Review in progress. Read for free on RivetedLit.com.

 

Promposal is one of those books that just sucks you in because it is so damn adorable. I went into this book knowing nothing about the author or the book itself. I just like fun romantic reads and this seemed like a good choice, and I was right. This was a very fast read, I finished it in one sitting.

I really loved the authenticity of the plot and its characters. I loved that the high school setting felt real and genuine, something that can be hard to do in this genre. I think my favorite part of this story was that we got two different POVs, Josh and Camilla. I liked reading these two stories because even though they are completely two different characters their stories interacted on many levels so no matter whose POV you were reading we were getting info on each character.

Joshua's story was my favorite, maybe it was because he was just a genuine characters and nice guy overall. Or maybe because I loved that his high school experience being gay was anything but tragic. I thought that was a nice change from many other books I have read. I loved that he was out and no one really cared that much. I thought his crush on his best friend was adorable and I was routing for him the entire way. Camilla was a very different reading experience for me. She was harder to like as a character and narrator. I think I wanted her to have more of a backbone in some scenarios, but overall I routed for her in the end.

Even though I knew how the book would end, because it was just that kind of story, I still really enjoyed the read, It was a fast and fun book that made me smile from beginning to end. A great weekend read for anyone who loves a good sweet contemporary.

ARC-Edelweiss

Review posted at the USA Today Happy Ever After Blog

I immediately was drawn to the title because I've never come across a title like Scratch before in the New Adult genre. I then was drawn by the description of the book because it involved a different kind of character with a different kind of story I've never read before. Don't get me wrong it's New Adult, so it will involved the usual elements of the genre, but it involves a different kind of storyline I've never read before. I also love finding new authors to try out, so I  couldn't wait to dive into Rhonda Helms Scratch novel.

The minute I started this book I knew I was going for a ride on the female character's, Casey's troubled life. Casey had never let anyone pass her physical and emotional barriers because the poor girl had a horrible past that kept haunting her. Since she couldn't move on from what happened to her and her family, she pushed people away and put up a wall that was hard to break down. In fact the minute a boy, Daniel showed any interest in her all she did was push him away. Daniel was determined to learn more about Casey because she intrigued him. Casey lived her life as a college student and as a DJ at night  to try to forget about what happened to her, but Daniel and everyone around her wanted her to open up more. Instead, Casey is not going to give up her way of life until Daniel, the boy in one of her college classes keeps trying to break her barriers.

Scratch is full of all the usual elements of the New Adult genre, but instead it has a very determined boy (who isn't broken) continue to push at the female character, Casey's buttons. Casey is what you would consider very broken because of the scars she hides inside her and outside her. She has every right to hide the truth of what happened, but she does it in way that is going to test the people around her who want to get closer. She feels she'll be judged by the past she had no control over. Believe me readers will be in shock what Casey went through. I was one of those readers from the minute the past came forward, I felt sympathy for poor Casey.  The poor girl needed some closure, and she needed someone to show her actual love.

The one thing that bothered me was how quick the ending came. I felt there was no real closure or complete happiness for Casey. It was rushed and I expected a little more to the ending. There was the issue of Casey driving me crazy with her constant back and forth attitude with Daniel. The poor boy just wanted to learn more about her and every time he came close to her, she pushed back harder than anything.

Overall Scratch was an enjoyable book that brought forth issues that I've never read before. I give it 3.5 moons and recommend it to readers looking for something different to read in the New Adult genre that has become highly popular in the recent years.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.