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When You Come to Me #1
When You Come to Me
Young, sweet and totally southern, Natalie Savannah Chandler embarks upon her freshman year of college with only one thing on her get her degree and become a doctor. Sure it seems simple in the grand scheme of things. After all, she's got her family supporting her, and family is all that matters. She is ostracized in her dorm for being just a little bit quiet and a little bit conservative. But that doesn't bother her…initially. Her roommate is loud and wild and white, drinks beer and has sex with her boyfriend. They are polar opposites in every sense of the word. But when Natalie decides to accompany her roommate to a house party off-campus in a cozy house of blue siding, her world is turned upside down the moment that she's knocked unconscious with a flying beer bottle. Yes, you read that correctly. When she comes to (in more ways than one) she is face to face with Brandon Greene, a preppy, oatmeal-skinned New Yorker, with a loud mouth, a grand smile and an open heart. Brandon makes his intentions clear from the he is hopelessly in love with his girlfriend, Sophia, but does not want to marry her. He does, however, want to be friends with Natalie.
Neither Brandon nor her curiosity about him make sense to her at all, and her sense of complacency begins to tumble as she and Brandon grow closer. She's thrust into a love triangle that she wants no part of and suddenly, a streamlined future to success in the medical field is the last thing on her mind — all she sees now is a shade of gray. Brandon and Natalie have a powerful dynamic; but can it stand the weight that time, spatial disparity and color have placed on them? "When You Come to Me" is a sometimes humorous, sometimes dramatic take on the loss of innocence in its most colorful form.
Neither Brandon nor her curiosity about him make sense to her at all, and her sense of complacency begins to tumble as she and Brandon grow closer. She's thrust into a love triangle that she wants no part of and suddenly, a streamlined future to success in the medical field is the last thing on her mind — all she sees now is a shade of gray. Brandon and Natalie have a powerful dynamic; but can it stand the weight that time, spatial disparity and color have placed on them? "When You Come to Me" is a sometimes humorous, sometimes dramatic take on the loss of innocence in its most colorful form.
568 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2011
132 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Jade Alyse
10 books25 followersJade Alyse was thrust into a world of colorful literature at a very early age, pouring through her mother’s extensive book collection, absorbing and succumbing to the magic that it possessed.
Born in the sleepy, comfortable southern town of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to two young African-American professionals in the mid-eighties, Jade developed an amorous affection for family and the cultural ideals that were instilled in her at a very early age. High-spirited, pensive and observant, Jade’s fascination surrounded the engaging dynamic between two people, and the entrancing beauty of a southern atmosphere. Her writing has most frequently been described as vivid and illustrative and readers have been lulled into the picture she paints with each word.
Jade can be seen most often with a notebook and pen in her grasp, jotting down phrases and ideas and names. She takes these and pulls them into a vibrant semblance of congruency. Even when she is not working on a novel or short story, she is always writing, always vigilant.
Jade completed her first novel, When You Come to Me, in the winter of 2007 and it was most recently published this summer. It highlights the trials and tribulations of an interracial couple attempting to exist in a small, collegiate Georgian town. Jade Phillips’ first short story, Rusted Halo, was selected for presentation at the Creative Writing Workshop Weekend at California State University Fullerton in November of 2010.
Born in the sleepy, comfortable southern town of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to two young African-American professionals in the mid-eighties, Jade developed an amorous affection for family and the cultural ideals that were instilled in her at a very early age. High-spirited, pensive and observant, Jade’s fascination surrounded the engaging dynamic between two people, and the entrancing beauty of a southern atmosphere. Her writing has most frequently been described as vivid and illustrative and readers have been lulled into the picture she paints with each word.
Jade can be seen most often with a notebook and pen in her grasp, jotting down phrases and ideas and names. She takes these and pulls them into a vibrant semblance of congruency. Even when she is not working on a novel or short story, she is always writing, always vigilant.
Jade completed her first novel, When You Come to Me, in the winter of 2007 and it was most recently published this summer. It highlights the trials and tribulations of an interracial couple attempting to exist in a small, collegiate Georgian town. Jade Phillips’ first short story, Rusted Halo, was selected for presentation at the Creative Writing Workshop Weekend at California State University Fullerton in November of 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 21, 2017
I'm pissed! I'm irritated! If I had paid for this book, I'd be calling the publisher asking for my money back and compensation for the time I spent reading through this nonsense!
Five. Hundred. Sixty. Seven. Pages.
Five hundred and sixty seven pages of back and forth.
I love him.
But I'm black.
He loves me.
But he's white.
It's okay.
It's not okay.
I love him.
But I'm black...
Dear god kill me now.
I've been black all my life (shocker, I know).
As a black person I can honestly say I was offended at all the fried chicken references, and all the twang in speech since she's supposed to be ed-u-ma-cated.
The ONLY good part of this book was the beginning. I love books where friends turn into something more. At first it was cute and seemed like it had potential, but that lasted all of what -- 120 pages? Give or take 50 pages?
Then it was back and forth, back and forth the whole book.
BUT I PERSEVERED!
I thought about the cute beginning and thought there was no way this book wouldn't have a Happily Ever After.
I thought wrong.
Five hundred and sixty seven pages and that's the ending I get? BULLSHIT
Five. Hundred. Sixty. Seven. Pages.
Five hundred and sixty seven pages of back and forth.
I love him.
But I'm black.
He loves me.
But he's white.
It's okay.
It's not okay.
I love him.
But I'm black...
Dear god kill me now.
I've been black all my life (shocker, I know).
As a black person I can honestly say I was offended at all the fried chicken references, and all the twang in speech since she's supposed to be ed-u-ma-cated.
The ONLY good part of this book was the beginning. I love books where friends turn into something more. At first it was cute and seemed like it had potential, but that lasted all of what -- 120 pages? Give or take 50 pages?
Then it was back and forth, back and forth the whole book.
BUT I PERSEVERED!
I thought about the cute beginning and thought there was no way this book wouldn't have a Happily Ever After.
I thought wrong.
Five hundred and sixty seven pages and that's the ending I get? BULLSHIT
June 25, 2013
This is actually closer to 2.5 stars.
I wanted to like this book. At times I came really close to loving parts of this book. There were points when the writing was lyrical, beautiful --- almost poetic even.
And then there were times when I was snatched right out of the book by an awkward phrase or repetitive writer tics that felt like they were chipping away at my reading experience.
But even that would not have registered too widely if I was able to disappear into the story. Sadly, I could not. I just wasn't overly engaged in Brandon's and Natalie's love story. The book felt and read like the author took a lot of time and care to craft her characters and her story. Gratifyingly, the author has written a long, meaty book. This is not some dashed off novella with sexy times on every page. In fact the book takes place over seven plus years with little to no sex at all.
With better conflict or a more defined plot, the length would have been great. Unfortunately, in this case it had the effect of making the book sometimes feel unnecessarily tedious with really nothing to hang a plot on. I found myself becoming impatient with the pace and started skimming toward the middle-to-end.
And even worse, I don't feel that either character grew in all that time. They both still felt awfully immature, like their psyches were still stuck in their college-aged selves. And frankly the ending was terrible. What was that?
So not a winner for me.
I wanted to like this book. At times I came really close to loving parts of this book. There were points when the writing was lyrical, beautiful --- almost poetic even.
And then there were times when I was snatched right out of the book by an awkward phrase or repetitive writer tics that felt like they were chipping away at my reading experience.
But even that would not have registered too widely if I was able to disappear into the story. Sadly, I could not. I just wasn't overly engaged in Brandon's and Natalie's love story. The book felt and read like the author took a lot of time and care to craft her characters and her story. Gratifyingly, the author has written a long, meaty book. This is not some dashed off novella with sexy times on every page. In fact the book takes place over seven plus years with little to no sex at all.
With better conflict or a more defined plot, the length would have been great. Unfortunately, in this case it had the effect of making the book sometimes feel unnecessarily tedious with really nothing to hang a plot on. I found myself becoming impatient with the pace and started skimming toward the middle-to-end.
And even worse, I don't feel that either character grew in all that time. They both still felt awfully immature, like their psyches were still stuck in their college-aged selves. And frankly the ending was terrible. What was that?
So not a winner for me.
Want to read
June 13, 2013Currently free on Amazon - 6/12/13!!
September 27, 2013
OMG this was the most frustrating story's i've ever read!! drove me mad, took so long to finally get together, then to get married and have sex!! (sorry no sexually active man would wait as long as Brandon did) and then the ending was AWFUL!!!! x x I really wanted to quit reading but thought 'no!' i'll finish it won't be that bad but omg i wish i hadn't bothered!!!! x x
November 7, 2013
Thank God that I'm finally done with this book! I almost didn't finish it! It took along time to go nowhere with no conclusion. I have a hard time with an author who doesn't know the difference between "diluted" and "deluded"! Bad! Bad!
October 7, 2013
Whew...this book. I wanted to root for them but all I could say was, "Oh my God, this girl is bipolar! What the world?!" She was all over the place and I didn't like her. Now him, he was more likable but I just wanted to cuss both of them out!
She just seemed to contradict herself. She doesn't want to introduce him to her family and his parents her mother have problems with them being together but she gets upset b/c he's concerned about what their mixed children will go through? Uhn?! Then, she says nobody will stop her from marrying him but she almost backed out cause her mother wasn't there? I was about to set the book down on that one. He left, just LEFTED! Then comes back to find her dating somebody else...I didn't get why and the reason was BS. I just couldn't or didn't want them to get back together.
I think that a majority of them getting together could have been deleted for more of an ending. I felt like the story was just beginning as it ended. I just think it was to flowery and not enough logic sometimes. They just didn't never seemed to grow over all that time...
She just seemed to contradict herself. She doesn't want to introduce him to her family and his parents her mother have problems with them being together but she gets upset b/c he's concerned about what their mixed children will go through? Uhn?! Then, she says nobody will stop her from marrying him but she almost backed out cause her mother wasn't there? I was about to set the book down on that one. He left, just LEFTED! Then comes back to find her dating somebody else...I didn't get why and the reason was BS. I just couldn't or didn't want them to get back together.
I think that a majority of them getting together could have been deleted for more of an ending. I felt like the story was just beginning as it ended. I just think it was to flowery and not enough logic sometimes. They just didn't never seemed to grow over all that time...
July 2, 2013
wow what a long book! I liked it, didnt love it. Natalie omg she was pious and uptight and so over the top with her hysterics but she had some qualities that made her o.k. it felt like I was reading about 12 yr olds instead of college age almost adults! Brandon described as an " abercrombie white boy" had his own dramatic moments. The best parts were with the parents! I felt like a fly on the wall and it was ugly! I have a monster in law myself. Just when you think they had there shit together POW their insecurities(alot) took them back to square one. really? cliffhanger at the end and why? wtf again...just when you think they might make it..the waffling back and forth and the fact that it spans over 7 years makes it a 3.5 star for me. ;)
June 24, 2013
I wanted to love this book and at certain times I did. I just felt like it was missing something. I love the relationship between Brandon and Natalie but I found myself more interested in Scotty and Asha more, which is bad since the story isn't about them. I felt like this nook was so LLLLOOONNNNGGG! Im one for the long books as long a the story keeps up an interesting pace. I would skip the internal thoughts and heading straight for the dialogue. All the back and forth made my head hurt and in the back of my mind I'm thinking who talks like this anyway. I am super upset at the cliffhanger at the end and the time lapses in the writing confused me thoroughly. I wish I could love it I really wish I could. Hopefully the sequel will be better.
October 5, 2013
I really wanted to like this book. I liked the characters Brandon and tallie. this was just too long and drawn out. they were on and off dough of this book and then the end happened and I found myself yelling WTF!!!!!!
June 17, 2013
I couldn't get into this book, just weird in my opinion and long, it seemed to drag out.
October 7, 2013
Ugh...where do I start? Too wordy, too much fluff, I HATE Natalie, I didn't really like Brandon??and to end it like that.....after 5 gazillion pages
January 1, 2014
I can't even fathom my disappointment.
September 7, 2014
Was 3% into it and gave up!!!and I never give up on a book!
That should save enough.
That should save enough.
April 14, 2024
I started reading this book a couple weeks ago and I actually really loved the story. I loved it so much, that I reached out to the author. I guess I really am a hopeless romantic, because I was rooting for Natalie and Brandon the whole time! Natalie Chandler holds strong to her Christian and Southern (black) values and she refuses to bend for anyone from what she knows is right (even her mother, might I add!).
Consequently, she is the example that young girls today should follow. I'm quite jealous of Natalie to be honest; to be so sure of herself and to know right away what she wants. She has the patience that I lack and she knows what it means to be a true friend, to listen to someone else and to be there for them in any way she can to help them through their daily struggles.
Brandon Greene, on the other hand, is the typical college white boy who isn't quite sure what he wants to do with his life, and he drags Natalie along for the ride that is his troubling and confusing relationship with Sophia, his current girlfriend (who we all know he shouldn't be with!). The nerve of Brandon, right?!
Follow these two young adults as they navigate college, the real world, racial conflicts, and fight to finally embrace and accept what they really mean to each other. Even though I would recommend some changes to the editing, this is still one of my top favorite books!
Consequently, she is the example that young girls today should follow. I'm quite jealous of Natalie to be honest; to be so sure of herself and to know right away what she wants. She has the patience that I lack and she knows what it means to be a true friend, to listen to someone else and to be there for them in any way she can to help them through their daily struggles.
Brandon Greene, on the other hand, is the typical college white boy who isn't quite sure what he wants to do with his life, and he drags Natalie along for the ride that is his troubling and confusing relationship with Sophia, his current girlfriend (who we all know he shouldn't be with!). The nerve of Brandon, right?!
Follow these two young adults as they navigate college, the real world, racial conflicts, and fight to finally embrace and accept what they really mean to each other. Even though I would recommend some changes to the editing, this is still one of my top favorite books!
December 12, 2024
Let's start with the good then the bad.
Good: the prose is decent, proper transitioning between characters.
Bad: whew, wow. How do I put this? Natalie is a doormat. Let's be frank. Natalie has zero spine to stand up against Brandon. Brandon is fickle. He's white, sheltered, and rich kid. His mother is racist against Natalie. Brandon treats Natalie like she's his therapist the whole time. Even as a friend, he's terrible person.
I totally agree with Natalie's mother. I don't understand why author acts like Natalie's mother is evil. She's totally right about Brandon being a douchebag. On top of that, author has preface notes saying she's very similar to Natalie, so I kinda can see why.
The triangle love between Brandon with Natalie and Sophia is tedious. Brandon obviously don't respect or love Natalie enough, because . I don't understand why she bothered to stay with this white dude who don't treat her right.
I honestly don't treat this as romance novel. I treat this as precautionary tale. Don't let any man, just because he's rich and white, walk all over you. Have some dignity.
Good: the prose is decent, proper transitioning between characters.
Bad: whew, wow. How do I put this? Natalie is a doormat. Let's be frank. Natalie has zero spine to stand up against Brandon. Brandon is fickle. He's white, sheltered, and rich kid. His mother is racist against Natalie. Brandon treats Natalie like she's his therapist the whole time. Even as a friend, he's terrible person.
I totally agree with Natalie's mother. I don't understand why author acts like Natalie's mother is evil. She's totally right about Brandon being a douchebag. On top of that, author has preface notes saying she's very similar to Natalie, so I kinda can see why.
The triangle love between Brandon with Natalie and Sophia is tedious. Brandon obviously don't respect or love Natalie enough, because . I don't understand why she bothered to stay with this white dude who don't treat her right.
I honestly don't treat this as romance novel. I treat this as precautionary tale. Don't let any man, just because he's rich and white, walk all over you. Have some dignity.
July 30, 2015
Open Letter to Jade Alyse:
I just completed "When You Come to Me." Quite a compelling story! Some of your characters’ actions were a bit exaggerated and unrealistic for a non-comedic novel, but you are a very talented and ambitious young writer. I see your love of language and of storytelling in every line. However, as a fellow lover of language(s) and the words that make up good stories, may I offer some unsolicited advice? While you work on style, please, please, PLEASE (I beg you!) take a grammar course and/or hire a good editor to help you with your writing. It's easy to learn the grammar basics, and putting some effort into this now will pay off later! I see you've been in the writing game for a while--too long to let bad grammar and syntax, overwrought sentences and gratuitous punctuation slow you down! Below are a few suggestions to transform your well-intentioned but frequently sophomoric turns of phrase into the beautifully executed writing I sense you are capable of.
(Page numbers below refer to Kindle page numbering.)
1. Learn the proper use of apostrophes and the difference between plural and possessive. It's "She's out with her sorority sisters" (plural), not "She's out with her sorority sister's..." (possessive) (Page 46). This misuse of the possessive appears numerous times in your work and is confusing to the reader.
2. Learn proper word usage. It's "PORE over" not "POUR over." As in "poring over the seating chart," not "pouring herself over the seating chart..." (Page 518). "Pore" means to examine and that's the word you want in this situation. "Pouring herself" over something...well first she'd have to liquidify herself then... (you catch my drift). Also, it's "deluded" not "diluted" (Page 278). I'm not sure how this happened, but there are several mistakes like this.
3. Similarly, learn to use "LAY" vs. "LIE" and their respective past tenses, LAID and LAY. These are used incorrectly in so many instances in your book, that it's embarrassing! Examples:
--"...her future lied in those four walls" (Page 45.)
--"There was softness that lied in her face." (Page 124.)
--"But she knew something lied with Brandon..." (Page 143.)
--"So many of her memories lied there..." (Page 163.)
All of the above should be "LAY" (to the extent it should be used at all, stylistically speaking).
--"...the moment I lay eyes on you..." (Page 125.) LAID
--"...someone laying next to me (Page 154.) LYING
--"...all you have to do is lay on my bed with me (Page 154) LIE
4. If you wish to use idiomatic expressions or foreign language phrases, use them properly. It's "AU contraire" not "O contraire." (Page 448.) It's French and "au" means "to the." So, you intended Brandon to say to himself, "To the contrary, Evil Mother." If you are unsure of a phrase you've heard used, it's better to look it up or forego it than to use it incorrectly.
5. Proof read. If you're self-publishing, or if you're not working with a house that provides you with a good editor, this is paramount! There are numerous sentences in your book which are convoluted or missing a word. These may just be typos, but such an abundance of them does not serve your writing well. This steamy passage was difficult to enjoy because it was so full of errors it was hard to figure out what was going on: "He sucked in his breath as he grabbed her chin and kissed her again, heaver and deeper this time, gracefully lowering down on her back. They both crawl toward the headboard and lay flat, and he settles easily between her." (Huh? Lowering her down, perhaps? And between her what?) Also, "lay" should be "lie" here if you're using all present tense, but that's far from the biggest problem this passage has. Careful proofing would help and a good peer group would help you fine-tune writing like this. A good editor would be able to clean up the mistakes and suggest helpful rewrites which would give you some polish yet preserve your unique voice.
When characters are speaking in dialect, it's of course fine to let grammar and syntax slide a bit. However, it really detracts from your writing when the narrator's voice is so poorly executed. It will be difficult to improve your writing and correct other stylistic flaws so long as the basic language you use is this sloppy. Faulty grammar, poor word usage and typos force your readers to pause unnecessarily in an effort to figure out what you're saying, and some will simply give up. It's like sticking a foot out for readers to trip over while they're enjoying an otherwise lovely walk!
I hope you understand that this advice is kindly meant. The above elementary mistakes will always reflect poorly on you and put readers off your writing. (I'm sure you've noted this from some reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.) You owe it to your craft to be the best writer you can be. This includes a degree of workmanship and fluency with the English language--in addition to the creativity you already possess in great abundance! I hope that you will not let significant shortfalls in the former detract from the latter. Please continue to take writing seminars and enter competitions. Study authors like Toni Morrison, J. California Cooper, Alice Walker, Pat Conroy, Isabel Allende and Edward P. Jones to learn from them how to make more effective use of language.
I love to support young authors and I look forward to seeing your writing improve as you, with the help of good mentoring, find your voice! Rooting for you, girl!
Lots of love!
I just completed "When You Come to Me." Quite a compelling story! Some of your characters’ actions were a bit exaggerated and unrealistic for a non-comedic novel, but you are a very talented and ambitious young writer. I see your love of language and of storytelling in every line. However, as a fellow lover of language(s) and the words that make up good stories, may I offer some unsolicited advice? While you work on style, please, please, PLEASE (I beg you!) take a grammar course and/or hire a good editor to help you with your writing. It's easy to learn the grammar basics, and putting some effort into this now will pay off later! I see you've been in the writing game for a while--too long to let bad grammar and syntax, overwrought sentences and gratuitous punctuation slow you down! Below are a few suggestions to transform your well-intentioned but frequently sophomoric turns of phrase into the beautifully executed writing I sense you are capable of.
(Page numbers below refer to Kindle page numbering.)
1. Learn the proper use of apostrophes and the difference between plural and possessive. It's "She's out with her sorority sisters" (plural), not "She's out with her sorority sister's..." (possessive) (Page 46). This misuse of the possessive appears numerous times in your work and is confusing to the reader.
2. Learn proper word usage. It's "PORE over" not "POUR over." As in "poring over the seating chart," not "pouring herself over the seating chart..." (Page 518). "Pore" means to examine and that's the word you want in this situation. "Pouring herself" over something...well first she'd have to liquidify herself then... (you catch my drift). Also, it's "deluded" not "diluted" (Page 278). I'm not sure how this happened, but there are several mistakes like this.
3. Similarly, learn to use "LAY" vs. "LIE" and their respective past tenses, LAID and LAY. These are used incorrectly in so many instances in your book, that it's embarrassing! Examples:
--"...her future lied in those four walls" (Page 45.)
--"There was softness that lied in her face." (Page 124.)
--"But she knew something lied with Brandon..." (Page 143.)
--"So many of her memories lied there..." (Page 163.)
All of the above should be "LAY" (to the extent it should be used at all, stylistically speaking).
--"...the moment I lay eyes on you..." (Page 125.) LAID
--"...someone laying next to me (Page 154.) LYING
--"...all you have to do is lay on my bed with me (Page 154) LIE
4. If you wish to use idiomatic expressions or foreign language phrases, use them properly. It's "AU contraire" not "O contraire." (Page 448.) It's French and "au" means "to the." So, you intended Brandon to say to himself, "To the contrary, Evil Mother." If you are unsure of a phrase you've heard used, it's better to look it up or forego it than to use it incorrectly.
5. Proof read. If you're self-publishing, or if you're not working with a house that provides you with a good editor, this is paramount! There are numerous sentences in your book which are convoluted or missing a word. These may just be typos, but such an abundance of them does not serve your writing well. This steamy passage was difficult to enjoy because it was so full of errors it was hard to figure out what was going on: "He sucked in his breath as he grabbed her chin and kissed her again, heaver and deeper this time, gracefully lowering down on her back. They both crawl toward the headboard and lay flat, and he settles easily between her." (Huh? Lowering her down, perhaps? And between her what?) Also, "lay" should be "lie" here if you're using all present tense, but that's far from the biggest problem this passage has. Careful proofing would help and a good peer group would help you fine-tune writing like this. A good editor would be able to clean up the mistakes and suggest helpful rewrites which would give you some polish yet preserve your unique voice.
When characters are speaking in dialect, it's of course fine to let grammar and syntax slide a bit. However, it really detracts from your writing when the narrator's voice is so poorly executed. It will be difficult to improve your writing and correct other stylistic flaws so long as the basic language you use is this sloppy. Faulty grammar, poor word usage and typos force your readers to pause unnecessarily in an effort to figure out what you're saying, and some will simply give up. It's like sticking a foot out for readers to trip over while they're enjoying an otherwise lovely walk!
I hope you understand that this advice is kindly meant. The above elementary mistakes will always reflect poorly on you and put readers off your writing. (I'm sure you've noted this from some reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.) You owe it to your craft to be the best writer you can be. This includes a degree of workmanship and fluency with the English language--in addition to the creativity you already possess in great abundance! I hope that you will not let significant shortfalls in the former detract from the latter. Please continue to take writing seminars and enter competitions. Study authors like Toni Morrison, J. California Cooper, Alice Walker, Pat Conroy, Isabel Allende and Edward P. Jones to learn from them how to make more effective use of language.
I love to support young authors and I look forward to seeing your writing improve as you, with the help of good mentoring, find your voice! Rooting for you, girl!
Lots of love!
April 16, 2020
All in all Good read
This book was really good intially but midway it became a bit depressing as the story seemed to be going around in circles. My reason for not giving three starts was that it dragged in the middle. My feelings for the main female character changed significantly, less sympathetic. However all in all good read and evokes a lot of emotion.
This book was really good intially but midway it became a bit depressing as the story seemed to be going around in circles. My reason for not giving three starts was that it dragged in the middle. My feelings for the main female character changed significantly, less sympathetic. However all in all good read and evokes a lot of emotion.
December 8, 2017
WOW
What a way to leave me hanging!! Even knowing the ending ends with a cliffhanger Id still read this book. Its up, down, happy, sad, frustrating and fullfilling all in one. I sincerely hope theres a follow-up.
What a way to leave me hanging!! Even knowing the ending ends with a cliffhanger Id still read this book. Its up, down, happy, sad, frustrating and fullfilling all in one. I sincerely hope theres a follow-up.
July 29, 2021
Loved Loved this book
Everything about this book was great! I couldn't put it down. This is one of my favorites on here. 5 stars for sure.
Everything about this book was great! I couldn't put it down. This is one of my favorites on here. 5 stars for sure.
December 13, 2013
Wow, where do I start off with this book. First let me say I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started this book. I love the idea of a forbidden romance, especially, with interracial couples.
I read the synopsis of this book and I knew I HAD to read me.
I LOVED this story. In fact, I found it to be the realest story on relationships that I have read in a long time.
No this book didn't have princesses or princes.
No this story didn't have werewolves or vampires or shadowhunters.
This book was a everyday type of love story, something that is relateable too. Something that every single person in the world has experienced and THAT is why I adored it.
In the beginning we meet Natalie or Tallie, she is a sweet quiet, christian young African american girl that basically gets suckered into going into a party. Shes a freshman in college and basically doesn't want to even go. She gets hit in the head with a beer bottle and wakes up in a strange boys bed. I thought I would HATE Brandon. He seemed to be the stereotypical indecisive jock that doesn't seem to know what he wants. But, boy was I wrong. He was so sweet and kind. Each layer pulled off of Brandon revealed such a loving and sweet character. I literally feel in love with him and I don't usually fall that into characters easily.
I loved the depth of Tallie and Brandon's relationship. They start off as friends. That is how most relationships start. Everything about them epitomized youth and their raw feeling of falling in love. Their relationship progressed and it drove me crazy! I wanted them to be bf and gf so bad. When it finally happened the middle of the book (won't say what happened) drove me completely insane. I wanted to throw my phone to the floor and scream.
All in all, everything worked out in the end.
I am guessing there is a second book to the series because the ending ended on a cliff hanger? I am hoping the author will not leave us hanging like that.
As a fellow author, who also writes about interracial couples, I believed Alyse touched on the subjects perfectly. We have to realize that these topics of interracial dating is still seen taboo to some people. Although, it's seen more often some people still have a hard time coping with it.
It was so refreshing to see a different twist to a love story.
I felt like I knew Tallie and Brandon. I rooted for them the entire time. They are beautifully written soulmates. I loved this story and I cannot wait to see if there is more to come.
I read the synopsis of this book and I knew I HAD to read me.
I LOVED this story. In fact, I found it to be the realest story on relationships that I have read in a long time.
No this book didn't have princesses or princes.
No this story didn't have werewolves or vampires or shadowhunters.
This book was a everyday type of love story, something that is relateable too. Something that every single person in the world has experienced and THAT is why I adored it.
In the beginning we meet Natalie or Tallie, she is a sweet quiet, christian young African american girl that basically gets suckered into going into a party. Shes a freshman in college and basically doesn't want to even go. She gets hit in the head with a beer bottle and wakes up in a strange boys bed. I thought I would HATE Brandon. He seemed to be the stereotypical indecisive jock that doesn't seem to know what he wants. But, boy was I wrong. He was so sweet and kind. Each layer pulled off of Brandon revealed such a loving and sweet character. I literally feel in love with him and I don't usually fall that into characters easily.
I loved the depth of Tallie and Brandon's relationship. They start off as friends. That is how most relationships start. Everything about them epitomized youth and their raw feeling of falling in love. Their relationship progressed and it drove me crazy! I wanted them to be bf and gf so bad. When it finally happened the middle of the book (won't say what happened) drove me completely insane. I wanted to throw my phone to the floor and scream.
All in all, everything worked out in the end.
I am guessing there is a second book to the series because the ending ended on a cliff hanger? I am hoping the author will not leave us hanging like that.
As a fellow author, who also writes about interracial couples, I believed Alyse touched on the subjects perfectly. We have to realize that these topics of interracial dating is still seen taboo to some people. Although, it's seen more often some people still have a hard time coping with it.
It was so refreshing to see a different twist to a love story.
I felt like I knew Tallie and Brandon. I rooted for them the entire time. They are beautifully written soulmates. I loved this story and I cannot wait to see if there is more to come.
January 26, 2015
**SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW**
This book was amazing, yes it was long and yes it had some typos but I didnt care still amazing! They went through so much together but it was all worth it Their love never faded away from each other. They both tried to move but there connection was too strong and they couldn't stay away. i thought that once they got back to together after Nat was with Anthony and Bran was with Sophia and that other chick that they would stop fighting and just be happy together. Boy was i wrong lol they still fought they still had things to face. Once again their love got them through it all. i highlighted all my favorite parts and sweet things that Brandy said to Tallie or the heartwarming thoughts he had about her and things that made me cry. I think I highlighted about 80% of the book lol. I loved all of it. Even her being with Anthony when i first read that part I was so mad at Tal for being with him but i was also upset with Brady for leaving. I was so caught up in the story that i would get mad at how they were acting and put it down for a few hours but then i was so curious as to what happened and how the fight ended and if they would work out so i would give in and keep reading lol. I read before I went to sleep and when I woke up I started reading again. i took my kindle to work with me so whenever i had a free moment I spent that time reading this. A lot of people complain about how long it was but I loved the length of it because like i said all the things they went through gad a purpose and at the end it made them stronger as a couple. i read this book in about 3 days and I have never read a book that fast before lol and i will read this again. Breaking Down was the longest book I ever read so for all the Twilight fans you know how long the last book was...so I don't mind reading a long book. i cried during the wedding , i was yelling when they were being stubborn and Tallie made me mad with how childish she was at times but i understood her too. Brandy is so in love with her till it makes me cry at the lengths he will go just to make her happy big or small. i love Scotty he made me laugh a lot and Asha was cool too and a good friend to Tallie. I also loved how close all 4 of them were and how Scotty and Asha was always fighting. I loved the nicknames Bran, Brandy, Tallie, Tal Nat, Nattie lol they were so cute, I loved everything. It's a very sweet story and I love it to pieces.
This book was amazing, yes it was long and yes it had some typos but I didnt care still amazing! They went through so much together but it was all worth it Their love never faded away from each other. They both tried to move but there connection was too strong and they couldn't stay away. i thought that once they got back to together after Nat was with Anthony and Bran was with Sophia and that other chick that they would stop fighting and just be happy together. Boy was i wrong lol they still fought they still had things to face. Once again their love got them through it all. i highlighted all my favorite parts and sweet things that Brandy said to Tallie or the heartwarming thoughts he had about her and things that made me cry. I think I highlighted about 80% of the book lol. I loved all of it. Even her being with Anthony when i first read that part I was so mad at Tal for being with him but i was also upset with Brady for leaving. I was so caught up in the story that i would get mad at how they were acting and put it down for a few hours but then i was so curious as to what happened and how the fight ended and if they would work out so i would give in and keep reading lol. I read before I went to sleep and when I woke up I started reading again. i took my kindle to work with me so whenever i had a free moment I spent that time reading this. A lot of people complain about how long it was but I loved the length of it because like i said all the things they went through gad a purpose and at the end it made them stronger as a couple. i read this book in about 3 days and I have never read a book that fast before lol and i will read this again. Breaking Down was the longest book I ever read so for all the Twilight fans you know how long the last book was...so I don't mind reading a long book. i cried during the wedding , i was yelling when they were being stubborn and Tallie made me mad with how childish she was at times but i understood her too. Brandy is so in love with her till it makes me cry at the lengths he will go just to make her happy big or small. i love Scotty he made me laugh a lot and Asha was cool too and a good friend to Tallie. I also loved how close all 4 of them were and how Scotty and Asha was always fighting. I loved the nicknames Bran, Brandy, Tallie, Tal Nat, Nattie lol they were so cute, I loved everything. It's a very sweet story and I love it to pieces.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 11, 2015Let me just start my review by saying if you want a new adult book that's all easy love, sweet, unicorns, rainbows, and happy endings this book is not for you. If you want a book that is real, emotionally raw, that makes you think, then keep reading. This book is based in college when black freshman Natalie Chandlers meet white boy junior Brandon Greene and oddly develop a deep friendship. This book spans over the course of several years between these two. Their trials are emotional and raw. The author writes this story in such a way it makes you think it would be impossible for her to have written it without having been Natalie herself. It's been a long time since I read a book that makes the emotion come to life on the pages and makes you ponder more than the couples happily ever after. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I loved this book. This book would make an unbelievable movie and it would be awesome to see it play out in two different mediums. I almost felt as if I was watching a movie as I read it. I will admit when I started reading it and saw that race was going to be a huge topic in this book, I was put off. Having come from this part of the south, I didn't want to hash something out that I see every day. But, I am extremely glad I did. This book gave me a new perspective on something I see every day. My only critque on this book would be to say Natalie is a bit too sheltered. I had a hard time believing that Brandon and Natalie could and would abstain for all those years. I don't think in the real world that could have possibly happened given their depth of love for one another. I hate it when books end with a cliffhanger. This book definately ends with a large one. I wished after everything they went through we could have ended with the honeymoon and got our happily ever after. However, I look forward to reading the sequel to this book. I admit I may wait a few days to start it having been emotionally wrung out after this one. I truly hope you read this book and love it as much as I do. Happy Reading!
August 31, 2013
*Possible spoilers*
Personally, I absolutely loved this book. I admit at times it pissed me off with the way Brandon and Natalies parents acted or how Natalie couldn't possibly have Brandon as her love because she was black and he was white. But in all honesty, there are still people who act like that, even though it's now 2013 and in the book it was 2000-2007, but still I wanted to scream "get the fuck over it!!!!" and I wanted to throw my kindle. But through all that, I felt the heart ache and curiosity to know how it would end, if they would face the world together and have that happily ever after. I also couldn't help but wonder what part of this Jade went through and what was made up, I think that's what made it better. I know she said don't treat it as an autobiography but I couldn't help but wonder what Jade and her Brandon went through. Others may not like this, just like I know other books I read there are some that don't like it, but I do and I strongly encourage others to read it.
I also hope there may be a little sequel since I wasn't too happy at the ending. But given that Jade wrote this in 2007 and finally published it in 2011, I highly doubt there will ever be a sequel to Brandon and Natalie or will there be a story for May, Sydney, Asha or Scotty.
Personally, I absolutely loved this book. I admit at times it pissed me off with the way Brandon and Natalies parents acted or how Natalie couldn't possibly have Brandon as her love because she was black and he was white. But in all honesty, there are still people who act like that, even though it's now 2013 and in the book it was 2000-2007, but still I wanted to scream "get the fuck over it!!!!" and I wanted to throw my kindle. But through all that, I felt the heart ache and curiosity to know how it would end, if they would face the world together and have that happily ever after. I also couldn't help but wonder what part of this Jade went through and what was made up, I think that's what made it better. I know she said don't treat it as an autobiography but I couldn't help but wonder what Jade and her Brandon went through. Others may not like this, just like I know other books I read there are some that don't like it, but I do and I strongly encourage others to read it.
I also hope there may be a little sequel since I wasn't too happy at the ending. But given that Jade wrote this in 2007 and finally published it in 2011, I highly doubt there will ever be a sequel to Brandon and Natalie or will there be a story for May, Sydney, Asha or Scotty.
November 25, 2013
This was my first book by this author and I was thoroughly surprised. Brandon and Natalie meet by chance, a very funny chance. He pops her in the head with a beer bottle while drunk and so begins their very odd and sometimes one sided friendship. Brandon is in a relationship with Sophia when they meet. He loves her but doesn't want to take the next step with her. Natalie doesn't want to be his friend but she ends up listening to his rants and raves about Sophia and some how they become thick as thieves. It's a long story but I like that you get to see how their relationship develops and the trials they have to go through. Unfortunately race is an issue with their families and you want to believe that in the 2000's that it's not but it is. They not only have that hurdle but they also have to deal with figuring out their feelings for each other and how to deal with that. Brandon is ready to deal with whatever is to come, but Natalie has so many doubts that she can't see what's in front of her. It takes a lot of growing up and working together for them to figure it out. I can't wait for the next book!!
December 31, 2013
I'm giving it 3 stars because it was good at times and it was a really good idea and storyline plot... But I don't know, PERSONALLY I just got frustrated with Natalie. I couldn't understand her and her way of thinking... It was really frustrating and close to the middle my interest just wound down and I decided to stop al together since I have other books that I'm more interested in.
Another thing I found weir in this book was the author's style of writing. Like another reviewer said, it was sometimes almost poetic and flowing and at others it was awkward and stilted. Also, I don't know if the author couldn't make up her mind about the story's point of view or if this was just accidental. The story reads as a narrative using "third person's point a view" words but at the same time the only "voice we hear" is Natalie's. We don't get any insight into they other main characters thoughts making it more of a first person point of view story telling than a third's. This was also very frustrating because I found myself wanting to hear Brandon's thoughts and rationale.
Happy readings...
Another thing I found weir in this book was the author's style of writing. Like another reviewer said, it was sometimes almost poetic and flowing and at others it was awkward and stilted. Also, I don't know if the author couldn't make up her mind about the story's point of view or if this was just accidental. The story reads as a narrative using "third person's point a view" words but at the same time the only "voice we hear" is Natalie's. We don't get any insight into they other main characters thoughts making it more of a first person point of view story telling than a third's. This was also very frustrating because I found myself wanting to hear Brandon's thoughts and rationale.
Happy readings...
November 23, 2013
I adored this novel. Being a fan of authors such as, Abbi Glines and J. Lynn, I received a different type of reading experience. I loved the length of the novel. It wasn't fast paced or a lengthy series of sometimes connecting or not connecting stories. The author gave me a story worth losing sleep over. A story where I wasn't always sure where she was leading me but I trusted her and I continued to follow. It was refreshing that while the Natalie and Brandon did end up together, the story didn't have that feel of someone giving me a gift with a big bow on it. Nope it wasn't pretty, their journey to being one. Even after the 'I-Dos' they still had to keep working at their "Happily Ever After"!
July 31, 2013
I loved this Dang book that is why I am so disappointed with the ending.I would have loved a happy or even a sad ending so I could reminisce on the good times but not to end it at all Noooooooo I was so ooooo angry. I kept replaying the end as if I missed something maybe I lost a digital page.I love the chemistry between characters and family members. I just hate the ending.I loved the book with all my heart but I feel the characters are lost in cyber space waiting for their ending to be written...well me too.I am scared to read her other writings because I could not deal with another cliffhanger...I might jump myself
May 1, 2014
This book captured my heart as soon as I started reading. I love Natalie and Brandon, they're a couple that seems to be brought together by fate and love. Their ups and downs had my heart going up and down constantly. Though I knew with each down, there would be an up soon to follow. I dream of finding someone like Brandon. I'm sure plenty of guys, dream to find someone like Natalie as well. I noticed there was a second part, which I'm dying to buy and read. I hope to read more books by Jade Alyse.
June 15, 2013
This book was a freebie from Amazon. It deals with the 7 yr relationship between a African American girl named Natalie from Georgia and a White boy from New York (Brandon) who meet at college. It deals with the problems that could occur being in a inter racial relationship. I found Natalie to Be full of drama and looking for it. She got to be annoying at times. I liked Brandon character most of the time. Story had somewhat of a cliffhanger.
July 30, 2014
Honestly I had to force myself to finish this book. I didn't like it very much, I didn't like the main characters as I found them both to be very juvenile and selfish. The main thing that annoyed me though was the grammar! There were so many mistakes as the author continuously used "his" instead of "he" or "him" and also often used "he" instead of "she" which made some parts difficult to understand. Despite this the story was OK but I am so glad I didn't pay for this. I'd give it 4.5/10.
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