At first I didn’t think I was going to have time to read this one when it was sent to me, because of all the reviews I already had scheduled, as well as how long it was. But when I decided to try to fit it in on a snow day, I was hooked as soon as I picked it up! I’d been worried a little that it might be a bully romance, and those are ones that I am very particular about. I don’t usually like those. But honestly, this isn’t one. Although there are some moments that could be construed that way, so if that is not your thing, you might not like this.

However, I really liked Crew. His behavior towards Wren, while not right, made sense for unfortunately how some people, teens, especially, might react in a situation like that. It sucks that people act that way, but often they do, so that made it realistic. But how he ended up being, after the one incident where she saw him and his friends doing something, after that he always took her wants into consideration and let her say yes or no. What he did though, was be really persuasive. So I get that. I liked how he was able to think about his own actions in the past, but even with most of those, while he was bad in that he let others get away with things he knew were wrong, he did not do them himself. And yeah, I get that we need people to stand up, and in the end, he did that, he learned, he grew.

I loved Wren as well. Her innocence reminded me a lot of how I was when I went off to college. Not necessarily were we both innocent for the same reasons, but our views and reactions to things, as well as how we reacted when a guy we really liked started to make us feel a certain way were close. And the painting, the cover of the book kind of represents it, but I think it sounds like an awesome work of art! The characters in the book were all real, all acted like teenagers, mostly spoiled rich kids. And then the teachers seemed real as well. Unfortunately with one of them especially.

While the characters are seniors in high school, I would characterize this as a New Adult romance. Because it is very steamy in certain parts. So it isn’t one I’d put on the shelves of my school library. Another great book from Monica Murphy!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.