Easy by Tammara Webber

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 304pgs

The Story

Easy is a New York Times Bestseller - a must-read for everyone who loves Slammed by Colleen Hoover and the New Adult genre. Deeply romantic and utterly gripping, this is not to be missed.

Jacqueline seems to have a knack for making the wrong choices. She followed her boyfriend to his choice of university, disregarding her preference. Then he dumped her. She chose a minor she thought she could combine with her music studies, but she's falling behind. And then, leaving a party alone one night, she is attacked. If it wasn't for the timely intervention of a stranger, she would have been raped. Now she must make a choice - give up and give in, or toughen up and fight on. Only the support of the man who is tutoring her and the allure of the guy who saved her from the attack convince her that it's worth fighting on. Will Jacqueline now have to make a choice between them too? And can she make the right decision? It's not easy . . .

The Review

Over the past few months I've heard nothing but amazing things about this previously self-published novel, EASY, so when I heard the publisher Penguin had bought rights to the book and had planned to release it into a new paperback version, I was very much looking forward to reading this book, especially since I'm now a big, crazy fan of this New Adult genre that is taking the book world by storm.

Right from the first page, EASY - surprisingly - had actually turned out to be a very gripping read for me and it connected with me too unlike some books as it is intended for a much older teenage audience (I'm 21 so I'm so old now haha). At least it was gripping for the most part. But despite the glowing reviews and while reading this book, something in the back of my mind was telling me that something was missing in this particular book title. Something that could explain all of those high-praising and glowing reviews. I don't know what exactly was missing in this book - whether it was the slow pacing or the character's annoying actions - but this book just wasn't as amazing as others had described of it nor was it what I expected it to be like. Still, the storyline continued to get better along the way and in the end everything was well-justified . . . ending everything on a high note.

Regarding the characters, Jacqueline, for one, was a decent main character. Sure she's not exactly someone I would aspire to be like nor someone I would consider a great role model for younger teenage readers as she has made plenty of mistakes in the book, but I really did feel for her character and what she was going through at the time. Especially when someone attempted to rape her at the beginning of the book. Now that was very confronting and the situation within itself was really hard for her to deal with understandably. So while Jacqueline does show courage and matures overtime in the best ways possible, and sees what potential she had all along, but I guess the main reason why I didn't connect well with her as I could have is simply because we're not like alike as people but she was still a joy to read about.

As for Jacqueline's new and potential love interest, Lucas - the pierced, tattooed, semi-part bad-boy who rides a cool motorcycle and has a lot of careers unlike most college students - he was someone quite interesting to read about as well. Sure he did have his charms and quirks about him, and had said all of the right - and sometimes wrong - things at times, but I didn't exactly 'swoon' over this dude as other have. Mostly because he was just well . . . he had way too many jobs in this book (a lame excuse I know but he did) and it just seemed way too coincidental for him to be always around Jacqueline wherever she seemed to be. I mean, I do believe in chance and fate at certain times but it seemed too 'oh come on' and 'no way!' sort of thing, you know? Still, Lucas was a better guy than most presented in this book and that's saying something considering most of the guys in this book were jerks.

Overall, EASY was an incredibly easy book to read. The book may not have resonated the epic things people have said about it and at times it was quite hard to connect with most of the characters, but on a whole it was an enjoyable read for me and a much better one than another New Adult book, Beautiful Disaster, which this book shared similarities with. Only this book contains a better message for its readers about heavy issues and relationships.

The Rating

3/5 stars

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 320pgs

The Story

Layken and Will have managed to overcome the obstacles that threatened to destroy their love, proving that they are destined for one another. What they are about to learn, however, is that the things that have brought them together may be the very things that ruin their connection forever . . .

Layken is left second-guessing the relationship whilst Will is jumping over hurdles to prove his love for her. What the young lovers discover about themselves along this journey may change their entire world and the lives of those who depend upon them the most . . .

The Review

Why . . . WHY do books such as these ones have to come to an end? I seriously have no clue really. Now after having read and LOVED Colleen Hoover's debut book Slammed (like I really fell hard for that book) it was so great to have finally come across a sequel that was just as good as the first - if not better than it. But unlike the first book that all was in Layken's perspective, this time round we get to hear what is going on inside the head of Will as he leads yet another great installment of the series and he is the perfect person to do so because he will definitely make girls swoon and frustrate over him! Layken . . . I am  so jealous and so envious of you right now for having someone like him in your life!

POINT OF RETREAT finally let's us see Layken and Will together as an official couple. But like in all relationships - friendships or not - there will always be trouble in paradise one day too soon. And trouble in paradise was totally there. There enters Will's ex-girlfriend. His long-time ex-girlfriend and boy did I really hate her! I truly hated her. Argh. But what I truly did love was the fact that the ex-girlfriend in question had caused great tension in the book and damn it was so addictive too not to mention a perfect way to complicate things.

I mean, not only did Layken and Will get to test out their relationship on a whole new level and see the problems that were always there for them both, it was still great to see them trying to overcome those issues and have everything in the open this time without them hiding it anymore, so I actually thought it was good for them to have those obstacles (even frustrating ones) and it was also something that just needed to be done, you know? But the chemistry between these two main characters . . . *fans oneself* Phew! I have to say the chemistry is what makes this sequel just as brilliant as the first book . . . it's off the charts I tell you! Damn! I want my own Will now!

Overall, POINT OF RETREAT was such a delightful book to read and Colleen Hoover has definitely become one of my favourite contemporary authors out there in the New Adult genre. Both heavily addictive, frustrating, and testing you beyond belief with many relationship woes in your wake, this book will leave you wanting more from these characters and I can't wait to read the author's third book in the series which is said to be another version of Slammed only in Will's perspective, so again I can't wait to read that!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 352pgs

The Story

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. 

The Review

A big thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book!

I'll be honest with you here and say I haven't even heard of this book before . . . that is until I won a copy of it from the publisher. So despite it's not-so-standout-ish cover and not hearing too much about it, I was still compelled to read this book, even though I wasn't exactly sure what it was about nor was I sure about what to expect from a book such as this one. But since I have a slight fondness for 'some' kinds poetry and of the New Adult genre craze that is taking the book world by storm, I have to say I'm so glad to have come across the opportunity to read such a brilliant book like SLAMMED because that is exactly what it was . . . BRILLIANT!

SLAMMED is about a young eighteen-year-old girl named Layken (a very cool and unique name mind you) who moves to Michigan with her mother and her much younger brother as her father had just died. But upon moving to a new town, a new house and an entirely new school, across the street from her she then meets a very young and attractive young man and a charming neighbour, Will, who catches her eye within a moment of meeting him. So when both of their younger brothers - Layken and Will's younger brothers - become instant best friends and whom happen to live across the street from each other, it almost seems too good to be true for these two younger teens and indeed it is: Will, even after taking Layken out on a 'small date', happens to be Layken's . . . well I will let you find out more about what this small and shocking 'secret' but let's just say it becomes really complicated for the two of them and it's such a delight to read about.

Honestly this book and I are meant for each other. I just loved everything it had to offer to me, from Layken's love for her brother to her love and struggle over Will, it all was beyond brilliant and delivered in the best way an author knows how to! I mean just when you think everything is going smoothly and great for everyone, the authors literally 'slams' you with another shocking revelation after another until the point of 'I can't handle this anymore...' comes your way! And when you add some interesting poetry into the mix of it all, it was needless to say something I couldn't stop praising about, so please go read it now!

Overall, SLAMMED was a very surprising read and deserves every single bit of praise it has been receiving lately. Both addictive, compelling and simply lovable in this New Adult contemporary read, I have to say this book is so original and it never lacked in anything, so I would highly recommend this book to you all as it's something that is not meant to be missed out on!

The Rating

5/5 stars