Review: Loved it, but need more!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 11, 2014
Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.Shayna is a high school graduate and is ready to start her life as an adult. The only problem is that she doesn't know where she fits in in the world. For the past seven months she's been living a lie, just to keep her parents off her back and happy. She has been the good girl, the picture perfect minister's daughter, dating another minister's son. Her parents have a plan for her, but Shayna has other ideas. Unfortunately, she's not quite sure what they are...yet.Carter is the older brother of one of Shayna's only friends, Quinn. He's home on Christmas break from college when he's thrown into an awkward situation with Shayna. The two make an immediate connection, yet they live on opposite sides of the country and the age difference seems to put Shayna strictly into the "friend" zone, or is it something more? Is Carter hiding a secret that could be the reason he's holding Shayna at a distance, despite the obvious attraction they have towards each other?Carter and Shayna continue to have a relationship via flirty late night text messages and phone calls, and when Shayna's unhappiness at home finally gets to the breaking point, she decides to set out across the country to see if a relationship with Carter could really work. Shayna also finds out that her parents have been harboring a huge secret as well, a secret that could explain a lot of Shayna's behaviors. This is a great example of a coming of age novel without too much added angst that many in this genre seem to have.Friend Is a Four Letter Word is a solid four star read. It was quick and easy, perhaps just a little too quick. I truly do hope that there is more of Carter and Shayna's story that will be told because it felt like there were some issues that were not completely resolved. I loved the characters and the depth of passion between Carter and Shayna. I could really feel Shayna start to evolve and grow, not only because of her relationship with Carter, but that she found she was a much stronger person than she was giving herself credit for. Carter is just plain hot and his ability to admit his own vulnerabilities makes him all the hotter. I would definitely be on board with more of their story!