Warning: This book will make you laugh! You'll be smiling so much that your cheeks hurt at some points, and at others you won't be able to help aching for Shelby as she learns difficult life lessons without a mom to guide her, which no kid should have to do. Shelby has 5 weeks to lose her virginity before she has to vow against impurity at the Princess Ball. The idea may sound juvenile at first, but it's actually NOT. It's sweet and honest. Shelby is bound by three promises she vowed to her mother before she died of cancer, and even when it's difficult sometimes, she's devoted to following them — always. So when two of the promises conflict, she has to rush to fill that loophole before it's too late! I want to give Shelby a medal of epic snark; she was such a fun, adorable, and heartwarming character! Unlike most teenagers, she takes her promises seriously. But like most teenagers, she's flawed and quirky and ridiculously fun. Along with her best friends, Jonas and Ruby, they make one hilarious trio that you'll be rooting for until the very end. This is a book about family and friendship, love and loss — and yes, sex, but it's not explicit at all so I feel comfortable recommending it to all growing teens, adults, and any fan of Jackson Pearce! She expertly writes about the strained, awkward, yet totally sweet relationship between a daughter and a father who are trying to reconnect. Absolutely hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt, Purity is a book that has the heart, soul, and quirky fun necessary for a great read. I finished it in one sitting and itched to pick it up again immediately after, all for the reason that it was so much more than I expected! :) BUY or BORROW?: This is one short and sweet book that will always be able to warm your heart, even on those darkest days! I don't care what people say, but this is buy-worthy in my opinion! ;)

After reading a whole bunch of rave reviews singing the praises of Jackson Pearce's first contemporary novel, Purity, I was definitely hoping I would feel the same way as well. But while I did like reading the book, a part of me still felt disappointed when I reached its conclusion. Purity had so much potential to take a philosophical approach to universal themes of friendships of friendship, loss and sexuality, but in the end, I don't think it completely rose to the occasion. The lack of communication between the characters was so infuriating at times in Purity, even though I kept trying to remind myself how it was needed to add conflict in the novel. I couldn't really agree with any of Shelby's choices and the rush she feels in trying to lose her virginity before the Princess Ball, where she'll have to give a vow saying she'll lead a "pure" life. Her often callous personality made it further more difficult for me to try and relate to her. Some of the guys she threw herself at didn't deserve to be used for her ulterior motives and I wasn't impressed that her friend Ruby could be so encouraging without really thinking about the consequences. Thank goodness for Jonas because he was the voice of reason in Purity! I really wished Shelby would open her eyes and see just how lucky she was to have him in her life. He always tried to help Shelby accomplish Promise Three, living without restraint, but I understood why he couldn't support Shelby in trying her best to exploit the loophole of giving away her purity. Surprisingly, I think my favourite aspect about Purity was seeing Shelby and father trying to bridge the gap of their distant relationship and become closer again. While Shelby thinks her Dad doesn't care about her, it's completely obvious to readers just how much he loves her, only he has no idea how to convey that affection because Shelby has never given him a chance. Jackson Pearce also managed to tie in Shelby's religious beliefs and how her mother's death has shaken up her faith. However, due to the limited length of the novel, I don't think there was enough pages to fully develop the storyline and characters to a greater degree... Purity was a short, quick read with some heartfelt moments along the way. Fans of Jackson Pearce will surely enjoying reading her latest book! You can also read this review at: http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.ca/2012/06/purity-by-jackson-pearce.html

Maybe it’s because I so infrequently read contemporary books, or maybe it’s because I tend to read them really fast but, OMG, PURITY. I did not see you coming. I did not see you coming, and then I had a fit of hysterics in my, thankfully not-usual, Starbucks. You were just absolutely beautiful and real and stomach punchy. I know comparisons aren't always the best way to start these things off, but I have to say this book reminded me a tiny, tiny bit of Lauren Myracle's SHINE. This is not because the books were in any way similar (because...they are kind of really, really not), but they were both so REAL that they made my SOUL HURT. I love that. Okay, so the actual story is that 10-year-old Shelby promised her dying mother three things, and since that day, her entire life and all of her relationships have been shaped by that promise. Shelby takes her vow very seriously, even though, as a teen, she is starting to run into complications when Promise 1 (love and listen to her father) butts heads with Promise 3 (live without restraint). Specifically, her father is planning the annual Princess Ball, which will this year end with all the daughters promising the fathers that they will lead pure lives...and Shelby isn't sure she wants to make that promise, because if she does, she will have to keep it. I'll admit straight up to being creeped out by the whole Purity movement. It's gross and ridiculous, and completely glosses over the part where BOYS ARE ALSO PART OF THE EQUATION. And the books deals with that. Shelby has a lot of really hard conversations (or at least she TRIES to), and she also wrestles with her faith. Everyone keeps giving her the "easy" answer. "Trust God, God has a plan", but God also took her mother, and no one ever takes the time to really hash that out. Part of what makes this book so wonderful is the mix between humour, awkward, honesty and frankness. There were a couple of times I actually had to set it down and breathe. I can't even say all the things I want to, because it would spoil the effect for when you read the book. Suffice to say, there were some FABULOUS friendships in this book, and the cake tasting scene nearly killed me. I wasn't really sure what to expect with PURITY. I mean, I was pretty sure I'd love it, because I love Jackson Pearce's books, and I know from following her Twitter that we have a similar outlook on this issue. I was prepared to like this book quite a bit. I was not prepared to read it cover to cover in Starbucks, cry and laugh a lot in public, and find it suddenly in the running for my favourite book of 2012. It is an amazing surprise. I don't often say this, but PURITY is the kind of book that SHOULD get read in high schools. The kind of book that says "Hi, I know you're scared, but you're doing okay". The kind of book that shows you how not to be a jerk. There is SO MUCH I want to say. But it would be spoilery, so I'll stop. 10/10 for being absolutely fantastic. And for the cake topper joke. ;)

The whole idea of a book based on enforced purity and chastity was something that really interested me when I first heard about Jackson Pearce's new contemporary YA, Purity. This is an idea I can relaly relate to, having grown up in the Christian church and hearing about the importance of sexual purity; so I was REALLY curious to see what Jackson would do with this. And I was in no way disappointed. Purity is so much deeper and more complex than it seems at first glance; it raises a multitude of fantastic questions and is a fantastic representation of how moving and influential contemporary YA can be. Reasons to Read: 1.Real life application: Like I mentioned above, Purity brings up some really great questions. But more so than just this, these are applicable questions, ones that just about every teen has asked at some point. Shelby tackles everyting from grief, losing a loved one, promises, love and friendships, sex, and religion. And THAT is no easy task, especially to tackle ALL IN ONE BOOK. I expected this to be a light, humorous read. There's some humour, and it's a shorter book. But no, I wouldn't classify it as "light" reading. By the end of Purity I had totally teared up. 2.There is no black and white: Nothing is that simple in Purity, as Shelby discovers. Grieving isn't simple. Sex isn't as complicated as one things, nor is it as unattached. Religion and faith are two different things, and they aren't as straightforward as anyone thinks. And THAT'S what I really love about Purity; it doesn't come off preachy in any way. I tend to be wary of books that are both too preachy or that openly mock faith and I had my concerns with this one. Needless to say, I think this is one that finds that balance and does so very, very well. 3.Humour!: I love a book that can make a joke, and this kind of wit that makes you laugh just abounds in Purity! And the characters definitely have this nailed (as does Jackson, seeing as she's the author and all that jazz). This adds a whole other aspect to the book, making it an extremely dynamic and multidimensional read. Needless to say, I was totally overwhelmed and impressed with Jackson's debut into the contemporary YA world. This is a fantastic read that I think is going to be a hit with most readers, and one that is certainly going to raise some questions and conversations for its readers. ARC received from HBG Canada for review.

This was my first time reading a book by Jackson Pearce and I have to say, she has a new fan! I just loved this book! Within the first 50 pages it had made me laugh to tears and cry from sadness. It was a complete rollercoaster of emotion, but in a good way! I recieved more than one odd look from those around me while I was reading, I couldn't help it, some of the events in it are just too funny. I also love the simplicity of the cover for this book, it works great for this one. This book is told from a first person point of view and revloves around Shelby Crewes as she tries to live her life by the Promises she made to her mother before she died. She finds out her father wants her participate in the Princess Ball, which he has taken it upon himself to help plan. The Ball ends with a vow to live a pure life. Basically meaning, no drugs, no underaged drinking, no sex before marriage. Clearly this doesn't fit in with Promise Three, which is to live without restraint. But she can't not go to the Ball because her father wants her to, and Promise One is to listen to her father. Shelby Lives by these rules, so clearly she needs to try and find a loophole so that the vow is void. Which means, she needs to have sex before the Ball, which is just five weeks away! Shelby, the protagonist, is impossible to dislike. I feel so bad for her because she had to watch her mom die, and then her relationship with her dad isn't very good, it's actually kind of like my relationship with my dad, so it's easy for me to relate with her. But through all this, she seems generally happy. She has two awesome friends, Jonas and Ruby, who are a great support system for her. I really like her as a character because she is somewhat sarcastic and has a little bit of attitude, but it's too funny! Overall, this is a great coming of age story, completely with many scenes that will make you laugh out loud and then five minutes later, have you in tears. Jackson Pearce is an excellent writer and has beautifully written this book. It's a cute and quick read with just over 200 pages. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did, it really is a great contemporary. Definitely a must read for this summer! [http://owl-read-it.blogspt.ca]

*Copy provided by publisher for review* I haven't have much experience when reading titles by Jackson Pearce, having only read her titles Sisters Red, As You Wish, and her short story in Enthralled. However, that isn't to say that I wasn't especially excited to read Purity. Unlike the other novels I've read by Jackson Pearce that primarily focused on their own paranormal aspects, Purity instantly caught my attention with it's different realistic take on a teen girl's life and struggles. Purity by Jackson Pearce focuses on the story of Shelby, a girl who promised to always obey her Father, care for others, and live a fulfilling life without restraint or regret. However, as time goes by, Shelby finds herself having a difficult time sticking to her promises. After her Father becomes part of the planning committee for the Princess Ball, a local ceremonial dance where teens vow to live "pure" lives, Shelby starts to question where her loyalties lie. For Shelby finding an even ground becomes difficult when she begins to help her Father plan for the ball while also attempting to lose her virginity before she takes the vow. Purity by Jackson Pearce, overall, read like something completely different in comparison to her other titles. Purity, in the full sense of the word, had realistically captivating writing that hooked me right from the beginning. In Purity readers are introduced to Shelby, an average teen girl determined on not only making herself happy but also her family. Regrettably, things don't exactly turn out the way she had hoped, and with that I found myself discovering a determined, brave, and wild protagonist that I couldn't stop loving. With that said, Purity, overall, does heavily focus on religion and God, however, unlike other similar titles, I didn't find myself disliking that aspect one bit! Purity, despite it's religious aspects, was extremely open about the concept in addition to sex, drugs, and consumption of alcohol. Overall, I really enjoyed how Jackson Pearce tackled the aforementioned scenarios. She made the story wonderfully realistic and attention grabbing. Despite a few of Purity's events not settling quite as well for me as I had hoped, I found it to be an absolutely wonderful title for young adult and adult readers alike. Readers who have enjoyed Jackson Pearce's work in the past, and love realistic titles similar to those by Kody Keplinger and Jessi Kirby, will find themselves loving Purity!