To survive where I live, you have two options.
You can be a Normal—a cheerleader, jock, member of the debate team, or on the yearbook committee. You pretend everything is normal.
Or you can be crew.
You insult us? We hurt you.
You hurt us? We really hurt you.
And if you f*ck with us, we will end you.
My name is Bren.
I'm the only female in the Wolf Crew—the best, fiercest, and most dangerous crew there is—and we have a rule: There's no falling in love.
Well… too late.
We are more than friends, more than family, we are Crew.
I just finished Crew and I am screaming right now! Crew was amaze-balls! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this book.
I don't usually read contemporary I more of a supernatural/paranormal and fantasy reader. Over the last few years I have come across people saying how much they love Tijan as an author. I have read so synopsis and I knew that I just had to at least give one book a try but I always put off getting one. Even when I got a free e-copy of the first book in her ya series, Fallen Crest (which sounds really good by-the-way) I still didn't read it, then I purchased Davy Harwood by Tijan (as an ebook) but I still haven't read it and that book is paranormal I mean right in my wheel-house. Then this spring I purchased a paperback copy of Evil, another Tijan paranormal and I have yet to read that one. I know I have serious booknerd problems.
I think I hyped-up the author too much in my head and I was a little scared of a let down. However when I was able to receive a 3-month free subscription to Kindle Unlimited and I known Crew had just released in August plus I really wanted to read that book I knew I had to go for it and OMG! The love I have for this book knows no bounds and it's the first in a series, that means I get to live in the story and I love that. Tijan has created a story that is so compelling I didn't want to put the book down. I lived in every single moment and felt everything that Bren was feeling so deeply.
Bren... I love her so much. Bren has had to grow-up quick having to deal with a sick parent and a dysfunctional family where as a child she was an adult. Bren grew-up so fast but she has survived if only barely. Bren is not a nice, sweet caring person, her childhood made that impossible, she has flaws, amazingly big flaws, yet Bren does care strongly and deeply for her Crew. If you leave her to herself and leave her crew alone then Bren isn't a problem but she doesn't take any shit and if you start something Bren will be there to finish it and I love it. She learned early own that she was going to have to stick-up for herself and she doesn't hold back.
Then there is Bren's big brother Channing who I assume is a character from the Fallen Crest series considering this is the same world and that Fallen Crest is the next town over. Channing who was apparently a hellion when he was younger has grown-up. While he also had a crappy and therefore now leads a life that isn't exactly innocent he is trying with Bren, trying to be the brother/parent she should have had. He is trying in his own way to repair the relationship he has with Bren while he isn't the best of parents he is therefore her when she needs him. Now because of this I can't wait to read Fallen Crest I just know it's gonna be good.
Can we just talk about Cross... my god, that boy. Cross is such a complex character and I love him with all that I am. Cross isn't the good guy but he isn't a bad guy either, he isn't loud or smug, he doesn't show off. Cross has been there for Bren for a very longtime. They are best friends who know each other who are there for each other when it isn't crew business and it's normal business. They orbit each other, they are so close and Bren really needed someone like that in her life. Cross is lethal but only when it is called for, he is dangerously smart and has a violent nature like the rest of them but he is still a decent guy who wants to be there for his crew and his best friend.
I love the plot, Crew isn't about gangs, they aren't gangs. It's about a group of friends who protect each other from everything, they are a safety-net, people who have your back and care about you no matter what. They would do for you as they would do for themselves. It's about being there for someone when they don't have anyone. The whole story was told from Bren's point of view and we get to see how a person becomes part of a crew. Her life is told in flashbacks and some very real and important issues come up. The closeness that they all have, Bren's willingness for survival and the climaxes all kept me riveted to the seat. There were mellow parts then bam! everything is in utter chaos. So much happens, so much information is revealed and I could help but wonder what else can happen after that then something else dramatic happens... I just lived for this book. I will be purchasing a printed copy of Crew now, it was just that good.
Crew was a wild a crazy read that had me on the edge, most of the book, and kept me wanting more. I am totally invested in the characters and so much has happen that I am glued to the story now. My mind is just blown, I need the next book in the series because with the little surprise ending I can't wait to see what the wolves do next because no messes with the wolves, they are Crew.
