by Sophie Jordan
Release Date: June 2, 2020; HMH Books for Young Readers
From Goodreads:
A steamy contemporary YA romance by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan about a girl with a bad reputation giving lessons on how to attract guys for some extra cash—only to fall for her client’s golden-boy brother. For fans of Kami Garcia, Katie McGarry, and Netflix’s Sex Education.
Wild, beautiful, and (as rumor has it) experienced, Hayden Vargas doesn’t have time for love or relationships. She’s learned the hard way that the only person you can count on is yourself, and she’s hell-bent on earning enough money to leave her small, judgy Texas town as fast as possible. So when nerdy Emmaline Martin offers to pay Hayden for lessons in seduction, the money is so easy, there must be a catch. Enter the catch: Emmaline’s older brother, popular, all-around nice guy™ Nolan Martin, who doesn’t want his sister’s reputation tarnished by the school’s resident bad girl.
But Hayden should know that looks can be deceiving. Nolan may seem like a golden boy, but like Hayden, he has a few secrets of his own. And the more he meddles in her lessons with Emmaline, the more these polar opposites clash—and the more sparks fly. Turns out Nolan may have some lessons to teach Hayden, but only if she’s willing to learn.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
So... this was a total mind eff. In a good way. I think. No. Yes. Maybe? Uhm yeah, I'm sure.
I have very mixed feelings about this as you can tell. Imagine a more watered down version of Gossip Girl. But crazier. If that even makes sense? (I don't think it does?) Well, that's exactly how I feel. Don't get me wrong, this was good in a I couldn't stop reading so I read it in one sitting kind of way. But at the same time, there was so much draaama. This would have been half as long if they all just had a sit down, talked like reasonable, civilized people and hashed it all out. Seriously. Okay, it's starting to sound like I don't like this at all. Which isn't true. Again, I read it in one sitting. I love Hayden. She was confident and bold and fierce and smart. And the chemistry with Nolan? Hot. I love Emmaline too. She's like this more naive, innocent version of Hayden but just as brave and just as bold if she lets herself. Beau was okay, I guess. I couldn't form much of an opinion on him since he was barely there. Also, the way things turned out after that kiss? If it went any other way, I would have DNF-ed this for sure. (You'd know what I'm talking about when you read this one.)
The more I think about it now... I guess I liked this way more than I didn't?
“Now you can go to parties and flirt with any girl you want and not have to worry about any of that. In fact, you could be doing that right now.”
“I don’t want to be at a party flirting with other girls.”
“Oh?” She arched one dark eyebrow and pointed at the center of her chest. “You only want to be here flirting with me?”
I received an e-arc via Edelweiss+ to read and review.
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