The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Release: July 7th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Netgalley
Synopsis:
From Stonewall Award-winning author Brandy Colbert comes an all-in-one-day love story perfect for fans of The Sun is Also A Star.
Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She’s always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?
Duke Crenshaw is do done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band’s first paying gig tonight.
Only problem? Duke can’t vote.
When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn’t spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that’s how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote.
They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva’s missing cat), it’s clear that there’s more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.
Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can’t sit around waiting for the world to change?but some things are just meant to be.
Voting Booth Review:
A BIG Thank You to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of “The Voting Booth” for my review.
I really loved reading this book! It is always a treat reading such stories where someone’s life changes over the span of a day. I loved how the story alternates between Duke and Marva. This made it interesting to see how the story progresses from different perspectives. The author has written the story in such a fun and engaging way that you never feel bored for even minute. I finished reading this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Marva and Duke are so charming and cute together! As individuals, both characters seem to face different issues. Duke faces emotional family challenges over his brother Julian, whereas Marva is more career focused and wants to achieve all her goals. Though they have their insecurities, they support and compliment each other so nicely. The book also has a lot of diversity written in a subtle yet engaging manner. On a side note, I also loved the supporting characters like Ida and even the cat!
Probably the only minor flaw in the story is how Marva meets Duke in the beginning. It was a bit unbelievable how Marva went out of her way and sets herself to help a stranger initially. But I enjoyed this book so much past that moment that I don’t really mind how they met.
I also think this book released in a very apt time with the upcoming elections. Hopefully, this would encourage people to take the voting process more seriously. The book also touches on some important issues like women’s rights, rape, abortion and gang violence. Overall, The Voting Booth is a great read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good YA contemporary read.
