Review: I was in like, not love with this one!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 12, 2014
**I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**I was sold on the blurb, this sounded like something right up my alley. A love triangle/square in a foreign country, yes and yes, the deliverance however fell a little short. While I really did enjoy If Only, I just didn't love it.The beginning of the book was cute and funny. I really liked Griffin and found him to be a breath of fresh air. Griffin was honest with Jordan from the beginning on what he was and wasn't looking for, and he wasn't a player even though he had opportunity. All is looking good for our traveling heroine and her love potential, insert Noah and a loo and the story gets interesting and not so easy.While the first half of the book had me engaged and entertained, the second half lagged. These two are almost together so many times, but for whatever reason things don't work out, again and again and again. This is acceptable within reason, however it happens so many times that I was beginning to get whiplash. I wanted more of the happy ending! What happens during the summer, do they stay together? I was left with so many questions, and that made the story a little incomplete and frustrating. What happened to Griffin, he disappears in the middle of the book and is never heard of again, in my opinion that was a lame way at removing part of the love square.My problems with the book range from the lack of communication between the main characters, the fact that Jordan falls for American boys overseas( I love a great accent and unfortunately neither love interest has one), and the fact that Jordan and Noah are in love with each other after one meeting/kiss. Their love is not gradual because these two characters do not talk for months at a time, this was hard to buy.This book is a solid 3.5 stars! While I think it got a little sticky in the middle, it recovered nicely and ended with a happy ending. If Only is a debut novel for Aj Pine, and while I had some issues with the book, I believe Pine is one to look out for.