In Ruins (Something More #1) by Danielle Pearl

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She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . .

Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.

It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .

Source: e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


My main takeaway from In Ruins is that this is one angsty read. You can feel the immense weight of all the emotional baggage throughout the entirety of the book. I wasn't quite prepared for that, however, I was curious enough about what went down between Carleigh (Carl to her friends) and Tucker to stick with it.

Some of you may know that In Ruins the NA continuation of the series that was introduced originally as YA. I didn't realize that at first, therefore, I was nervous about whether or not it would be a hindrance to my understanding of their history. No need to worry there. Pearl does explain what went on between Carl and Tucker and the big secret that divided them - that is aside from the ongoing lack of communication that took place. Once the backstory is told, all the animosity between them makes perfect sense and why they despise each other. Actually to be clear, it's mostly Tucker. He is just so bitter and unforgiving while Carl is sad and remorseful; she's like a wounded puppy, having resigned herself to the fact that he will hate her forever. That's not to say that she doesn't carry any blame. Still, there's love there on some deep, hidden level which manifests itself into intense hate-sex. Seriously, they go at it like nobody's business but that's not necessarily my thing. Anyway, these two have to figure out how to coexist since they're at the same college and how convenient, in the same class. 

The story had me up until the end thanks to a plot twist I didn't see coming. However, it was probable considering the big secret in Carl's past. I can't put my finger on it but something about it didn't work for me. Regardless, if you have a hankering for an interesting if intensely angsty read filled with lots of melodrama, then this is your book!

~ Bel

Before Hadley by J. Nathan

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What's worse than a cocky new guy at school? A cocky new guy with a killer body and the attention of every female at school. Hadley can tell the minute she lays eyes on Caynan that he's someone to avoid. He may have looks and charm, but he's also got heartbreak written all over his pretty face.

Unfortunately for Hadley, Caynan has his sights set on her. She's the one girl who doesn't want him. The one girl who's turned off by his charm. The one girl who challenges him like no other. And, though she couldn't possibly know the truth about him, she seems to be the one girl who really sees him.

But with Caynan, things aren't at all what they seem. His secrets have secrets and everything out of his mouth straddles the line between truth and fiction. He knows better than to get involved with anyone, especially with his time limited in the new town, but he just can't seem to get Hadley out of his mind. Too bad for him, secrets never remain secrets for long.

  

Before Hadley is about a high school romance with all the potential to go well but ends up disastrously before it even has a chance to get off the ground.

Hadley and Caynan meet at a party. With his drop-dead good looks and that British accent, it doesn’t take long for all the girls at his new high school to notice him and want to stake their claims on him. Hadley however is unimpressed, pegging him for the über cocky type and he proves her correct. So she can’t fathom why when he could get with any of the other girls at school, and she clearly wants nothing to do with him, he zeroes in on her. They seem to have this flirty-teasing vibe that works for them. He continues to ask her out and she responds with sarcasm; it’s a beautiful thing! When she finally relents she’s surprised to see that she actually has fun with him. The biggest revelation is that he notices and appreciates details about her that none of her other boyfriends have ever noticed. As for Caynon, she makes him want to be a better man yet he’s walking a thin line because for reasons beyond his control, he’s being a deceitful prat. He is not who he claims to be yet when he’s with Hadley he feels most like himself. He works double-time to hide as much about himself as possible while still throwing out nuggets of truth to alleviate his guilt. When his duplicity is finally revealed, it’s game over. Hadley’s heart is broken into a million pieces and Caynan’s life is shattered.

I didn’t expect a time jump with each of them carrying on with their own lives. Hadley has trust issues – understandable, and Caynan wants a redo. He’s managed to turn his life around and is bent on winning back the girl. I was in Hadley’s corner for most of it, especially after Caynan attempts to return into her life. I absolutely understood how Hadley’s trust has been damaged and how she can’t outright forgive him. None of it is easy and Caynan has to work so hard, much like when he chased after her in high school except this time there’s they both carry heavy hearts. 

I requested this title simply because it was by J. Nathan. I liked her previous book, Since Drew that I read last year and I’d forgotten than she can write some heavy stuff but still sprinkle lighter moments in between. Trust is the central issue in this story along with the power of forgiveness, if and when it’s given. I wasn’t sure how she would wrap things up, whether there’d be any reconciliation and I liked that that was up in the air. Those two themes along with the angst and romance make Before Hadley another enjoyable read.

~ Bel

The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker

* * * 1/2

In this gripping YA debut, high school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense and volatile relationship—by the new boy in school. THE GIRL WHO FELL is a powerful and important read that School Library Journal calls, “(a)n invaluable addition to any collection. (SLJ *STARRED REVIEW* January 1, 2016)

His obsession.

Her fall.

Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College.

But love has a way of changing things.

Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.

Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and … terrifying?

But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed.

So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life.

If she waits any longer, it may be too late.

Zephyr Doyle seems like the well-adjusted high school senior with a bright future to look forward to. She’s co-captain of her field hockey team, doing great at school and has two of the best friends anyone could ever want. Only problem is that her father recently left their family. The sting of betrayal from the abandonment throws shade over an otherwise wonderful school year. Her feelings all in a flux go haywire when the new boy at school, Alec shows interest in her. She falls in love with him, fast. As things gets more intense and Alec becomes more demanding, Zephyr loses herself not realizing it’s happening. When she does, everything crashes in on her.

Regardless of if the author was attempting to convey a message, she does an outstanding job of methodically outlining the rapid intensity and disintegration of the relationship as Zephyr is forced to gradually force out important people from her life along with relinquishing her dreams. The whole affair was disconcerting and made me twitchy but that’s me speaking from a reader’s point of view. From her point of view, Zephyr is young, inexperienced and most importantly, emotionally vulnerable. This trifecta makes her susceptible to manipulation. It’s terrifying how easily Alec messes with her mind through mere suggestion and emotional bribery to make her feel as if she’s the one who’s always committing the wrong doing, slyly painting himself as the innocent victim. Jealousy and insecurity are masked as love. He has an arsenal full of tricks to get her doing what he wants. Equally upsetting is how she forgives or even excuses his behaviour under the misguided idea of what an ideal partner should be. Without a doubt, reading this descent into dysfunction is disturbing.

My only reservation about the book is the sometimes overly descriptive language such as when Zephyr describes how she’s feeling. I found it distracting, and thought that had it been simplified without all the flourishes, the point would've still come across. My minor issue with it notwithstanding, I was still caught up in the story and anxious to know where things were headed.

The Girl Who Fell provides much food for thought by highlighting a serious problem that carries social stigma. It's a discussion that needs to be had especially with those entering the unfamiliar terrain of their first relationship. I still shudder when I recall some of the details and at how easily one can fall into the traps. It’s a gripping story that gains more urgency as the plot thickens. I do believe this is one to add to your TBR pile.

~ Bel

Through to You* by Lauren Barnholdt

* * * 1/2

Opposites attract—and then complicate—in this romantic, relatable novel from the author of Two-way Street and Sometimes It Happens.

It starts with a scribbled note in class: I like your sparkle. Harper had casually threaded a piece of blue and silver tinsel through her ponytail in honor of school spirit day. And that carefree, corny gesture is what grabs Penn Mattingly’s eye. Penn—resident heartbreaker of the senior class. Reliably unreliable. Trouble with a capital “T.” And okay, smolderingly sexy.

Harper’s surprised by Penn’s attention—and so is Penn. The last thing he needs is a girlfriend. Or even a friend-with-benefits. The note is not supposed to lead to anything.

Oh, but it does. They hang out. They have fun. They talk. They make out. And after a while, it seems like they just click. But Penn and Harper have very different ideas about what relationships look like, in no small part because of their very different family backgrounds. Of course they could talk about these differences—if Penn knew how to talk about feelings.

Harper and Penn understand their attraction is illogical, yet something keeps pulling them together. It’s like a crazy roller coaster—exhilarating, terrifying, and amazing all at once. And neither knows how to stop the ride…



Review:


I was sold on reading this book when I read, “I like your sparkle.”  A pick up line like that is right up my alley.  But as cute as that line might seem in the blurb, the reality is even more interesting.  Because Penn has never once looked at Harper and thought, “Hey, she’s cute.  I should ask her out.”  In fact, he’s never really looked at her at all.  But for some reason, on that particular day, Harper’s grudging show of school spirit catches Penn’s eye.  And before he allows himself to really think about it, he finds himself dropping a note on her desk.  Even after giving it to her, he has no intention on furthering their communication.  But Penn finds out quickly that he has a bit of weak spot for one Harper Fairbanks.

Harper is not used to guys paying attention to her.  Especially not hot scruffy former athletes like Penn Mattingly.  She finds herself distrusting the attention while at the same time wondering if it means anything.  History class isn’t even done and Harper finds herself cutting school and going for a drive with Penn.  What follows is a reluctant, intense and often dysfunctional romance.

Thanks to a dysfunctional home life and the loss of the one thing that grounded him (baseball), Penn is a very angry person.  He is an angry teenage boy that refuses to communicate with anyone; including his girlfriend.  Anytime something sets him off, he shuts down and just walks away.  And I mean literally walk away.  In more than one scene Penn walks away and leaves Harper where she is standing.  He becomes so internally lost in his anger that he completely forgets he’s with someone.

Although timid, Harper is a strong character that knows her own worth and is only willing to put up with so much.  She tends to overanalyze and insists on talking through everything.  A trait that, although annoying, could be quite beneficial to someone like Penn.  His continuous refusal to communicate with her or anyone else will likely be the thing that kills their relationship.  But the fact that they even have a relationship might also be the one thing that can save Penn.

This is not a gradual love story where the hero and heroine flirt back and forth until it ends in a beautiful happy ever after.  This is a love story with a lot of give and take.  An on again, off again relationship that will have you turning page after page in hopes of finding that these two people can finally make it all work.


Nat

*Through to You releases on July 8, 2014. Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon Pulse for the opportunity to review this title.