O’Neal Lory; Shaq; Good Girl.

New college O'Neal is now free from religiously oppressive grandparents who raised her in a conservative, sheltered, and shameful home after the death of her mother who everyone thought was being a "bad girl." Attending the same college as the mother who died when O'Neal was a baby is the first step in discovering who she is as she also explores a journalism career.

The fact Auden Blake, O'Neal's best friend's brother and childhood crush (and first and only kiss) also attends this college may have factored a bit in O'Neal's decision, but she wasn't anticipating him to have such a strong protective presence in her college life. That he seems to want to keep completely platonic even if O'Neal can sense his attraction to her (and hers to him).

Auden Blake and his roommate and sometimes bedmate Lennox immediately hone in on O'Neal's curiosity and throbbing horny-ness that is just waiting for someone to explore with her. So why not make her journey exceptional??

What emerges is a messy combination of education, voyeurism, and falling in love with more than one person, along with combatting years of in-grained shame.

Like the story, this was messy for me. It is really hot, naturally, but some of the BDSM//Kink discussions didn't land for me. O'Neal is clueless, like really clueless, and FINALLY at the end of the story her new partners are giving her books/websites to explore. BUT as a student of journalism I found it a bit hard to believe she only thought she could research sex, k1nk, and other matters of sexuality from...p0rn??

I wish there had been a bit more of O'Neal finding herself at school, or having a bit of a wider circle of friends. It really felt like she went from one insular family to almost another? We never see Auden and Lennox with anyone else either really, despite their kinks and apparent community? I did like O'Neal's roommate a lot and appreciated her care and concern for O'Neal when she doesn't check in or is missing.

Also, the hint of 'mystery' over the death of her mother and O'Neal's search into finding out who killed her or what happened panned out in a odd manner spoiler:

Spoiler

O'Neal finds the friend her mother was last seen with, who turns out to be a man who had a threesome with her mother the night she disappeared; her mom left because she wanted to give that man time to realize his queerness and and crush for a man. And that is it. No other resolution.

I think this was trying to serve to show what O'Neal has in common?? with her mother?? but honestly I wish this was already known to O'Neal as part of her mother's 'party girl//sinner' tabloid/news branding.

Also, there is SO much internal unpacking of shame, but mostly from Auden, who's STILL unpacking his stuff and it got just a bit heavy for me.

As always Roni Loren pen's an exciting romance and I did really like the last scenes which were joyful and fun for the new poly triad.

CW: internalized homophobia (countered), murder (in past, grief on page), emotionally controlling parents, conservative religious viewpoints that are meant to shame//cause fear (countered). Fear of outing.

Thank you to the author for the advance copy.