Nov 14, 2013

Review: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Title: Foreplay
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 11.5.2013
Pages: 320
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Series: The Ivy Chronicles #1
Source: ARC from author

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):
Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs. 

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…

Review:
The new adult genre seems utterly saturated with the same overdone tropes. Honestly I love what new adult books stand for—people who are forging their way into being adults, making adult decisions, and have adult relationships, but I also get so freaking annoyed with this genre and the way everyone is suddenly all over the NA trend.

This must’ve been what it was like when chocolate was first discovered.

But every now and then you find these diamonds in the lumps of coal. These glittering, sparkling stories that give you hope and make you fall in love with falling in love all over. That is Foreplay in a nutshell. Sophie Jordan utterly blew me away.

Pepper is a fantastic character because she’s just so ordinary. She isn’t a spectacular beauty and she’s been crushing on her bestie’s brother for years. And we all have those feelings of unrequited love, or that one crush we always thought, If they could just see me in this light…. Pepper finally gets her shot to do just that, but has to enlist the help of Reece.

I enjoyed Pepper, but I loved Reece. He’s that enigmatic blend of boy next door with a heart of gold and a dash of danger thrown in. But Reece is not an overdone, overly dramatic guy. I love that he knew what Pepper’s plans were regarding Hunter (eventually) and he was OK with helping her.

I think the best romances are the ones where a couple genuinely brings out the best in each other, and that’s what Pepper and Reece do—they bring out the absolute best in each other. They weren’t saving each other or helping each other heal from tragically broken pasts … It was a real relationship. Definitely one of the most tangible (and hottest) romances I’ve read in a while.

If you were like me and starting to feel exhausted by the NA genre, I’m telling you to give Foreplay a shot. Jordan will absolutely blow you away with these characters. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.


Buy: Amazon

6 comments:

  1. I love NA, but I dont really like how some of the covers and titles are more l;ike erotic titles and covers. I think there should be a clear difference between the marketing of the books. This one looks good though.

    great review!

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  2. Yeah, I'm already done with this genre...until I'm not, of course. The potential is there and I just want someone to take it and run with it. But, please, let's lose the crappy, overdone tropes that are currently there. This one sounds like it's making a valiant effort, however!

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  3. There's so many NA books out there that I can't keep them straight. This one sounds good though. I'm definitely adding it to my TBR list.

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  4. I loved Foreplay too! It was a nice, light NA book, which was a nice change. Lately, the NAs I've been reading have been so freaking depressing!

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  5. That's exactly why I had to take a break from the NA genre for a bit Hannah! It was just too much of the same for a while and I was reading way too many duds before a gem showed up. I struggled a bit with Pepper's stubbornness in letting go of Hunter in this book, but overall I enjoyed her and the fact that she was always upfront and honest with Reece. That just made me happy. And Reece himself? LOVED. He was the highlight for me, glad he was for you too:)

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  6. Hahahah "This must’ve been what it was like when chocolate was first discovered." Love it!

    And I agree with everything you said in your review. Especially the beginning. I also believe that a lot of authors have the genre confused. There is a huge different between New Adult and Contemporary/Erotic Romance. Some of the books I read are being labeled NA just because the characters are 24 or so, but are erotic romance. I've said this before and I'll say it again...we need sub genres for NA. LOL!

    Anyway, I loved FOREPLAY!!!! Great review, chica!

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