Easy

This story was hard to rate. There are certain decisions that I didn’t care for as it pertains to the love story and romance and there were others that were perfect and sweet, female empowering, and really awesome. So weighing all things together I went with a 3 star. Here are the things that worked for me:(1) Lucas: for the most part he was sweet, protective, amazing, supportive (see below for some negatives),(2) Jacqueline: she was tough but sensitive. Her experiences were not uncommon and while I didn’t agree with all her choices especially at the beginning of the book, she stood up and represented!(3) Katie: super minor side character and sorority president or something but DAMN did she perfectly embody what it is to support your “sisters” in a time of crisis! She was a totally minor character but LOVED HER! In general the ladies’ support of each other in this book was super encouraging.(4) The feels! This book was a roller coaster of emotions. (SPOILER) I loved the split identity thing allowing J to get to know different sides of Lucas and love both. You think your coming for Jacqueline’s story and issues only to realize that Lucas needs some lovin’ healing too!Things that didn’t work:(1) SOOOOO Many of Jacqueline’s decisions. I’m a pretty big introvert so maybe it’s just my own hang ups but had I just been heartbroken and nearly raped, I wouldn’t probably be jumping back into partying and drinking right away. No judgment here but it didn’t seem like a very realistic reaction to recent events (maybe she was repressing or something, I just don’t know).(2) The continuing thoughts and comparisons of her experiences with her ex, especially early on, and choosing to have thanksgiving with him though she was already with Lucas... just no. The ex was way too present in this story for my preferences. When I read a love story I want it to be about the MCs not other hang ups.(3) Lucas’ hot and coldness. Frankly I felt that Jacqueline had been through enough that she didn’t need that wishy-washiness from Lucas, some of this was due to his need to protect her but later it becomes about protecting himself. His reasons become a lot more understandable later in the book but caused me a lot of irritation early on and then again later in the book when he continued to try pushing her away.Overall it was a good book I’d recommend reading but there were some personal irritations and decisions made by the characters that is didn’t agree with that dragged down my rating.

This is the first book that I have actually categorized as new adult. It's college with actual attending of classes and studying rather than just partying. Even the fraternities and sororities are portrayed as more than just leering guys and airhead girls, which is the stereotype seen in most college romances. There is a real demarcation here between teens and college young adults. In most of these books, they just put immature, high school type personalities in a college setting. This book gives us actual young adults who are finding their way in the adult world of relationships and responsibilities. They still don't have it all figured out, and they make mistakes along the way.We can debate the decisions Jacqueline makes, but they are true to life. As frustrating and upsetting it is to read about, the unnerving fact is that many of these crimes go unreported. Victims just want it all to go away. They know that they will be judged, even by their own sex. I really loved when the sorority president called them on it and demanded to know if they were sisters or not. I also liked how Jacqueline became empowered as the story continued. Erin was also the best friend ever, and I adored her.Then we have the incredibly sexy, incredibly perfect Lucas. He is absolutely a dream guy, but that's why we read romance novels, right? He is gorgeous, considerate, smart, protective, and good at everything. I enjoyed this romance so much, and I didn't mind that he was unrealistically perfect. Then the author stunned me with the revelation about his past, and that added a compellingly dark layer to him that I hadn't been expecting.This was an engrossing story that had a great slow burn romance. Absolutely one of the best new adult books I have read.

Wow, Tammara Webber must have been reading my mind b/c this story was tailor-made for me!!! Easy was this delicious recipe of all the things that make a contemporary romance story really reach perfection. A hot, mysterious knight in shining armor, a damzel in distress who finds her own strength, and of course plenty of jealousy, danger, romance, chemistry, and unexpected twists to keep me on the edge of my seat from page one!! I loved every minute I spent with these characters!!!Jacqueline's character was very easy to relate to; she's just the average girl, devoted to her guy and willing to change her plans so that she can be with him when they go to college. She sacrifices her own opportunities to follow Kennedy, the self-centered asshat who decides he wants to 'sow his oats' instead of staying committed to her. I loved there's not a lot of time wasted on Jacqueline and Kennedy's breakup, instead it's more about her life without him. The story starts out with a life-changing moment for her, which was her attack at her truck by a classmate one night. In swoops her knight in shining armor, Lucas, the tattoo-covered, lip-pierced hottie. I'm a total sucker for the hot guys that swoop in and save the day, so Lucas pretty much tattooed himself right on my heart at that moment!!! I loved that he and Jacqueline have that shared 'moment' (though terrifying), because when she discovered him in her class it made her interest in him believable and completely expected IMO!!! And their romance was sweet and subtle, so I felt like I was really falling for Lucas right along with Jacqueline. And Landon...yeah, when Landon becomes her over-email tutor I was just eating up all of the cute messages they shared (the book blurb pretty much points out the secret behind Landon and Lucas, but I won't give it away just in case it's not as obvious to others that read it). Landon is the book-smart, witty, patient guy to Lucas' sexy, care-free bad-boy. Jacqueline can't help but be drawn to both of them, as they both represent something she's never had before from Kennedy. I loved both of them, too, and when the secret was 'revealed', I was relieved that Jacqueline could finally put her mixed up feelings behind her. L was just what she needs in every way, and the chemistry between them was just off the charts...talk about sexual tension!!! Whew!! There was plenty of drama throughout their romance, between the bouts of jealousy on both ends and the presence of her attacker keeping her constantly on edge. It was so hard to break away from this story because I was just so anxious for the barriers to fall down and Jacqueline and L to just give in to their feelings. It was an emotional rollercoaster and I loved the thrill!!There was a great message in this book about the importance of speaking up about sexual assaults, and the plot twists with Buck's heartless attacks were terrifying and sickening. He really is just the scum of the earth, and I loved that Webber showed the strength of victims through something like this. Between L's horrifying, gut-wrenching past and Jacqueline's attacks, the victims in this story are shown taking charge of their own lives and getting past the violence. Jacqueline starts out believing she made a huge mistake following Kennedy to his dreams, but it turns out she was exactly where she needed to be because she's the answer and healing balm to L's never-ending torment. She gives him the hope and reassurance he's always needed and could never find, and it was so beautiful to watch him finally have that. He truly went through such hell, it crushed me to read what he suffered through, and it brought tears to my eyes when what Jacqueline goes through makes him realize that he has to forgive himself. It's really just an amazing message, an unforgettable story, and a romance that melts your heart!!!