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    On the Fence
    On the Fence
    On the Fence
    Audiobook6 hours

    On the Fence

    Written by Kasie West

    Narrated by Shannon McManus

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door.

    With three older brothers, Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, has always been more comfortable calling the shots on a basketball court than flirting with the opposite sex. So when her police officer dad demands she get a summer job to pay for the latest in a long line of speeding tickets, she's more than a little surprised to find herself working at a chichi boutique and going out with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game. Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with her neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden, sitting back-to-back against the fence that separates them. Braden may know her better than anyone. But there's a secret Charlie's keeping that even he hasn't figured out—she's fallen for him. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

    On the Fence is a sweet and satisfying read about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect it.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIdeal Audiobooks
    Release dateAug 10, 2015
    ISBN9781942907220
    Author

    Kasie West

    Kasie West lives with her family in central California, where the heat tries to kill her with its 115-degree stretches. She graduated from Fresno State University with a BA degree that has nothing to do with writing. Visit her online at www.kasiewest.com.

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    Reviews for On the Fence

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      ON THE FENCE was a sweet romance with great characters. Charlie Reynolds has three older brothers. Her dad is a cop. Her mother died when she was just six. Charlie is mostly okay growing up competing and playing with her brothers and her next door neighbor Braden who is like another brother to her. However, she is plagued with nightmares about the car accident that killed her mother. When she gets her latest speeding ticket, her dad tells her she has to get a job to pay for the ticket. She finds a job in a very unlikely location. She gets a job in a clothing boutique run by a woman who sees auras. Through her job, she meets other girls and finds out that they aren't so different than she is. She also has to dress in a more feminine way which she finds out isn't as horrible as she had thought. As the summer progresses, she finds her relationship with Braden changing. They have taken to meeting at night by the fence that separates their yards. Sitting back to back, each on their own side of the fence, they share things they don't talk about in the daytime. Charlie finds herself thinking about Braden as more boyfriend than brother. But she doesn't know if Braden feels the same way.I thought this was a great story. I loved the relationship the Charlie had with her brothers. I ached with her as she tried to figure out how to be a girl with no female role model. I understood her wonder about what her relationship with her mother would have been like. I really liked her relationship with Braden.Fans of sports and romance will enjoy this story.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book !! ❤️? Wish it wasn't over
    • 5/5
      Cute story. Fun family dynamics. Good narrartor. I would have loved an epilogue and some more of the relationship.
    • 5/5
      What can I said I have always love kasie books. I love her writing style and her books are always wonderful when summer comes around. I love the story of charlie and branden. The characters were amazing likes always, her books always have something that pulls you in and it doesnt let you go until you finish the book. I would recommend this book for you specially if you looking for a summer read.
    • 3/5
      For sixteen year old charlotte aka Charlie being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She is a tomboy, loves sports and outdoor activities unlike other girls. But when Charlie gets another ticket and her father finds out she is told to get a job to pay for the ticket and take responsibility for her actions. Charlie finds a job at Bazar, a new age boutique. Once getting the job she is asked to start modelling makeup and fashionable clothing for sales at the store. To cope with the stress of faking her way through her new unwanted reality she seeks out late night refuge at the fence in her backyard,.talking to her neighbour Braiden about her problems. The biggest problem he cannot offer help for is that Charlie is falling hard for Braiden. Can she risk the relationship she has by telling Braiden the truth about how she feels?

      I loved the family relationships that were read in this book, it felt real and what a family would normally be like. It wasn’t to unbelievable. The only problem I had was towards the end where Charlie talked to other characters about her issues and finally confessed multiple times about different problems or lies during the whole book.

      A cute short summer read I really enjoyed another one of Kasie West’s books.
    • 2/5
      Never could get into it. Was just boring Was very disappointed.
    • 3/5
      3.5/5 starsThis was really cute. I enjoyed the family dynamic, and Charlie's relationship with her brothers. I also really enjoyed her growth, and the experiences she had. They were pretty realistic and Charlie learned some great lessons about being, and accepting yourself, friendship, and not being afraid to try new things.:)
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed the story but for some reason parts of the audiobook were missing.
    • 5/5
      I received this free eARC in exchange for my honest review. Yay! I am so glad that I got this book early! After I read Kasie West's novel "The Distance Between Us" I have been a huge fan, and she did not disappoint in this novel. Actually, I might have liked this novel more than her other... It was that good!I love Charlie and her family. Yes, she is a tomboy but she is also discovering her inner girly-girl during this story. When she's forced to get a job because of all of her speeding tickets, working in a clothing store was going to be torture. But she slowly started to transform. And Charlie's brothers? Gotta love them. Gage is a hoot and is the brother that everyone wants, but knows he would be a pain in the butt at the same time. And Nathan and Jerom are the typical older brothers, but they seemed very laid back when it came to Charlie. Probably because she made it easy for them since she was a tomboy. And Braden... Braden, Braden. Charlie was an idiot for not seeing his attraction to her. But then Braden didn't see it until Charlie made the mistake of showing her feelings one night on the fence. The story was wonderful. The writing was amazing. To ensure I make this clear, I started reading this novel at 11:30 pm (yes, stupid idea to start so late. Oh well.) and I read it until 1:30 am. Straight through. I sprinted through this novel so fast and wanted more! I still do. Can I have more?I had no problems connected to Charlie since I was in sports in high school. She was determined to be the best at all of the them, especially since her brothers were competing against her. This was an amazing novel and perhaps Kasie West will continue the story? Maybe through one of Charlie's brothers? Either way, I'm so glad I got a copy of this and it might even be a book that I re-read in the future. I will most definitely be buying this book when it comes out in paperback for my Young Adult collection at work. The teens will definitely enjoy this story - I can see it being a high checked-out book. You must read this when it becomes available. You must! :)
    • 4/5
      Way sadder than anticipated but I loved every second of it
    • 4/5
      The main character reminded me of myself as a teen (minus the athletic prowess), as I was always hanging out with boys, loved sports and knew sports. Adorable story that is a quick read--hooked me in fast and I read it in one sitting.
    • 4/5
      Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book that I bought for Kindle. Previous to reading this book I had also read West’s “Pivot Point” series (loved it) and “The Distance Between Us” (liked it).Story (4/5): This is a cute contemporary romance young adult story about a tomboy, Charlie, who falls in love with her neighbor (who was has been like a brother to her). In addition to this, Charlie is coping with the death of her mother and venturing into new feminine territory when she starts a job at a boutique clothing store.This was a very cute, fun and quick read. It was the perfect “palette cleanser” between all the fantasy books I’ve been reading lately. It leaves you feeling happy and good for the most part. Unfortunately, I didn’t give it 5 stars because it feels a bit unfinished to me. While the romance part of the story is pretty resolved, the backstory involving Charlie’s new burgeoning career was really left hanging.Characters (4/5): I really loved all of the characters in here. Charlie is struggling to mesh her tomboy persona and her brothers’ expectations of her, with a need to feel a bit more feminine and embrace some more girly things. Her brothers are great characters too, always including her but a bit over-protective and blind about some of Charlie’s needs. Charlie’s family is so loving and trying so hard to make things work. Of course, Braden was well done too. I love that he reminded Charlie to be herself and not change to impress others.Setting (4/5): This is mostly set at Charlie’s house and around town. The setting isn’t a huge focus in this story.Writing Style (4/5): As with other West books I have read, this one is well written and super easy to read. I had trouble putting the book down and, yes, it was a bit predictable but I didn’t mind at all. This is just such a cute book and leaves you feeling happy and thoughtful. I love how West navigated the complicated family feelings, especially in a family missing the mother. I also love how she showed Charlie navigating the complicated terrain of both being a sportcentric tomboy but also starting to bring in some more female friends and just a bit more balance.My only huge complaint is that this whole thing feels very unfinished and I really wish there was a follow-up book to this one. While the romance is resolved we are left hanging in regards to both Charlie’s sport career and the other career she develops throughout the story. It would have been great to get a bit more resolution. A follow up book would be such a good opportunity to explore how Charlie (and other women) can balance these two areas of life without having to be put into a stereotypical box.My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this. This was a fun and light and feel-good read. I plan on picking up more of West’s novels whenever I am in the mood for a fun, light contemporary romance. West’s books always have a fun romance but also have a great story to them as well and I enjoy that balance. I would definitely recommend West to those who enjoy YA contemporary romances.
    • 5/5
      Beyond adorable!I'm a sucker for YA and Friends to Lovers romance, and Kasie West is one of my favorite YA author :DThe best-friend-turned-boyfriend story is one of my favorites.I loved everything that brought them together!!!!A MUST-READ!
    • 5/5
      This book was SOOO cute and I am just in love with it! I haven't ever read a book by Kasie West that I haven't liked. I've read this book twice now, and I can't stop thinking about it.I feel madly in love with Charlie, her family, and of course Braden. I loved Charlie and Braden together. The connection between them was beyond adorable, and the romance was extremely swoony. I love the friends to more trope, a lot!!! If you haven't read any of Kasie's books yet, but look for cute, awesome YA contemporaries, you should definitely add her novels to your TBR.
    • 4/5
      Charlie is a tomboy in a family of boys and men. Her mom died when she was little and she doesn't really know how to be a girly girl. But a job changes that a little. Suddenly she has a friend who embraces makeup and Charlie has to dress like a girl for work and there's a boy who is interested in her girly persona. It takes her long time friendship with the boy next door to help her see that she can be who she is without hiding her true nature. There it's a theme of facing the truth and not hiding from it which is interesting.
    • 5/5
      4.5 Stars. I read this in one sitting.  Loved the boy-next-door/brother's friend plot. It's also a story about being proud of who you are, and also being willing to try something different. I really enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      My favorite Kasie West book. A clean romance with a hint of a mystery. Older brother's best friend trope. Cute/troubled boy falls for tom-boy neighbor during late night talks across their backyard fence. The pages flew by and my daughter read it just as fast.
    • 4/5
      I listened to this on audiobook, and I finished it pretty quickly. I normally only listen to audiobooks when I am driving, but I listened to this one while I was on the computer and at home. I was that interested in the story, and I could not wait to just listen to it when I was in the car. I am really becoming a fan of Kasie West.I really liked the characters including the main and side characters. I think everyone played a role in making this story what it was. I loved Charlie and her brothers. I also love Braden.This book was about Charlie really finding herself. It was about loss and friendship, young love, abuse, and so much more. I just loved the relationship with Charlie and Braden and I loved how Charlie started to accept who she was and who she is growing up to be.This is your typical girl and boy who have known each other forever, but love each other. However; there is so much more to go along with it to keep your interest. It was a really cute book, and I now want to read more Kasie West.
    • 3/5
      This book was not as good as the author's debut novel, but it was still a sweet romance between a tom boy and her best friend.
    • 3/5
      Cute story with good themes. The main character was kind of abrasive, but I loved her relationship with her brothers!
    • 4/5
      Charlie is a tomboy, and she’s always been “one of the guys”. When she gets a new job in a boutique and starts experimenting what “normal” girls do – wear makeup, go to parties, etc-, she discovers being a “normal” girl isn’t so bad. To top it all off, she’s starting to have feelings for her long-time neighbor with whom she talks to at nights on the fence that divides their houses. She doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, but how can she not when it’s so obvious she’s falling hard for the boy next door?KASIE WEST DID IT AGAIN! She stole my heart with an amazing contemporary romance and gave me ALL THE FEELS!Charlie herself was really believable and relatable as a character. Saying she was a tomboy wasn’t just added to make her “different”. She was truly and completely a tomboy. It was so great to see a leading lady being so different than all the cookie cutter heroines out there. I liked seeing her trying to “fit in” because it’s something we all go through at one moment in our lives. I loved seeing her trying on different clothes and seeing what made her feel the most “comfortable”. I liked that even if she was trying to change, it wasn’t because someone was making her, but because she had the potential for that herself.Charlie has 3 older brothers and while I loved the idea that they were all there to protect her and be amazing big brothers to her, I felt like they all blurred together into one person. Nathan, Jerom, & Gage all seemed like the same person to me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved when they all appeared together with Charlie because their interactions were so fun, however I couldn’t help shaking the fact that I couldn’t distinguish them. Nevertheless I really wished I had brothers. Specifically, Charlie’s brothers.Braden as a love interest was so GOOD. He was charming and smart and sensitive. He listened to Charlie, and he was always there for her, and he always knew how to make her smile. I was giddy throughout most of the book because I could literally feel them falling for each other and it was so cuteeeeeee!Also, I loved that this book wasn’t just about the romance. It was about self-discovery and about loving and accepting yourself. It was about dealing with grief, and taking responsibility for your actions, and about family. It was such an amazing book, and beautifully written. I want to own every single book Kasie has ever written.
    • 5/5
      Charlotte Reynolds, AKA Charlie, was raised by her Father and three older brothers. Since her Mother died when she was only six she never truly had a female role model. Which is why after getting a speeding ticket and being forced to get a job Charlie finds herself completely lost working at a small clothing boutique in town. She doesn't know the first thing about style, or hair, or makeup or nails. But suddenly she's thrust into this world and surprisingly, instead of drowning finds herself able to at least keep her head above the water. However not knowing how to put together an outfit is the least of Charlies worries. Since she started working she hasn't had time to run which means she isn't tired enough when she gets home to sleep straight through the night without the nightmares creeping into her dreams and haunting her subconscious.The only thing that seems to help her through the tough times are her late night talks with her next door neighbor and honorary brother, Braden. It doesn't take long for Charlie to realize she's falling for Braden but the fence isn't the only thing that separates them and if there is even the smallest chance of Charlie losing him then she can't risk telling him how she feels.On The Fence is a heartwarming love story that fans of Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins will find themselves swooning over.Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Book Depository --------------------------------------------I don't even know where to start. First off I'm warning you, do not start this book unless you intend on finishing it in one sitting. It's impossible to put down. It didn't take more than a couple of sentences for me to fall head over heels in love with Kasie's writing style, her story and most importantly, her characters. Every character jumped off of the page, demanding to be seen and heard and understood. I loved Charlie and Braden, their dynamic relationship had me pulling for them before I finished the first chapter but I also fell in love with her older brothers and how protective they were towards her. The fact that Charlie was a tomboy who watches sports instead of reality tv shows and would rather play around in the mud with the boys than go to the mall was a giant cherry on top. Having a female protagonist who doesn't look and act like a 90210 extra was such a breath of fresh air. I loved how even though it was a cute, romantic read it had deeper issues and storylines that you don't usually find in rom-coms. It had a depth to it that made the story feel much more real and made you care about it just a little bit more. I can't wait to read more from Kasie and if you haven't yet picked up this book I urge you to do so as soon as possible, you won't regret it! Until next time, Ginger
    • 5/5
      This was such a cute and quick read. Charlotte (Charlie as everyone calls her) is a huge tomboy, growing up with three brothers and without a mom. When she gets her first job to pay back her father for an abundance of speeding tickets, she meets some females who bring out Charlie's more feminine side. While I loved the "girl next door" romance going on, my favorite part of the book had to be the family aspect. I loved the way Charlie interacted with her brothers and her father and how they were all so protective of her. This is the perfect summer read!
    • 5/5
      Charlotte, AKA Charlie, often wonders what advice her mom would give her in a given situation, but that's never going to happen. She was very young when her mom died in an auto accident. At sixteen, she's nearly an athletic equal to her three older brothers no matter what sport they're playing. Ditto for neighbor Braden, a year older and as much like a brother as any guy could get.When she gets her second speeding ticket, the fact that her dad is a policeman can't get her off. She postpones telling him which is a huge mistake because he learns about it from the officer who gave it to her. Dad's mad, so Charlie is given an ultimatum: Get a job and pay her father back for both tickets as well as the monthly surcharge that will hit their auto insurance.She lets her brother drag her off to a small upscale mall and after asking Skye, a girl working in one of the shops about an application, the girl steers her to an upscale clothing shop a few doors away. There, Charlie meets Linda, a new age type who seems to have an uncanny ability to sense auras and moods. While the clothing and accessories are completely off Charlie's radar, she gets hired with the provision that she take some of the clothing and have the cost deducted from future paychecks so she can look appropriate for the shop. This is her first experience with looking feminine or different. At first, it's really uncomfortable and becomes even more so when Linda talks her into being the model for some fancy make-up demonstrations. Oddly enough, the changes start to grow on Charlie, but she refuses to let her dad, her brothers and Braden see the different Charlie. She also falls into the trap of lying about herself and her family to Linda when she tells her that mom is still alive. Her rationale is that she doesn't want anyone feeling sorry for her.Feelings are a mine field for Charlie. She uses long runs to tire herself enough so she can avoid the recurring nightmares of the car crash that killed her mom, but she also isn't okay with Linda's offer to listen when she's upset. She also discovers that the only time she can really open up to Braden, for whom she's starting to have some exciting, but scary feelings, is late at night when they sit on opposite sides of the fence between their homes.The inevitable collision between the old Charlie and the evolving one, her meeting Evan and dating him, with an unsettling reaction from Braden, new friendships with real girls and the truth about what really happened the night her mom died, all start to speed up, and when they collide at the end of the book, she has to take a good hard look at herself, her lies and how she truly feels about Braden.This is a fast, fun read with a nice story line and a bunch of likable characters. Teens and even mature tweens who like love stories, athletic female protagonists and even fans of 'fish out of water heroines' will really like this. I bought it because I read and really liked Kasie's The Distance Between Us.
    • 4/5
      I wanted to read On The Fence because I was in the need for a summery read plus the fact that I have liked Kasie West's characters and writing style from her paranormal books. The dynamic between Charlie, our tomboy main character and her brothers is so endearing. They are like an amoeba, where one is, you'll find the rest. They have folded into their circle of boyhood, wrestling with her, playing sports no holds barred with her, and letting her be with them all the time. Part of this group of guys is next door neighbor Braden, who is an only child and loves the inclusion. He has a dad who he dubs jerk and him getting out of the house when dear dad comes home drunk is what leads him to be out so late at night to begin the fence talks with Charlie. And yes, we can all see where this is going. But I liked how they had a friendship first, and they were aware that if things changed, it would effect more than herself. But I like that as they have the deep conversations at night, she is working out things about herself and her mom who died when she was little. They have this deeper connection and it makes me smile. Charlie's dad was also present. He was awkward a lot of the time, but he was at least trying. Red in the face talking about conditioner and bras, doing what men shouldn't have to do. I also like that he was in on some of the nerf action. Speaking of, I love the playful nature of the house. That and how the dares kept things adventurous and deepened their bonds. Through her job she is also getting in touch with parts of herself that she didn't before. That she could be a little girly and it wouldn't be the end of the world. What I think the most important message was though is how she learned to be herself. That she could be girly or wear makeup if she wanted, but that she shouldn't have to be fake or only show half of who she was in order to be liked. The light nature to the book was also good. Because even though it had some rough subject matter--drunk dads and dead moms--it was dealt with and still managed to focus on the now. Being able to push through, showing your strength and at the same time vulnerability to open up to someone else and share feelings, to lean on them and to get through. The ending was sweet and nice, but I couldn't help putting down the book and wanting to get more time in their chemistry, in the sureity of their relationship, with others knowing, with their hearts a little less confused. Bottom Line: Fun, fast and light with slow romance that was sweet.
    • 4/5
      I just want to gather up all of Kasie West's books and hug them. ADORABLENESS. This isn't a book I would normally pick up(sport-heavy books are just really not my thing), but I'm glad I did. I appreciated the family elements in this one too--there was a scene between Charlie & her dad that actually made me tear up! Of course, a few pages later, I was giggling again but everything was just so wonderful. Full review to come.
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: This was an adorable romance filled with humor, lovable characters, and it was just pure fun. I would highly recommend this to fans of Anna and the French Kiss or The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, this would be right up your ally.Opening Sentence: The engine whined against my attempt to go faster.The Review:Sixteen year old Charlie Reynolds is a total tomboy and she is ok with that at least for now. She grew up with just her dad and three older brothers, so sports were engrained into her from a young age. She doesn’t know the first thing about dating or wearing makeup, so when she starts working at a stylish clothing store she finds herself completely out of her element. She always thought that jeans were meant to be comfortable not skin tight, and wearing anything with flowers on it is completely unacceptable. Her eyes are opened to a whole new world filled with make-up, glitter, and dating.Charlie has always had trouble sleeping and with the added stress of her new job it has just got worse so at night she has started to drift out to the fence to talk to the boy that has always been a huge part of her life, her neighbor Braden. She starts to look forward to the nighttime chats with him, and soon she starts to realize that her feelings for Braden are more than just brotherly feelings. Charlie can’t lose Braden and admitting her feelings for him might be the one thing that will push him away for good.I’m not going to lie, I want Charlie to be real so she can be my best friend. Everything about her was fun and energetic. She fits right in with the guys when it comes to sports and getting down and dirty during football, but when it comes to dating boys she is completely clueless. Her mother passed away when she was only six years old, so growing up with just her dad and three brothers has been wonderful, but not very educational on girl things. She never wears makeup and her everyday attire is a t-shirt and jeans with tennis shoes. I think the reason I loved Charlie so much was because she reminded me of myself when I was younger. I grew up with two older brothers and was very tomboyish as well. Luckily, I grew out of it at a younger age then Charlie, but I had some very similar experiences in my life that Charlie had. So suffice to say, I completely adored Charlie!Just thinking about Braden gives me butterflies. He is just one of those boys that you instantly love and root for. Not only is he a totally hottie, but he is a very good listener as well. He has known Charlie forever and has always been considered a part of the family. I love that he accepts Charlie for who she is and doesn’t want her to change a thing about herself. Braden can be so charming, but he can also be kind of a jerk too. He doesn’t handle jealousy very well, but it was fun to see a different side to him. He is that guy that is consistent and even though he’s not perfect he will always be there for you no matter what. Braden has my stamp of approval and I honestly fell head over heels in love with him.On the Fence is seriously such an amazing contemporary read. I might even go so far as to say that it is my favorite YA contemporary romance ever, it was that good. I have always been a sucker for romances where the couple starts as best friends because I adore when friendship grows into love. It just seems so natural and I found it much more realistic. West does such an amazing job making you connect with the story and characters. I found myself laughing out loud, getting completely giddy, and feeling totally awkward at moments throughout the story. Honestly, there are just not enough good things I can say about this book, as soon as I finished reading it I went and pre-ordered a copy because I knew this was a book I will re-read many times. Kasie West has quickly climbed her way to the list of my favorite authors and I will gladly read anything she writes. If you are a fan of Stephanie Perkins or Jennifer E. Smith, I think that On the Fence would be the perfect book for you. It is a clean, fun, and sweet romance that all young adult fans should read.Notable Scene:I hesitated now, realizing where we were, but he didn’t stop. He took me by the shoulders and turned me around to face the guys, who were now all staring at us. “By a show of hands,” Braden said loudly, “who here would’ve asked Charlie out in the last six months had they not been given the ‘We will kill you if you at Charlie’ speech by the three lugs over there when she turned sixteen?”My first instinct was to yank away from Braden’s grip and never talk to him again. Ever. But the small thread of curiosity weaving through me seemed to have stitched me to the grass, because I couldn’t move.A few guys shifted nervously and glanced at Jerom. Just when I started to feel extremely embarrassed that no one had moved. Tyler raised his hand. His bravery seemed to spur the others forward, because at least half a dozen of them put their hands up. Gage, thinking he was hilarious had even raised his hand. Braden, I noticed, had both hands still firmly grasping my shoulders.“Which is exactly why we gave the speech,” Jerom said darkly.“You don’t have to change for a guy,” Braden said quietly in my ear.FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of On the Fence. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged