Being Jamie Baker - Review

Have you ever read a book and seriously while your reading it, and even hours after your finished you just CAN'T stop smiling?

If you have not, then I recommend you pick up Being Jamie Baker – RIGHT NOW!!!!

I can't count the number of times today I laughed OUT LOUD, and even when I was not laughing out loud, I still had this funny, giddy little smile on my face – I just could not wipe it off my face.

I have to thank Kelly Oram, I can't tell you the last time I smiled this much in one day, or when the last time I laughed this much! YES, you read that right, Being Jamie Baker is over 350 pages (just) and I read it in ONE day...I could not help myself! It's honestly that good.

Synopsis via goodreads:

"Most superhero stories start with a meteor shower or a nasty insect bite, but mine actually starts with a kiss..."

An accident that should end in tragedy instead gives seventeen-year-old Jamie Baker a slew of uncontrollable superhuman abilities.

To keep her secret safe Jamie socially exiles herself, earning the title of Rocklin High’s resident ice queen. But during a supercharged encounter with star quarterback Ryan Miller she literally kisses anonymity goodbye. Now the annoyingly irresistible Ryan will stop at nothing to melt the heart of the ice queen and find out what makes her so special.

Unfortunately, Ryan is not the only person on to her secret. Will Jamie learn to contain her unstable powers before being discovered by the media or turned into a government lab rat?

More importantly, can she throw Ryan Miller off her trail before falling in love with him?

Talk about standing out...Kelly Oram knocked this one out of the park, with her debut novel she's set herself up for a hugely successful career! With her quick wit, understanding, supportive yet equally funny characters, and her totally original, and intriguing plot – Being Jamie Baker was, a perfect read, in every way! I can't even explain how much I NEEDED this book right now!

I fell in love with Jamie, she's bright, quirky, totally lovable right from the first pages, I was drawn to her as a character. I felt for her, and though I had some idea's about how she became the way she was, the plot twists and turns threw me for a loop! She's one of those, I don't care what you think of me, types of girls; only in the end, she's not quite as strong as she might like to put off, and I found watching her grow into herself, finding herself, though wit and wisdom (not to mention a boy named Ryan), was the perfect way to spend my day!

This review, would not be complete unless I talked about the other characters, for I adored them all...Ryan for one, HELL-O hotness, boys like this NEED to exist in today's world, or if they do exist, I need for someone to tell me where they are hiding! *Smile* He's has just the right amount of strength, mixed with just a dash of conceitedness, a touch of cocky, and a huge heart, which made him ultra swoon worthy!

In addition to Ryan, whom I could talk about forever, if you have the time – I want to mention the parents; Jamie has parents, as does Ryan – a young adult novel with PARENTS? But not only that, but parents that care, parents that LOVE there kids, parents that have not in some horrible way done things to hurt them, humiliate them, or simply abandon them. It's tough to find a young adult book where the parents are not the cause or at least a major stressor to the main characters. Not this time, and I was TRILLED beyond belief, as a mom, it's hard to see all these bad parents, though I totally understand that dimension to theses story, it was a refreshing to change to have parents that really cared, and loved there kids!

I hinted earlier in the review about the originality of the plot and I would be remiss if I did not mention it again. While reading Being Jamie Baker I felt like I had been hooked up to a continuous supply of my dad's homemade fudge, I was giddy happy, laughing, smiling, yet at the same time the mysteries that surrounded Jamie left me in a state of suspended animation, while I watched with amazement as Kelly Oram unraveled the plot. The layers of this finely crafted story came more and more to life, I was blissfully aware at just how unaware I had been.

Bottom Line – Hours after finishing Being Jamie Baker, I still have that silly smile on my face! This is one of those feel good, stories that when your finished you come away smiling, happy and feeling like you could take on the world! Jamie sticks to you, almost like my dad's fudge sticks to my fingers, she's one of those superhero's you wish you could be, she's down to earth, real and determined.

For me, Kelly Oram knocked this story about a superhero who in the end, is more super than hero, out of the park! I read it so fast, that I am now sad it's over, one can hope that while this story leaves you feeling totally complete, that we might be seeing a little bit more of Jamie, in a sequel...but I know sequel or no, this book enthusiast will be 100% keeping Kelly Oram on her radar, I can't WAIT for more! I give Being Jamie Baker 5++ mushrooms, it's one not to be missed!

A side note – I love the name, that's all I can say...it fits perfectly!

Buy, Borrow or Steal? Since it's out, BUY it, you will NOT be disappointed, promise!

Being Jamie Baker
By: Kelly Oram
353 Pages
Published: June 14, 2010
Publisher: Bluefields
Received via the publisher, THANK YOU!