Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quiet girl tangles with bad boy in light teen romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The first time Wren meets Grayson in THE PROMISE OF AMAZING, he's choking on a cocktail frank and she saves his life. An obvious attraction develops between them, but quiet, good girl Wren isn't sure what to think when she finds out Grayson was kicked out of his elite private school for selling term papers. Still, he continues to pursue her, even getting a job with her family's wedding-reception business. Wren likes him, too, but as she learns bigger, more dangerous secrets about his past, she has trouble deciding whether to trust him.
Is It Any Good?
Some characters -- such as Wren's movie-obsessed friend -- are overly scripted, and the plot seems to go on too long before reaching a too-perfect ending. The protagonists narrate alternate chapters, so readers get to follow Wren and Grayson's inner thoughts and feelings as their attraction turns to love. They'll also know that Grayson has a bigger secret sure to cause some trouble down the road.
Still, although this isn't a deep book, teen-romance fans may find The Promise of Amazing a pleasant distraction with plenty of drama to keep readers wondering how things will work out between these two. Swoon-worthy moments include Grayson's realization: "I'd never felt like this before...it was like everything else in the room had faded to black. Except her. And me. And that was too important not to fight for."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reformed bad boys, such as Grayson. What's appealing about these kinds of characters?
In books and movies about romantic characters with troubled pasts, what issues tend to come up? Are stories about reformed bad boys different from tales of reformed bad girls?
What are your favorite romantic movies? Did Wren's friend Jazz add any new ones to your list? Do you think these kinds of movies set up unrealistic or outdated expectations for romance? What do you think might be different in real life?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : December 31, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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