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breadedbookpages's review against another edition
3.0
Corey is an ex-convict who took the fall for the person he's supposed to keep in check. Following his father's footsteps in wanting to provide for his family, Corey never had a choice in what to do with his life, and now, he has the option to come clean and clear his conscious of the latest crime he was pushed into: Vandalize the home and car of the prosecutor who wanted to help him keep out of prison. Confessing of his crime allows him a second chance with the help of that prosecutor's daughter Tessa. Tessa comes with her own guilt and demons and she hopes that allowing Corey to atone for his will give her the courage to tell the truth to her father about her own actions.
erinevelynreads's review
4.0
If You Only Knew is the story of Tessa and Corey. It focuses on Corey’s involvement in a drug gang and how he doesn’t belong and desperately wants to get out. After a night of vandalism, following a year in prison, he comes clean to the owner, a local prosecutor. Instead of pressing charges, the prosecutor, Hopper, makes him a deal. He helps to clean up the mess he caused. In the process, he meets Hopper’s daughter Tessa. The two quickly become friends and then develop feelings for each other. But Corey can’t break his ties with the gang without fear for his family, and the two struggle to stay together.
The story is told alternating perspectives between Tessa and Corey, and I loved both characters. This was definitely a slow burn in terms of romance. Tessa and Corey really don’t get together until a ways into the book. But the sections where they are together is well worth it.
A large part of the story was focused on Corey’s involvement in the gang and his desire to leave that life behind. If You Only Knew gave me major Riverdale vibes, with the gang activity, the loyalty to family, and the small-town feel. I really enjoyed this book, but I wish there was a little less of the gang drama and more of the relationship between Tessa and Corey.
Thank you to XPresso Book Tours, Netgalley, and Swoon Reads for the review copy!
The story is told alternating perspectives between Tessa and Corey, and I loved both characters. This was definitely a slow burn in terms of romance. Tessa and Corey really don’t get together until a ways into the book. But the sections where they are together is well worth it.
A large part of the story was focused on Corey’s involvement in the gang and his desire to leave that life behind. If You Only Knew gave me major Riverdale vibes, with the gang activity, the loyalty to family, and the small-town feel. I really enjoyed this book, but I wish there was a little less of the gang drama and more of the relationship between Tessa and Corey.
Thank you to XPresso Book Tours, Netgalley, and Swoon Reads for the review copy!
maggersann's review
5.0
I ADORED the role reversal of Tessa being the bad-ass biker with a good public reputation and Corey being the misunderstood sweetheart with a bad public reputation. They each had their own baggage and gave each other support and reassurance in different aspects of their lives- I loved that it never felt out of balance- they each gave and took in equal amounts. Their chemistry sizzled and I really enjoyed getting to spend time in each of their heads. Excited to read more from Prerna!
let_therebebooks's review
3.0
3.5**
If You Only Knew is a romance that is a lot different than other romances out there, especially the ones that I tend to flock to.
This story follows our two main characters Tessa and Corey, each chapter alternating between their POV's. Corey was just released from jail, for a crime he took blame for and didn't commit, and ends up vandalizing the house of the attorney who gave him a plea deal, who is also the father of Tessa. Tessa is a "bad girl" and lives for her motorcycle with secrets of her own that are eating at her conscience. When Corey ends up working for Tessa's dad on a project, Corey and Tessa end up spending a lot more time together than they planned.
This romance is a slow burn, and a good slow burn at that.
I liked this romance because the characters were imperfect and had to work through their own struggles, while coming together and helping one another with their issues. Corey has a terrible past and is in a life that he is desperate to get out of and will do anything to save & protect his family. Tessa has a secret that she is trying to make up for my doing things for others and trying to "Save" others. The two end up saving one another.
Tessa was a badass character who unconditionally loves those that are close to her. She risked her life to save Corey's and Corey never had that treatment before and you can tell how it affects him so. He is practically swooning over Tessa the entire story while Tessa is trying to fight her feelings for Corey. But of course, Corey also tries to push her away because he feels that his background makes him undeserving of a good relationship with Tessa.
Tessa's dad was also amazing and one of the best parental characters that I have read about in a long time.
Did I love this book? No but I thought it was good and different and I needed a change from the usual romances that I read.
It's a good book for a debut and it's less than 300 pages, which is even better because you can easily fly through this book!
Rating: 3.5 Stars
If You Only Knew is a romance that is a lot different than other romances out there, especially the ones that I tend to flock to.
This story follows our two main characters Tessa and Corey, each chapter alternating between their POV's. Corey was just released from jail, for a crime he took blame for and didn't commit, and ends up vandalizing the house of the attorney who gave him a plea deal, who is also the father of Tessa. Tessa is a "bad girl" and lives for her motorcycle with secrets of her own that are eating at her conscience. When Corey ends up working for Tessa's dad on a project, Corey and Tessa end up spending a lot more time together than they planned.
This romance is a slow burn, and a good slow burn at that.
I liked this romance because the characters were imperfect and had to work through their own struggles, while coming together and helping one another with their issues. Corey has a terrible past and is in a life that he is desperate to get out of and will do anything to save & protect his family. Tessa has a secret that she is trying to make up for my doing things for others and trying to "Save" others. The two end up saving one another.
Tessa was a badass character who unconditionally loves those that are close to her. She risked her life to save Corey's and Corey never had that treatment before and you can tell how it affects him so. He is practically swooning over Tessa the entire story while Tessa is trying to fight her feelings for Corey. But of course, Corey also tries to push her away because he feels that his background makes him undeserving of a good relationship with Tessa.
Tessa's dad was also amazing and one of the best parental characters that I have read about in a long time.
Did I love this book? No but I thought it was good and different and I needed a change from the usual romances that I read.
It's a good book for a debut and it's less than 300 pages, which is even better because you can easily fly through this book!
Rating: 3.5 Stars
apagecastingwitch's review
4.0
Cute. Intense. And fucking Heartbreaking at moments. Great for a quick afternoon read.
paisleypikachu's review
Check out the original review and more on NovelKnight!
This book was provided by the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Good girl falls for troubled bad boy. I've read this same story so many times, and I'm honestly so bored with it. Going into If You Only Knew, I didn't have high hopes. It turns out I was right. I think it's a book that would be perfect for someone wanting a quick little formulaic YA romance. It needed to really be outstanding for me to enjoy it and it just wasn't. Sorry book, it's not you, it's me.
Like I said, this story has been done. If You Only Knew might be a little more on the gritty side than most, but it still boiled down to "bad boy isn't actually bad, he's just mixed up with the wrong people so good girl falls for him." There's nothing inherently wrong with that premise, but I was so bored reading it. Everything that happened was so predictable in the first half, and I gave up when I realized I could probably guess at everything in the second half too.
The characters were just as predictable and bland. I honestly can't even remember their names at this point. They fell flat for me, simple cookie cutter versions of the same characters I've read before in better books. The instant attraction between the two leads didn't ring true. I mean, the guy literally had just broken into the girl's house. Doesn't matter how cute he is, maybe don't immediately trust him the next day?
The pacing was good though. The story moved quickly, always forward, with a good balance between slow moments and action-y bits. And the writing itself wasn't actually bad. But those things weren't enough to redeem this one for me.
Overall, I think that If You Only Knew is a good read for less picky readers. I didn't like it, but others definitely will. I wanted a fresh take on an overdone story and didn't get that, which ultimately left me bored. But someone who maybe hasn't read that same story fifty times could really end up enjoying this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Also: again, what is up with these ugly covers?? I think I just don't like the art style on this one because it is extremely off-putting to look at. It might be the eyebrows. *shudders*
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Good girl falls for troubled bad boy. I've read this same story so many times, and I'm honestly so bored with it. Going into If You Only Knew, I didn't have high hopes. It turns out I was right. I think it's a book that would be perfect for someone wanting a quick little formulaic YA romance. It needed to really be outstanding for me to enjoy it and it just wasn't. Sorry book, it's not you, it's me.
Like I said, this story has been done. If You Only Knew might be a little more on the gritty side than most, but it still boiled down to "bad boy isn't actually bad, he's just mixed up with the wrong people so good girl falls for him." There's nothing inherently wrong with that premise, but I was so bored reading it. Everything that happened was so predictable in the first half, and I gave up when I realized I could probably guess at everything in the second half too.
The characters were just as predictable and bland. I honestly can't even remember their names at this point. They fell flat for me, simple cookie cutter versions of the same characters I've read before in better books. The instant attraction between the two leads didn't ring true. I mean, the guy literally had just broken into the girl's house. Doesn't matter how cute he is, maybe don't immediately trust him the next day?
The pacing was good though. The story moved quickly, always forward, with a good balance between slow moments and action-y bits. And the writing itself wasn't actually bad. But those things weren't enough to redeem this one for me.
Overall, I think that If You Only Knew is a good read for less picky readers. I didn't like it, but others definitely will. I wanted a fresh take on an overdone story and didn't get that, which ultimately left me bored. But someone who maybe hasn't read that same story fifty times could really end up enjoying this book. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Also: again, what is up with these ugly covers?? I think I just don't like the art style on this one because it is extremely off-putting to look at. It might be the eyebrows. *shudders*
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millielou2002's review
2.0
Honestly, I did not want to read this book every time I went to pick it up. It was so insta-lovey, there was no real chemistry between the characters. I didn't even understand at what point they went from Tessa hating Corey to suddenly finding him super attractive?? Also there was one horrible line where Corey is describing Tessa's hands as "graceful, slender, soft, but more than able to take care of business." What does that even mean?? What business???
The characters are about 18 in this book, which is a year younger than me. But they did NOT act or talk like teenagers. Every character was incredibly stiff and awkward, there was no real relationship/friendship between any of them that I found believeable. Some of the things these "teenagers" came out with! One example is one of the MCs un-sarcastically using the phrase "Thank you for your candor." Nobody says that unironically/without sarcasm. Not a single teenager would ever say that.
I also really disliked the writing style. It felt too rushed, too stiff, too awkward and like it hadn't been properly proofread. I mean at what point, a character "frowned, smiling". Is that even physically possible??
Honestly, this is probably one of the worst books I've read this year. I was really looking forward to this but, it just wasn't it.
The characters are about 18 in this book, which is a year younger than me. But they did NOT act or talk like teenagers. Every character was incredibly stiff and awkward, there was no real relationship/friendship between any of them that I found believeable. Some of the things these "teenagers" came out with! One example is one of the MCs un-sarcastically using the phrase "Thank you for your candor." Nobody says that unironically/without sarcasm. Not a single teenager would ever say that.
I also really disliked the writing style. It felt too rushed, too stiff, too awkward and like it hadn't been properly proofread. I mean at what point, a character "frowned, smiling". Is that even physically possible??
Honestly, this is probably one of the worst books I've read this year. I was really looking forward to this but, it just wasn't it.
imaginationindex's review
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I have never seen so many mixed reviews for a book, while at the same time agreeing with each take. I’ll be honest, I did consider a DNF in the first half but I kept reading because I wanted to see what would play out between our main characters, Corey and Tessa. So let’s see my pros and cons and hopefully I’ll have a rating figured out by the end of this review:
PRO:
- Character concept! Tessa, a motorcycle riding female lead who loves animals. Corey, a not-so-bad bad boy who tries to do right for his family. And HER dad put HIM away!
- Flirting because SwoonReads lives up to its namesake.
- A bit of mystery to keep things interesting. What the accident Tessa is referring to? What is Corey trying to do with the gang fresh out of jail?
- There was a valid effort for diversity and inclusion, we love to see it!
- The reveal of X. No spoilers but I didn’t expect it (in a good way)
CON:
- The instant relationship. Corey and Tessa, just… BOOM they’re kissing.
- Flirting. Yes, I’m aware this was a pro but I did find some flirting very cliche and/or not in line with the character (specifically looking at our female MC stretching and getting a comment about her butt from our male MC)
- One dimensional characters (Paige and Alex, cough)
- Also number of characters. So. Many. Keeping track of who was who, the brother, the gang friend, the ex, the vet, the cousin, just so many to keep track of distracted from the story.
- Expecting more from the gang plot line. For such a core part mentioned it was vague and played a small role in the end.
Overall, it’s a great original idea but the execution could have been better.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Addiction