Awakening Foster Kelly by Cara Rosalie Olsen


If only a pile of wayward curls and the inability to stay on her feet were seventeen year-old Foster Kelly’s most pressing concerns. Unfortunately, stubborn hair and clumsiness is just the tip of it. It was only a mistake, but when at the age of five Foster is told “You don’t belong here” the result is one broken heart. These four carelessly spoken words have shaped and shadowed Foster, and now—a senior at Shorecliffs High School—she seeks the wallflower’s existence, denying herself the most casual of friendships, much too afraid that someone will see what Foster believes is certain: she does not belong anywhere – or with anyone. This reality would continue to suit her just fine, however . . .

Love has a long-standing history of undoing broken hearts.

Like a comet, an unexpected arrival knocks Foster out of the crowded, starry sky, sending her directly into the limelight. Exposed and afraid, she will attempt to regain anonymity; but it isn’t so easy now that someone is watching. He pursues this shy enigma, confronting Foster’s deepest fears head-on, and in the process falls wholly and completely in love with her. But there is something he is not saying; a secret capable of certain ruin. There are two probable outcomes: either he will break her heart once and for all, or he will heal it.

In the end, though, it is Foster who must decide if she is worth mending.



Paperback, 672 pages Published June 26th 2013 by CreateSpace (first published June 22nd 2013)


There are a lot of characters in this novel. Foster, Jake and Emily,-twins and best friends Dominic- love interest, parents and side characters. When she has encounters with them it seems that each encounter is analyzed with emotions, descriptions and dialogue. It seems that nothing is flitted over, every moment taken slowly and up close. Foster is the clumsy, messy, incredibly smart but extremely self conscious lead character. Dominic the love interest that is handsome, intelligent and seems to always know what to say at the right moments. Her friends the twins add the majority of the humor to the story and Emily is a fierce and devoted friend for her. The parents, smart, have an active interest in her life and McDuck realness rich.

The author does not shy away with words and descriptions in her writing. At times getting fluffy and wordy. I literally had to keep a dictionary with me during this read to understand some of the messages. The main character is very smart, as are her parents so I do not feel that it was out of place, I seemed to be unable to mentally grasp some of it without some research myself. Besides the usage of more complex words, the author also likes to dwell on situations for several pages at a time. When first meeting Dominic, we get 5 pages of feelings and questions. When she gets in a car accident we get several pages of each and every single minute that elapses and what she is thinking beyond the very general moving of the car and heading on their way. This is what adds to the length of the book.

There are several different subjects touched upon in the storyline. Her parents love for plants and each over. Foster's love for music and singing. Foster's dedication to working with kids. Her romance with Dominic. The mean girls in school etc. And it is as if for awhile the reader really gets to live Foster's life, every aspect of what is happening.

I would recommend this story to those that have been searching for those same romantic feelings you got from reading Twilight. When it comes to the romance between Dominic and Foster it is very Edward and Bella (without the supernatural) and in fact I do wonder if the book began as a Twilight fan fiction. I highly recommend that if you decide this book sounds like something for you that you stick with it. The story really doesn't portray the meaning until the ending. It is the ending that all of your thoughts and memories of the story will be re-evaluated and make the story worth the read.

Even with the pages of descriptions and words. I liked the story, it made me think and really took myself out of my own world for awhile. 


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