Review: Didn't think I could fall in love with Evan even more...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 30, 2013
I love Evan Mitchell Allen SO FREAKING MUCH. My heart was breaking for him at the shocking ending of Emerge. I was wailing. I didn’t think I knew who I loved more, Dane or Evan, while actually reading the emotional rollercoaster that is Emerge. But, with that ending I knew I was whole-heartedly Team Evan. How could I not be? In Emerge, he was the sweet-talking, creative nicknaming, caring, sexy, gentleman who was always there for Laney no matter what. In Embrace, we get to see lots more of this man who gave up everything to try to win his girl back only to be too late *sobs*.Embrace alternates between Evan, Laney, and Dane’s POVs. Yes, I said Dane. For all of you who are worried that because this is Evan’s book we don’t get to see any Dane and Laney, you are DEAD WRONG. Initially, I didn’t agree with the POV choices. I wanted it to be Evan, Laney, and Ev’s new girl. However, I know there are way too many Dane fans out there, and on the third read I accepted it and moved it to my favorites shelf. Evan gave up everything to be with Laney only to have it thrown back in his face *sniffle*, so Embrace is his journey of accepting that everything happens for a reason. He had been “in love” with his best friend for years, and now that’s gone, he has to find something (or someone). to make him smile every day. And the real kicker? He happens to become friends with Laney’s friends, which puts them in close proximity of each other. It’s hard to move on when the reason you’ve been kicked down is always near you.Anyway, Ev is strong though. He goes through the motions. He lets Sawyer drag him around and try to cheer him up. (Sawyer is hysterical by the way, and he gets his book next. Which, I’m really looking forward to.) But, it’s not until he meets a certain someone that he finds the true reason he ended up at Southern. Now, I’m not going to tell you who it is actually. If I had known, I might have refused to read the book. Actually, I initially threw a fit to S.E. Hall once I figured out who she was pairing up with Evan. BUT, S.E. Hall proved her awesome, amazing, fanfreakingtastic writing skills to me because I was dying for them to get together after the first night they hang out. It’s. That. Good. The two of them were making me giggle. They were way too freaking cute. The buildup to them actually getting together was deliciously angsty. Not to mention funny. Since he’s a guy Ev went on a series of AWFUL but highly entertaining blind dates while in denial of his feelings for her. She grew on me fast. My initial opinion of her couldn’t have been more wrong. She was so sweet and bubbly, She didn’t have the perfect life, yet she was always smiling, humming, and most importantly, making Ev happy. She was everything my Evan deserved. His journey to healing wouldn’t have been complete without her.Because it’s hard to write a review without spoiling who he ends up with or the majority of the plot, I’ll just gush about some of my favorite parts/aspects of Embrace, It’s Evan’s book. Insta-love. S.E. Hall was able to make me fall in love with someone I initially hated. And I ended up dying for them to get together. The Crew is such a fun group of people that I wish I could be a part of. There’s a nice Laney and Dane story in the background. Which leads to my name is in the book. This book evokes a wide-range of emotion. Everything from highly amusing to heart-warming. There were some unexpected events that took place that kept me on my toes.It’s a relatable, realistic story. Evan is so sweet.Evan is hot.Evan is good with words. Evan calls her “Hummingbird”. I just love Evan, obviously.I was so happy with the way the story ended. I had no idea what to expect when I agreed to beta read for Embrace, but I can’t believe everything turned out so perfect and amazing for Ev. There was not a boring moment. This is a captivating, light-read about growing up and finding love. You need to be touched by the magic of this book! Besides, don’t you want to know who the girl is? I absolutely cannot wait for Sawyer’s book. It’s obvious that he has a troubled past and he is such a comical character that I want to know what goes on inside his head. The epilogue is in his POV and leaves a lot to be desired. Until then…“Will it always be this good, Evan? I love you so much, everything feels perfect; surely it can’t stay like this forever.”“Nope, it’ll get better.”