Tuesday 13 January 2015

New Adult review: My Favourite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron

Title: My Favourite Mistake
Author: Chelsea M. Cameron
Series: My Favourite Mistake #1
Acquired: Bought
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Mira Ink
Release date: 15th February 2013

When Hunter Zaccadelli knocks on the door and reveals himself as the new roommate, Taylor Caldwell is not impressed at all. She doesn't want to be stuck with a male roommate, especially considering she'll be the one sharing with him. 

Hunter makes a bet with Taylor that if she can convince him she either loves or hates him before the end of the semester, he'll leave. She thinks it will be easy to hate him but Hunter is as charming as they come, even when he's being an ass!

Review
This was one of those books that I bought when trying to find some new New Adult novels to read as I had been reading the same authors over and over again. I didn't know what to expect at all when I went into it. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed within the first few pages but as I was on a train and needed something to read, I carried on with it. To start with, the main character Taylor is a bit crazy which didn't make her the most likeable person in the world. The plot revolves around her and two other friends who live together at college in co-ed dorms. When a guy turns up at the door and says he's their new roommate she completely overreacts. I mean, she knew a guy would be allowed to live there and if she didn't like that, she shouldn't have moved in! Then, when the guy (Hunter) gets a bit too close for comfort she punches him right in the face instead of telling him to back off. That's not okay in my book especially as he didn't really do anything wrong. 

Hunter on the other hand I did like but then compared to Taylor anyone would have been nice. The thing with Hunter is that Taylor sees him as, and calls him, an ass. He's not really though. He does come across as quite cocky and a bit full of himself but he's funny with it at the same time. Even when Taylor is either beating him up a bit, calling him names and generally being mean to him, Hunter is incredibly patient. He does the nicest things like sings for her, cooks amazing dinners and has beautiful jewellery made for her. I think if anything, Hunter is probably a bit of a push over. 

The plot didn't really do a lot for me. As mentioned in the plot synopsis, Hunter makes a bet with Taylor that could result in him being homeless. Taylor only cares about herself in this situation and wants him gone. The plot really focuses on Taylor and Hunter spending more time with each other and getting to know one another. Each character has a past and the reveal of what has happened doesn't occur until a long way in the book. While I didn't really like the plot overall, I did like seeing Hunter trying to interact and win over Taylor because he was quite funny. 

So, My Favourite Mistake wasn't for me. 

Tuesday 6 January 2015

New Adult review: You Were Mine by Abbi Glines

Title: You Were Mine 
Author: Abbi Glines
Series: Rosemary Beach #9
Acquired: Bought
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release date: 2nd December 2014

Tripp Newark left his wealthy home in Rosemary Beach when he was 18 because he thought he had to. Most people thought he was running away from his overbearing father who wanted him to take a certain path in life but really he was running from something and someone else. 

Bethy Lowry cannot get over the death of her boyfriend who died not too long ago from drowning while trying to save her as she'd had to much to drink. She's out of her depth working in the local Country Club, surrounded by the wealthy people of Rosemary Beach because she's not one of them. But, years ago she fell in love with someone she shouldn't have and that one person changed everything!

Review
Finally, I am pretty much up to date with Abbi Glines' books. It was a bad thing to have such a massive break from reading, writing reviews and blogging because I got seriously behind with some of my favourite series. It's pre-ordering for Abbi Glines' releases for now on I think. 

You Were Mine is told from both the past and the present. Bethy and Tripp met years before the present day and this book is the story of how they met and how they have come to be in the present. For most of the book it alternates between one chapter from Tripp and one from Bethy in the past and then the same again for where they are right now. I really liked this way of telling the story as it wasn't one sided at all and we get to see both character's perspectives. 

Both Bethy and Tripp have been in other books in this series but have never had a book of their own, until now. This had been one of the stories I had been looking forward to though because I hate not knowing what's going on and in the previous book I got to see Bethy not doing too well so I was desperate to read her story. A few books ago Bethy's boyfriend Jace dies trying to save her life but he ends up drowning and since then she has been spiraling out of control. 

One of the things with Bethy is that she has come across as a bit of a party animal in previous books but You Were Mine shows why she acts that way and explains the things that have happened to her. I absolutely loved reading about Bethy as a younger, quite innocent girl and to then see her transform into someone else completely. 

Tripp has to be one of my favourite characters in an Abbi Glines book. The thing with Tripp is that he always came across as genuine. He was never the bad boy that did something wrong or messed up in some way but he did have a dirty mouth on him which was something I loved. It made him that little bit more exciting and real. 

You Were Mine is a pretty emotional story as the plot focuses on Bethy and Tripp working through their problems and their past. This book made me tear up at so many different moments. Not only that but it made my heart race at a couple of different moments too. I think You Were Mine is the most well rounded of Abbi Glines' books as it has everything you could possibly want. 

I loved this book so much that I want to read it again already!