Making Bad Choices

I've make a lot of bad decisions but reading this book is not one of them.

Here's the thing: This is not a literary classic, so you should not go into this book expecting it to be one. I've come to categorize books like this as guilty pleasures. This book isn't going to teach me any important life lessons but it will keep me entertained for a few hours. It's fluffy, it's smutty, and it has all the typical angst and excitement that comes with forbidden love.

If you take this book for what it is, you will find that it is written far better than other books in this genre. The tropes and high school drama are inevitable, but solid writing can carry even the the most cliché of stories.

On another note, I really appreciated the family dynamics in this book. I loved the relationship between Cassie and her mother, despite the fact that we only get a brief glimpse of it. They spoke to each other in the same way my mother and I do and I love that. Speaking of relationships, Cassie experiences no shortage of dysfunction in her family but it's very clear that they all love each other very much (whether they share the same blood or not). That was kind of refreshing. I also liked the standard quirky characters and hated the typical high school snobs, so no surprise there. The characters aren't very complex but you will root for them (the good ones, obviously).

In any case, this is definitely one of the better New Adult romances I've read in months. I'm genuinely surprised. And impressed. If you're into that slow-burn, can't-love-you-but-I-do kind of romance, then this book is for you.

Final thoughts: Culter Fuller's name might give you a migraine but it won't stop you from enjoying this book! I read this book in one sitting and forgot all about my migraine.

*This review will be posted on http://www.laylabetweenthelines.com on January 10th, 2017*

Great story of a reality that many young adults face. In a world with blended families, Rita Stradling shown light on a situation that is all too real. Excellent coming of age story.

Overall Assessment:
This has been my most surprising read so far this year. I picked this one up in NetGalley because the story line intrigued me. It was a very fast read, as I finished it in only one sitting. While it was short, the plot was interesting, well thought out, and there was room for some humor and shenanigans. The warning at the top of the description seems to be mostly for the language, as I didn’t find any of the scenes to be overly sexual. There was more alluding to sex than actual sex.

What I liked:
– Quick, but the story didn’t feel rushed or haphazardly thrown together.
– I liked Cassie, but the real gold was Cutler and Daisy. I need an aunt like Daisy, lol. Back to Cutler – he was sweet, thoughtful, and not some Alpha-Douchebag who thought of Cassie as a possession. Sure, he was a little pushy, but not annoyingly so. Cassie didn’t really need much convincing in most instances anyway.
– I guessed the twist at the end about 1/2 way through the book, but it was still pretty good.


What I didn’t:
– I believed that Cutler loved Cassie and was harboring feelings for years, but I didn’t really believe Cassie’s side of it. It seemed very rushed on her part.

Would I recommend this book to family and/or friends?
Yep, it’s good for a fluffy and quick read. I would read this if you have an afternoon off and need a story with an HEA to make you feel good.

TLDR; Quick and easy read. Good to read if you’re cranky and need a pick-me-up.


--as a note, I have the review scheduled for later this week on my blog. After the review is posted I will update here with the link.

I liked this book as it quickly pulled me in because it was different from other YA books I’ve read. It’s more towards the older end of the spectrum due to the MA overtones. It was fun reading this, lots of drama, definitely a guilty pleasure to help take your mind off irritating current events. You won’t walk away having been taught some great life lesson but you will enjoy the entertainment and excitement that comes from forbidden love.

Rita Stradling writes well and does a good job bringing out the emotional spectrum of her characters as she wrings your heart out with sadness then has you smiling at the humor and love. She really got a handle on family dynamics and as a mother with a daughter I loved how she set up the relationship between Cassie and her mom in the little bit that we saw.

These characters aren’t overly complex with deep motivations but they don’t need to be to make you want to invest your time in them. You’ll become captivated by the characters; particularly the relationship between Cassie and Cutler which is like a slow, sensual burn before it explodes into a beautiful warm flame.

It’s definitely one of the better written novels in the YA genre that focus more on mature romantic interludes. If you’re into the teen angst of “I love you but shouldn’t” then you’ll be into this one. I found myself unable to put it down and was completely captivated by Cassie’s struggles because Stradling writes her characters so realistically; makes you remember the messiness of your teen years and grateful you survived them.