Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on
I read and really enjoyed Off the Ice, which was my introduction to the world of Juniper Falls. So, obviously, I jumped at the chance to visit again, and I have to say, it was fun being back in town, and I couldn't have asked for a better couple to spend my time with.
Who?
Haley was the reigning princess of Juniper Falls. Super popular, super social, and seemingly, always in the middle of things. She was still feeling the pangs of rejection following her breakup with Tate and unsuccessful foray into meaningless fling territory. Haley was trying to put all romantic entanglements behind her, as she worked on improving herself and reaching for her goals.
Fletcher was the quiet boy, who kept a low profile away from the spotlight. After his family became a main source of Juniper Falls gossip, and he was the victim of an almost deadly bullying incident, Fletcher developed some trust issues. He had no friends in town and kept himself emotionally detached when it came to romantic relationships. He was a nerdy loner with a goal of leaving Juniper Falls behind.
What?
Neither Fletcher, nor Haley anticipated what would happen when their paths crossed in summer school. Initially, Haley was just looking for a project partner, who could help her achieve her scholastic goals, but eventually, the feelings simmering beneath the surface came to a full boil, and when the sparks flew, Fletcher and Haley reacted in very different ways.
Why?
There are so many things I loved about this book, but since we don't have all day, here are my top five reasons I loved this book.
•I found Haley to be quite a wonderful character. She started to redeem herself in the first book, but in this book, we get to see what is really so special about her. She was loyal and often put aside her own feelings in order to help other people. She often showed a lot of maturity, that she really didn't get credit for, and she had a heart of gold. I was really elated when she was able to figure out some of her academic issues with the help of Fletcher, because I couldn't help but want her to achieve her goals. I also admired that she acknowledged her shortcomings, and she was addressing them and striving to be a better person. What more could I ask of her?
•Wow! I don't even know where to start with Fletcher. First, there were all the wonderfully nerdy t-shirts. I couldn't wait to see what he would wear next. Then there was the double life he was leading. There were so many things swirling around in my head, and I liked the way Cross slowly revealed those parts of Fletcher's life, piece by piece. Oh, and he was swoony too.
•This romance was a slow burn and at times, confusing, but I loved every second of it. I was excited every time Haley and Fletcher were on page together. Sometimes it was because the tension between them was delicious and palpable, but other times, it was because I thought they really pushed each other to be better versions of themselves. There was a lot of push and pull, but because the drama was kept to a minimum, I rather enjoyed it.
•Fletcher's world was sprinkled with some very interesting characters, but his family won my heart. His grandfather, father, and brother were all fiercely protective of Fletcher, but they were a lot more then just manly men. These guys were real men, who had experienced epic love, and passed on some really sage advice to Fletcher regarding how to treat and respect a woman.
•This book was fun, and filled with some great banter. I audibly laughed often and grinned a whole lot.
Overall: This was a really great trip back to Juniper Falls, where I got to know the gang a little better. I loved that Haley and Fletcher challenged the tropes with all their hidden layers and sort of kept me guessing in the best way. Fun, flirty, swoony, and a little bit spicy too.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
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Reading updates
- Started reading
- 5 December, 2017: Finished reading
- 5 December, 2017: Reviewed