My second try by this author and while I enjoyed it, I didn't like it as much as I liked this other one. Probably because the heroine was not such a stand out as in [b:Waking Olivia|29103642|Waking Olivia|Elizabeth O'Roark|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456502178s/29103642.jpg|49341755]. Also the hero didn't have as good a reason to stay away from her as in that one. I think he should have gotten over the age difference a little quicker. It wasn't that big and she was more than legal age. Still pretty readable. ( )

After thoroughly enjoying Waking Olivia, I eagerly snatched up another one of her books. Unfortunately, Bloom does a lot I don't like with NA novels.

Elle annoyed me to no end. All at once her life is turned upside down and instead of focusing on the recent turmoil, she just obsesses over a boy she hasn't even seen in 5 or 6 years. When she arrives at his house where she'll be staying over the summer, the only thing she does is lament that her childhood crush (and older guy) doesn't love her back. There are so many scenes where she thinks "my internship is over and people think I slept with my boss; said ex-boss is now semi stalking me; my parents are divorcing and my dad is marrying someone young enough to be my sister; I may not have money to go to school next year; but the worst thing is James doesn't like me." There are so many worse things than a boy not returning your affections. Especially since you only "loved" him as a child, there is no real connection when 19 year old her sees him. She just instantly resumes her lovefest and contemplates leaving right away when he doesn't immediately show interest because it's "too hard" and he's the only reason she went to stay there.

Of course, he eventually falls for her too, but it seems too physical (he could not have had feelings for her previously because there is a 6 year age gap, and liking her when she was 14 and you were 20 would have been gross).

I did like Max, the roommate, friend, genius slacker. He was good comic relief and I enjoyed his laid back personality, but I can't say I enjoyed the rest of the secondary characters.

Because I liked Waking Olivia so much, I am definitely willing to read another book by O'Roark. Both books were well written and I think Waking Olivia is the newest release, which to me shows growth as a writer and leaves me excited. ( )