Did I Mention I Love You?
DIMILY #1
By:
Estelle Maskame
Publisher:
Sourcebooks Fire
Published:
December 1, 2015
Add to:
Goodreads
Source:
Purchased
Book Synopsis:
Love is everything but expected.
Eden Monro came to California for a summer of sun, sand and celebrities – what better way to forget about the drama back home? Until she meets her new family of strangers: a dad she hasn't seen in three years, a stepmonster and three stepbrothers.
Eden gets her own room in her dad's fancy house in Santa Monica. A room right next door to her oldest stepbrother, Tyler Bruce. Whom she cannot stand. He's got angry green eyes and ego bigger than a Beverly Hills mansion. She's never felt such intense dislike for someone. But the two are constantly thrown together as his group of friends pull her into their world of rule-breaking, partying and pier-hanging.
And the more she tries to understand what makes Tyler burn hotter than the California sun, the more Eden finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn't...
Did I Mention I Love You? is the addictive first book in Wattpad sensation Estelle Maskame's DIMILY trilogy: three unforgettable summers of secrets, heartbreak and forbidden romance.
The DIMILY Series:
My Thoughts:
Did I Mention I Love You, was a fast-paced, easy, and entertaining read. I enjoyed the story and read it in one day. It is about dysfunctional family relationships, drug and alcohol addiction, unhealthy body image, and the challenges of growing up.
Sixteen year old Eden Monro hasn't seen or heard from her father, Dave, since he walked out three years ago. She still lives in Portland, Oregon with her mother, and her father now lives in Santa Monica in the lap of luxury with his new wife Ella, and three step-children, Tyler (seventeen), Jamie (fourteen), and Chase (eleven). When Dave becomes insistent that Eden come spend the summer with him, she finally agrees because she's a huge movie aficionado, and has always dreamed of seeing Los Angeles. Plus, she is dealing with some friend drama.
When Eden arrives in Santa Monica, she is shocked to see her father's new and improved lifestyle. He lives in a wealthy neighborhood, has a beautiful and luxurious house, and his family owns expensive top of the line vehicles. This makes Eden upset, because even though Dave pays child-support, her mother works herself to the bone, and is always struggling to make ends meet.
Eden expects her step-mother, Ella, to be the typical step-monster, but eventually realizes that she is a good person, and mother to her children. Jamie's a sweet step-brother, Chase keeps to himself, and Tyler is a nightmare. He is constantly rude, brash, and appears to resent her presence. When Eden arrives, Dave and Ella have a BBQ so that they can introduce Eden to their neighbors and friends.
At the BBQ, she meets friendly and upbeat Rachel, who is one of the neighbors children. Rachel invites Eden to hang out and introduces her to her best friends Meghan and Tyler's long term-girlfriend Tiffany. All of these girls spend a lot of time with Tyler, Dean and Jake, soon to be seniors in high school, and they form a group of best friends.
As Eden spends time with the group she quickly see's that Tyler has a substance abuse problem. His vices of choice are hard liquor, marijuana, and cocaine. His friends don't question his addiction, and Eden is highly disturbed by what she sees. She calls him out on his destructive behavior, and is disgusted by him. Simultaneously, Tyler doesn't respect any boundaries set up by his mother and Dave. He ignores the fact that he's grounded, stays out all hours of the night, does what he wants when he wants, and is very disrespectful. While initially, Eden thinks Tyler is a repulsive excuse for a human being, based on his behavior, she soon starts to break down his walls and see's glimpses to another side of him.
As readers, along with Eden, we see that Tyler is a protective older brother that loves his siblings. We see his walls, and that his reason for his addiction lies in the fact that he has a secret that is eating away at him. Tyler constantly needs a distraction, or a way to "escape" something that has been the catalyst for his destructive and addictive behavior. As Eden and Tyler get closer, we start to see a different side to Tyler; a vulnerability, and the fact that he is truly "lost."
Eden also has her own individual struggles. She has a lot of anger towards her father, because he hasn't apologized or acknowledged the pain he's caused her. Dave doesn't have meaningful conversation or rebuild his relationship with his daughter; and it's hard to see if it's from a lack of caring or a lack of know how. Also, Eden struggles with a healthy body image after being bullied and harassed about her weight a few years back. Therefore, she is always running long distances for exercise, doesn't eat much, and never indulges in sweets.
Eden is determined to help Tyler with his addiction, and he is there for her also. We do see cheating in this story, as a warning for those who don't like to read books that contain this. It is due to the fact that Tiffany is holding a lot over Tyler's head, and he's scared to make her mad.
Did I Mention I Love You? is a coming of age story that deals with a lot of serious issues. It is a good book to use to open up dialogue between a parent and their teen, since we are dealing with issues such as addiction, unhealthy body image/eating disorder, partying, drinking excessively, and regular sexual activity. I enjoyed it for it's entertainment value, and am looking forward to continuing this series and seeing what happens next...
As Eden spends time with the group she quickly see's that Tyler has a substance abuse problem. His vices of choice are hard liquor, marijuana, and cocaine. His friends don't question his addiction, and Eden is highly disturbed by what she sees. She calls him out on his destructive behavior, and is disgusted by him. Simultaneously, Tyler doesn't respect any boundaries set up by his mother and Dave. He ignores the fact that he's grounded, stays out all hours of the night, does what he wants when he wants, and is very disrespectful. While initially, Eden thinks Tyler is a repulsive excuse for a human being, based on his behavior, she soon starts to break down his walls and see's glimpses to another side of him.
As readers, along with Eden, we see that Tyler is a protective older brother that loves his siblings. We see his walls, and that his reason for his addiction lies in the fact that he has a secret that is eating away at him. Tyler constantly needs a distraction, or a way to "escape" something that has been the catalyst for his destructive and addictive behavior. As Eden and Tyler get closer, we start to see a different side to Tyler; a vulnerability, and the fact that he is truly "lost."
Eden also has her own individual struggles. She has a lot of anger towards her father, because he hasn't apologized or acknowledged the pain he's caused her. Dave doesn't have meaningful conversation or rebuild his relationship with his daughter; and it's hard to see if it's from a lack of caring or a lack of know how. Also, Eden struggles with a healthy body image after being bullied and harassed about her weight a few years back. Therefore, she is always running long distances for exercise, doesn't eat much, and never indulges in sweets.
Eden is determined to help Tyler with his addiction, and he is there for her also. We do see cheating in this story, as a warning for those who don't like to read books that contain this. It is due to the fact that Tiffany is holding a lot over Tyler's head, and he's scared to make her mad.
Did I Mention I Love You? is a coming of age story that deals with a lot of serious issues. It is a good book to use to open up dialogue between a parent and their teen, since we are dealing with issues such as addiction, unhealthy body image/eating disorder, partying, drinking excessively, and regular sexual activity. I enjoyed it for it's entertainment value, and am looking forward to continuing this series and seeing what happens next...
About the Author:
Estelle Maskame started writing at the age of 13 and completed her DIMILY trilogy when she was 16. She has already built an extensive and loyal fanbase for her writing around the world by sharing her work in instalments on the digital platform Wattpad. Estelle's trilogy will now be available for the first time in book and ebook formats. The DIMILY Trilogy has had more than 4 million hits on Wattpad, and Estelle tweets to almost 170,000 followers as @EstelleMaskame.
What a great story line and the substance abuse angle is such a great topic to call attention to. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cynthia!
DeleteThis story addresses quite a few real life issues. I love stories like these. Thanks for the lovely review. Adding this to my list.
ReplyDeleteI love when stories address real life issue's too! I'm glad you've found a book to add to your TBR.
DeleteWow.. Sounds like this book deals with a lot of different things. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I would have probably loved this book when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteThat cover is very pretty.
Great review!
Thanks Maureen!
DeleteWow, her Dad sounds like a jerk! I feel sorry for Eden's mom! I'm curious about Tyler's secrets and why he has a substance abuse problem. This sounds like an addictive series. I look forward to your thoughts on the next book, Lindy. Fab review! :)
ReplyDeleteHer Dad was a jerk! He made me so angry! Yes, this series is addictive for sure!
DeleteI can't stand cheating but I'm interested in how you enjoyed the next book. I actually have no problem with step siblings falling in love but it does seem like it freaks some people out. ❤️
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think step-siblings is a big deal, especially if they just met each other and they're older.
Delete