Review: Endearing Love Story that Kicked My Heart
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 14, 2014
I went into About Last Night with expectations of a fun one-night stand turned true love story. Since it's a Ruthie Knox book, I also knew that buried beneath the sexy cover and fun premise, I would get a truly meaningful story that would grip me. I was right about that. Not only did About Last Night grip me, it kicked me straight in the heart. I will keep my personal reflection on the story to a minimum, but let me just say that, like Ashley from Roman Holiday, About Last Night's heroine spoke to me on a deeply personal level.The story begins with Cath, an American living in London. Though she has a job she loves, Cath remains detached. You soon learn it's for her own good. Cath hasn't always been responsible, hard-working. She used to be "Old Cath", and that version of her was deeply troubled. When Cath connects with a man she knows from the train, a sexy man she nicknames "City" (his real name is Nev), Cath knows she's going down the wrong path again, headed for a mistake. But Nev, he refuses to let Cath walk away. He wants to know her, love her. Nev is in for quite the battle.Much of About Last Night deals with Nev's persistence and Cath's reluctance for a relationship. As stubborn as she is, he matches her step-for-step. It's a one-step-forward, two-steps-back sort of dance between these two. I confess, it normally drives me a bit bananas when a character decides to leave the person they love or shut them out "for their own good". Cath is afraid her penchant for destroying her life will crash down on Nev, and that he'll break her heart. She's partially right, in that her former life could be overwhelming, but we know that Nev is a big boy, and if you love someone, give them the knowledge and a choice, and allow that person to decide whether you're worth the risk. This is her choice, whether to take the risk and let Nev break her heart, as she believes he willBut honestly, I can also see why Cath is so private and protective of herself. I know that Nev loves her and would never hurt her, but she doesn't. Sometimes our own awful, stupid mistakes build and build and build until that's all we can see, it becomes ingrained into our identity. Until you let someone in, tell that person your big bad secrets. If that person truly loves you, they'll accept it as part of your history, what led you to where you are and exactly who you need to be. And then, that person can show you who they see you as, not flawless, but strong, a survivor."Your past--It's not a series of mistakes, love. It's just you. All the things that happened to you that made you who you are. You asked me if I hated you for what you've done and what you've been through, but I never could. I admire you. I love you. And I wouldn't change any of it, even the worst parts, because I wouldn't change a thing about you."And Nev, what a dream book guy! So kind, so sexy, so funny and smirky. I love how much he loved Cath, just as she was. And let me say, that man can make a grand gesture. Truly stunning.I know this review has been all over the place and a real angst-fest. But I must point out that About Last Night was really funny and sexy too. I love the humor and realism when it comes to sex Knox always incorporates into her stories. I don't need to be sold the fantasy when I have this level of honesty and beauty.About Last Night. A bad girl and a buttoned-up banker. Blue blood and bad blood. This book was practically written for the bad girl who still lives somewhere inside of me. That girl with good intentions and bad decisions who never thought she would not only win the heart of the good guy, but that through his eyes, she could see that maybe she hadn't made a disaster of things after all. It's not about being changed about a person, but about seeing yourself through new eyes, a new, love-filled perspective. It's very healing and very endearing. I just, I loved this story so much and highly recommend it.Favorite Quotes"I would appreciate it," he said after a moment, "if you would stop calling me 'nice.'"He took a step closer, and her heart rate spiked."You are nice." Her voice came out all weak and wavery. This was how Little Red Riding Hood had felt when she'd discovered the Big Bad Wolf wearing Grandma's bonnet."No," he replied. "I'm not."He was claiming her, marking her with his touch, but she didn’t feel possessed so much as she felt protected. Cherished. Wanted. The unaccustomed intimacy of it rendered her fragile, vulnerable as a robin’s egg. Somehow with him it was all right. He wouldn’t take advantage. City was one of the good guys.He saw her. He saw her, and then he smiled the way he'd always smiled at her, as if they were the only two people in the room, and he loved her, and he'd very much life to find out what she had on under her dress. That shark smile. That Big Bad Wolf grin. It got to her like nothing else ever had or ever would.