Review That Time I Joined a Circus by J. J. Howard

An Different Kind of Read

That Time I Joined the Circus is the story of a teen girl's journey of self-discovery when she is met with tragedy and has to travel to look for her mother in a circus.

I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

O.k. this book really through me for a loop, overall I liked it. I really appreciated the story line, the writer's descriptions of the circus life, and the characters however I just felt like I was playing catch up through out the whole book.  The story is written in the present and past simultaneously by alternating chapters in the protagonist, "Lexi", "Xandra", or "X's" voice leading up to her tragedy. I kept having to go back and forth to read things and although the concept is brilliant, I just think the execution was off.  I identified with the characters to a certain extent but I just couldn't seem to keep that connection through out. There is an insinuated sex scene but no details and some sweet love scenes. I love the cover. Overall an interesting although different kind of read.

3 Stars out of 5 Stars