I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin

Nick's world crashes around him when Sasha Jasinski, his ex and the girl he still loves, tells him she's pregnant on Christmas Eve, forcing him to re-live their unexpected summer relationship and bitter break-up all over again. Now both Sasha and Nick have to figure out what they are going to do...together, even though Sasha keeps making it clear that their relationship is over.

I Know It's Over is one of those books that stands out for being so simple and direct. The drama surrounding a teenage pregnancy is not often told from the point of view of a teen boy, and the change of perspective is refreshing and fascinating. Martin is extremely straightforward in her representation of Nick and Sasha's relationship as they begin to have sex, and she deals with the emotions and the issues that come with such a decision head on instead of trying to gloss over them or sweep them under the rug entirely. The novel is narrated by Nick, but there isn't one moment when his voice seems off or the reader isn't able to identify with him, and Sasha is just as vivid of a character.

Though Sasha's pregnancy is the central focus of the story, Martin balances out that drama with other issues Nick is confronting, like his parent's separation and his evolving friendship with one of his best friends, who is in the process of coming out of the closet. All of these things play off of each other, showing readers a candid picture of Nick's frustration and struggle to simply get through life as a teenager, and highlight his struggles anew as he tries to do the right thing with Sasha when he doesn’t have a clue as to what that would be. This powerful, tough, and important book about growing up, loving, and letting go will ask the hard questions and make you think.

Cover Comments: I like how both the hardcover (above) and the paperback (left) covers have the same font to give them a bit of continuity to them. Overall, I think I prefer the hardcover to the paperback because I like the greens in it, and I think the girl wlaking away from the guy on the bed gives you a glimpse of the more serious issues in this book. The paperback cover is nice, the clasped hands give you the impression that it will be more of a light hearted read than it really is. Nonetheless, both are nice covers, but I think they both are seriously lacking in guy appeal--which is sad considering the book is narrated by a guy and teen guys could really get into it.

Review copy purchased.

Click here to read my interview with C.K. Kelly Martin.