Nancy’s Review of Destined to Fail by Samantha March

*This review is part of Samantha March's blog tour hosted by A Tale of Many Reviews.

Jasmine Jones is thrilled to be heading off to college in Des Moines, Iowa, with her best friend, Abby. But her excitement quickly fades when Abby reveals that she wants to move back home to be with her abusive ex-boyfriend right after they arrive on campus. Jasmine, or JJ as she is nicknamed, is disappointed in the one friend who has always been by her side. JJ can’t understand why Abby is throwing her life away. To make matters worse, Abby also reveals that she is pregnant. After Abby leaves school, JJ is forced to make new friends. She meets two girls who have major problems of their own. All of them have to face horrific hardships, such as abusive loved ones, cheating boyfriends, and an absentee parent. With her faithful new boyfriend, Nate, on her side, JJ moves forward with her life only to be shocked when she finds out she is pregnant, too. She must overcome tremendous odds, tragedies, and adversity as a young adult.

Destined to Fail is a captivating story of struggle, loss, sadness, fear, and ultimately, willpower. JJ’s persistence is what drives the novel. Sometimes she wants to give up, but when she picks herself up again, that is when her true character shines. Nate is an unwavering source of support for her through all of the chaos and uncertainty. The challenges keep piling up for these characters, which is overwhelming at times, but JJ is able to turn hopelessness into hope. The way the title is reflected upon is actually positive and represents the overall optimistic message. The writing style veers slightly toward chick lit, possibly due to the ages of the characters, but the majority of this novel is definitely women’s fiction with intense, mature topics. Destined to Fail is an inspiring novel for young women.

Samantha March fell in love with books at a young age. In high school, Samantha excelled in writing courses, but despite her talent, she took what she considered the practical route and enrolled in a business college in Des Moines, Iowa, where she graduated with honors in 2009. Her thoughts of writing never went away, though. In October of 2009, Samantha started the book blog Chick Lit Plus. Through her blog, Samantha met fellow readers and writers who encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author. Destined to Fail is her debut novel. Samantha currently lives in West Des Moines, Iowa, with her boyfriend and friends who help inspire her writing. Besides reading, writing, and Chick Lit Plus responsibilities, Samantha enjoys sports, especially the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs, and she will never refuse ice cream. For more information, please visit her website.

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