Review Detail

The story:

California “Callie” McCoy is a typical teenager in many ways: unsure of her future, struggles to fit in, and loves the few friends she has… especially Jamie, who she finally begins a relationship with after years of him pursuing her. They start their senior year of high school full of hope, but, as life is wont to do, will take more than a few dramatic turns, including a tragic incident that more and more teenagers seem to be subjected to these days.


What I loved:

Like most Michelle Lynn characters, every single person in this story felt real, and I connected to Callie immediately. Yes, there were times when I (and she) questioned her behavior and decision making and the crowd she falls in with in order to maintain her tenuous hold on being a fringe member of the “in” crowd, but what teen in that position wouldn’t? I also felt for Jamie, the product of an affair by a career-politician father who demeans his at every turn.

There was a definite theme of bullying in this story, which is something I feel very strongly about. Though it’s not the main theme, it does impact every character after one single event.


What I didn’t love:

Honestly, not much. One of the side stories involved Callie and her twin brother Colby investigating the mystery of who their father is, and that comes to a head at the very end, and I wish it could have occupied a larger chunk of the story. And just when we get a payoff on that plot-line, we jump forward ten years in time to a cliffhanger that leads into the second book. (I’m thankful I don’t have to wait to read We Thought We Knew It All, and neither should you.)


My Final Verdict:

We Thought We Were Invincible is a beautiful, touching story about love, angst, redemption, tragedy, and finally coming to terms with the end of your adolescence. It is thoughtful, humorous, the kind of story every teenager should read.