Easy does it.

In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have read this straight after reading Slammed by Colleen Hoover as it has a similar storyline, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I thought it was quite steamy for a New Adult novel! Emphasis more on sexual tension than actual sex, but it was still pretty high on the smut-o-meter. The romance side of things was good and often sweet, but, being the twisted sister I am, I would have dearly loved for there to have been more emotional drama and turmoil. From the blurb, I was expecting it to be more of a gut-kicker than I ultimately found it to be. Oh well.

I enjoyed both main characters, Lucas and Jacqueline, and indulged in a nice bit of righteous indignation on Jacqueline's behalf when her ex delivered his "It's not you, it's me" speech right at the top of the story. Oyyy, what an asshat he was. As we join Jacqueline in the present, it's been about 3 weeks since this happened and she's still feeling a very raw and is having to adjust to the fact that all her friends were actually all his friends, so the split has disrupted her world in more ways than one. But, on the plus side, this leads her to attend a party where she meets someone who thankfully isn't an asshat, and that was Lucas. He was an interesting character with a mysterious, troubled past that is slowly uncovered by Jacqueline. While I enjoyed reading Lucas' story as it unfolded, I thought the ultimate reveal, the big showdown conversation, was incredibly rushed causing it to lack any real impact. I thought he forgave very easily and it was resolved too quickly.

I would definitely recommend the audio version. The reader was very good and sounded age-appropriate. I should also warn that it features an attempted rape that is described in detail, so definitely a book for older teens.

3.5 Stars ★★★1/2