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caseroo7's review
4.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
I have to admit that I don't really know where to start with this review. The Love Square is my first book my Jessica Calla and it won't be my last. I went into this one not really knowing what to expect, and yet the blurb sounded really interesting. I can tell you that this book will not be for everyone. As the title implies, this is way more than a love triangle and there are many players here. If you don't like angst, drama or complicated love triangles/squares this definitely isn't the book for you. That being said, I couldn't put it down! I love torturing myself occasionally with these types of stories, so while there were things here that didn't exactly work for me I really did enjoy this one.
Having taken a job as a bookstore manager in LA, Clare begins to fear that leaving her life in Nebraska behind was a mistake. She hates California and doesn't know that leaving behind her fiance and family was her best decision. But when she meets model/actor Dylan Barnes, he offers to show her around and help her see how great California can be. The two strike up a friendship and the more time they spend together the more their feelings grow. Meanwhile in NY, Dylan's childhood friend Alex Popovich a minor league baseball player hoping to go pro meets a beautiful ballroom dancer named Jenna Stecco. The two become fast friends and while both of them want to be more, it isn't until Jenna makes her feelings known that Alex makes the mistake of telling her they can't be together. But when Dylan visits NY and meets Jenna, everything shifts as Jenna and Dylan spend the weekend together and decide to pursue a long distance relationship. Though Jenna and Dylan are together, they are both still in love with their friends. Just as it appears that everyone is figuring things out, Jenna shocks everyone with a secret that will change everything once again.
I liked these characters a lot, though I will admit that they were frustrating. The biggest thing that drove me nuts with them was the fact that none of them communicated well at all here. I realize that was part of how everything got so messed up, but it got a bit crazy at times, especially considering how close Alex and Jenna and Dylan and Clare were supposed to be. I absolutely loved Dylan and Clare together. They were perfect for one another and had an easy friendship and connection right from the start, which was amazing considering how they first met! Same goes for Jenna and Alex. They were great for one another and the bond they shared was so obvious. I really enjoyed seeing how everything played out for all of them, and while at first it was a bit confusing who everyone was and what was going on, this story flowed well and was easy to follow after a bit of explanation. I really loved that we got to see the POVs for the four main characters, and I think that helped to really understand and feel invested here.
The one thing I will say is that this story is a bit far fetched and unrealistic. While a bit unbelievable, this story was really good and that didn't matter to me. I took it for what it was and didn't let that bother me. There were times that I would wish characters would speak up and actually talk about things with one another, it was clear to see just how much each of them felt for one another and why they didn't make their feelings known. Each of them had their own insecurities and issues or assumptions that kept them from really being able to go in the direction that they wanted to. As much as my heart hurt for the characters throughout the mess they went through, I hoped that they would all wind up where they were meant to and I think that Jessica Calla did them justice. The ending was very satisfying and while unconventional, it felt genuine. I will look for more from Jessica Calla in the future and I recommend this one if you are open to a different and unique love story.
**ARC Provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions**
I have to admit that I don't really know where to start with this review. The Love Square is my first book my Jessica Calla and it won't be my last. I went into this one not really knowing what to expect, and yet the blurb sounded really interesting. I can tell you that this book will not be for everyone. As the title implies, this is way more than a love triangle and there are many players here. If you don't like angst, drama or complicated love triangles/squares this definitely isn't the book for you. That being said, I couldn't put it down! I love torturing myself occasionally with these types of stories, so while there were things here that didn't exactly work for me I really did enjoy this one.
Having taken a job as a bookstore manager in LA, Clare begins to fear that leaving her life in Nebraska behind was a mistake. She hates California and doesn't know that leaving behind her fiance and family was her best decision. But when she meets model/actor Dylan Barnes, he offers to show her around and help her see how great California can be. The two strike up a friendship and the more time they spend together the more their feelings grow. Meanwhile in NY, Dylan's childhood friend Alex Popovich a minor league baseball player hoping to go pro meets a beautiful ballroom dancer named Jenna Stecco. The two become fast friends and while both of them want to be more, it isn't until Jenna makes her feelings known that Alex makes the mistake of telling her they can't be together. But when Dylan visits NY and meets Jenna, everything shifts as Jenna and Dylan spend the weekend together and decide to pursue a long distance relationship. Though Jenna and Dylan are together, they are both still in love with their friends. Just as it appears that everyone is figuring things out, Jenna shocks everyone with a secret that will change everything once again.
I liked these characters a lot, though I will admit that they were frustrating. The biggest thing that drove me nuts with them was the fact that none of them communicated well at all here. I realize that was part of how everything got so messed up, but it got a bit crazy at times, especially considering how close Alex and Jenna and Dylan and Clare were supposed to be. I absolutely loved Dylan and Clare together. They were perfect for one another and had an easy friendship and connection right from the start, which was amazing considering how they first met! Same goes for Jenna and Alex. They were great for one another and the bond they shared was so obvious. I really enjoyed seeing how everything played out for all of them, and while at first it was a bit confusing who everyone was and what was going on, this story flowed well and was easy to follow after a bit of explanation. I really loved that we got to see the POVs for the four main characters, and I think that helped to really understand and feel invested here.
The one thing I will say is that this story is a bit far fetched and unrealistic. While a bit unbelievable, this story was really good and that didn't matter to me. I took it for what it was and didn't let that bother me. There were times that I would wish characters would speak up and actually talk about things with one another, it was clear to see just how much each of them felt for one another and why they didn't make their feelings known. Each of them had their own insecurities and issues or assumptions that kept them from really being able to go in the direction that they wanted to. As much as my heart hurt for the characters throughout the mess they went through, I hoped that they would all wind up where they were meant to and I think that Jessica Calla did them justice. The ending was very satisfying and while unconventional, it felt genuine. I will look for more from Jessica Calla in the future and I recommend this one if you are open to a different and unique love story.
**ARC Provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions**
multicoloredbookreviews's review
2.0
I'm aware this book has some glowing reviews, and I can't help but wonder why it didn't really click for me.
I couldn't really connect to any of the characters, the writing felt weird to me for some reason, and to be completely honest the whole miscommunication/misinformation thing got on my nerves a little bit.
Like, everything could have been pretty much resolved from the start if the characters simply talked to one another. And another thing that was missing for me was the connection between Dylan and Jenna. Like, the other two couples had such a solid foundation built on friendship, love and trust, but for them that connection was missing, so the whole love-square concept felt a bit iffy in my opinion. Still, I'd encourage everyone to judge for themselves.
For me, this one was a swing and a miss (LOL).
**Thank you to the author and the New Adult Book Club for giving a copy of this book for reviewing**
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review
4.0
Ms calla had me from the title of her book, I love a great love triangle so what's better add a fourth person to the mix, these 4 characters really gave me all the feels and I devoured this story.
apagetoturn's review
4.0
My rating: 4
The concept behind this plot was what made me want to read it. It was interesting and I really wanted to see how the author pulled it off! This was my first book by Jessica.
The story is very character driven and it wasn't hard to enjoy these people and to relate to them! Clare and Dylan meet by accident... when she literally smashes her truck into his tiny new car! The banter between these two was so fun! She was new to the city, and allowed a friendship to grow with Dylan who did the best he could to show her around town.
Alex and Jenna met at a party - but he's not the "one woman man" type... eventually Dylan and Alex visit since they are old friends... in which the four people meet each other and things get really interesting and complicated from there.
It was so hard for me to root for just one relationship or another through out the book - all these characters are interesting... and I liked them all. It was a fun story to be a part of, and while it was a tad unrealistic, I really enjoyed it anyway! It is also a stand alone in the sense that it didn't end with a cliffhanger.
The concept behind this plot was what made me want to read it. It was interesting and I really wanted to see how the author pulled it off! This was my first book by Jessica.
The story is very character driven and it wasn't hard to enjoy these people and to relate to them! Clare and Dylan meet by accident... when she literally smashes her truck into his tiny new car! The banter between these two was so fun! She was new to the city, and allowed a friendship to grow with Dylan who did the best he could to show her around town.
Alex and Jenna met at a party - but he's not the "one woman man" type... eventually Dylan and Alex visit since they are old friends... in which the four people meet each other and things get really interesting and complicated from there.
It was so hard for me to root for just one relationship or another through out the book - all these characters are interesting... and I liked them all. It was a fun story to be a part of, and while it was a tad unrealistic, I really enjoyed it anyway! It is also a stand alone in the sense that it didn't end with a cliffhanger.
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
4.0
Ms calla had me from the title of her book, I love a great love triangle so what's better add a fourth person to the mix, these 4 characters really gave me all the feels and I devoured this story.
multicoloredbookreviews's review against another edition
2.0
I'm aware this book has some glowing reviews, and I can't help but wonder why it didn't really click for me.
I couldn't really connect to any of the characters, the writing felt weird to me for some reason, and to be completely honest the whole miscommunication/misinformation thing got on my nerves a little bit.
Like, everything could have been pretty much resolved from the start if the characters simply talked to one another. And another thing that was missing for me was the connection between Dylan and Jenna. Like, the other two couples had such a solid foundation built on friendship, love and trust, but for them that connection was missing, so the whole love-square concept felt a bit iffy in my opinion. Still, I'd encourage everyone to judge for themselves.
For me, this one was a swing and a miss (LOL).
**Thank you to the author and the New Adult Book Club for giving a copy of this book for reviewing**
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