*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: This Book Is Not Yet Rater
Author: Peter Bognanni
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 9780735228078
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The Green Street Cinema has always been a sanctuary for Ethan. Maybe it’s because movies help him make sense of real life, or maybe it’s because the cinema is the one place he can go to still feel close to his dad, a film professor who died three years ago. Either way, it’s a place worth fighting for, especially when developers threaten to tear it down to build a luxury condos.
This Book Is Not Yet Rated is a story about friendship, passion, and dedication. Ethan and his father shared a love of film, a love that drove both of their passions in life. Ethans father was a professor of film and at a young age, Ethan found himself actively involved in a small, local theatre that played obscure films to local film buffs. When Ethan’s father passes away, and Ethan’s best friend moves away, Ethan is left with little but his drive to keep his father’s first love, The Green Street Cinema, up and running. When Ethan’s friend Raina moves back to town, their reconnection rekindles in Ethan a drive to fight for what he loves.
A very sweet coming-of-age story, Boganni’s book is full of innocent and likeable characters in a small town who are discovering who they are and what it is they want to do with their lives. There is a whole cast of characters in this book, but very few of these characters are well developed. We get to know Ethan very well, especially his struggle with loss, family, and friendship. We come to understand Raina through Ethan’s eyes, but don’t get to understand her well from her own point of view. This is really Ethan’s story as he moves towards adulthood and just tries to figure out everything in his life.
I wished we could have gotten to know the peripheral characters a bit better. Ethan surrounds himself with the quirkiest, most lovable sort of cast. His friends are unique and ultimately love film and theatrics. They’ve found a family in one another, but without knowing them a bit more, the story is disconnected from them.
Overall this was a very sweet story and a very quick read. I hope you enjoy!
Worn Pages and Ink 