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Superlatives #2
Perfect Couple
As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents’ bitter divorce left her wondering what a loving relationship looks like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been pushing her to ask Brody out.
Brody doesn’t lack female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He’s confused about the match too. Yet they find themselves drawn together—first by curiosity about why the class paired them, then by an undeniable bond.
The trouble is, though they’re attracted to each other, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating well. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But they feel so changed from making the effort, they can’t forget each other. What if this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
Brody doesn’t lack female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He’s confused about the match too. Yet they find themselves drawn together—first by curiosity about why the class paired them, then by an undeniable bond.
The trouble is, though they’re attracted to each other, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating well. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But they feel so changed from making the effort, they can’t forget each other. What if this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
336 pages, ebook
First published January 13, 2015
66 people are currently reading
4271 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Echols
36 books4,890 followersJennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
January 12, 2015
It is no secret that I love Jennifer Echols. She is probably my favorite contemporary young adult author. Why? Because her novels are swoon worthy and sweet, but she also doesn't sugarcoat certain things or shies away from writing about sexuality. Second book in Superlatives trilogy was not exception. (You can read my review for Biggest Flirts here.)
Angst and drama. Sometimes these very things are the reason why I don't like a book, but Jennifer Echols is a queen of well written angst. You cannot breathe because of all tension and sparks flying all around, even if there is this tiny little detail that bothers you (no, I won't tell you - spoiler alert).
Fun, but at the same time deals with some serious topics. Like, relationship with your parents and finding your own path. Being yourself. Finding self-respect and telling your douche-bag boyfriend that you can do so much better than him. Not being afraid to say what you think and going after what you want.
Writing was flawless. As always when it comes to Jennifer Echols novels. Considering that they are more mature young adult, bordering with new adult, you will not find cliche descriptions, conversations or characters.
Not feeling guilty... about your sexuality. This is the best message that all of her novels have.
Smiling and swooning. Perfect Couple is definitely one of the feel-good novels, so if you need something to cheer you up, to make you feel giddy like you're walking on the clouds, this is a prefect book for you.
Five reasons why Perfect Couple was super:
Angst and drama. Sometimes these very things are the reason why I don't like a book, but Jennifer Echols is a queen of well written angst. You cannot breathe because of all tension and sparks flying all around, even if there is this tiny little detail that bothers you (no, I won't tell you - spoiler alert).
Fun, but at the same time deals with some serious topics. Like, relationship with your parents and finding your own path. Being yourself. Finding self-respect and telling your douche-bag boyfriend that you can do so much better than him. Not being afraid to say what you think and going after what you want.
Writing was flawless. As always when it comes to Jennifer Echols novels. Considering that they are more mature young adult, bordering with new adult, you will not find cliche descriptions, conversations or characters.
Not feeling guilty... about your sexuality. This is the best message that all of her novels have.
Smiling and swooning. Perfect Couple is definitely one of the feel-good novels, so if you need something to cheer you up, to make you feel giddy like you're walking on the clouds, this is a prefect book for you.
January 11, 2015
***Some spoilers for the sake of ranting.
From the moment I flipped open Perfect Couple, to the moment I closed the damned thing, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. I had lots of problems with this one--some minor ones, and some that are pretty major...
WTF is up with the romance?
It pains me to say this, but it's undeniable--the romance made my heart hurt. In a bad way. See, Harper (the heroine) got really, really obsessed with Brody when she found out they were voted "Perfect Couple that Never Was." She started flirting with him (while she had a boyfriend), and eventually cheated on her boyfriend with him. Oh, and did I mention Brody had a sort-of girlfriend at the time?
The romance really came out of nowhere--sure, these two are flirty with each other a lot, but that's naturally how teens of the opposite sex treat each other--suddenly, they're kissing on the beach! Wowza.
What happened to the young adults?
Harper and Brody sounded (and acted) like children. I mentioned in my review of Biggest Flirts that I loved the authenticity of the main characters (and their few moments of maturity), but I didn't feel any character development from the ones in this book at all. They were impulsive, bratty and inconsiderate from the beginning of the book to the end.
Stereotyping sucks.
Most of the bothersome characters in this book are portrayed horribly. Take the 'jock' (Brody) for example--he's a hot-and-cold douche who has his many adventures with various girls. Blegh. I don't understand why so many people find that attractive, but I find this to be stereotypical and really annoying.
Verdict:
Originally, I gave this book two stars once I finished it, but the longer I got into this review, the more I realized how this wasn't for me. I'll still be anticipating the next book since it features my favorite characte from the sereis, but I'll keep my expectations to a minimum.
October 25, 2016
This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf.
I was constantly seeing people rave about Jennifer Echols' books, and when I decided to give them a try, starting with Biggest Flirts, I was a bit disappointed. Not in Jennifer's writing, but in the book as a whole. I decided it just wasn't the right book for me, and read Perfect Couple. Well, now I DO KNOW what people are raving about. This book was 336 pages of amazing! I enjoyed every last bit of it and I think I read it in a record time too.
Harper and Brody receive the title of The Perfect Couple That Never Was, but the thing is, both of them don't have a clue why would people want them to be together. They have nothing in common, he's an athlete and she's into art and photography. But it's gotten them curious, and Harper may have had a crush on Brody before. And while they joke around and flirt, Harper never meant for something to happen, but when it does, she has a hard time of not thinking about it. They're both in a relationship, which complicates the things even more, but will they give up on what they have when they're together?
I really enjoyed the romance in this book. I loved the easy banter that Harper and Brody had going on. Their relationship went from just an attraction to a really strong bond with real feelings. While I don't approve all the cheating that took place in Perfect Couple, I don't think this book would have been the same without it. It contributed a lot to how their relationship was building up, and every stolen moment meant so much more because of it. Echols created the perfect romance and I enjoyed how Harper was slowly opening to Brody and how in the end he learned how to go after it.
I haven't noticed Harper much in Biggest Flirts, but I've gotten to really like her. Brody as well. Which is the complete opposite of how I felt about Tia and Will. The next book will feature Sawyer and I'm really excited to see how that will work out since I really liked his character from the beginning.
Like I already said, I really enjoyed Perfect Couple and I would gladly recommend it to everyone who likes contemporary romances, as this one is one of the best of them.
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I was constantly seeing people rave about Jennifer Echols' books, and when I decided to give them a try, starting with Biggest Flirts, I was a bit disappointed. Not in Jennifer's writing, but in the book as a whole. I decided it just wasn't the right book for me, and read Perfect Couple. Well, now I DO KNOW what people are raving about. This book was 336 pages of amazing! I enjoyed every last bit of it and I think I read it in a record time too.
Harper and Brody receive the title of The Perfect Couple That Never Was, but the thing is, both of them don't have a clue why would people want them to be together. They have nothing in common, he's an athlete and she's into art and photography. But it's gotten them curious, and Harper may have had a crush on Brody before. And while they joke around and flirt, Harper never meant for something to happen, but when it does, she has a hard time of not thinking about it. They're both in a relationship, which complicates the things even more, but will they give up on what they have when they're together?
I really enjoyed the romance in this book. I loved the easy banter that Harper and Brody had going on. Their relationship went from just an attraction to a really strong bond with real feelings. While I don't approve all the cheating that took place in Perfect Couple, I don't think this book would have been the same without it. It contributed a lot to how their relationship was building up, and every stolen moment meant so much more because of it. Echols created the perfect romance and I enjoyed how Harper was slowly opening to Brody and how in the end he learned how to go after it.
I haven't noticed Harper much in Biggest Flirts, but I've gotten to really like her. Brody as well. Which is the complete opposite of how I felt about Tia and Will. The next book will feature Sawyer and I'm really excited to see how that will work out since I really liked his character from the beginning.
Like I already said, I really enjoyed Perfect Couple and I would gladly recommend it to everyone who likes contemporary romances, as this one is one of the best of them.
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February 2, 2015
I read Perfect Couple back in September because I couldn't not! Ever since I read Biggest Flirts, I needed the sequels to it. As soon as it was available for reviewing, I picked it up and read it in a single day. While Perfect Couple didn't surpass my love for Biggest Flirts, it was just the book I needed at the time: cute, adorable, fun characters, a great contemporary plot, and an addicting read.
In Perfect Couple, we follow Harper and Brody, the two people that got voted something along the lines of the perfect couple that never happened. Harper is the newspaper photographer while Brody is the typical high school jock. I thought their relationship was sweet and adorable but sometimes I was so frustrated at them because they each had a boyfriend/girlfriend and if they feel they're developing feelings for each other… maybe staying with that person isn't the best decision? I loved how rational Harper was at times but when it comes to her heart.. that girl is the most naive person I know. She was very endearing. I have to admit that sometimes I really disliked Brody and his playboy persona. It really got to me and wanted to stick it to him and for Harper to ditch him and let him come groveling to her (wow was that too mean?).
Still, overall, I think the progression of the plot was done in a way that doesn't really allow you to put the book down, which was what happened to me. This is why I love Echols' books. They are simple in relative terms to how extravagant some plots are, but still oh so deliciously addicting. I can't wait to pick up Most Likely To Succeed (which I have on my Nook already) to finally read about Sawyer's story. I love this new emergence of companion contemporaries. They make me so happy and let me live in the contemporary world authors create a little bit more. I definitely recommend it to all contemporary fans.
In Perfect Couple, we follow Harper and Brody, the two people that got voted something along the lines of the perfect couple that never happened. Harper is the newspaper photographer while Brody is the typical high school jock. I thought their relationship was sweet and adorable but sometimes I was so frustrated at them because they each had a boyfriend/girlfriend and if they feel they're developing feelings for each other… maybe staying with that person isn't the best decision? I loved how rational Harper was at times but when it comes to her heart.. that girl is the most naive person I know. She was very endearing. I have to admit that sometimes I really disliked Brody and his playboy persona. It really got to me and wanted to stick it to him and for Harper to ditch him and let him come groveling to her (wow was that too mean?).
Still, overall, I think the progression of the plot was done in a way that doesn't really allow you to put the book down, which was what happened to me. This is why I love Echols' books. They are simple in relative terms to how extravagant some plots are, but still oh so deliciously addicting. I can't wait to pick up Most Likely To Succeed (which I have on my Nook already) to finally read about Sawyer's story. I love this new emergence of companion contemporaries. They make me so happy and let me live in the contemporary world authors create a little bit more. I definitely recommend it to all contemporary fans.
January 3, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols
Book Two of the Superlatives series
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
In this second book in The Superlatives trilogy from Endless Summer author Jennifer Echols, Harper and Brody think they’re an unlikely match—but the senior class says they belong together.
As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents’ bitter divorce left her wondering what a loving relationship looks like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been pushing her to ask Brody out.
Brody doesn't lack female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He’s confused about the match too. Yet they find themselves drawn together—first by curiosity about why the class paired them, then by an undeniable bond.
The trouble is, though they’re attracted to each other, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating well. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn't be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But they feel so changed from making the effort, they can’t forget each other. What if this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
What I Liked:
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary/realistic fiction novels, but I have always enjoyed Jennifer Echols’ books. I loved Such a Rush and Biggest Flirts, and enjoyed Dirty Little Secret. Add this one to the list – this might be my favorite of her books yet!
In Biggest Flirts, we meet Tia and Will, as well as Kaye, Harper, Sawyer, and the rest of the crew. Harper is a good girl, the school yearbook photographer, who never breaks the rules. She’s dating Kennedy, the yearbook editor, who is honestly a pain in the butt. He’s annoying and self-centered and pretentious, but not in a jock way, but in a nerd way. When Harper and Brody Larson, the school’s quarterback and local heartbreaker, get paired together as the Perfect Couple That Never Was, Harper realizes that what was once a crush might be something more… except she’s got a boyfriend, and Brody has Grace. But that might not stop this couple, far from perfect as they might seem.
I can’t remember Harper much, from Biggest Flirts, but I really, really like her in this novel. She’s quiet, definitely a bit passive, avoids conflict, and doesn’t like confrontation. She’s a pensive photographer, a genuine person. I can really relate to her. I’m not passive and I’m not a photographer, but I hate conflict and confrontation and I revel in the beauty of stillness and captured beauty. Poet souls, I like to say. But anyway, I like Harper, I feel for her, and I can relate to her situation.
Brody is a wonderful male protagonist. He’s the quarterback of the football team, he’s good at what he does, he’s hot, he’s got a hot girl and a string of broken hearts behind him… he seems like your typical heartbreaking, sexy jock, but he’s also really sweet and attentive, when he wants to be.
Okay. So. One of the huge reasons why I loved this book? Harper is a lot like me… and Brody is a lot like This Guy… and my personal (romantic) life parallels that of this book, a lot. Mine’s a sexy soccer player though. But. Same deal. Quiet, smart girl falls for popular, hot, athletic, player jock. It seems hopeless for the girl, until the jock shows her some attention, and then she can’t get enough. Harper doesn't always believe that she is good enough to be with Brody, that he wants to be with her. I like this portrayal of self-doubt. I feel the same self-doubt, though I shouldn't.
Difference is, Harper got her happy ending. Me… currently not happy. Or ending. It’s like a never-ending cycle of hurt. But that’s a story for another day. I’ll do a post at the end of the year – I NEED to write a post about it.
So anyway. I really enjoyed the romance in this book. Harper had a crush on Brody before the superlatives, but Brody slowly falls for her, and she really fell for him, for real. I love watching her slowly trust herself with him, and him slowly go after her. Very well-written, in my opinion.
For most of the book, both of them are with their respective significant others (sort of). Harper and Kennedy really aren't a couple (they’re basically platonic friends, if so much), and Grace isn’t really Brody’s girlfriend. So, that was an interesting thing to see play out in the story.
Overall, I really liked the book. There is more to the book than romance and relationships and whatnot, but the romance was something that really struck me (especially since it mirrors my own romantic life so well). I’m really excited to read Sawyer and Kaye’s story, in Most Likely To Succeed!
What I Did Not Like:
I almost wish this book were written in Brody’s perspective as well (dual, with Harper). Usually, I’m not a fan of that, but I think it could have worked. Also, I wanted more physical scenes from Harper and Brody. There are like, two, total. There are a lot of sweet expository scenes, sentimental ones, but there could have been more physical ones, especially during the “chase”.
Would I Recommend It:
YES! If you like contemporary novels, read this one, and/or anything by Echols. I’m not even a contemporary fan, but I love Echols’ books. The way she writes romance is so great! And her stories is very relatable, very authentic.
Rating:
4 stars. More like 4.5 stars. I LOVE this book. It made me sad and happy and wishful and hopeful. Maybe we can all have a happy ending.
Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols
Book Two of the Superlatives series
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 13, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
In this second book in The Superlatives trilogy from Endless Summer author Jennifer Echols, Harper and Brody think they’re an unlikely match—but the senior class says they belong together.
As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents’ bitter divorce left her wondering what a loving relationship looks like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been pushing her to ask Brody out.
Brody doesn't lack female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He’s confused about the match too. Yet they find themselves drawn together—first by curiosity about why the class paired them, then by an undeniable bond.
The trouble is, though they’re attracted to each other, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating well. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn't be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But they feel so changed from making the effort, they can’t forget each other. What if this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
What I Liked:
I’m not a huge fan of contemporary/realistic fiction novels, but I have always enjoyed Jennifer Echols’ books. I loved Such a Rush and Biggest Flirts, and enjoyed Dirty Little Secret. Add this one to the list – this might be my favorite of her books yet!
In Biggest Flirts, we meet Tia and Will, as well as Kaye, Harper, Sawyer, and the rest of the crew. Harper is a good girl, the school yearbook photographer, who never breaks the rules. She’s dating Kennedy, the yearbook editor, who is honestly a pain in the butt. He’s annoying and self-centered and pretentious, but not in a jock way, but in a nerd way. When Harper and Brody Larson, the school’s quarterback and local heartbreaker, get paired together as the Perfect Couple That Never Was, Harper realizes that what was once a crush might be something more… except she’s got a boyfriend, and Brody has Grace. But that might not stop this couple, far from perfect as they might seem.
I can’t remember Harper much, from Biggest Flirts, but I really, really like her in this novel. She’s quiet, definitely a bit passive, avoids conflict, and doesn’t like confrontation. She’s a pensive photographer, a genuine person. I can really relate to her. I’m not passive and I’m not a photographer, but I hate conflict and confrontation and I revel in the beauty of stillness and captured beauty. Poet souls, I like to say. But anyway, I like Harper, I feel for her, and I can relate to her situation.
Brody is a wonderful male protagonist. He’s the quarterback of the football team, he’s good at what he does, he’s hot, he’s got a hot girl and a string of broken hearts behind him… he seems like your typical heartbreaking, sexy jock, but he’s also really sweet and attentive, when he wants to be.
Okay. So. One of the huge reasons why I loved this book? Harper is a lot like me… and Brody is a lot like This Guy… and my personal (romantic) life parallels that of this book, a lot. Mine’s a sexy soccer player though. But. Same deal. Quiet, smart girl falls for popular, hot, athletic, player jock. It seems hopeless for the girl, until the jock shows her some attention, and then she can’t get enough. Harper doesn't always believe that she is good enough to be with Brody, that he wants to be with her. I like this portrayal of self-doubt. I feel the same self-doubt, though I shouldn't.
Difference is, Harper got her happy ending. Me… currently not happy. Or ending. It’s like a never-ending cycle of hurt. But that’s a story for another day. I’ll do a post at the end of the year – I NEED to write a post about it.
So anyway. I really enjoyed the romance in this book. Harper had a crush on Brody before the superlatives, but Brody slowly falls for her, and she really fell for him, for real. I love watching her slowly trust herself with him, and him slowly go after her. Very well-written, in my opinion.
For most of the book, both of them are with their respective significant others (sort of). Harper and Kennedy really aren't a couple (they’re basically platonic friends, if so much), and Grace isn’t really Brody’s girlfriend. So, that was an interesting thing to see play out in the story.
Overall, I really liked the book. There is more to the book than romance and relationships and whatnot, but the romance was something that really struck me (especially since it mirrors my own romantic life so well). I’m really excited to read Sawyer and Kaye’s story, in Most Likely To Succeed!
What I Did Not Like:
I almost wish this book were written in Brody’s perspective as well (dual, with Harper). Usually, I’m not a fan of that, but I think it could have worked. Also, I wanted more physical scenes from Harper and Brody. There are like, two, total. There are a lot of sweet expository scenes, sentimental ones, but there could have been more physical ones, especially during the “chase”.
Would I Recommend It:
YES! If you like contemporary novels, read this one, and/or anything by Echols. I’m not even a contemporary fan, but I love Echols’ books. The way she writes romance is so great! And her stories is very relatable, very authentic.
Rating:
4 stars. More like 4.5 stars. I LOVE this book. It made me sad and happy and wishful and hopeful. Maybe we can all have a happy ending.
January 26, 2015
I'm so sorry but I tried. I tried so hard that I even hated myself for still bothering. This book is nothing but pure shallowness. There's cheating. Two main characters who don't feel even an ounce of remorse over their actions. Stupid dialogues and dumb decisions. Need I say more? I'll finish this review later after I nurse the headache this book just gave me.
December 22, 2024
i enjoyed sooo much about this! first of all it’s very fun and quick. one of my biggest issues with romance is that the characters never have previous relationships but this book doesn’t do that. to me these feel like real teens, they talk about sex and partying and it doesn’t feel like something the author avoids to keep it PG. teens talk about these things even if they aren’t involved. the romance was good and it’s so refreshing reading a book that doesn’t have any “tropes”. the main characters sticks up for herself and i love that. i’m excited to continue on. i may go back to read the first book since i skipped that one lol
February 8, 2020
Another great YA novel by Jennifer Echols. Harper and Brody were voted "the perfect couple that never was" for their senior yearbook. Harper is artsy, whereas Brody is your typical football jock. At first, they treat this as a joke, but Harper is surprised to find herself thinking about Brody - a lot! All the usual teen angst is present in this story as Harper has to come to terms with getting what she really wants in life. Brody is such an easy-going, fun guy: Brody doesn't believe in forever. Harper isn't the usual "cheerleader" groupie hook up. So how on earth did everyone on their high school think they would have made a perfect couple?
Harper finds herself becoming more and more obsessed with Brody. Brody is also attracted to Harper, but he knows that she would always come with "strings attached". How these two find a way to forge a path to each other made very entertaining reading. I like that at the end of this story, Harper became less of a doormat and stood up for what she wanted, and Brody learned to get real and realize that Harper was worth holding on to and giving up his bad boy ways. They were so supportive of one another: she taught him how to meditate and he supported her art - offering to pose for free as a model, encouraging her dreams to go to college and study art.
I really enjoyed this story, and I especially liked that the author promoted safe sex! Harper and Brody opt to wait until Harper is on the pill before they take their relationship to the next step. I totally loved that, and am giving this a 5 star rating for this.
Harper finds herself becoming more and more obsessed with Brody. Brody is also attracted to Harper, but he knows that she would always come with "strings attached". How these two find a way to forge a path to each other made very entertaining reading. I like that at the end of this story, Harper became less of a doormat and stood up for what she wanted, and Brody learned to get real and realize that Harper was worth holding on to and giving up his bad boy ways. They were so supportive of one another: she taught him how to meditate and he supported her art - offering to pose for free as a model, encouraging her dreams to go to college and study art.
I really enjoyed this story, and I especially liked that the author promoted safe sex! Harper and Brody opt to wait until Harper is on the pill before they take their relationship to the next step. I totally loved that, and am giving this a 5 star rating for this.
September 1, 2014
My thanks to Simon Pulse & Edelweiss
Point of View: Single (Harper Davis)
Writing: First Person | Past Tense
Setting: Florida
Genre: Young Adult | Realistic Fiction
I enjoyed reading this book so much better than the first book Biggest Flirts. My guess is mainly because of the main character. Back in book 1, I didn't like Tia and reading about her was really infuriating. Harper was almost the exact opposite of Tia, so it wasn't hard for me to like her. As this book is basically a companion book, it can be read as a standalone. However, some characters from the first book do make appearances in this book as well. Some plots were a little on the steamy side which I think might not be suitable for readers younger than 15 year of age.
In this book, it all started with Harper being pair with Brody as the "Perfect Couple that Never Was" because they both are dating someone else. Because of the vote, Harper begins to have a feeling for Brody.
The storyline was really well thought out because even the book was light and fluffy, there were done in a way that it wasn't too sweet and cute that I couldn't stomach. The plot twist was surprising and I totally didn't think of that, but it made complete sense when it did happen. The whole way through, the book kept me engaged with both the story and the characters, and I have to say Tia was a little more likable in this book.
The writing was smooth and hilarious. There were so many times I couldn't help but laugh, mostly because of Sawyer, and I cannot wait to read Most Likely to Succeed!!! Dammit, if I didn't love this boy. Back to this book, I loved that it was a quick it and the ending added a nice touch to the whole story.
In short, I really had a blast from reading this book. Like I said before, I have had a few hits and misses when it comes to Jennifer Echols books, and this one was definitely a hit. Those who love reading sweet and fluffy contemporary high school romance will love this one.
January 5, 2015
Received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book. It is my true opinion only.
Jennifer Echols had done it again!
I just adore her writing style.
She never ceases to amaze me.
After being in a reading slump, this book helped to get out of it.
It is light a fluffy and full of so many addictive situations.
I loved the first book so was excited to read this one.
It is a companion novel, so you don't have to read the first book. But I totally recommend that you do as it is awesome.
I need to read all of Jennifer's books now!!
Full review: Kitkatscanread
Jennifer Echols had done it again!
I just adore her writing style.
She never ceases to amaze me.
After being in a reading slump, this book helped to get out of it.
It is light a fluffy and full of so many addictive situations.
I loved the first book so was excited to read this one.
It is a companion novel, so you don't have to read the first book. But I totally recommend that you do as it is awesome.
I need to read all of Jennifer's books now!!
Full review: Kitkatscanread
January 8, 2015
My excitement for Sawyer's book is over the top. I CANNOT WAIT.
Let's not talk about this one though, I'm not happy.
Let's not talk about this one though, I'm not happy.
February 13, 2015
Harper's voice just never worked for me. It's overly self-conscious and info-dumpy, but not in a way that resolves itself into a unique voice. And I kept comparing the relationship (because of the football, I think) to Kasie West, which means I kept finding Perfect Couple lacking.
I suppose it's because relationships typically work better for me when they're folded into a bigger story; when they're the center focus, there's so much more to pick apart. Harper's voice. Her ideas about relationships. Her trauma about her parents, which is positioned as pivotal but feels peripheral. Her friendships with people who don't feel like friends - how did they get to know each other, and why do they like each other?
This is supposed to be the story of Harper finding herself, but it falls flat because all the many aspects of Harper never gel to form a complete character.
Perfect Couple feels like the book you'd write if you could take what you've overheard about teenagers - how they dress, what they talk about - combine it with what you remember about being a teenager, put it all into a blender, and hit puree. I think that's where Brody came from, too: like Harper, he's an idea, borne out of a combination of reality and perception.
Which is what all fiction is, right? And yet sometimes, you get characters who bypass perception and take up residence right next door. Harper and Brody don't do that. Disappointingly, they stay ink and paper and barely-gelled ideas.
I suppose it's because relationships typically work better for me when they're folded into a bigger story; when they're the center focus, there's so much more to pick apart. Harper's voice. Her ideas about relationships. Her trauma about her parents, which is positioned as pivotal but feels peripheral. Her friendships with people who don't feel like friends - how did they get to know each other, and why do they like each other?
This is supposed to be the story of Harper finding herself, but it falls flat because all the many aspects of Harper never gel to form a complete character.
Perfect Couple feels like the book you'd write if you could take what you've overheard about teenagers - how they dress, what they talk about - combine it with what you remember about being a teenager, put it all into a blender, and hit puree. I think that's where Brody came from, too: like Harper, he's an idea, borne out of a combination of reality and perception.
Which is what all fiction is, right? And yet sometimes, you get characters who bypass perception and take up residence right next door. Harper and Brody don't do that. Disappointingly, they stay ink and paper and barely-gelled ideas.
January 14, 2015
Perfect Couple was my first read of 2015 and I'm glad I started off the year with a fun and cute story. I'm new-ish to this author, having just read Such a Rush (love!) and Biggest Flirts last year. I really love how she realistically portrays teenagers, flaws and all. After really liking Biggest Flirts, I was excited to continue the series.
Yearbook photographer Harper and football player Brody, are the last two people anyone would expect to be a couple. Much less a perfect couple. But that's what they are voted for by their class for their class Superlatives: Perfect Couple That Never Was. This messes with Harper's head. Who thinks they make a good couple and why? Especially if they have nothing in common. Especially since she has a boyfriend and he has a girlfriend. But since the Superlatives were announced, Harper and Brody have developed this flirty and sometimes awkward friendship and soon they are looking for any excuse to spend time together.
I did have a few issues with this book. I didn't like the fact that Harper felt like she needed a makeover in order to get Brody's attention. I mean, I understand why she would feel like this. But I really liked her style and kind of wish she found a way to keep some of that in the new Harper. Actually, I didn't see why there even had to be a new Harper since she was already a catch. I did like that Brody told her that he liked her with her glasses on (because contacts doesn't have to mean prettier). And yes, Harper had a boyfriend and although Brody wasn't technically with someone, he didn't exactly make that clear. It was obvious that Harper didn't even like her boyfriend, he was such a douche. I didn't understand why she stayed with him just because she thought there was no chance for her and Brody. I especially didn't understand why she stayed with him when she started kissing Brody. But, I get it, teens make stupid mistakes. I found it weird that But, despite my issues with it, this was just one of those books that had me with a smile on my face the whole time. Even if I wanted to shake some sense into the characters a few times. I would have loved it if Brody had his own POV, did Will have his own POV in Biggest Flirts?
Although I liked Biggest Flirts better and Such a Rush is still my favorite book of hers (one of my favorite books), I still really enjoyed Perfect Couple. I do think that this book might not be for everyone though. I loved seeing Tia and Will and I think the next book will be my favorite. There is something about the goofy and adorable Sawyer. I hope Kaye's boyfriend isn't an issue for long though. I was so tempted to start reading Most Likely To Succeed after this, but I'm trying to be good and work my way through closer-release books first. I'm excited to read the next book!
4 out of 5 stars!
***
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Yearbook photographer Harper and football player Brody, are the last two people anyone would expect to be a couple. Much less a perfect couple. But that's what they are voted for by their class for their class Superlatives: Perfect Couple That Never Was. This messes with Harper's head. Who thinks they make a good couple and why? Especially if they have nothing in common. Especially since she has a boyfriend and he has a girlfriend. But since the Superlatives were announced, Harper and Brody have developed this flirty and sometimes awkward friendship and soon they are looking for any excuse to spend time together.
I did have a few issues with this book. I didn't like the fact that Harper felt like she needed a makeover in order to get Brody's attention. I mean, I understand why she would feel like this. But I really liked her style and kind of wish she found a way to keep some of that in the new Harper. Actually, I didn't see why there even had to be a new Harper since she was already a catch. I did like that Brody told her that he liked her with her glasses on (because contacts doesn't have to mean prettier). And yes, Harper had a boyfriend and although Brody wasn't technically with someone, he didn't exactly make that clear. It was obvious that Harper didn't even like her boyfriend, he was such a douche. I didn't understand why she stayed with him just because she thought there was no chance for her and Brody. I especially didn't understand why she stayed with him when she started kissing Brody. But, I get it, teens make stupid mistakes. I found it weird that But, despite my issues with it, this was just one of those books that had me with a smile on my face the whole time. Even if I wanted to shake some sense into the characters a few times. I would have loved it if Brody had his own POV, did Will have his own POV in Biggest Flirts?
Although I liked Biggest Flirts better and Such a Rush is still my favorite book of hers (one of my favorite books), I still really enjoyed Perfect Couple. I do think that this book might not be for everyone though. I loved seeing Tia and Will and I think the next book will be my favorite. There is something about the goofy and adorable Sawyer. I hope Kaye's boyfriend isn't an issue for long though. I was so tempted to start reading Most Likely To Succeed after this, but I'm trying to be good and work my way through closer-release books first. I'm excited to read the next book!
4 out of 5 stars!
***
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January 12, 2015
4.5 stars
Perfect Couple by far has to be my favourite book in the superlatives series. Although I was a huge fan of Tia’s and Will’s relationship in Biggest Flirts, I love it even more when opposite characters start falling for each other, and you can’t get any more opposite than Brody and Harper. During the superlatives nominations Brody and Harper were the perfect couple that never was, despite both Brody and Harper having boyfriends/girlfriends at the time. Brody was the famous high school quarterback and Harper was the photographer for the school year book, they were an unlikely couple in most people’s eyes, but you know when you get nominated for something like the perfect couple that never was, you kind of get interested in finding out whether you could be a couple or not.
It was fun watching Harper realise and think about this more and more, what started off as innocent thoughts about Brody, listening to people tell her comments that Brody had made about her to actually changing things and wanting Brody was something Echols wrote in really well. Harper didn’t develop her feelings for Brody overnight, but through more and more interactions with Brody and sweet gestures made on his behalf when her own boyfriend was being a numpty, I would too have a hard time resisting Brody’s charms. Right from the beginning I disliked Harper’s boyfriend Kennedy, he assumed that just because he was in a higher position than Harper in the school year book, everything he did was right, he would disregard her opinion or suggestions immediately, start giving her the silent treatment when he felt like it and actually be jealous when something good happened to Harper, like her photo being published on the front page of the paper! It was obvious to see that Harper could do so much better without him, and although I don’t condone cheating I wanted Harper to find out if there was something between her and Brody.
Let me tell you the scenes that Harper and Brody shared were off the charts hot! *fans self* we never really got to see any real chemistry or romantic interactions of any sort between Harper and Kennedy, so the ones we got between Brody and Harper well made up for it. It was clear to anyone that if Harper and Brody gave their relationship a go and ignored all the road bumps along the way, they could be the perfect couple. I had a few minor issues with a couple of spanners that were thrown in the works and the way certain characters decided to deal with the situation, but I think in the long run these were quite good for the growth of our characters.
As you can probably tell I loved Brody and Harper, but I’m glad that we were able to spend a lot of time with some of my favourite characters from Biggest Flirts; Sawyer, Tia and Will. They once again went to show just how good friends they could be when Harper needed them the most and as usual Sawyer had me in hysterics on many occasions.
Overall Perfect Couple was another fantastic book in the superlatives series, I felt with Biggest Flirts that nobody could match up to Will and Tia’s characters, but once again Echols has surprised me with her introduction of Harper and Brody. The superlatives series is one that you shouldn’t miss out on, I will be eagerly anticipating getting my hands on Most Likely to Succeed, the third book in this series.
This review can be found on: The Readers Den
Perfect Couple by far has to be my favourite book in the superlatives series. Although I was a huge fan of Tia’s and Will’s relationship in Biggest Flirts, I love it even more when opposite characters start falling for each other, and you can’t get any more opposite than Brody and Harper. During the superlatives nominations Brody and Harper were the perfect couple that never was, despite both Brody and Harper having boyfriends/girlfriends at the time. Brody was the famous high school quarterback and Harper was the photographer for the school year book, they were an unlikely couple in most people’s eyes, but you know when you get nominated for something like the perfect couple that never was, you kind of get interested in finding out whether you could be a couple or not.
It was fun watching Harper realise and think about this more and more, what started off as innocent thoughts about Brody, listening to people tell her comments that Brody had made about her to actually changing things and wanting Brody was something Echols wrote in really well. Harper didn’t develop her feelings for Brody overnight, but through more and more interactions with Brody and sweet gestures made on his behalf when her own boyfriend was being a numpty, I would too have a hard time resisting Brody’s charms. Right from the beginning I disliked Harper’s boyfriend Kennedy, he assumed that just because he was in a higher position than Harper in the school year book, everything he did was right, he would disregard her opinion or suggestions immediately, start giving her the silent treatment when he felt like it and actually be jealous when something good happened to Harper, like her photo being published on the front page of the paper! It was obvious to see that Harper could do so much better without him, and although I don’t condone cheating I wanted Harper to find out if there was something between her and Brody.
Let me tell you the scenes that Harper and Brody shared were off the charts hot! *fans self* we never really got to see any real chemistry or romantic interactions of any sort between Harper and Kennedy, so the ones we got between Brody and Harper well made up for it. It was clear to anyone that if Harper and Brody gave their relationship a go and ignored all the road bumps along the way, they could be the perfect couple. I had a few minor issues with a couple of spanners that were thrown in the works and the way certain characters decided to deal with the situation, but I think in the long run these were quite good for the growth of our characters.
As you can probably tell I loved Brody and Harper, but I’m glad that we were able to spend a lot of time with some of my favourite characters from Biggest Flirts; Sawyer, Tia and Will. They once again went to show just how good friends they could be when Harper needed them the most and as usual Sawyer had me in hysterics on many occasions.
Overall Perfect Couple was another fantastic book in the superlatives series, I felt with Biggest Flirts that nobody could match up to Will and Tia’s characters, but once again Echols has surprised me with her introduction of Harper and Brody. The superlatives series is one that you shouldn’t miss out on, I will be eagerly anticipating getting my hands on Most Likely to Succeed, the third book in this series.
This review can be found on: The Readers Den
July 10, 2016
Check out my review of Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols at Books Equal Awesomeness!
**Contains spoilers**
When I first picked up this book, I was expecting a fun, cute read, but what I actually got was far from that. Books like this is one of the precise reasons that I normally don't read contemporary.
So basically this book is about Harper, the main character and how her class elected her and Brody, the star quarterback, as "The Perfect Couple That Never Was." And so it commences with them becoming attracted to each other. Of course.
The characters annoyed me. A lot. One of the most important things about a book for me would probably be the characters. If I don't like the characters, chances are I'll like the book less. Harper annoyed me to the point that I was rolling my eyes at almost everything she said and did. Let me just list out all the things that she did that annoyed me.
• She flirted with another guy, while she already had a boyfriend.
• She cheated on said boyfriend.
• She let her boyfriend, Kennedy, treat her like crap, but she still didn't break up with him.
Brody annoyed me too, so I'll just make another list.
• He had a sort-of girlfriend, but he flirted with Harper.
• He cheated on his sort-of girlfriend with Harper.
• Just read the quote. I really don't have to explain anything.
There was no character development. I was hoping that the characters would get better as the story progressed, but no such luck. They were supposed to be seniors in high school, but the decisions they made were childish. They made one stupid decision after the other, almost to the point where I felt like tearing my hair out in frustration! That says a lot. The characters were impulsive, childish, and bratty from the beginning to the end.
This book was definitely not my cup of tea, but I still plan on reading the rest of the series because they're all from the point of view of different characters and hopefully, I'll like them much better than I liked Harper and Brody.
**Contains spoilers**
When I first picked up this book, I was expecting a fun, cute read, but what I actually got was far from that. Books like this is one of the precise reasons that I normally don't read contemporary.
So basically this book is about Harper, the main character and how her class elected her and Brody, the star quarterback, as "The Perfect Couple That Never Was." And so it commences with them becoming attracted to each other. Of course.
The characters annoyed me. A lot. One of the most important things about a book for me would probably be the characters. If I don't like the characters, chances are I'll like the book less. Harper annoyed me to the point that I was rolling my eyes at almost everything she said and did. Let me just list out all the things that she did that annoyed me.
• She flirted with another guy, while she already had a boyfriend.
• She cheated on said boyfriend.
• She let her boyfriend, Kennedy, treat her like crap, but she still didn't break up with him.
Brody annoyed me too, so I'll just make another list.
• He had a sort-of girlfriend, but he flirted with Harper.
• He cheated on his sort-of girlfriend with Harper.
• Just read the quote. I really don't have to explain anything.
"You get into a couple—a coupling, like a train car—with one girl and then another.”
“Exactly,” he said.
There was no character development. I was hoping that the characters would get better as the story progressed, but no such luck. They were supposed to be seniors in high school, but the decisions they made were childish. They made one stupid decision after the other, almost to the point where I felt like tearing my hair out in frustration! That says a lot. The characters were impulsive, childish, and bratty from the beginning to the end.
This book was definitely not my cup of tea, but I still plan on reading the rest of the series because they're all from the point of view of different characters and hopefully, I'll like them much better than I liked Harper and Brody.
October 20, 2016
This was definitely better than the first one. I liked Harper and Brody. They were very likeable and even though they occasionally did stupid stuff it was overall a sweet and romantic love story. I really love them as a couple and they totally deserve to be together. I also really enjoyed the interactions we had with Harper's whole family. It was great to see their relationships and Harper dealing with that as well as Brody. Swayer is once again a great side character whose really a diamond in the rough. I know his story is going to be interesting because he has a lot to overcome overall but I'm excited to get to it. It just goes to show that you can never say never to continuing a series. I am writing this review in a library right now where I planned to return the whole series but I stayed up all night and read this book in 24 hrs and now I'm keeping the third book to finish it all. Good read. Really awesome.
Update: I think I would give this a 4 because I really did enjoy how flirty it was and now that I've finished the third book (going to write review just now
Update: I think I would give this a 4 because I really did enjoy how flirty it was and now that I've finished the third book (going to write review just now
January 2, 2015
I had so much fun with the first book in the series that there was just no way I could pass up the chance to read the second and get even more of the characters I had fun with in the first. And even though I got this book months in advance of the release date, I couldn't help but start it right away.
I think I very well might have liked this even more than the first, I might have liked Brody and Harper's story more than Tia and Will's (but don't tell them that).
This really is a cute feel good series that is so perfect for those hard and dark dystopian or UF reads. When you just need something light and smile inducing to put you back on track and ready for whatever read comes next afterward.
My only complaint believe it or not, is that I actually wanted more Sawyer. I loved him in the first book and loved him even more in this one. I am so hoping book three will be all about him and a certain cheerleader that I think he would be “perfect” for.
I think I very well might have liked this even more than the first, I might have liked Brody and Harper's story more than Tia and Will's (but don't tell them that).
This really is a cute feel good series that is so perfect for those hard and dark dystopian or UF reads. When you just need something light and smile inducing to put you back on track and ready for whatever read comes next afterward.
My only complaint believe it or not, is that I actually wanted more Sawyer. I loved him in the first book and loved him even more in this one. I am so hoping book three will be all about him and a certain cheerleader that I think he would be “perfect” for.
March 6, 2016
I hate to do this. I didn't like this book. At all. I've been a fan of Jennifer Echols pretty much since I started reading ya. I read Biggest Flirt when it came out. I didn't like it that much so I decided to skip the rest of the trilogy. A friend of mine recently read Perfect Couple and loved it so I had to give it a try. Let's just say it didn't go so well.
Harper spying on Brody was a huge no-no for me. She would take pictures of him all the time. I think that's extremely creepy. I don't care she's really into photography. Stalking is messed up.
Cheating was another thing which bothered me a lot. Just because the boyfriend's a bore doesn't mean you're free to fool around with the known ladies man! Take note girls! That's not the way to go! Just break up! I was never cheated on but if something like that happened to me I would dump the person without a second thought.
Harper spying on Brody was a huge no-no for me. She would take pictures of him all the time. I think that's extremely creepy. I don't care she's really into photography. Stalking is messed up.
Cheating was another thing which bothered me a lot. Just because the boyfriend's a bore doesn't mean you're free to fool around with the known ladies man! Take note girls! That's not the way to go! Just break up! I was never cheated on but if something like that happened to me I would dump the person without a second thought.
March 1, 2016
It's more like 3.5, I think. Loved the main ship a whole bunch and they are ridiculously cute together. Plus swoony kissing, you guys!!! I didn't connect with the MC, to be honest, and the book was often over dramatic, but regardless, still enjoyable. Echols doesn't shy away from sex talk and sexier themes which is good seeing as it's YA and teenagers aren't oblivious to these things after all. It also has different races when it comes to characters and LGBT themes which is very appreciated. DID I SAY SWOONY KISSING ALREADY???
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
April 5, 2021
It has been a while since I've read the first book but I had no desire to dive back into that one before reading Perfect Couple. Call me strange and lazy all you want but sometimes you don't need to reread a book. Especially when some series have different main characters in every book. So, yeah, I took a huge risk of not diving back in the first book and just kind of winged it with this one.
In it, you will meet Harper and Brody. These two were voted for a superlative by their fellow peers. The perfect couple.. or the not so perfect couple due to them not dating one another. The couple that never happened and yet they are perfect for one another. I could go on and on here guys but I wont.
At first, this whole thing is a joke for them and is a bit awkward if I do say so myself. It also doesn't help that Harper can't stop thinking about it or Brody. So it didn't take long for feelings to eventually form and for my eyes to roll along with each dumb decision made.
They eventually had some cute moments but they seemed to be overrun by some dumb annoying ones. Or maybe I just can't stop thinking about them still. In the end, they were kind of cute and that's all I'm going to say about it.
In it, you will meet Harper and Brody. These two were voted for a superlative by their fellow peers. The perfect couple.. or the not so perfect couple due to them not dating one another. The couple that never happened and yet they are perfect for one another. I could go on and on here guys but I wont.
At first, this whole thing is a joke for them and is a bit awkward if I do say so myself. It also doesn't help that Harper can't stop thinking about it or Brody. So it didn't take long for feelings to eventually form and for my eyes to roll along with each dumb decision made.
They eventually had some cute moments but they seemed to be overrun by some dumb annoying ones. Or maybe I just can't stop thinking about them still. In the end, they were kind of cute and that's all I'm going to say about it.
March 10, 2018
It's been quite a while since I did any reading, much less any reading of ya novels. on a whim the other day, I went to the library and picked up some books. two days later, I sat down and read this one in three hours. It's been forever since I read a book that fast.
this one was cute. I don't really remember the first one, but I got enough back through context. it wasn't too cringy, even if it was a little awkward at times. made me even more grateful to be out of high school.
this one was cute. I don't really remember the first one, but I got enough back through context. it wasn't too cringy, even if it was a little awkward at times. made me even more grateful to be out of high school.
January 8, 2015
I haven’t read the first book in the Superlatives series yet but I jumped at the chance to read this one. It sounded fun and I was right. I have to say the synopsis was a little bit misleading for where the story went however, I still really enjoyed Perfect Couple! The cheesy parts, the frustrating times and the cute moments were all done just right!
Harper's a good girl. She's usually quiet and keeps her thoughts and comments to herself. When her graduating class paired her up with the popular quarterback, Brody, for the Perfect Couple That Never Was title, she couldn't believe it. She's had such a crush on him for a long time and because of this title, they were brought closer together. Despite their differences, they weren't immune to each other~ The usually reserved Harper grew bolder as she captured Brody's attention. I was particularly surprised . Those heated moments were quite positive though as Harper was in control at all times. She knew her limits and she voices it. I also really admire Harper's love for photography. She took her yearbook photographer duties very seriously. It was encouraging to see how passionate she was doing what she loves.
I was really hesitant to get on Brody's side because sometimes he acted just a little too casual for my taste. I was getting mixed signals from him. He shared his fears and private thoughts with Harper but then ends up doing something that hurt her. Did he want to be serious with her or not? He definitely had issues but I did positively love him when he let Harper know .
There is cheating in this story but I'm conflicted on how I feel about it. I felt like it was acceptable (please don't boo me). The line between dating and being in a relationship is blurry. Some people would argue that Brody was in a relationship with Grace whereas I would say I understand they were just doing casual dating. With Harper's situation, I hated the way Kennedy pushed her around. Such an unhealthy relationship if you can even call it one. I can't say I felt bad when Harper . Brody was definitely the better choice.
I just want to point out that Harper's mom was weird. I understand she was insecure because of her rocky relationship with her husband but what kind of a mother discourages her daughter to go to college? Especially when her daughter's very talented?! So odd. I couldn't fathom that. Even Harper's grandfather had a good reason for his weird behaviour.
There was a brilliant twist at the end which I didn't see coming but I loved! It made perfect sense. Harper really needed to just go with it and not analyze everything. Feelings are hard to get rid of and when it's right, it's right. Don't let something as silly as a high school poll stand in the way of your happiness! Seriously, you find it, you keep it!
Harper's a good girl. She's usually quiet and keeps her thoughts and comments to herself. When her graduating class paired her up with the popular quarterback, Brody, for the Perfect Couple That Never Was title, she couldn't believe it. She's had such a crush on him for a long time and because of this title, they were brought closer together. Despite their differences, they weren't immune to each other~ The usually reserved Harper grew bolder as she captured Brody's attention. I was particularly surprised . Those heated moments were quite positive though as Harper was in control at all times. She knew her limits and she voices it. I also really admire Harper's love for photography. She took her yearbook photographer duties very seriously. It was encouraging to see how passionate she was doing what she loves.
I was really hesitant to get on Brody's side because sometimes he acted just a little too casual for my taste. I was getting mixed signals from him. He shared his fears and private thoughts with Harper but then ends up doing something that hurt her. Did he want to be serious with her or not? He definitely had issues but I did positively love him when he let Harper know .
There is cheating in this story but I'm conflicted on how I feel about it. I felt like it was acceptable (please don't boo me). The line between dating and being in a relationship is blurry. Some people would argue that Brody was in a relationship with Grace whereas I would say I understand they were just doing casual dating. With Harper's situation, I hated the way Kennedy pushed her around. Such an unhealthy relationship if you can even call it one. I can't say I felt bad when Harper . Brody was definitely the better choice.
I just want to point out that Harper's mom was weird. I understand she was insecure because of her rocky relationship with her husband but what kind of a mother discourages her daughter to go to college? Especially when her daughter's very talented?! So odd. I couldn't fathom that. Even Harper's grandfather had a good reason for his weird behaviour.
There was a brilliant twist at the end which I didn't see coming but I loved! It made perfect sense. Harper really needed to just go with it and not analyze everything. Feelings are hard to get rid of and when it's right, it's right. Don't let something as silly as a high school poll stand in the way of your happiness! Seriously, you find it, you keep it!
January 10, 2015
3.5/5
The first book in the Superlatives series, Biggest Flirts, was a big hit for me. I really enjoyed the characters and the romance was very sweet. Knowing that Perfect Couple would feature Harper and Brody as main characters, I was beyond thrilled. While I wasn't wowed with this one as much as I was with Biggest Flirts, I still thought this was a fun and entertaining read, perfect for a nice lazy summer day at the beach.
Harper was the shy, quiet girl in her high school. But she wanted to really break out from the stereotype surrounding her. It was easy to really enjoy Harper's character. She wasn't entirely memorable, but I liked that she was a "normal" girl who readers could identify with. I think most of us bookish nerds will relate to her and her story. Brody was the opposite of Harper. He was popular, an athlete and had all the girls swooning over him. I really liked Brody too although there were times I had a hard time grasping his actions. I really wanted to know what was going on inside that head of is. Because of that, I would have loved to have been privy to his thoughts in addition to Harper's to feel connected to him. As much as I liked the characters in Perfect Couple, I also had some issues with them. I got that they were teenagers and teenagers are always "experimenting" and still growing up, but some of the decisions that Harper and Brody made had me shaking my head in frustration. I tried to remember what I was like at that age (and it wasn't too long ago), but I still don't think I would do what they did.
That being said, I though Brody and Harper had some great chemistry together. Sparks would fly off the pages when they were together. I have to say though that I didn't enjoy the romance as much as I did in Biggest Flirts. I think I would have liked it much better had they ditched their significant others early on in the book, because I'm usually uncomfortable with cheating in books. What I did love about Perfect Couple was the cast of secondary characters. I love all of them, but my favorite has to be Sawyer. He was such a crazy goofball and it was so cute how he would pine over Kaye from afar. I honestly can't wait to read his book next. I can tell that his book is going to be my favorite because I'm already a huge of Sawyer. I also loved that we got to see Tia and Will. Tia, continued to remain that sassy girl that she was and I was glad that she was there to be a good friend to Harper and lead towards the right road. I loved how the characters in this book were all different and had these unique personalities that really stuck with me. In addition, I liked how Jennifer Echols didn't rely on high school stereotypes in this book. It's refreshing not to have to encounter the typical mean girls and such.
Overall, Perfect Couple was a fun read and even though I had some minor issues, this was definitely a book I recommend to fans of cute YA contemporaries.
The first book in the Superlatives series, Biggest Flirts, was a big hit for me. I really enjoyed the characters and the romance was very sweet. Knowing that Perfect Couple would feature Harper and Brody as main characters, I was beyond thrilled. While I wasn't wowed with this one as much as I was with Biggest Flirts, I still thought this was a fun and entertaining read, perfect for a nice lazy summer day at the beach.
Harper was the shy, quiet girl in her high school. But she wanted to really break out from the stereotype surrounding her. It was easy to really enjoy Harper's character. She wasn't entirely memorable, but I liked that she was a "normal" girl who readers could identify with. I think most of us bookish nerds will relate to her and her story. Brody was the opposite of Harper. He was popular, an athlete and had all the girls swooning over him. I really liked Brody too although there were times I had a hard time grasping his actions. I really wanted to know what was going on inside that head of is. Because of that, I would have loved to have been privy to his thoughts in addition to Harper's to feel connected to him. As much as I liked the characters in Perfect Couple, I also had some issues with them. I got that they were teenagers and teenagers are always "experimenting" and still growing up, but some of the decisions that Harper and Brody made had me shaking my head in frustration. I tried to remember what I was like at that age (and it wasn't too long ago), but I still don't think I would do what they did.
That being said, I though Brody and Harper had some great chemistry together. Sparks would fly off the pages when they were together. I have to say though that I didn't enjoy the romance as much as I did in Biggest Flirts. I think I would have liked it much better had they ditched their significant others early on in the book, because I'm usually uncomfortable with cheating in books. What I did love about Perfect Couple was the cast of secondary characters. I love all of them, but my favorite has to be Sawyer. He was such a crazy goofball and it was so cute how he would pine over Kaye from afar. I honestly can't wait to read his book next. I can tell that his book is going to be my favorite because I'm already a huge of Sawyer. I also loved that we got to see Tia and Will. Tia, continued to remain that sassy girl that she was and I was glad that she was there to be a good friend to Harper and lead towards the right road. I loved how the characters in this book were all different and had these unique personalities that really stuck with me. In addition, I liked how Jennifer Echols didn't rely on high school stereotypes in this book. It's refreshing not to have to encounter the typical mean girls and such.
Overall, Perfect Couple was a fun read and even though I had some minor issues, this was definitely a book I recommend to fans of cute YA contemporaries.
December 14, 2014
Ladies and gents, this is exactly why I prefer not to read contemporaries. Kasie West is a shining star, but Echols is not.
I had so many problems with this book you can't even imagine...
1). The characters
They are shallow and so unrealistic and stupid (no offense). They made bad choice after bad choice, their actions were ridiculously unrealistic and just plain bad, they were detestable. I forgot about these characters as soon as the book ended (thank god). The screw up turns his life around after passing out from overheating in mascot suit. Now he's totally a good guy. No freaking way. Harper lets a guy touch her breasts and make out with her even though they both are in separate relationships. Cheating is NOT okay. I couldn't take any of these character's actions seriously.
2). The dialogue
Some of the things said in this book were so completely wrong and bad. There's some sexual talk that they say so frankly and brashly, I'm no prude, but NO ONE TALKS LIKE THAT. And Harper's mother begs Harper not to go to college and stay with her and run the bed and breakfast. WTH?! This is horrible parenting. Two guys come out and say they're gay during class. Everyone starts clapping and Harper passes out rainbow cupcakes to celebrate. Really?! Really?! They talk about sex all the times, and say really degrading things about women. There are multiple comments about Harper's "fine ass" and I found that totally rude and disrespectful and degrading to women. But Harper doesn't mind of course! The dialogue was just so foreign and awkward and strange. No one would say these things in reality.
3). The romance
So the main character, Harper is totally obsessed with Brody and stares at pictures of him all the time and takes random pictures of him just because. He suddenly really likes her and starts saying flirty and sexy things to her and then *boom* They're a couple. Yay! The end. No development whatsoever, disgusting and cheesy.
I just hated this. I'm sorry, I have nothing more to say.
I had so many problems with this book you can't even imagine...
1). The characters
They are shallow and so unrealistic and stupid (no offense). They made bad choice after bad choice, their actions were ridiculously unrealistic and just plain bad, they were detestable. I forgot about these characters as soon as the book ended (thank god). The screw up turns his life around after passing out from overheating in mascot suit. Now he's totally a good guy. No freaking way. Harper lets a guy touch her breasts and make out with her even though they both are in separate relationships. Cheating is NOT okay. I couldn't take any of these character's actions seriously.
2). The dialogue
Some of the things said in this book were so completely wrong and bad. There's some sexual talk that they say so frankly and brashly, I'm no prude, but NO ONE TALKS LIKE THAT. And Harper's mother begs Harper not to go to college and stay with her and run the bed and breakfast. WTH?! This is horrible parenting. Two guys come out and say they're gay during class. Everyone starts clapping and Harper passes out rainbow cupcakes to celebrate. Really?! Really?! They talk about sex all the times, and say really degrading things about women. There are multiple comments about Harper's "fine ass" and I found that totally rude and disrespectful and degrading to women. But Harper doesn't mind of course! The dialogue was just so foreign and awkward and strange. No one would say these things in reality.
3). The romance
So the main character, Harper is totally obsessed with Brody and stares at pictures of him all the time and takes random pictures of him just because. He suddenly really likes her and starts saying flirty and sexy things to her and then *boom* They're a couple. Yay! The end. No development whatsoever, disgusting and cheesy.
I just hated this. I'm sorry, I have nothing more to say.
June 10, 2016
This book made me roll my eyes so bad, I think I have a headache.
However, I still enjoyed this book. Just not as much as Biggest Flirts.
When I read the excerpt for this book, I was really excited. I thought Harper's story held a lot of potential. I thought I would be able to connect with Harper, because she kind of reminded me of myself.
Needless to say I was sort of disappointed. Harper is probably the biggest fake I've ever seen. She pretends she's above everyone else because she's just so good, but quite honestly, she's no better than anyone. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at everything she said or thought. I even started to hate her at some point. The only thing that made this book redeems itself was Brody. He's more than he lets on. I think I would have liked this book a lot more if it had been written from his point of view.
Even though I really shipped these two together at first, this relationship kind of made me go crazy(and not in the good way). Maybe it's because I could read Harper's every thought, but what started with a perfect beginning has gone awry.
Just like its predecessor, this book is full of clichés. The story was predictable, but there were a few plot twists that definitely hadn't seen coming. In the end, I still liked the story, but I thought it was lacking something the first one had.
I'm really excited for the third and last installment though! It's the only reason I even started this series in the first place, and the little hints we have gotten about it makes me want to start reading it as soon as possible! Let's hope I won't be too disappointed.
However, I still enjoyed this book. Just not as much as Biggest Flirts.
When I read the excerpt for this book, I was really excited. I thought Harper's story held a lot of potential. I thought I would be able to connect with Harper, because she kind of reminded me of myself.
Needless to say I was sort of disappointed. Harper is probably the biggest fake I've ever seen. She pretends she's above everyone else because she's just so good, but quite honestly, she's no better than anyone. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at everything she said or thought. I even started to hate her at some point. The only thing that made this book redeems itself was Brody. He's more than he lets on. I think I would have liked this book a lot more if it had been written from his point of view.
Even though I really shipped these two together at first, this relationship kind of made me go crazy
Just like its predecessor, this book is full of clichés. The story was predictable, but there were a few plot twists that definitely hadn't seen coming. In the end, I still liked the story, but I thought it was lacking something the first one had.
I'm really excited for the third and last installment though! It's the only reason I even started this series in the first place, and the little hints we have gotten about it makes me want to start reading it as soon as possible! Let's hope I won't be too disappointed.
February 1, 2015
There's just something about reading romance novels that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
"The Perfect Couple That Never Was", that sounds like a really awesome title to get voted for. I admit, in high school while I was fantasizing about being the MVP's girlfriend, my friend's were telling me to go for the quiet, artistic dude in our class who was supposedly more suitable for me. But back then I didn't care about personality --- I liked the handsome, unattainable guys. Reading this book made me wonder what would have happened if I too, took a chance all those years ago.
Even though Harper wasn't as spunky as Tia I still liked her. Although this was a cute story, I still liked the first book better than this. The issues tackled were not too serious and not too shallow; the romance was adorable and I just loved that twist. I wished there was a Tia-Will update because I just love those too.
Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book. And just like last year, I'm still waiting on Sawyer's story.
"The Perfect Couple That Never Was", that sounds like a really awesome title to get voted for. I admit, in high school while I was fantasizing about being the MVP's girlfriend, my friend's were telling me to go for the quiet, artistic dude in our class who was supposedly more suitable for me. But back then I didn't care about personality --- I liked the handsome, unattainable guys. Reading this book made me wonder what would have happened if I too, took a chance all those years ago.
Even though Harper wasn't as spunky as Tia I still liked her. Although this was a cute story, I still liked the first book better than this. The issues tackled were not too serious and not too shallow; the romance was adorable and I just loved that twist. I wished there was a Tia-Will update because I just love those too.
Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book. And just like last year, I'm still waiting on Sawyer's story.
November 10, 2014
So disappointed by this one!
In short: couldn't connect to the characters, couldn't take the premise or the characters' actions seriously, and I really disliked the main protagonist.
Full review to come.
In short: couldn't connect to the characters, couldn't take the premise or the characters' actions seriously, and I really disliked the main protagonist.
Full review to come.
December 30, 2014
Cute. I liked Harper and Brody, but some decisions and quick judgments felt a little whiplash-like and made me feel old because I just didn't understand how they couldn't see how flawed their decisions were. Sexy moments? Sure! Echols' best? No.
April 21, 2019
This is such a cute series! All the boys have me falling in love along with the main characters. Jennifer Echols sure knows how to write romance and realistic home-life drama. I loved Brody and Harper in this book. Brody was such an unexpected sweetheart. I only wish that this book was longer so that I could experience more of this couple. Also, bonus points for having Harper continue to wear her glasses and not get swept up in her makeover.
April 28, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
When Harper and Brody are voted Perfect Couple That Never Was they are both shocked. The two couldn't be more different. Harper is the photography nerd and Brody is the star quarterback. But since that day, she finds herself noticing him more and more. Since that day, her friends have been pushing her to ask him out. Even though she has a boyfriend, she finds herself thinking about Brody more and more. She finds herself wondering if maybe the school knows what they are talking about and she should give this budding attraction wtih Brody a chance.
Harper is that geeky girl who is hiding a rocking body. She's smart and hard-working, with a desperate drive to get the best photographs. She dresses pretty conservatively for a high school girl and she swears it's because she likes it that way. But is it really? The further into this we get, the more we see her question those decisions. I both loved and hated this. I loved that she wanted to experiment. I loved that she was brave enough to try something new. I loved that the new looks work well. What I didn't love was how it was all inspired by Brody. I'm very big on the be yourself schtick. Changing solely to impress a guy is something I feel like very girl does and something that we shouldn't. We should all put our best face forward, but there is a difference between that and drastically altering your wardrobe to get a guy. What happens when you get tired of wearing those tight tops and mini-skirts? What happens when you just want to roam around comfortably in jeans and a tee, but he expects full-on glamor all the time? That isn't what happens here, but it bugged me that her change was Brody inspired. She ends up liking it for herself, but it could have easily went a different direction.
Brody was a character I wanted to love immediately, but he took time to grow on me. He's cocky and hot and completely sure of himself. He has a bit of that player vibe going on that I tend to find slimy rather than sexy. He has enough charm to keep me from being completely weary of him, but he also has a sorta girlfriend when he starts fooling around with Harper, when gives me the skeezy vibe. Beyond that, though, he was pretty loveable. It was clear that he was sincere under all the bravado.
What I really enjoyed about this, about all Echols work really, is the relationships. It's not just about boy meets girl, it's about friends and family and self. It's goes deeper than just a flirty YA contemporary romance. Both characters are realistically flawed and relatable. I didn't always agree with their actions, but they always felt authentic and true to life. That's not to say that some of their actions weren't downright stupid because they were. That whole "make Brody jealous" bit sent me into a mini-rage because we all know that was not the right move. How is that the right thing for the moment? Those moments always anger me in books. You know, the ones where the character finds out something they don't like and instead of thinking things through, they do something rash and stupid. I'm not a fan of stupid. I actively try to avoid stupid.
What I didn't like was they was this skirted around the cheating issue. Harper is dating Kennedy. No matter how much of a jerk Kennedy is, they are still in a relationship. Nothing should happen with Brody until after that has ended. Brody is sorta dating Grace, but that's a bit more vague. Either way, lust doesn't excuse a lack of common curtsey. I hate how some novels portray cheating as acceptable because it's "true love" and the characters "couldn't help themselves." I'd just like to call bullshit on that particular concept. Be man (or woman) enough to admit want and go after it, but don't deceive people to get it. I'm a bit more forgiving here because they are teenagers and hormones do run high at that age. Plus, you know, teenagers aren't as much of an adult as they'd like to believe. Also, shit happens.
I think I may have liked this a bit more than Biggest Flirt. Even though I am still a bigger Will fangirl than I will ever be for Brody. Will is that nice, boy next door type and I love seeing those. That's beyond the point. This is a perfect contemporary YA written with Echols trademark style and wit. It's addictive and I tore threw it needing to know if Harper and Brody finally worked out their shit. If you like Echols previous work or contemporary romances, then you'll love this!
****Thank you to Simon Pulse for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
When Harper and Brody are voted Perfect Couple That Never Was they are both shocked. The two couldn't be more different. Harper is the photography nerd and Brody is the star quarterback. But since that day, she finds herself noticing him more and more. Since that day, her friends have been pushing her to ask him out. Even though she has a boyfriend, she finds herself thinking about Brody more and more. She finds herself wondering if maybe the school knows what they are talking about and she should give this budding attraction wtih Brody a chance.
Harper is that geeky girl who is hiding a rocking body. She's smart and hard-working, with a desperate drive to get the best photographs. She dresses pretty conservatively for a high school girl and she swears it's because she likes it that way. But is it really? The further into this we get, the more we see her question those decisions. I both loved and hated this. I loved that she wanted to experiment. I loved that she was brave enough to try something new. I loved that the new looks work well. What I didn't love was how it was all inspired by Brody. I'm very big on the be yourself schtick. Changing solely to impress a guy is something I feel like very girl does and something that we shouldn't. We should all put our best face forward, but there is a difference between that and drastically altering your wardrobe to get a guy. What happens when you get tired of wearing those tight tops and mini-skirts? What happens when you just want to roam around comfortably in jeans and a tee, but he expects full-on glamor all the time? That isn't what happens here, but it bugged me that her change was Brody inspired. She ends up liking it for herself, but it could have easily went a different direction.
Brody was a character I wanted to love immediately, but he took time to grow on me. He's cocky and hot and completely sure of himself. He has a bit of that player vibe going on that I tend to find slimy rather than sexy. He has enough charm to keep me from being completely weary of him, but he also has a sorta girlfriend when he starts fooling around with Harper, when gives me the skeezy vibe. Beyond that, though, he was pretty loveable. It was clear that he was sincere under all the bravado.
What I really enjoyed about this, about all Echols work really, is the relationships. It's not just about boy meets girl, it's about friends and family and self. It's goes deeper than just a flirty YA contemporary romance. Both characters are realistically flawed and relatable. I didn't always agree with their actions, but they always felt authentic and true to life. That's not to say that some of their actions weren't downright stupid because they were. That whole "make Brody jealous" bit sent me into a mini-rage because we all know that was not the right move. How is that the right thing for the moment? Those moments always anger me in books. You know, the ones where the character finds out something they don't like and instead of thinking things through, they do something rash and stupid. I'm not a fan of stupid. I actively try to avoid stupid.
What I didn't like was they was this skirted around the cheating issue. Harper is dating Kennedy. No matter how much of a jerk Kennedy is, they are still in a relationship. Nothing should happen with Brody until after that has ended. Brody is sorta dating Grace, but that's a bit more vague. Either way, lust doesn't excuse a lack of common curtsey. I hate how some novels portray cheating as acceptable because it's "true love" and the characters "couldn't help themselves." I'd just like to call bullshit on that particular concept. Be man (or woman) enough to admit want and go after it, but don't deceive people to get it. I'm a bit more forgiving here because they are teenagers and hormones do run high at that age. Plus, you know, teenagers aren't as much of an adult as they'd like to believe. Also, shit happens.
I think I may have liked this a bit more than Biggest Flirt. Even though I am still a bigger Will fangirl than I will ever be for Brody. Will is that nice, boy next door type and I love seeing those. That's beyond the point. This is a perfect contemporary YA written with Echols trademark style and wit. It's addictive and I tore threw it needing to know if Harper and Brody finally worked out their shit. If you like Echols previous work or contemporary romances, then you'll love this!
****Thank you to Simon Pulse for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
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