Make It Count (Bowler University, #1)

by Megan Erickson

[Angie]

Make It Count was so freaking cute! I wanted to snuggle everyone, pat their heads, and tell them it's all going to be okay! Kat is failing statistics and needs a tutor. That tutor winds up being her boyfriend's hot, nerdy BFF and roommate. She's nervous to have Alex tutor her, because she doesn't want him to think she's dumb. And there's the little matter of them both being attracted to the other, but not being able to act on it. However, Kat's boyfriend is a jerk, and she soon finds herself single and falling for her tutor.

What makes Make It Count stand out from a lot of other New Adult is that there's a heavy focus on academics, and not just superficially. Yes, Alec is Kat's tutor and then it turns into something more. But the real focus is on Kat and her struggles in the classroom. It's very obvious from the first chapter that Kat is dyslexic, but she doesn't know it. How someone can go twenty years without being aware that they have a learning disability is mind boggling to me, but it is explained and it's quite heartbreaking. Kat has just always thought she was stupid, barely skating by in school. She also uses her looks to get hot boyfriends whom she doesn't let get too close. They want her for her body not her brain, which is awful because Kat is so sweet and funny! Luckily, Alec sees that part of her and not just her hot bod.

Make It Count does have a surprising amount of drama. I honestly wasn't expecting that from the opening chapters, as it seemed like this was going to be a cute, nerdy Romance. I was totally into the drama though! Of course, most of it surrounds Kat's boyfriend Max, who really is a super jerk. He does not treat her kindly at all, and Alec witnesses that. Then there's the matter of Alec's ex-girlfriend which adds a surprise later on. Kat and Alec do have a falling out at one point as well, and it takes him a good number of pages to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. It was totally a matter of lack of communication, but I believed Kat's response and Alec's cluelessness.

I really enjoyed Make It Count. Nerdy romances are totally my jam, especially of the teacher/tutor variety. It was also nice to see college actually play a role in the plot beyond simply being a setting. Kat may have gone her whole life not knowing that she's dyslexic if it hadn't been for someone seeing the signs and attempting to help her change her study habits. She also found love in the process!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.