Review: The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding

Title: The Reece Malcolm List
Author: Amy Spalding
Published: February 5, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

1. She graduated from New York University.
2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.
3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.
4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.
5. She’s my mother.

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much.

L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love.

But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?

The Reece Malcolm List is a strong story centered mostly around the relationship between Devan (love that name!) and Reece, Devan's estranged mother, who see meets for the first time after her father passes away.  Devan's and Reece's relationship was strained, to say the least.  Reece had no idea how to be a mother, and Devan's expectations upon meeting her mother were wildly overrated.  I really enjoyed watching their relationship evolve throughout the story.

This beautifully-written story with spot-on character development was such an enjoyable read.  I loved all of the teenagers with their differing personalities and personal issues.  There was always something going on, which is so typical of teenagers, and I really enjoyed that aspect.  I also have to say I really loved Reece.  Yes, she was a TERRIBLE mother, but something about her just worked.  She was a remarkable character.  And her boyfriend, Brad... yeah, let's just say he's "dreamy".  :)

I'm not huge into theater, but this story definitely piqued my interest.  I even googled a few songs that were being discussed just so I could better experience the scene firsthand.  This is an adorable story and one I would definitely recommend.