Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
This was a decent book. Very quick and perfect little summer romance but also maybe a little tired? It starts off with cringey Negging and certain red flags that I hated myself for getting swoony over. It reminded me a little of the “after” series in the “good girl” “bad boy” way. It definitely developed into more that I enjoyed but still had a little of already done plot lines.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I've read Kennedy's Off Campus and other college books so I was thrilled to get an early start on a promising new series.
MacKenzie Cabot is from a wealthy family and after taking a gap year to grow her successful website, is to start college at Garnet College, a fictional liberal arts university somewhere on the South Carolina coast. Her boyfriend Preston Kincaid is a real D bag and womanizer.
Cooper Hartley is a hard working "townie" who gets into a scuffle while tending bar at one of his gigs with Preston, who sexually harassed one of the waitresses, Cooper's friend Steph. Once Preston lays unwelcome hands on her, Cooper punches him. His boss has no choice but to fire him because Preston's daddy owns half of Avalon Bay property, which tracks as Preston treats women like property.
Cooper and his twin Evan, and their friends decide to get revenge when they see a picture of Preston with his unsuspecting girlfriend MacKenzie. Cooper decides to get Mac to sleep with him and shove that in Preston's face. Cooper later withdraws from her revenge plot when he gets to know Mac and that's she isn't like the other "clones", a derogatory nickname for the rich students and families who summer in Avalon Bay.
This book got more enjoyable as I got through the first half, but as readers we know the truth always comes out and when it does, it is a doozy. It would have been better to tell Mac what her cheating ex did rather than for it to be a big secret that explodes. Her parents are real pieces of work too, and while Cooper and Mac bonded over shitty parents, the author also focused on Mac's interest in being an entrepreneur and not a typical princess who is spoiled and obnoxious. Especially as the friend group unfairly misjudged her and keep things from her when she was getting to know Cooper, before she dumped the dude. It was only when Preston started attempting to make decisions for her and her parents being fine with that control, that she decided she was done.
I'm interested in future book featuring the twin brother Evan, there's real potential for additional books. Will definitely recommend this book to fans of New adult romance.
4/5☆
TW for sexual harassment, unwanted groping and alcohol abuse.
MacKenzie Cabot is from a wealthy family and after taking a gap year to grow her successful website, is to start college at Garnet College, a fictional liberal arts university somewhere on the South Carolina coast. Her boyfriend Preston Kincaid is a real D bag and womanizer.
Cooper Hartley is a hard working "townie" who gets into a scuffle while tending bar at one of his gigs with Preston, who sexually harassed one of the waitresses, Cooper's friend Steph. Once Preston lays unwelcome hands on her, Cooper punches him. His boss has no choice but to fire him because Preston's daddy owns half of Avalon Bay property, which tracks as Preston treats women like property.
Cooper and his twin Evan, and their friends decide to get revenge when they see a picture of Preston with his unsuspecting girlfriend MacKenzie. Cooper decides to get Mac to sleep with him and shove that in Preston's face. Cooper later withdraws from her revenge plot when he gets to know Mac and that's she isn't like the other "clones", a derogatory nickname for the rich students and families who summer in Avalon Bay.
This book got more enjoyable as I got through the first half, but as readers we know the truth always comes out and when it does, it is a doozy. It would have been better to tell Mac what her cheating ex did rather than for it to be a big secret that explodes. Her parents are real pieces of work too, and while Cooper and Mac bonded over shitty parents, the author also focused on Mac's interest in being an entrepreneur and not a typical princess who is spoiled and obnoxious. Especially as the friend group unfairly misjudged her and keep things from her when she was getting to know Cooper, before she dumped the dude. It was only when Preston started attempting to make decisions for her and her parents being fine with that control, that she decided she was done.
I'm interested in future book featuring the twin brother Evan, there's real potential for additional books. Will definitely recommend this book to fans of New adult romance.
4/5☆
TW for sexual harassment, unwanted groping and alcohol abuse.
Cooper and Mac are the best. This book reminds me of Outer Banks with a combination of After.
The fact that Cooper helps Mac get on her independent feet, apart from her rich parents gives an example of how much they fit with each other. Mac truly believes that she can be herself with him without facing judgement. From impulsively buying a hotel to managing her websites, Cooper always takes her seriously and vice versa. She helps him get back the trust he lost as his family always failed him. The connection between Evan and Cooper is great and I really liked that Evan called Mac one night to ask her to come rescue him as he didn’t want Cooper to know. And as Mac knew that Cooper was worrying about Evan, she made him promise to be nicer to her and with that got him back on track.
It hurt to read that Cooper lied to Mac but he eventually showed her love for her anyway.
I loved the scene where Mac went after the whining she heard close to the boardwalk. She heard a puppy on some rocks in the sea and impulsively decided to go after it, and as Cooper was worried about Mac, he followed her and they both rescued the dog. The dog instantly loved Mac but took some convincing to like Cooper but eventually they became best friends. And while his first plan was to bring the dog back to the shelter, he decided to keep her anyway and name her Daisy, as Mac suggested many many times. I feel like Daisy brought Mac and Cooper that much closer together and finally made them accept each other’s feelings that they had since the moment they met.
The fact that Cooper helps Mac get on her independent feet, apart from her rich parents gives an example of how much they fit with each other. Mac truly believes that she can be herself with him without facing judgement. From impulsively buying a hotel to managing her websites, Cooper always takes her seriously and vice versa. She helps him get back the trust he lost as his family always failed him. The connection between Evan and Cooper is great and I really liked that Evan called Mac one night to ask her to come rescue him as he didn’t want Cooper to know. And as Mac knew that Cooper was worrying about Evan, she made him promise to be nicer to her and with that got him back on track.
It hurt to read that Cooper lied to Mac but he eventually showed her love for her anyway.
I loved the scene where Mac went after the whining she heard close to the boardwalk. She heard a puppy on some rocks in the sea and impulsively decided to go after it, and as Cooper was worried about Mac, he followed her and they both rescued the dog. The dog instantly loved Mac but took some convincing to like Cooper but eventually they became best friends. And while his first plan was to bring the dog back to the shelter, he decided to keep her anyway and name her Daisy, as Mac suggested many many times. I feel like Daisy brought Mac and Cooper that much closer together and finally made them accept each other’s feelings that they had since the moment they met.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Your typical romance summer read nothing spectacular Not bad not excellent. Think I’m over the boy meets girl they fall in love break up and get back together and live happily ever after. With some light sex In it to. Blah
eh disappointing. I really enjoyed the briar U books, but this fell kinda flat IMO. still fun to read but just not great
I loved this book so much! If I didn’t have adult responsibilities I could have easily read it all in one day!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes