he wants someone he can talk to as well, and Bryn enlists CeCe's help to break the ice.

Like a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac, CeCe swoops in and soon she's exchanging emails and texts with Emmett, pretending to be Bryn. CeCe quickly learns that Emmett is anything but a dumb jock and he could be just the guy she's been waiting for all this time. But Emmett thinks he's falling for Bryn - who sounds witty in her emails but acts completely different in person. Will Emmett figure out who he's really talking to? And if he does, can he look past CeCe's looks and actually love her for herself? Or will CeCe lose the first guy she's been able to be carefree with? The guy she's starting to love?

When I first picked up Don't Kiss the Messenger I was expecting a light, breezy, quick read but it is so much more than that. It's a breathtaking story about learning to love yourself and people looking past exterior beauty to get to know the person inside.

This book had me laughing out loud one moment and nearly crying the next because of how raw and relatable it is. Anyone who's ever thought themselves to have any sort of flaw will be able to see pieces of themselves in CeCe and be rooting for her the whole way through. Emmett was an amazing character, the rare type of guy that you hope actually exist in real life. And Bryn - OMG, I loved Bryn! She was the ditzy friend I always wished I had!

Overall, I loved everything about this book. The writing was absolutely beautiful! Perhaps it caught me at precisely the right moment, the moment I needed a story like this most. This is definitely a feel good book and I'm so glad I got to read it!

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for review.

What I loved most about this book was CeCe. Her intelligence and strength covered how vulnerable and sweet she really was. I know she was guarded because of her scar, but I do believe it made her who she was. I loved Emmett, too. Bryn made me crazy. I know I was probably supposed to like her, but she was shallow and clueless. Not my favorite qualities.

I loved the music and the writing in this book. The chapter with the chemistry experiments was my favorite.

This quote really stood out to me: "But if you think about it, science and music are pretty similar," she said. "They're both just mixing different elements together, hoping to make a new discovery. Something fresh. Something inspiring. Or maybe it's just and answer to a question." I'm definitely going to be reading more books from the author.

I loved this modern day take on Cyrano de Bergerac. The writing is stellar, the characters jumped off the page, and Katie Ray captured the true essence of what it's like to be a teen with unrequited love. Highly recommend this book. Can't wait to buy it and discuss it in our mother-daughter book club.

A modern version of "Cyrano de Bergerac" that will have readers swooning. Heroine CeCe Edmonds has lived with a disfiguring scar on her face since she and her mother were in a car accident. The scars on her confidence and psyche are less noticeable than the scar on her face but just as impactful. She's lived her life feeling as if everyone is judging her and thinking less of her because she feels she isn't beautiful or perfect with the scar marring her face. When new kid and new quarterback of the football team, Emmett Brady, enters her life CeCe is intrigued. Her hopes are seemingly dashed when Brady shows interest in the hot and beautiful transfer student, Bryn DeNeuville. Cece's fear that beauty is all that matters in life and love seems to be confirmed when Brady starts pursuing Bryn. Bryn is beautiful and a talented athlete but fairly shallow. She thinks Brady is hot but she gets tongue tied around him and asks CeCe to help her communicate with him via text and email messages. Will helping Bryn win Brady's heart mean losing her own? Readers will be eager to find out. Definitely recommend!