This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus.
As a part of our #SummerSurvivalKit Giveaway, this week I sat down and read one of the items we’re giving out: the novel White Fur by Jardine Libaire. Libaire takes us on a journey into the lives of a very uncommon pair, Elise and Jamey. The back of the book gives a good summary of what it’s all about—
“When Elise Perez meets Jamey Hyde on a desolate winter afternoon, fate implodes, and neither of their lives will ever be the same. Although they are next-door neighbors in New Haven, they come from different worlds. Elise grew up in a housing project without a father and didn’t graduate from high school; Jamey is a junior at Yale, heir to a private investment bank fortune and beholden to high family expectations. Nevertheless, the attraction is instant, and what starts out as sexual obsession turns into something greater, stranger, and impossible to ignore.
The unlikely couple moves to Manhattan in hopes of forging an adult life together, but Jamey’s family intervenes in desperation, and the consequences of staying together are suddenly severe. And when a night out with old friends takes a shocking turn, Jamey and Elise find themselves fighting not just for their love, but also for their lives.”
Highlights of the Novel
This novel touched on so many issues, which I highly respect. We find very different characters with different ethnicities, race, sexual orientation, etc. It’s honestly rare to find a book that touches on so many variations of people. Also, I really enjoyed the use of language and diction Libaire delivers. I won’t give away any spoilers, but take a look at this direct quote—
“She’s seventeen, indulged and entitled to the point of being mentally ill, with Krug Clos du Mesnil bottles filling the refrigerator, and—in her bedroom— acid tabs between the pages if a Marilyn Monroe biography.”
Fair Warnings
While this novel is very intriguing, there are a few things you should be aware of before picking it up.
For starters, I would rate this book as PG-13. It has a load of foul language, alcoholism, sex and mental disorders. So if you aren’t comfortable with that, I wouldn’t suggest this book.
However, I do respect this book so much for having it all in there. It’s real life. It’s not a sugar-coated love story with a princess and her knight in shining armor. It’s a novel about real love and the real struggles faced in life.
Also, I must point out that the major annoyance I found, personally, was that it was written in present tense. I may not be a big fan of this, but many people are. It’s not a huge deal of course and the book is so captivating you barely even notice it after a while.
Thumbs Up or Down?
I am giving this novel a “thumbs up!” It is a great story and I honestly believe we all can learn something from this book. As stated, it teaches real life, and that’s exactly what we need to start realizing.
This is a perfect summer-read while traveling, sitting by the pool or staying in with a cool iced tea. Regardless, if you win, be sure to go out and purchase this amazing book in support of this growing author! (Link below for kindle and hardcover editions!)
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547684/white-fur-by- jardine-libaire/