Review: Not Like You by Deborah Davis

Not Like You by Deborah Davis


Released: February 2009
Publisher: Graphia
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Pages: 268
Source: Bought

Rating: ♥♥♥

Fifteen year old Kayla doesn't know what it means to have a home. Her whole life revolves around packing boxes that take her to whatever place her mother, Marilyn, decides to go when she decides to get sober.


This move Marilyn tells her that things are going to be different. That in New Mexico things will change. Kayla doesn't think much of the mustard colored trailer or the new landlord, Redbone. When her mother swears off drinking again, she can't help but roll her eyes. From the history that is told, you'll also be rolling your eyes in to this scenario. The relationship between the two is sad. Kayla being more of the parent than her mother is. Starting her own dog-walking business just to help pay the bills. Sometimes it's more like all the bills depending on how Marilyn is doing with her sobriety bit.

My thoughts towards her mother are like a teeter-totter. I felt sorry for her because who would possibly want a life like that. You can tell that Marilyn does love her daughter, and she's just has one really crappy way of showing it. But most of the time I wanted to shake her and scream, "Wake up lady!" Or even pack Kayla's bags and help her get the hell out of dodge.

Then Kayla meets twenty-four year old musician Remy. A guy who lives life on a whim, and is someone Kayla finds she can talk too. At first, I was completely all for Remy (hello musician!), but after a few chapters - gah! I understand the older guy appeal, and that Kayla's home life was bad, and that she needed an escape. For someone who has been through a bundle of lies from her mother, I was surprised how naive she was when it came to him. He also creeped me out somewhat.

Maybe that was the point because of the lesson Kayla learns from it all. The story of a child having to raise their parent is told well in this one. Besides the somewhat predictable relationship of Remy and Kayla - it was a pretty good read.

♥amber