If Only (Entangled Embrace)

by A.J. Pine

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

If I had to describe If Only in one word, it would be frustrating. I'm pretty sure I got whiplash while reading it. Jordan is heading off to Scotland for her third year of college. She's trying to be a whole new Jordan (complete with new short hair) after a two year dry spell. Instead of looking for Mr. Right, she's looking for Mr. Right Now in order to make the most of her time abroad. On the train she meets Griffin, who immediately comes across as a player, but they get to talking and she enjoys his company. Then on her way back from the bathroom, she meets Noah, and they get locked in together. What else is there to do but make out?! They're released and she goes back to Griffin and gives him her number, since maybe she can be the new Jordan.

If Only started off good. I liked this idea of Jordan just having fun and not looking for a commitment. I did suspect that she'd fall in love with one of them at some point, since it was an immediate love triangle. Actually, it was a love square since Noah actually had a girlfriend. Too bad for Jordan! She decides to forgot about their cosmic connection and just date Griffin, nothing serious. But then things get lame.

Jordan is sooo dramatic! When she finds out that Noah has a girlfriend, she gets pissed and avoids him. Then they agree to start over and be friends, but they apparently can't because...they made out once? Then Griffin gets mad at Jordan because she likes Noah, even though they aren't serious, but Noah still has a girlfriend. But then Noah doesn't have a girlfriend, so he goes to Jordan, but then Noah gets pissed again because of her past with Griffin. Jordan wants to apologize (for what, I don't know), but he's already gone back to his girlfriend within a few hours!

Most of If Only is centered around Jordan moping around about these guys! She kissed Noah once, so all of this is a lot of unnecessary drama. She doesn't even know him, and she's not even looking for a boyfriend! There's a lot of time jumps of several weeks, where she lets us know that she hasn't even spoken to Noah since their fight. This means that they only talk when they're fighting over nothing! It makes my head spin! Also Griffin just disappears at some point, never to be seen again. He was clearly drama-fodder and nothing more.

If Only was just a bunch of drama that makes no sense. If Noah and Jordan had actually dated at some point I could understand the jealousy and whatnot, but they don't. They meet, make out, move on, but somehow this translates to relationship drama of the extreme! Plus, I was kind of annoyed that Jordan is going on this grand adventure to Scotland, but instead of having her fun with some Scottish boys, she gets immediate drama from the American boys! What a waste of an awesome setting.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.