Review: Great mix of Romance & Coming-of-Age
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 28, 2014
Poor Julia. She plans a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend of almost a year, Liam, and he pays her back by groping a new girl just as everyone yells, "Surprise!" First, she's devastated. Then, she decides to get even.Deep in revenge plans, she almost misses the chance for new love with Jesse. Just as she considers abandoning Liam's comeuppance, he messes with someone else--someone who really matters to her. Can Julia walk away from teaching Liam a lesson?I felt very connected to Julia. She's had her heart broken, but she didn't crumble. Instead, she wanted to teach Liam a lesson so he wouldn't do it again. Any woman who ever nurtured a broken heart would understand. But her original plan had a get-Liam-back component that didn't make sense after the pain he caused. Plus, I wanted her to let go of the revenge plans once Jesse came into her life (even when Liam screws up again); I wanted Julia to make a clean break.For me, a good book is defined by my connection to the characters, and I think the paragraph above sums up how attached I became. Thanks to an interesting story, the characters were able to mature. Plus, the romance between Jesse and Julia was sweet and sexy. Just as importantly, it was allowed to grow at a realistic pace.A note: I've read a lot of New Adult books lately that were way too focused on erotica-light sex instead of a sweet romance, and I was thrilled that this book did not go that route. It focused, instead, on romance with heat.If you have considered trying a book in the New Adult genre, this would be an excellent choice. It's an enjoyable mix of romance and coming-of-age.Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.