Review: All of You is a hot new adult novel with amazing characters and a sizzling romance.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 21, 2013
Quick & Dirty: Beautiful story about how love and friendship can heal wounds.  All of You is a hot new adult novel with amazing characters and a sizzling romance.Opening Sentence: Love was like a loaded gun.The Review:Avery Michaels doesn’t do the whole boyfriend thing. She is more into causal flings with lots of fun and no commitment.  Growing up with a mother who dated a long string of losers has taught her that love isn’t worth the heartache it brings.  Then she meets Bennett, the yummy tattoo artist that just recently moved in upstairs.  She is determined to make him her next conquest, but surprisingly he’s not into that kind of thing.Bennett is a relationship kind of guy and he has his sights set on Avery.  He can see something special in her that makes him keep trying even though it seems fruitless.  As they get to know each other Avery knows she should stay away from him, but she can’t bring herself to let him go.Avery is an interesting protagonist.  She is very protective of her heart because of some painful memories from her youth.  She got away from her destructive mother and is now working her way through college, but she still cares about her family and tries to help in any way she can.  I admire and respect that she was able to make some tough decisions and remain strong.  Her negative attitude on love was a little depressing at times, but watching her views change was worth the negativity.  It was emotional to watch her open herself up and become a more complete person.  In the end, I really loved Avery’s character and was glad I could read her story.Bennett is one of my favorite new adult book boys.  I love that he was an optimist even though he had a hard upbringing as well.  His mother was very similar to Avery’s, but instead of taking that pain and turning cynical, he turned it into hope.  It’s true that he’s a virgin, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any experience.  He is very sexy and he knows how to use that to his advantage.  He is an artist and he uses his art to express himself.  He is a kind and generous person with a protective streak.  He can’t help himself when it comes to Avery he wants to help make her whole, but she has to let him in first.  Everything about Bennett was perfect, and I loved him to bits.This was a fast read for me.  The story flowed perfectly, and I found that it was pretty hard to put down once I started.  There is a good balance of emotional heart pulling moments and the sexy times, because yes this book is very steamy. The romance is sweet and full of tender moments, but it isn’t perfect.  Avery and Bennett really have to work to understand each other and that just made them feel more real.  I did figure out most of the plot a little before things unfolded on their own, but I still found it really interesting.  I think this was a fantastic debut, and I really look forward to seeing what the author comes out with next.  If you are a fan of new adult romance, you should give this one a try.FTC Advisory: Intermix/Penguin provided me with a copy of All of You. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.