Kara Olecki didn’t mean to kill her boyfriend Matt. But she did—and she’s paying the price. As she waits for the jury’s decision, she has nothing but time to recap all the important moments, both good and bad, that led up to her sentencing. Told in dual timelines, experience Kara’s thoughts in the courtroom and musings from the previous two years: From the first time she laid eyes on Matt and their ski trip to Colorado, to their squabbles and individual tribulations. It was the kind of first relationship that Kara had imagined. Right up until the end.
Thank you author Sean Fesko for providing a free copy of this eBook, in exchange for an honest review.
Characters
Kara was on trial for the murder of her boyfriend. In this short story, Kara relived the moments of her life prior to the event that Matt had died. At the time that she’d met Matt, it was the summer before her junior year at a new school. Despite being the new girl in town, Kara wasn’t shy. She was soon recruited for the swim team, and helping to collect money for the animal shelter. On the outside, Kara was a sweet girl, doing the things that she was supposed to do. However, there was a side of her that she didn’t show anyone. I liked that Kara was a complex, multifaceted character, and that throughout the story, this “inner Kara” becomes louder and louder. The fact that she wasn’t perfect made me root for her more.
I wished to know more about the other characters in this novel. Matt was a basketball player and one of the popular kids in school. Despite being typecast as a jock, he had a kind heart. Other than being a “nice kid”, I wished I could say more about Matt, and although I liked that this novel was written in Kara’s point of view, I wanted to understand Matt more, especially his actions towards the end of the novel. In terms of Kara and Matt’s relationship, it was clear that Kara and Matt had some good times together in the beginning, however I felt that the eventual downturn of their relationship was glossed over.
There was less focus on the minor characters, such as Kara’s best friend Machel and her family. I wished there was more about these characters and their relationship dynamics in this story.
Plot & Pacing
The story toggled between present day, when Kara was in court, and the past, when Kara relived her relationship with Matt. I liked reading about the reflective, present-day Kara, and the Kara who struggled with the ups and downs of high school life. The primary focus was on Kara’s past, while the present-day chapters were shorter and less detailed. I was curious about the specifics of what was said in the court proceedings and how the judges came to their final decision.
The pacing was spot-on. The premise and the mystery of what exactly happened between Kara and Matt kept me intrigued throughout the story. I was able to read the entire book in one sitting. I didn’t find the story to move too quickly, although I did want to get to know the secondary characters better.
Writing
The writing and dialogues flowed well. I liked that historical events were used as references throughout the novel, so that I was able to get a sense of the time frame of the story.
The Bottom Line: 3/5 stars!
Overall I enjoyed Let’s Be Legends. The mystery and intrigue kept me glued to the page from beginning to end. My only reservation was that I wished the story was longer and that there was more focus on the characters and their relationships.
SOPHIE LI 
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