Karole Cozzo

Jordyn is terrified that her autistic brother will ruin her friendships and social life in high school. Even if it means pulling away from her friends and the boy that she likes, she will do whatever it takes to avoid associations with her brother, Phillip. While she navigates school and her feelings for Alex, a boy she kissed a while ago and then told she wasn’t interested, her life changes when the school Phillip goes to has to send him to her high school temporarily. Over time, she show more realizes that her brother has taught her a lot and might even be able to teach her how to say “I love you” to the people she cares the most about.

This book focuses primarily on relationships. It uses the trope of being in love with a best friend until he gets into a relationship, but in doing that it manages to capture the complexities of teen relationships when there is that competition. The main focus of the book, however, is less on romance and more on the family difficulties and dynamics that Jordyn is facing with her parents and her brother. Although a lot of people might be bothered by how selfish and uncompassionate Jordyn can be to her brother, it also shows how difficult it can be for a teenager to have a family member who is demanding and potentially embarrassing. Her emotions and behavior can be unpleasant, but it always feels like real emotions that someone might have in a similar situation. It tackles a difficult subject in challenging ways, but the emotion in the book is there and makes it worth reading. show less

4.5 stars.

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo is a unique yet highly engaging young adult romance that deals with relevant social issues in a realistic manner.

Nicole "Nikki" Baylor's life forever changed the second she took part in a cyber bullying incident the morning after a party at her home. With her reputation in tatters, she is struggling with her shame over the incident as she tries to repair her fractured relationship with her parents. Once a popular student with a show more bright future ahead of her, Nikki is starting her senior year at a new school where everyone keeps their distance from her. Fulfilling her community service at a local rehabilitation center, Nikki meets Matty "Pax" Paxton, a young man who is now confined to a wheelchair after car accident. Knowing how difficult it is to move past horrible decisions, Pax takes Nikki at face value and offers her friendship when she needs it most. With his relentless optimism and upbeat personality, Nikki cannot help but begin to feel better about herself, but when her feelings deepen into more than friendship, will Pax be willing to take a risk on love?

Initially, Nikki is a little self-pitying as she bemoans everything she has lost. She definitely feels remorse and shame for her actions, but she cannot help be a little bitter over her friends' abandonment. She is also struggling to cope with the fallout from the incident in the present as well as the realization her hopes and dreams for the future may never materialize due to her lapse in judgment. There is much more to the cyber bullying incident than meets the eye and once the whole truth emerges, it is easy to feel empathy for what Nikki is going through. Nikki's emotions always ring true as she owns up to her mistake and begins to take responsibility for what she did. Nikki is an easy person to relate to because when it comes down to it, everyone has done something they are not proud of.

Like Nikki, Pax had everything going for him before the car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. A popular jock whose entire future was riding on an athletic scholarship, he has such a bright outlook despite his disappointment that his life will turn out nothing like he originally planned. Realistic and honest to a fault, Pax's enthusiasm and cheerfulness is catching as he accepts his limitations and embraces the positive rather than dwelling on the negative. Despite his self-confidence, he backs away from a romantic relationship with Nikki, but can she change his mind after Pax confesses his fears to her?

How to Keep Rolling After a Fall by Karole Cozzo is an uplifting young adult contemporary romance that offers a realistic portrayal of the effects of cyber bullying. Seeing the incident from the perspective of the bully is a refreshing change of pace and watching Nikki deal with the repercussions of her actions is quite sobering. The growth of her character is absolutely phenomenal as she finally begins to understand what motivated her participation in the incident and more importantly, she recognizes the lasting effects her bullying has on her victim. I highly recommend this well researched, engrossing novel to readers of all ages. show less

Karole Cozzo's "How to Say I Love You Out Loud" is a lot more than just a YA romance. It deals with important issues of disabilities and autism, and how these things can effect families, and it does so in a mature, accurate, and emotionally moving way. I also applaud Cozzo's depiction of Jordyn, the main character. She is hurting and afraid, but she is strong, resourceful, and smart (i.e. a real person). Ultimately (no spoilers), she pulls herself together in her own way and in her own time. show more When things are rough, she works on herself to improve the things she could be doing better, instead of just focusing on how to win the boy. Awesome. show less

This story portrays the emotions of a teenage girl struggling to accept her role as the sibling of an autistic brother. Jordyn feels the need to hide her brother Phillip from her friends after being subjected to taunting at a previous school. She turns down the boy of her dreams due to her fear over his reaction. The way autism affects Jordyn's life and her resulting need to distance herself was portrayed in a realistic and heart-wrenching fashion.