This wasn't very good.

I don't think there was much of a plot one could follow, the sequence of events just happened and it was always the same, regardless of whether eight hours or two days or two weeks had passed since the last snippet. Obviously this is a prequel and I assume the plot points only started here (Juliet's anxiety? Her father's alcoholism? Whatever is wrong with her mother & her sister? Emerson's family situation and siblings - one of them didn't appear in the story and it was never even mentioned that he's the brother, I'm just assuming!) will be addressed in the actual first book, but I don't think this "stands alone" (as the summary said).

I also didn't much care for the relationship. The insta-love was nothing but cringe-worthy (eight hours??? COME ON PEOPLE!), but the sex = possession point made is just creepy. Also, how the heck was Emerson able to tell from basically "the look in Juliet's eyes" that she's a virgin?!

So am I going to continue the series? Probably not. (tbh I only got this cause it was free on Kindle and I need some books that start with "U" for a team challenge. I might read the other free novellas for that purpose though.) ( )

This is a very short story prequel - and as a prequel it's probably more interesting. As a short story read, it really doesn't give you much. ( )

1st person POV - DNF ( )

The summer from hell is what Juliet McKenzie is expecting when forced to go to Beachwood Bay with her parents. What she gets is resident bad boy Emerson Ray. Dark and deeply troubled Ray isn't looking for a happily ever after. He's just trying to make it a day at a time. When their worlds collide nothing will ever be the same. A great start to an amazing series. Highly recommended!! ( )

A sweet, quick read about young/first love with two characters who share a similar wound (alcoholic parents) and are drawn to each other. It flows nice and easy. ( )