Slow Motion By Jennifer Pierce

‘Slow Motion’ is the latest book by Jennifer Pierce.

Angela has always been everything people in Westview want her to be. She’s supposed to be happy here, but she’s starting to see all the flaws in her seemingly-perfect life and she’s afraid that everyone else will notice, too. Owen knows that history can be a lot of lies depending on who tells the story and he’s just discovered the truth about how Westview became a drowned town a century ago. Long before they understood the rumours and grudges that rule their hometown, Angela and Owen were friends for one perfect summer. Now, as they navigate their senior year of high school and Westview celebrates its Tricentennial, they are reunited, discovering truths about themselves, each other, and the ways their community has been shaped by secrets, lies, and a devastating obsession with perfection.

Slow Motion is seen through the narrative of once childhood friends Owen and Angela. They were best friends one summer but that all stopped whenever Angela became one of the cool kids leaving Owen behind.

Now in their final year at high school, the pressure is on to go to the Walcott, the best university and Angela doesn’t want to go there. Angela is torn in her life, she’s tired of being the popular and successful one and having to put on a performance and finds solace in Owen, who lets her be own true self. When Owen confides in Angela about something that jeopardises her family’s status in the town, she uses it to her advantage and not having to conform to school and society’s expectations. They become a secret couple, both a crutch to each other’s struggles.

I enjoyed this Young Adult novel and it really highlights the struggles and peer pressure that teenagers have to go through. The stress of being popular and the effect it can have on mental health. Angela is a complex character, she’s tired of fitting in and wants to do her own thing and not be a sheep and follow the crowd. I loved Owen, who’s such a sweet character with a kind nature who’s in awe of Angela. She wants to keep their relationship a secret and I found this frustrating as Angela was growing in happiness, whilst Owen was having to lie to his friends and they drift apart.

Seen from the narrative of a privileged person and another not quite so, ‘Slow Motion’ is a life affirming story focusing on mental health and the pressures of society and is a sweetly written and is a poignant tale that made for tender reading.

You can buy ‘Slow Motion’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.