This is the third story in the Something More series, but can be read as a standalone. There are references to the previous stories in the series and having read them would provide some additional background information, but the first 2 books follow Sam aka Cap and Rory, where this book follows their best friends Tucker and Carl (Carleigh).

Tucker and Carl were the perfect couple until Tucker found out that Carl was keeping secrets from him (or so he thought). The book starts off after they’ve broken up, but they are both at the same college. Of course they keep running into each other at parties and in class.

Tucker wants to hate Carl, but he can’t stop wanting to protect her from everyone else (or just wanting her, period). Carl feels like she deserves Tucker’s hate and just wants to get over him so she can move on. There are a lot of misunderstandings, jealousy, angry sex, and family drama that keeps pushing and pulling these two together.

There are times when Tucker treats Carl pretty badly and I think there is some toxicity in their relationship, but they ultimately get their HEA and all of the misunderstandings are cleared up and forgiven… but not until after A LOT of drama.

Some of the scenes in this book can be triggering, especially to victims of sexual assault, neglect or emotional abuse. There are a lot of jokes about date rape (which are called out on the page) and it can be a rough read in some places. Suicide is also mentioned.

Ultimately, I liked Carleigh and her devotion to her brother. Tucker is a good person, but his responses to Carl were not always the best. He does own up to it later and changes his ways, so I do like him as a character. You don’t get to see a whole lot of the other characters aside from Zayne (their professor and the cause of a lot of the drama) and Billy (Carl’s brother). Cap and Rory do make appearances, as does Carl’s mother Nicole and Cap’s sister Beth, but none of them play a key role in the overall story. Classmates and Tucker’s teammates also filter throughout the story, but aside from Ben and Manny, I can’t remember any of them.

Overall, I liked the story and am interested in reading the first 2 books to find out more about their life before this.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Ruins is the first book that I have read from Danielle Pearl, and it is also the first book in her Something More series. I didn't quite know what to expect when starting this story, and I have to say that after finishing I still don't know exactly how I feel. I feel like there was so much promise for this story, and yet there were quite a few things that just didn't work for me.

Carleigh thought that college would be her freedom. But with her first campus party, she quickly realizes that it isn't quite the escape she had planned when she comes across the last person that she wanted to see, Tucker. Tucker once thought that Carleigh was everything that he wanted, only to realize that she was just like every other girl that would do whatever it took to get what she wanted. But with Carleigh back around, Tucker finds himself struggling to remember the bad things as the attraction and connection he felt to Carleigh quickly return.

I liked the characters, but I will admit that there were times I struggled with the present Tucker. He was so sweet in the past and I loved that character, but there were times in the present that he came off as a jerk. I did feel like the connection and attraction between Tuck and Carl was natural though, and I did like them for one another.

My biggest issue though is that this story felt like it was off at times. Things would feel rushed and often times disjointed. As though the flow and pacing was off. I also felt like I had been enjoying this book even with a few of the issues I had right up until the end. Something happened that changed all that for me though, and it just seemed so unnecessary to me. It felt forced and as though it was just too over the top. As much as I felt this book had potential, I just found the execution lacking. I would still be interested in reading more from Danielle Pearl, but this wasn't exactly what I had been hoping for.

This story hit really close to home. I lived in a small town all my life. In those types of circumstances you are always judged by what your family does. It doesn't matter that you had nothing to do with whatever went down, you are automatically thrown into the same boat as the person who committed it.

You can tell that Carleigh is nothing like the people who "raised" her. Not only is she attending college, but she's also looking after her younger brother while her mother jet sets around the globe with her girlfriends. The one wrinkle in her life is Tucker, her ex.

Being at the same college as your ex is one thing, but an ex who absolutely hates you is a whole nother mess in and of itself. While Carleigh tires to have at least a little college experience, she can't help but to continuously run into Tucker.

These two navigate the past and future, learning truths and deceptions along the way. Leaving you to wonder if they were meant to be together or if they were just tow entities passing.

A tale of first love, heartbreak, and second chances, Danielle Pearl's "In Ruins" will pull at your heartstrings in all the best and worst ways. 4/5 stars.