You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith [book review]

Book: You Can Go Your Own Way

Author: Eric Smith

Published: November 2, 2021

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 336

Genre: YA Contemporary

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You Can Go Your Own Way book Summary:

You Can Go Your Own Way is a YA contemporary by Eric Smith. The story follows Adam Stillwater and Whitney Mitchell. Adam is in way over his head. He’s put all of his work into his father’s pinball business. It’s the place that holds all of his memories of his father after he passed. But now no one really plays with pinballs anymore since they have other consoles.

Whitney has done the same thing as Adam. Her parents are divorced and she doesn’t have any true friends. So, she throws herself in the social media aspect of her dad’s business in the hopes to get his attention. What she doesn’t realize is that her dad wants Adam’s business.

When events collide them together again they don’t really know why they stopped being friends in the first place. As they grow close they realize throwing themselves into their family’s business probably wasn’t the best idea.

What I thought of You Can Go Your Own Way

The very first book I read by Eric Smith was Don’t Read the Comments. I’m pretty sure that was his debut book and I absolutely loved it. Even though I don’t play games as much as I use to I still love books that revolve around them. I’m sure that’s mostly because I grew up playing them so it’s a bit of nostalgia for me. Plus, they do tend to get me in the mood to start playing again as well.

So, even though I really enjoyed Don’t Read the Comments I don’t feel like I enjoyed this one as well as that one.

The characters

So, I was able to resonate with Adam since I’ve lost a parent at a pretty young age. I get not wanting to let things go because it reminds you so much of a lost family member. It’s hard but it’s also hard to move on if you don’t. I get it and I think that’s why I like Adam’s character so much. I’m not really sure why but I didn’t like Whitney as much as Adam even though she’s written really. I just can’t pinpoint exactly what it is.

For a somewhat new author, I really feel like Eric does a really good job at developing his characters. They jump off the page and are very well developed. It’s awesome how realistic they are and how you can resonate with both of them.

The Plot

I can’t even begin to explain how excited I was to be able to read an advanced copy of You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith. Like I said I love Don’t read the Comments, so much so I ended up buying the book not long after it was released.

Even though I really enjoyed this particular book I didn’t love it as much as his last book. I think that’s mostly because in ways they are really similar. There are quite a few things about the books that are alike. I know I know I’m contradicting myself here. I love Don’t Read the Comments and it’s similar to this one then why don’t I love this one as well? Well, I went into this book thinking it was going to be completely different when the characters and storyline seem similar.

I think it helped with his last book that both of his characters really enjoyed gaming considering that’s how they met. I get that not everyone is going to like video games or invest in them as much as others but I think it grabs my attention more when those that do are able to make some sort of platform for themselves. Even though I don’t watch gameplay I know a lot of people who do. So, the idea that kids are able to earn money doing something they enjoy is something that I love reading. With Adam and Whitney, they don’t exactly enjoy what they even do. Maybe Adam does a little but I get the impression he barely likes it at all. The two of them not enjoying it is what threw me off from liking the book as much as I wanted to.

Granted I do get that’s the point of the story. They don’t enjoy what they do and they learn from it and grow. But I think I’m still stuck on the idea of him adding a really cool game that I would love to play along with characters that stream and make money from it.

Conclusion

I do recommend this story to those who love YA contemporary and enjoy books that deal with games. Even though there are certain aspects of You Can Go Your Own Way that I didn’t enjoy I still really love the book!

If you enjoy this book review then you might also enjoy My Dark Vanessa.