Words and Phrases: Choosing You by Allie Everhart; A Review

Title: Choosing You
Written by Allie Everhart
Published on: September 21, 2013
Published by: Waltham Publishing

When Jade is given a scholarship to an elite private college in Connecticut, she sees it as a chance to finally escape her painful past and get a fresh start. She’s determined to succeed and that means keeping her focus on school and not guys. But her plan falls apart her first day on campus when Garret, a rich prep school boy with swimmer abs and a perfect smile, offers to help her move in.

Jade tries to push him away, but she can’t deny her attraction to him and Garret won’t let her. Things quickly heat up between them, but then come to a sudden halt when reality hits and Jade realizes that a relationship with Garret may never be possible. He comes from a world of wealth where there are rules, including rules about who he can date. And not following those rules has consequences.

As the two of them try to overcome the obstacles working to keep them apart, Jade is confronted with another challenge. On her 19th birthday, she receives a letter that her now deceased mother wrote years ago. In it are revelations that explain her traumatic childhood but also make her question the past she’s been running from.(sOURCE: GOODREADS)

MY THOUGHTS

I was looking on the list for upcoming New Adult books in Goodreads. I was so frustrated that I’m missing out a lot with the world of fiction. Though, I could never complain because I have a job that helps me pay the bills and even supports my excessive obsession on books.

When I was browsing the list, I found a lot but I cannot purchase them all- I cannot afford every single new release book. I really needed to make a decision. After the gazillion years of indecision and insecurities, I came up with ten books to devour. And that includes Choosing You by Allie Everhart.

This is actually my very first Everhart book. I am not really familiar with the name or even the book itself. Thanks to Goodreads and the millions of booklovers out there! Without you, I wouldn’t even have the chance to experience how amazing this book is!

And so, this is a story of Jade, a girl who was good, straight-laced, and swore off to vices at a young age. After her alcoholic mother’s death, she put up a wall around her, focusing on her studies. With her childhood best friend, Ryan, she made it through high school and graduated as valedictorian. Ryan and his father, Frank, took care of her after her mom’s death. They became her rock going through life. Even if they have none, they made it through- Ryan in med school, Jade as freshman in college.

With the help of Kensington Scholarship, she now has the chance to get through college. This was the first time that she would be away from home but she’s not bothered anyway. First-day jitters, unfamiliar faces, she was not even mortified by the idea. Not until a super-hot amazingly sexy boy knocked on her door. And the gorgeous hottie had a name- Garret! And guess what happened next? Oh keep guessing! Ha!

I really don’t want to talk about how the book went because it is obvious, I liked it. I know that I am kinda busy these days, with work and sleep. A girl gotta sleep ya know! Well, anyway, I still found it hard to put the book down. Okay, I was actually reading in my e-reader, but who cares, right?

Garret made my reading so much fun. He’s like a candy on a stick, ready to be licked. Oh my god! Did I just say that?! Never mind! I know I’m older than him, that if he’s not fictional, but I was really attracted to his character and how it was developed. Crap. Every perfect creature is fictitious! For the love of Mary Shaw! Going back, he is the hero in our story but there was a point in this book that I wanted to throw my reader away and stopped remembering the story. But that’s the trick of reading a book right? If a book doesn’t have that element, it would be super boring. Though, this one was just right for my taste. Okay, Garret was the perfect gentleman. Like every other young man in that age, I can understand his playfulness and cravings for alcohol and girls. It’s normal, correct? One thing that keeps on bugging me is that, why on Earth would he follow his bastard father if he never treated him right. I know, I know, he’s still his father but you know… Enough with the mumbling! He was a perfect support for our main character. Though the book didn’t give the side of Garret’s mind, the author created a clear picture of what was happening and what was supposed to happen. I couldn’t say more about the characterization.

Now, let’s go to Jade, the main character, the heroine of the story. I’m thinking that I, somehow, relate to her. With the books over boys’ attitude, and I-don’t-care-about-the-world state of mind, I knew then that I would love her. And I did. There was something about her that made me wanna kick some ass when if I plan on going out the house and be a bad girl. I cannot tell more about her. She’s just too perfect. Haha.

Anyway, when it comes to writing, I love the fact that Alli made the story fresh even if there are hundreds of new adult novels in this genre. I mean, the hero or the heroine is broken, with a not so good past, or a broken family. I was kinda nervous and afraid of the story because I have read so much about a girl hiding something in the closet and then I never finished reading the story because I already knew what’ll happen. However, this book gave me the thrill because there was an additional back story that spiced up my entire reading. I don’t want to spoil on you on that one so I prefer you read this book. Hahaha. (Mood kill?!)

Every situation was addicting, making me hold on to the story. The moments between the characters were really believable. Though, Garrett is not real. He is not real. I want him to be real. *sobs

The revelation at the end was not so explosive to me. The only thing that could hinder me from giving perfect rating would be the fact that the biggest question was not answered. What happened to the past? Who victimized whom? Where did the letter come from? Why did it happen? The story lacks establishment but for me I think it somehow sufficed. And what’s the point of having the second book published if the answers were found in the first right?

Would I recommend this book to the readers?

Duh?! Definitely!

And I’m giving the book five shining stars. I was going to rate it with four and a half… I thought about it. This debut novel of Allie deserves perfect rating! Hurray! I almost choke myself to death after reading this. I hope Ms. Alli could read this because she deserves all the praise for this fiction. *round of applause

I just want you to know, Ms. Alli, that you made my reading experience worthwhile. I cannot wait for the sequel. I wish I could have the second installment right now. As in NOW. *fingers crossed