Customer Reviews

Two-way Street

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Well-known for her first novel, REALITY CHICK, Lauren Barnholdt has a new offering worth checking out. TWO-WAY STREET is the perfect book if you are interested in learning about both sides in a couple's breakup.

Courtney and Jordan are about to begin a three day trip from their homes in Florida to their college orientation in Boston. Usually this would be cause for excitement, but this trip is bound to be uncomfortable. The reason is because, two weeks ago, Jordan broke up with Courtney, supposedly because he met a girl on MySpace. Since the plans for the trip have already been made, Courtney's parents are insisting that she stick with those plans and travel with her ex all the way to Boston.

The characters and details of this novel are well-developed. Courtney is ultra-organized, schedule-oriented, and germaphobic. Jordan is a relaxed, take-things-as-they-come, rap lover. The story reveals their quirky best friends who are always just a cell phone call away waiting to offer whatever support their own busy lives allow. The private lives of Jordan and Courtney's parents offer their own unique brand of suspense to the plot. In addition, an underlying thread of the plot involves continued references to the use of MySpace, which is sure to be an attention-grabber for teen readers.

Barnholdt created the book with alternating chapters. In Jordan's chapters he tells his version of the story before, during, and after the trip, and Courtney does the same in her chapters. This unique style allows readers to sort of "read between the lines" of the breakup. The characters are dealing with secrets they feel must not be revealed. The resulting tension and hard feelings created by the secrets will have readers rooting first for Jordan and then for Courtney.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

What is possibly worse than your boyfriend dumping you for another girl? How about having to spend three days in the car with that ex-boyfriend as he drives you to college? Courtney is heartbroken when Jordan dumps her for some hussy he met on the internet, but she is horrified when her parents won't let her back out of their planned road trip. Determined to not let it bother her, Courtney goes along on the trip. What she doesn't know is that there is no hussy, Jordan made her up, and he still cares about her....a lot. This quirky road trip adventure highlights the ups and downs of relationships, the importance of forgiveness, and the often awkward hilariousness that comes from trying to hide your true feelings.

Two Way Street is all over the place...literally. It's told in alternating perspectives, from Jordan and Courtney both on the road trip to flashbacks from their relationship and their break-up. While this might instantly turn off some readers, I thought that Barnholdt did a good job of keeping it all together and felt this writing style added a lot of depth to a somewhat one dimensional story. The characters were a little stereotypical, and some readers might find it difficult to connect simply because the story jumps around so much. However, there were a lot of really great, funny and endearing moments that made this story an enjoyable read. Those who enjoy real-life fiction will find this fits in nicely.