Shatter (True Believers, #4)

by Erin Mccarthy

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I tried to go into Shatter with an open mind, even though I knew I wasn't going to like it. But, as it's the last in the series, I was inclined to finish. I must start out by saying the description is a liar! Kylie did not find her boyfriend in bed with her best friend. They did sleep together, but that's how she found out, which you'll know if you read Believe, or just if you read this one since she explains it. I hate misleading descriptions. Anyway, Kylie is failing Chemistry, so she gets a tutor who happens to be hot. He walks her home, since it's late, but they hook up and she gets knocked up. Kylie loves children, so there's no doubt in her mind that she's keeping it. She does give Jonathan the option to be involved or not, which of course, he does, or else there wouldn't be a developing romance for us to read about.

Shatter went downhill with a vengeance as soon as Kylie blamed the pregnancy on Jonathon. Sorry, but she's as much to blame as he is. She says it's his fault because he didn't originally have a condom on, because she made it seem like she was on birth control. It was a misunderstanding, but she said it's still his fault because he should be concerned about STDs anyway (which is true). Then she says it's both partners' responsibilities to take care of birth control, but she won't go on the pill because it gives her acne, so therefore it's up to the guy. And when he suggested other methods she considered that "harassment." Bitch, please! At least she didn't drag it out for months and months. She told her mom before taking the test, and then immediately let Jonathon know. So there's that, I guess.

Pregnancy seriously grosses me out. I can deal with it in books if there's not much detail, but Shatter is all about the pregnancy. It does not spare the details of Kylie's vomit and other problems. And for whatever reason Jonathan finds every single change in her endlessly sexy. Like, "Is that morning sickness, or are you just happy to see me?" No, ew! Stop! Seriously, during the sex scenes he points out the changes in her body and just no. I do not find any of that sexy at all.

There was a super great side plot in Shatter, but it wasn't introduced until the last 10% and then was over within another 5%. Jonathan's father is the Chemistry professor who is flunking Kylie, and he had some suggestions on ways she could raise her grade. If you catch my drift. This could have been really interesting and powerful if the author had actually fleshed it out. It also would have been much better "drama" than the pregnancy.

In the end, Shatter met my low expectations. I was intrigued by the creepy professor plot, if only it had gotten more page time. Then the ending was a huge WTF, eye roll moment. Seriously?! Are you kidding me right now?! How is that even possible?! I can't even.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.