Review – Defending Taylor by: Miranda Kennealy

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor’s always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that’s what is expected of a senator’s daughter. But one impulsive decision—one lie to cover for her boyfriend—and Taylor’s kicked out of private school. Everything she’s worked so hard for is gone, and now she’s starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor’s escape from the pressures of school and family, but it’s hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. Taylor’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it’s hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

Thank you, Miranda Kennealy. I could not put this book down and was consistently reading it no matter where I was. That is always a sign of an amazing book to me. Even more so now, considering it’s become very hard for me to read as often as I used to. Defending Taylor does not disappoint in the Hundred Oaks series. It has the drama, the breakdowns, the melt-your-heart moments, and of course some kind of physical activity (I mean soccer! Sports! Get your brains out of the gutter, reading community. *wink*)

Following Taylor, our protagonist, was such a roller coaster of everything I adore in a character. Firstly, she’s obsessed with coffee and animals…which is exactly me. More than that, she consistently tries her hardest for her friends, family, and herself. Watching Taylor grow from the beginning to the end is always a quality I love reading about. It’s inspiring.

With the other characters, I love that we get to revisit some of the old characters we have already fallen in love it yet at the same time meet new ones. For example, Ezra…oh yes, Ezra. First off, gorgeous and unique name but more than that he has the physical and emotional hotness to match. Ezra is every girls dream guy. He’s good looking, hard-working, and loves to his fullest. Watching his and Taylor’s lives intertwine couldn’t have been better. Other than Ezra, I loved her new and old friends that we get to meet along the way. They each have their own unique qualities and yet perfectly fit into the story and Taylor’s life.

I respect the fact that Kennealy always beautifully weaves family, emotions, and relationships. There is never only one focus but we get to see many sides of our protagonists and it’s such a breathe of fresh air. Overall, Defending Taylor was an absolute joy to read and I couldn’t have loved it more.