Upside Down by Lia Riley

Upside Down (Off the Map, #1)

by Lia Riley

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying goodbye to painful memories and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll pretend to be a carefree exchange student. Everything is going to plan until she meets a surly surfer with hypnotic green eyes, and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he slunk back to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. A single semester abroad won't cover something this serious. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

Praise for Upside Down:

'Upside Down gave me all the feels. Romantic and poignant, the journey of love and acceptance lingers long after the book is closed' Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn, # 1 New York Times bestselling author

Reviewed by boghunden on

3 of 5 stars

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Thanks to the author, the New Adult Book Club and Netgalley.

After reading the first two chapters, I felt like giving up on this one. I was so confused as to what was going on etc. I'm glad that I gave this book a chance, because it turned out to be an okay read.

The main character of this book is Talia, a 21 year old girl with OCD. Now, the OCD plays a role in the book, but it's not the main focus. It deals with it in a great way! However, I didn't like that Talia was running away from everything in the beginning, but I get why she did it and I came to like her choices later on. The ending...I was so mad I almost threw my kindle across the room, but then I read on and well...that was a good one!

As far as the love interest goes, he had such an interesting story, I almost wished the story was told from his POV because I was so invested in his story.

I did feel like the writing could've been better, it wasn't really my cup of tea.

I loved to sit outside in the sun and read about sunny Australia and half naked surfers ;)

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 April, 2015: Finished reading
  • 20 April, 2015: Reviewed