Anything You Want - Geoff Herbach (Review)

Anything You Want
by Geoff Herbach
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: May 3rd 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Synopsis:

Expect a bundle of joy—er, trouble—in this hilarious, heartwarming story from the award-winning author of Stupid Fast Geoff Herbach

Taco's mom always said, "Today is the best day of your life, and tomorrow will be even better." That was hard to believe the day she died of cancer and when Taco's dad had to move up north for work, but he sure did believe it when Maggie Corrigan agreed to go with him to junior prom. Taco loves Maggie- even more than the tacos that earned him his nickname. And she loves him right back.

Except all that love? It gets Maggie pregnant. Everyone else may be freaking out, but Taco can't wait to have a real family again. He just has to figure out what it means to be a dad and how to pass calculus. And then there's getting Maggie's parents to like him. Because it would be so much easier for them to be together if he didn't have to climb the side of the Corrigans' house to see her...

REVIEW 

This book follows Taco whose mother has passed away and his father left for a job up north.  Taco has a brother Darius who is taking care of him, but Darius is not much older and has an alcohol problem.  So Taco doesn't really have adult supervision and is basically making it up as he goes along.

I love Taco as a character.   The author did a great job developing his personality.  As a reader we get to see the hardships that he is dealing with regarding his family as well as girlfriend.  Taco always tries to maintain a positive outlook because that is what his mother had taught him.  Even when things get crazy Taco never gives up.  I love the attitude that he has it is very inspirational.  Also, I really enjoyed how the author had Taco grow as a character.  From the beginning of the book to the end it was like a whole different person had developed.  Taco began to make adult decisions and he also learned about consequences to your actions.

Another aspect I loved was the major issues that the author was able to talk about in the book and show resolutions for those issues.  One major issue was the pregnancy of Taco and Maggie.  The book focuses on Taco wanting to be a father to the child and creating his own family since he is lacking in the family department.  Everyone is trying to convince Taco that he has no idea what he is getting himself into.   Taco eventually takes a parenting class and learns what he is somewhat in for and then makes and educated decision about the child after that class.   It was a great thing for Taco to learn about birthing and after you have the baby it really helped him make a decision.  

Another major issue was Taco's brother Darius.  Darius was feeding Taco lines about his alcohol being just showing up differently because he has bad blood.  Taco didn't know much more then that because he lacked parental guidance so once he learned what was actually going on his whole attitude on Darius changed.   Taco learned a lot about not only alcoholism, but himself in a way.  Every situation made Taco grow as a character, which made this book so great to read.

I would suggest this as a nighttime read.  It is a great book to take your mind off your own problems and focus on the problems of a teen.   Also, the positive outlook that Taco has makes this a happy read! 

I received a copy of this of this book from The Fantastic Flying Book Club in order to provide an honest review.  This does not effect my opinion of this book. 

My Rating: 4/5

Taco’s mom always said, “Today is the best day of your life, and tomorrow will be even better.” That was hard to believe the day she died of cancer and when Taco’s dad had to move up north for work, but he sure did believe it when Maggie Corrigan agreed to go with him to junior prom. Taco loves Maggie – even more than the tacos that earned him his nickname. And she loves him right back. 

Except all that love? It gets Maggie pregnant. Everyone else may be freaking out, but Taco can’t wait to have a real family again. He just has to figure out what it means to be a dad and how to pass calculus. And then there’s getting Maggie’s parents to like him. Because it would be so much easier for them to be together if he didn’t have to climb the side of the Corrigans’ house to see her…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am the author of the YA title, Stupid Fast (June 2011 from Sourcebooks Fire). I also wrote The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg, a Novel from Three Rivers Press. When I'm not writing books, I'm writing for Radio Happy Hour or developing ridiculous musical bits.

When I'm not writing, I'm teaching writing at Minnesota State, Mankato, which means I write a lot of comments about writing on student writing. 

Writing a lot of writing and reading about writing and writing on reading.