Review: Scorched by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Scorched

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Publication Date: 6.16.2015

Genre: New Adult, Issues, Romance, Contemporary

Series: Frigid #2

Source: Finished copy from publisher

Rating: 5 Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes life leaves a mark…

Most days, Andrea doesn’t know whether she wants to kiss Tanner or punch him in the gut. He is seriously hot, with legit bedroom eyes and that firefighter body of his, but he’s a major player, and they can’t get along for more than a handful of minutes. Until now.

Tanner knows he and Andrea have had an epic love/hate relationship for as long as he can remember, but he wants more love than hate from her. He wants her. Now. Tomorrow. But the more he gets to know her, the more it becomes obvious that Andrea has a problem. She’s teetering on the edge and every time he tries to catch her, she slips through his fingers.

Andrea’s life is spiraling out of control, and it doesn’t matter that Tanner wants to save her, because when everything falls apart and she’s speeding toward rock bottom, only she can save herself.

Sometimes life makes you work for that happily ever after… 

Review:

I was a huge, rabid fan of FRIGID, so I feel like I’ve been waiting eons (OK, 2 years) for Jennifer L. Armentrout to write this book. Fans of FRIGID will be happy to know that there is plenty of Syd and Kyler in SCORCHED, but they fade into the background because of the sparks between Tanner and Andrea. But this is so much more than another romance novel. There are deeper issues here that Armentrout handles with quiet grace that absolutely blew me away.

Andrea is a troubled girl. She has a lot of problems she’s trying to bury but can’t seem to keep them at bay. It’s hard to articulate the problems Andrea is having because I too have them. It was a little terrifying to see so much of myself in Andrea (minus the drinking and promiscuity). But the panic attacks, the irrational fear that won’t go away … This is me. It’s all me. It was actually a relief to see my thoughts written by someone else. It makes me feel a little less alone.

If you’ve never struggled with mental issues like depression or panic attacks or something along those lines, I think being in Andrea’s head will be enlightening. And for those of us that do struggle daily with this, it’s a reassurance that you’re not the only one with those thoughts. You’re not alone.

This is Armentrout’s best work yet and definitely worth the 2 year wait. She is an author that continually surprises me with her originality and heart while writing and this book is absolutely spectacular.