Review: A good read about student/teacher romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 13, 2013
***Copy kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review***Out of all the taboo/controversial stories, student/teacher romances are my favorite. There's just something about them that makes it so irresistible: the thrill, the forbidden quality, the illicitness, the sneaking around, and the inability to keep away from each other. Maybe it was because I expected those aspects to show in the book or because I'm used to reading about those types of student/teacher romances that I felt this story was lacking intensity. Mind you, I still really enjoyed this book. It was just a milder, tamer version of what I was used to reading.The book follows the story of Gemma Davies, who just got out of a nasty breakup with her boyfriend of 3 years, and on the spur of a moment, goes out to a bar to wind down and party. It is here where she meets Ben, one of the poetry readers at the open mic. It was pretty clear that he stood out from the rest, both in looks and intelligence, and for Gemma, it was lust at first sight."He's like some sort of human/alien hybrid mixed with...I don't know, an angel."Expecting a night full of passionate sex, Gemma is surprised when it doesn't go quite the way she thought it would be and what they end up doing is....I was laughing in disbelief. I mean, good, loud, roaring laughter because, well, it was just so darn funny! I'm just glad I'm not in her sexually frustrated position.Gemma and Ben make plans to see each other the next day, but unknowingly meet before their date in the classroom. As professor and student. O.O"Then, in perfectly insufferable timing, Ben walked passed me with his eyes straight-forward, not a single glance given. He carried our secret like a sealed vial, tucked away in a spot that nobody could find. He wore nothing on his sleeve as he hummed quietly, disappearing down the halls amidst a sea of students who too had no idea. No idea that we'd been together."Usually, this part is supposed to cue the jealousy, the sneaking around, and the angst because it isn't moral for them to be together. I found it refreshing that Ben and Gemma don't even bother denying their feelings for each other: no pushing each other away because `you're my teacher, I'm you're student' thing. I liked that.There were, however, a couple of issues I had. Number 1 would be the believability of some of the events in this book. I get how Ben and Gemma met, and that they're physically compatible, but I never understood their connection. What they saw in each other. What besides physical attraction drew them together. Ben would constantly refer to Gemma as an `enigma,' which she wasn't. At all. Most of the time, I just thought Gemma could have been anyone who was in that bar, easily replaceable. It could have ended up as Ben and Amy, Ben and Melissa, Ben and Jane, Ben and ____, you get the point.I also had difficulty comprehending the entire duration of their relationship while Gemma was still in school. I'd think that there would be someone who would catch them, or someone disapproving of their relationship to add some conflict, but there wasn't any of that. Besides some vague suspicions, Ben and Gemma basically ride out their relationship unscathed. To me, their story seemed too unrealistic to believe in. And last, around 70% of the book, something quite major and drastic happens. Not going to spoil it, but again, I was thinking `why this?' It was completely random, and sudden, and in the aftermath, I was wondering, `what was the author's purpose of adding this...this event in their lives?' To bring them closer? They were already attached hip-to-hip to begin with.Overall, this book was a good read. It provided me a great escape from reality, and was quite different in feel from other student/teacher romances I've read before.3.5-4 STARS!!!Reviewed by Feifei on behalf of Give Me Books blogFor more book news, updates, and latest giveaways, visit our websites!Blog: givemebooksblog.blogspot.com.auFacebook page: [...]