After reading another book “Everywhere, Always” by the same author, I was thrilled when I saw this one via a newsletter promotion, and I was happy to read and review.

The Premise

Harper is in her senior year, on the cusp of wrapping up her school life, and everything is going according to her very meticulous plan — that is, until Dylan asks her for a favour, and she grudgingly obliges. Though they’ve known each other forever, she’s always kept her distance because they come from two different worlds: she’s the scholarship kid with big dreams, while he’s the wealthy spoilt brat with the world at his fingertips. More importantly, Dylan and her best friend James are enemies and rival track stars.

Harper secretly loves James, whom she’s known since birth, and is planning her entire future around him. But as she gets to know Dylan, she wonders if everything she’s planned, and the life she’s built, have all been a waste. It’s about high time she prioritizes her own needs — and maybe, just maybe, one of those “needs” might be Dylan.

The Pros

This was a great young adult romance with all the feels. Harper is a character that many of us can connect with — down-to-earth, good girl, or as James terms it (much to her chagrin): “Innocent. Cute. Predictable.” She’s self-aware and despite her insecurities, she’s also clearly proud of who she is and what she’s accomplished, even if it means she’ll never be the popular girl.

I loved seeing the relationship with Dylan develop, and their banter is witty and fun. I felt like Harper made an important journey of growth — both as a result of Dylan’s influence, as well as on her own, and I was rooting for her the whole way through. The rivalry between the guys came to a head splendidly, and I liked that build-up to the eventual explosion. And then, the climax of the novel when we learn what was going on from Dylan’s side — OMG! Wow! I absolutely loved it, and felt my heart soaring for him. So well done!

The Cons

Though I enjoyed this novel a lot, I did feel like the end was a little anti-climactic, as the last chapter felt rushed. I also struggled to read some of the parts with James, because I couldn’t see why Harper liked him in the first place! Admittedly he does have a salvageable *okay, okay, you’re not such a douche* moment but gosh, it took long to reach! (Still in all fairness, it is there!) While I didn’t expect (or want) him to make any grand gestures, he was really just half-assing being a friend far less anything more, and I wish he was a wee bit more of a contender for her heart — this may have added some tension.

Conclusion

This was a good young adult romance that I enjoyed thoroughly, and I would highly recommend to other readers, particularly that target market. The characters are memorable, the dialogue was enjoyable, and the supporting characters brought a nice addition. If you enjoy shows like “Dawson’s Creek” with the Dawson/Joey/Pacey love triangle, this is right up your alley. There was a definite whiff of that kind of energy, and as a fan of that myself I appreciated the reference point. I would love to read more from the author, and I look forward to it!

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