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When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
214 people are currently reading
9826 people want to read
About the author
Erin McCarthy
215 books4,825 followersUSA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.
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April 16, 2013
Pre-read comments: I often ask myself what am I getting myself into, and often the answer is I don't know, but I'm doing it anyway.
I'll admit I have exceedingly low expectations for this book.
Post-read comments: I think I still had some hope that this would be different than the usual cliched New Adult book, but alas, it wasn't to be. Same script, different cast, full of stupid. The thing that surprises me is that I've heard Erin McCarthy's a well known author in her respective genre. I've never read a novel of hers and this is my first one. It doesn't give me hope of reading another from her in the future, especially in the NA genre. I need some time to mull over doing the full review for this, but I sincerely did not like it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It has a different set of offenses than other books I've read, and I have to wonder what that says about the future of what people are going to continue marketing in this genre.
Full review:
I want to begin this review with a constructive discussion on New Adult fiction, because somehow it begs the question of why many authors are jumping onto its bandwagon in order to ride its appeal. There's also a measure in considering the reasons it appeals to its respective audience. For the first time yesterday, I saw the ABCNEWS Nightline report on New Adult fiction and what it's "supposed" to target - young adult readers who want more of the "Fifty Shades" phenomenon, but the sex is marketed to a younger audience.
That disturbs me greatly on a number of levels. In idolizing "Fifty Shades" respective successes, it seems that every book following in its footsteps, including those in the blossoming genre of NA, wants to follow similar tropes, cliches, and glorify problematic elements and relationships that don't have an ounce of healthy or true development in them. Some of you might say that's a bit harsh because we read fiction for different reasons. Some of us read to watch the trainwreck, and can't believe what's unfolding in the words we read on the page. Some of us read to visualize the characters, or identify with experiences, or find commonalities on subjects the narrative may offer.
I'm getting increasingly irritated with NA as a collective genre because I see the same rehashed characters, plotlines and stereotypes in a glaring way without an ounce of deviation, without true depictions of the college environment, or without real people with real problems in real relationships. It's all manufactured drama for the sake of it, and there are times when I just want to be done with the genre entirely. But I hold out the hope that someone, somewhere will write a story that actually depicts a young man or woman who aspires to go to college, finds themselves immersed in the environment, and finds a relationship worth rooting for even when facing impossible odds and challenges - that actually have some meaning. Because the more I read in this genre, as it is now - I don't see my experiences. I don't see my life. I don't see anyone to identify with, at all. I don't enjoy reading these manufactured, completely implausible stories. So when I say that the NA genre doesn't speak for me, I'm not mincing words about it. I don't think it speaks for a lot of people in the frame of its experience. Let me give you some reasons why.
Every NA book I've picked up has some of the same elements to it without a bit of deviation. Passive heroine who has never known love, often times a virgin. Never mind that many times the way the "virgin" is depicted as this symbol of either purity/innocence, inexperience, or a damaged mentality. (Because apparently people can't be virgins by choice. *rolls eyes* Or they have to be otherwise known as sluts because there's no medium between.) Said heroine meets a tattooed, sexually experienced "bad boy" with a penchant for violence. Throw in an attempted rape (or an actual rape) for drama, never mind that it doesn't depict the actual horror of what rape entails and treats the issue for what it is (and it's always the woman's fault because of what she wears, where she hangs out, or some other horrible blaming mentality). Throw in a group of friends who take opportunities to bitch-slam, slut-shame, ostracize each other's weight, clothing or otherwise make women into sexual objects or less than human beings, and make it seem so casual that it's common place AND accepted. (On many college campuses, IRL, many people would be outraged at this sort of thing, because at least at the university I went to, people didn't tolerate this kind of rampant sexism. I would argue that sexism exists quite a bit in our society, but in fiction, why is it necessary for some to glorify it?)
Never mind the lack of existence of ANY minority characters (and if there are any references to minority groups, whether they're GLBT or POC characters, they're usually backhandedly insulted or framed into stereotypical measures). Never mind that it doesn't depict mental or physical disabilities accurately in the context of the story, and may even throw in an occasional ableist term or two.
Oh, and as for the storyline - said "virgin" girl (because supposedly that's the only thing said girl is known for - never mind there's more to her than her sexuality) and said "bad boy" go through whirlwind romance that might involve one of a handful of scenarios - either the girl is "healed" by the guy with the power of "tru luv", or the guy is "healed" from his wicked ways or problematic lifestyle because of the "tru luv" with the heroine without true coming to terms, OR the two have a very damaging relationship where it's okay that one of them suffers abuse at the hands of the other that manufactures itself as love.
It's apparently made okay because it's all "fiction."
This is absolute rubbish and I cannot for the life of me see why people are picking up this genre in droves with the horrible, formulaic depictions that are often littered in this genre, or even why authors are bothered with writing it, considering the diversity of storylines that are out there. Granted I know there are common themes and tropes that are littered within every genre of fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary and historical adult romance are not excluded from that. Heck, there are even considerations to note in the various genres of YA, but that's a whole other issue). There may be problematic measures to consider in those, but for an age group orientation to follow these problematic ideals to the teeth so blatantly really doesn't make sense to me. Why do people do it so much?
I don't think NA is dying market, but I do think its present and popular definitions are problematic and that it needs to start changing in order for it to flourish more fully. At some point, I hold out the hope that someone will say screw the overarching trends and write an NA book that actually depicts a college-aged person's coming of age - maybe even coming to love - in this environment, because it's a darned interesting environment and topic to write in. I should know - I went to college. I had some of the best years, experiences, though sometimes met with rough challenges of my life there. I should think that while it has its share of challenges, people who struggle with issues internally and externally within it could be depicted as palpable in realistic conflict and still resonate with audiences and tug at those of us who either think with our minds primarily, feel with our hearts extensively, or fall somewhere in the far medium between.
That said, I guess that would be a good lead in to talk about the utter lazy effort that was Erin McCarthy's "True". This book wasn't good in a way that I think had a different set of offenses than some NA reads I've come across.
Granted, this is the first McCarthy book I've ever read, but I've heard her name in many circles. I've wanted to read her works far before now. Even have had friends who liked her work, describing it as "fun" and dynamic among other things. Sweet and sexy were also terms noted, but I seriously wonder about all of those descriptions after reading this book. I don't know if it's because McCarthy catered specifically to this age group/genre and its formulaic measures, or if her writing style has always been in this measure.
The story of "True" revolves around 20-year old Sophomore Rory, who just so happens to be a virgin. (Go figure.) When we meet her, she's at a party, gets too drunk, gets nearly raped by a guy, and guess who shows up to save her and ends up being the guy she crushes on?
Meet Tyler. Tyler, on first impressions, had me skeptical, but he started off being somewhat of a sly, funny guy. I thought I would like him, what with calling a library card "sexy", talking about literature, and teasing Rory when they had study sessions together. But that didn't last for very long. I'll get to that in a bit.
Rory seems, on the surface, not just the typical passive NA heroine. She's catty, she's sarcastic and makes no apologies about being so. That supposedly makes her "strong." I'll admit that in the beginning of the novel, some turns of her catty voice appealed to me. I thought she could be funny, but her internal voice and underlying pretentiousness really turned me off. It's not the fact that she's a math/science geek (because I can vouch for that myself and identify), and it's not even the fact that she's not really into literature (I personally don't identify with that). It's the fact that she beats the reader over the head one too many times of this fact and doesn't allow he natural knowledge and abilities to shine through, or let the assertion be one of confidence and leave it by one or two terms. That frustrated me, because I wanted to like Rory.
Rory's circle of friends are just as problematic, and that comes to the forefront when they consider the state of Rory's "virginity" - something that Rory also calls attention to constantly. I understand the societal pressures that young women go through with respect to their sexuality, but I found it hard to sympathize with Rory or her friends.
What happens in consideration of that factor and Rory's sometimes apt dismissal of it in turns had me raging. For many reasons. I couldn't get by the fact that she was forgiving of her friend or of Tyler for that even when she didn't fully realize the truth behind the matter. And I felt sick in one dialogue that Rory has with the character that attempted to rape her and suggests a means to get "revenge" on Tyler in light of that spoiler's deception by suggesting that Rory "slept" with him to make Tyler jealous?
My reaction? "WHAT? He nearly raped you! Why are you even near that guy and considering what he says? If anything you need to stay the heck away from him, not converse with him!"
Oh my word.
And I was upset over another consideration personally, as a woman of color, at the insinuations made with the liberal and negative use of "ghetto" in this book. It wasn't just in the first chapter, it was in multiple areas in a good portion of the first part of the book. I even recall a character saying that it wasn't like Rory was nearly naked and strolling through the ghetto at one point. First offense in that - assuming what the character was wearing would be an invitation of violence against her. Second, assuming that where she walked in, and associating a negative racial/class/economic stereotype within it, would be an invitation for violence against her. I can't even begin to express my upset and disappointment over that.
Things turn from bad to worse when Rory meets Tyler's family.
Granted, I actually did feel something for Tyler's family under the hands of their strung out mother, but I feel like that was an issue that also wasn't handled with due resonance either (not even with respect to Tyler's younger brother with Down's Syndrome), because there were so many implausibilities that transpired with respect to the story on that front, including what happens with a jail sentence that leaves Rory in a tailspin, and at odds with her family. I'm not saying that something like that doesn't happen, but to happen like that, and in the lack of depth or true coming to terms with it? It was just...drama for the sake of drama to me.
Didn't make it any better knowing that Tyler, among other people in this book, has a penchant for punching people(which is a trope in this genre I'd like to see die a swift death). I think one could argue in some cases, Tyler had a right to act that way, but at the same time, the whole of the book seemed to use "punching" in multiple measures as a way to accent the drama. It was liberally used and became stale after a time.
By the end, I felt happy to be done with Erin McCarthy's first effort into the foray of New Adult. And I certainly don't intend to check into her next NA book, because from the looks of it - a woman (Jessica, who is actually a main character in this book) who comes from a strict religious family who has nowhere to go and asks the guy who she isn't interested in, but he's interested in her, to actually "sleep in his bed" with him until she can get a place of her own and doesn't find it to be a conflict of interest and thinks he's a jerk when he refuses? I have no interest whatsoever in seeing where that plotline goes.
Long story short, I think New Adult can be a flourishing genre in its own considerations, but certainly not with lazily written, offensive titles like this one, and I - for one - am surprised that someone as well known as McCarthy would simply follow in the footsteps of the problematic trends of the genre for the sake of doing so. There are better titles to consider in the measure of romance, and less stale, problematic, and formulaic than this title offered.
Overall score: 1/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Penguin Group/NAL Signet Romance.
I'll admit I have exceedingly low expectations for this book.
Post-read comments: I think I still had some hope that this would be different than the usual cliched New Adult book, but alas, it wasn't to be. Same script, different cast, full of stupid. The thing that surprises me is that I've heard Erin McCarthy's a well known author in her respective genre. I've never read a novel of hers and this is my first one. It doesn't give me hope of reading another from her in the future, especially in the NA genre. I need some time to mull over doing the full review for this, but I sincerely did not like it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It has a different set of offenses than other books I've read, and I have to wonder what that says about the future of what people are going to continue marketing in this genre.
Full review:
I want to begin this review with a constructive discussion on New Adult fiction, because somehow it begs the question of why many authors are jumping onto its bandwagon in order to ride its appeal. There's also a measure in considering the reasons it appeals to its respective audience. For the first time yesterday, I saw the ABCNEWS Nightline report on New Adult fiction and what it's "supposed" to target - young adult readers who want more of the "Fifty Shades" phenomenon, but the sex is marketed to a younger audience.
That disturbs me greatly on a number of levels. In idolizing "Fifty Shades" respective successes, it seems that every book following in its footsteps, including those in the blossoming genre of NA, wants to follow similar tropes, cliches, and glorify problematic elements and relationships that don't have an ounce of healthy or true development in them. Some of you might say that's a bit harsh because we read fiction for different reasons. Some of us read to watch the trainwreck, and can't believe what's unfolding in the words we read on the page. Some of us read to visualize the characters, or identify with experiences, or find commonalities on subjects the narrative may offer.
I'm getting increasingly irritated with NA as a collective genre because I see the same rehashed characters, plotlines and stereotypes in a glaring way without an ounce of deviation, without true depictions of the college environment, or without real people with real problems in real relationships. It's all manufactured drama for the sake of it, and there are times when I just want to be done with the genre entirely. But I hold out the hope that someone, somewhere will write a story that actually depicts a young man or woman who aspires to go to college, finds themselves immersed in the environment, and finds a relationship worth rooting for even when facing impossible odds and challenges - that actually have some meaning. Because the more I read in this genre, as it is now - I don't see my experiences. I don't see my life. I don't see anyone to identify with, at all. I don't enjoy reading these manufactured, completely implausible stories. So when I say that the NA genre doesn't speak for me, I'm not mincing words about it. I don't think it speaks for a lot of people in the frame of its experience. Let me give you some reasons why.
Every NA book I've picked up has some of the same elements to it without a bit of deviation. Passive heroine who has never known love, often times a virgin. Never mind that many times the way the "virgin" is depicted as this symbol of either purity/innocence, inexperience, or a damaged mentality. (Because apparently people can't be virgins by choice. *rolls eyes* Or they have to be otherwise known as sluts because there's no medium between.) Said heroine meets a tattooed, sexually experienced "bad boy" with a penchant for violence. Throw in an attempted rape (or an actual rape) for drama, never mind that it doesn't depict the actual horror of what rape entails and treats the issue for what it is (and it's always the woman's fault because of what she wears, where she hangs out, or some other horrible blaming mentality). Throw in a group of friends who take opportunities to bitch-slam, slut-shame, ostracize each other's weight, clothing or otherwise make women into sexual objects or less than human beings, and make it seem so casual that it's common place AND accepted. (On many college campuses, IRL, many people would be outraged at this sort of thing, because at least at the university I went to, people didn't tolerate this kind of rampant sexism. I would argue that sexism exists quite a bit in our society, but in fiction, why is it necessary for some to glorify it?)
Never mind the lack of existence of ANY minority characters (and if there are any references to minority groups, whether they're GLBT or POC characters, they're usually backhandedly insulted or framed into stereotypical measures). Never mind that it doesn't depict mental or physical disabilities accurately in the context of the story, and may even throw in an occasional ableist term or two.
Oh, and as for the storyline - said "virgin" girl (because supposedly that's the only thing said girl is known for - never mind there's more to her than her sexuality) and said "bad boy" go through whirlwind romance that might involve one of a handful of scenarios - either the girl is "healed" by the guy with the power of "tru luv", or the guy is "healed" from his wicked ways or problematic lifestyle because of the "tru luv" with the heroine without true coming to terms, OR the two have a very damaging relationship where it's okay that one of them suffers abuse at the hands of the other that manufactures itself as love.
It's apparently made okay because it's all "fiction."
This is absolute rubbish and I cannot for the life of me see why people are picking up this genre in droves with the horrible, formulaic depictions that are often littered in this genre, or even why authors are bothered with writing it, considering the diversity of storylines that are out there. Granted I know there are common themes and tropes that are littered within every genre of fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary and historical adult romance are not excluded from that. Heck, there are even considerations to note in the various genres of YA, but that's a whole other issue). There may be problematic measures to consider in those, but for an age group orientation to follow these problematic ideals to the teeth so blatantly really doesn't make sense to me. Why do people do it so much?
I don't think NA is dying market, but I do think its present and popular definitions are problematic and that it needs to start changing in order for it to flourish more fully. At some point, I hold out the hope that someone will say screw the overarching trends and write an NA book that actually depicts a college-aged person's coming of age - maybe even coming to love - in this environment, because it's a darned interesting environment and topic to write in. I should know - I went to college. I had some of the best years, experiences, though sometimes met with rough challenges of my life there. I should think that while it has its share of challenges, people who struggle with issues internally and externally within it could be depicted as palpable in realistic conflict and still resonate with audiences and tug at those of us who either think with our minds primarily, feel with our hearts extensively, or fall somewhere in the far medium between.
That said, I guess that would be a good lead in to talk about the utter lazy effort that was Erin McCarthy's "True". This book wasn't good in a way that I think had a different set of offenses than some NA reads I've come across.
Granted, this is the first McCarthy book I've ever read, but I've heard her name in many circles. I've wanted to read her works far before now. Even have had friends who liked her work, describing it as "fun" and dynamic among other things. Sweet and sexy were also terms noted, but I seriously wonder about all of those descriptions after reading this book. I don't know if it's because McCarthy catered specifically to this age group/genre and its formulaic measures, or if her writing style has always been in this measure.
The story of "True" revolves around 20-year old Sophomore Rory, who just so happens to be a virgin. (Go figure.) When we meet her, she's at a party, gets too drunk, gets nearly raped by a guy, and guess who shows up to save her and ends up being the guy she crushes on?
Meet Tyler. Tyler, on first impressions, had me skeptical, but he started off being somewhat of a sly, funny guy. I thought I would like him, what with calling a library card "sexy", talking about literature, and teasing Rory when they had study sessions together. But that didn't last for very long. I'll get to that in a bit.
Rory seems, on the surface, not just the typical passive NA heroine. She's catty, she's sarcastic and makes no apologies about being so. That supposedly makes her "strong." I'll admit that in the beginning of the novel, some turns of her catty voice appealed to me. I thought she could be funny, but her internal voice and underlying pretentiousness really turned me off. It's not the fact that she's a math/science geek (because I can vouch for that myself and identify), and it's not even the fact that she's not really into literature (I personally don't identify with that). It's the fact that she beats the reader over the head one too many times of this fact and doesn't allow he natural knowledge and abilities to shine through, or let the assertion be one of confidence and leave it by one or two terms. That frustrated me, because I wanted to like Rory.
Rory's circle of friends are just as problematic, and that comes to the forefront when they consider the state of Rory's "virginity" - something that Rory also calls attention to constantly. I understand the societal pressures that young women go through with respect to their sexuality, but I found it hard to sympathize with Rory or her friends.
What happens in consideration of that factor and Rory's sometimes apt dismissal of it in turns had me raging. For many reasons. I couldn't get by the fact that she was forgiving of her friend or of Tyler for that even when she didn't fully realize the truth behind the matter. And I felt sick in one dialogue that Rory has with the character that attempted to rape her and suggests a means to get "revenge" on Tyler in light of that spoiler's deception by suggesting that Rory "slept" with him to make Tyler jealous?
My reaction? "WHAT? He nearly raped you! Why are you even near that guy and considering what he says? If anything you need to stay the heck away from him, not converse with him!"
Oh my word.
And I was upset over another consideration personally, as a woman of color, at the insinuations made with the liberal and negative use of "ghetto" in this book. It wasn't just in the first chapter, it was in multiple areas in a good portion of the first part of the book. I even recall a character saying that it wasn't like Rory was nearly naked and strolling through the ghetto at one point. First offense in that - assuming what the character was wearing would be an invitation of violence against her. Second, assuming that where she walked in, and associating a negative racial/class/economic stereotype within it, would be an invitation for violence against her. I can't even begin to express my upset and disappointment over that.
Things turn from bad to worse when Rory meets Tyler's family.
Granted, I actually did feel something for Tyler's family under the hands of their strung out mother, but I feel like that was an issue that also wasn't handled with due resonance either (not even with respect to Tyler's younger brother with Down's Syndrome), because there were so many implausibilities that transpired with respect to the story on that front, including what happens with a jail sentence that leaves Rory in a tailspin, and at odds with her family. I'm not saying that something like that doesn't happen, but to happen like that, and in the lack of depth or true coming to terms with it? It was just...drama for the sake of drama to me.
Didn't make it any better knowing that Tyler, among other people in this book, has a penchant for punching people(which is a trope in this genre I'd like to see die a swift death). I think one could argue in some cases, Tyler had a right to act that way, but at the same time, the whole of the book seemed to use "punching" in multiple measures as a way to accent the drama. It was liberally used and became stale after a time.
By the end, I felt happy to be done with Erin McCarthy's first effort into the foray of New Adult. And I certainly don't intend to check into her next NA book, because from the looks of it - a woman (Jessica, who is actually a main character in this book) who comes from a strict religious family who has nowhere to go and asks the guy who she isn't interested in, but he's interested in her, to actually "sleep in his bed" with him until she can get a place of her own and doesn't find it to be a conflict of interest and thinks he's a jerk when he refuses? I have no interest whatsoever in seeing where that plotline goes.
Long story short, I think New Adult can be a flourishing genre in its own considerations, but certainly not with lazily written, offensive titles like this one, and I - for one - am surprised that someone as well known as McCarthy would simply follow in the footsteps of the problematic trends of the genre for the sake of doing so. There are better titles to consider in the measure of romance, and less stale, problematic, and formulaic than this title offered.
Overall score: 1/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Penguin Group/NAL Signet Romance.
July 25, 2023
Die 20-jährige Rory ist noch Jungfrau, was ihre beiden Freundinnen Kylie und Jessica ändern wollen. Dafür heuern sie den 22-jährigen Tyler an, der gegen Bezahlung mit Rory schlafen soll. Rory ahnt nichts von dieser Abmachung und verliebt sich in Tyler, der schon bald ein guter Freund wird. Die beiden sind absolut gegensätzlich; Rory ist eine fleißige Schülerin, die gerne lernt und große Pläne für ihre Zukunft hat, während Tyler ein typischer „Bad Boy“ ist mit Tattoos und Piercings und einem schlechten Elternhaus… Alles spricht gegen eine echte Beziehung der beiden, und doch fühlen sich beide zueinander hingezogen.
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Wenn ich ehrlich bin, bin ich etwas enttäuscht von diesem Buch. Vielleicht waren meine Erwartungen zu hoch nach all den positiven Meinungen, die ich bisher gehört habe, aber mich konnte die Geschichte von Rory und Tyler nicht wirklich packen. Ich fand die Story durchaus schön zu lesen, aber die Gefühle kamen leider nicht wirklich bei mir an. Ich habe die Gefühle, die die beiden Hauptprotagonisten füreinander entwickeln, nicht spüren können.
Auch hat mich die Geschichte nicht wirklich überraschen können. Streberin verliebt sich in den „Bad Boy“ und umgekehrt, er hat eine schlimme Kindheit gehabt und Probleme zu Hause – das ist alles nichts Neues. Grundsätzlich bin ich da gar nicht mal so eine kritische Leserin. Ich kann unzählige Bücher lesen mit ähnlichem Muster, aber ein paar kleine Überraschungen und echte Gefühle sollten doch vorhanden sein. Das hat mir hier leider gefehlt.
**
Mein Leseeindruck:
Wenn ich ehrlich bin, bin ich etwas enttäuscht von diesem Buch. Vielleicht waren meine Erwartungen zu hoch nach all den positiven Meinungen, die ich bisher gehört habe, aber mich konnte die Geschichte von Rory und Tyler nicht wirklich packen. Ich fand die Story durchaus schön zu lesen, aber die Gefühle kamen leider nicht wirklich bei mir an. Ich habe die Gefühle, die die beiden Hauptprotagonisten füreinander entwickeln, nicht spüren können.
Auch hat mich die Geschichte nicht wirklich überraschen können. Streberin verliebt sich in den „Bad Boy“ und umgekehrt, er hat eine schlimme Kindheit gehabt und Probleme zu Hause – das ist alles nichts Neues. Grundsätzlich bin ich da gar nicht mal so eine kritische Leserin. Ich kann unzählige Bücher lesen mit ähnlichem Muster, aber ein paar kleine Überraschungen und echte Gefühle sollten doch vorhanden sein. Das hat mir hier leider gefehlt.
April 15, 2013
I was beyond pleasantly surprised by this book. I’ve read Erin McCarthy’s Fast track series and really enjoyed it.
However, I’m always nervous when an author changes genres – even if it’s as simple as Contemporary Romance to New Young Adult.
I skimmed the blurb before reading and honestly expected the same ol’ same ol’. It seemed like an overdone New YA plotline, college age virgin falls for bad boy. And, in the end, I guess it was the same basic plot line I’ve read dozens of times, except that this time the hero and heroine were different.
I’ve gotta admit, I ADORE Rory. I mean I flat out love this girl. I was worried in the beginning that her insecurities were going to drive me crazy, but I got over that pretty quickly. What I loved about her was that she was so utterly honest and logical. Seriously, this was not the hormonal angst-ridden early twenties drama queen that I’m so used to reading. I think I’ve gotten so used to at least mildly disliking the heroine in a book that I almost didn’t know what to do with how much I liked Rory. She is seriously left- brained, all the way. She knows that sets her apart, and even though she doesn’t want it to, she’s also too honest with herself to think that she can really change something so basic. She still craves connection though.
”Rory, you are one interesting chick.”
Interesting wasn’t exactly a riveting compliment, but he hadn’t called me a freak, which is how I felt sometimes. As if I had been assembled in a different way altogether than everyone around me, and while I like the end result, everyone else was confused about how to interpret my very existence.”
There were several times that she met things that would have sent any other person into a balling heap on the floor with such amazing fortitude and stoicism, I couldn’t help but admire her. It also made it all that much more impactful when she did finally break down.
I loved Tyler too. He was so much more than your average hot tatted-up pierced bad boy. You quickly get to see the guy behind all that hotness, and everything you see demonstrates that he is a good man, with a heart of gold, whose first instinct is to protect those he cares about. All of his other good qualities aside, the thing I loved most about him was how he loved Rory. He was just as honest with her as she was with him. There was no b.s love at first sight. There was no overwhelming insta-lust which had them fast forwarding through the get to know you stage – just real honest connection.
“I never stood a fucking chance, did I? You had me the minute I first saw you and I heard you telling the guy next to you that you were premed and that the Human Centipede movie is physically impossible.”
I liked that the story didn’t just focus on Rory and Tyler’s relationship, and involved their relationships with their families and friends. It certainly provided a believable framework for why they both were the way they were, and really added to the depth of the story.
My one beef is the ending. Don’t get me wrong, this is certainly stand alone. There won’t be any gnashing of teeth wondering what will happen to Rory and Tyler, but certain things are set into motion and I was left wishing I had at least an epilogue that would tell me how all the loose ends would get tied up. Even better, I’d actually love a second story for Rory and Tyler. (and I swear to you, I never, ever feel like that).
I will definitely be first in line to get Jessica’s story when it comes out. I doubt I’ll like it quite as much (because Jessica just isn’t Rory), but I’m hoping I’ll get some Rory and Tyler time, and I can’t wait to see how they are doing.
However, I’m always nervous when an author changes genres – even if it’s as simple as Contemporary Romance to New Young Adult.
I skimmed the blurb before reading and honestly expected the same ol’ same ol’. It seemed like an overdone New YA plotline, college age virgin falls for bad boy. And, in the end, I guess it was the same basic plot line I’ve read dozens of times, except that this time the hero and heroine were different.
I’ve gotta admit, I ADORE Rory. I mean I flat out love this girl. I was worried in the beginning that her insecurities were going to drive me crazy, but I got over that pretty quickly. What I loved about her was that she was so utterly honest and logical. Seriously, this was not the hormonal angst-ridden early twenties drama queen that I’m so used to reading. I think I’ve gotten so used to at least mildly disliking the heroine in a book that I almost didn’t know what to do with how much I liked Rory. She is seriously left- brained, all the way. She knows that sets her apart, and even though she doesn’t want it to, she’s also too honest with herself to think that she can really change something so basic. She still craves connection though.
”Rory, you are one interesting chick.”
Interesting wasn’t exactly a riveting compliment, but he hadn’t called me a freak, which is how I felt sometimes. As if I had been assembled in a different way altogether than everyone around me, and while I like the end result, everyone else was confused about how to interpret my very existence.”
There were several times that she met things that would have sent any other person into a balling heap on the floor with such amazing fortitude and stoicism, I couldn’t help but admire her. It also made it all that much more impactful when she did finally break down.
I loved Tyler too. He was so much more than your average hot tatted-up pierced bad boy. You quickly get to see the guy behind all that hotness, and everything you see demonstrates that he is a good man, with a heart of gold, whose first instinct is to protect those he cares about. All of his other good qualities aside, the thing I loved most about him was how he loved Rory. He was just as honest with her as she was with him. There was no b.s love at first sight. There was no overwhelming insta-lust which had them fast forwarding through the get to know you stage – just real honest connection.
“I never stood a fucking chance, did I? You had me the minute I first saw you and I heard you telling the guy next to you that you were premed and that the Human Centipede movie is physically impossible.”
I liked that the story didn’t just focus on Rory and Tyler’s relationship, and involved their relationships with their families and friends. It certainly provided a believable framework for why they both were the way they were, and really added to the depth of the story.
My one beef is the ending. Don’t get me wrong, this is certainly stand alone. There won’t be any gnashing of teeth wondering what will happen to Rory and Tyler, but certain things are set into motion and I was left wishing I had at least an epilogue that would tell me how all the loose ends would get tied up. Even better, I’d actually love a second story for Rory and Tyler. (and I swear to you, I never, ever feel like that).
I will definitely be first in line to get Jessica’s story when it comes out. I doubt I’ll like it quite as much (because Jessica just isn’t Rory), but I’m hoping I’ll get some Rory and Tyler time, and I can’t wait to see how they are doing.
May 14, 2013
True ended up being more of a deep story that the blurb implies. I have to admit the first paragraph of the description had me cringing, but reading on I thought this story might have potential. Seeing Jenny’s excellent review @Supernatural Snark spurned me on to pick this up sooner rather than later, and I’m so happy I did!
Rory is a smart, logical, socially inept girl used to keeping people at arm’s length. She’s more comfortable with a book than with a living, breathing person. That’s until she goes to college and meets Jessica and Kylie, her fun loving, big-hearted, outgoing roommates, who love and include her in everything they do. When these girls find out that Rory is still a virgin they arrange for, and pay off their friend, Tyler, to seduce and take her virginity; unbeknownst to her, at first.
Tyler ended up being and all around nice guy, and genuinely interested in Rory. Instead of doing a “hit and run” (yes, I did actually type that, lol!) he pursues Rory, trying to get to know her. Rory was truly interested in Tyler, he has a way of melting her insides, but after finding out about the “arrangement” she thinks the only reason Tyler showed any interest is because he was being paid to do it. She’s rightly suspicious of Tyler and initially rebuffs his interest. Tyler is persistent and as she lets him in, Rory realizes that he has his own insecurities. Coming from a mess of a family, he feels Rory is too good for someone like him.
As a protagonist, Rory was refreshing to read about, because she used logic to make her decisions, and even when she was emotionally compromised, she managed to see the “forest for the trees,” grasping the big picture. Seeing her come out of her shell and gain confidence around others was a pleasure to read. Tyler was also lovely. He was responsible beyond his years, being forced to grow up and look after his younger brothers as a result of crappy parents. The first scene where we meet his mother made me want to cry for him. He’s so noble, trying to do what’s right.
I had a couple of snags with this story, but they were pretty minor and didn’t take up much of the story. The first one was the whole idea of Rory’s friends buying off a guy to seduce her. I didn’t care for the idea, and I can’t say that I bought it. I really don’t see this happening with the way they seemed to care for Rory throughout the story, unless they were incredibly stupid. If you care about someone, you’re going to pay off some guy to take her virginity?!! Isn’t that supposed to be important to most people? But like I said: small portion of the story. The second snag I had was in regards to Jessica (one of Rory’s friends) and Tyler’s relationship in the beginning. I won’t elaborate too much but it just grated on me. I was quickly emailing Jenny as soon as it came up which was somewhere at the 4% mark, and fortunately she assured me this did not have a major impact on the story. Thanks, Jenny!! I really love your “hand-holding” (you should’ve seen our emails about Iced (Dani O'Malley #1)!)! I guess at 4% I should’ve been a little more patient, lol!
I was really happy to find out at the end of this story there’s a companion novel centering on Rory’s friend, Jessica. There's no title yet, but it's supposed to be out November of this year. I was totally happy to get a little glimpse of Rory and Tyler in the future with the excerpt I read!
In the end, True was more than just a romance between the “awkward girl” and the “popular hot guy.” This was a story about finding a true connection and love in the midst real and messy lives.
You can read this review and more at The Readers Den.
Rory is a smart, logical, socially inept girl used to keeping people at arm’s length. She’s more comfortable with a book than with a living, breathing person. That’s until she goes to college and meets Jessica and Kylie, her fun loving, big-hearted, outgoing roommates, who love and include her in everything they do. When these girls find out that Rory is still a virgin they arrange for, and pay off their friend, Tyler, to seduce and take her virginity; unbeknownst to her, at first.
Tyler ended up being and all around nice guy, and genuinely interested in Rory. Instead of doing a “hit and run” (yes, I did actually type that, lol!) he pursues Rory, trying to get to know her. Rory was truly interested in Tyler, he has a way of melting her insides, but after finding out about the “arrangement” she thinks the only reason Tyler showed any interest is because he was being paid to do it. She’s rightly suspicious of Tyler and initially rebuffs his interest. Tyler is persistent and as she lets him in, Rory realizes that he has his own insecurities. Coming from a mess of a family, he feels Rory is too good for someone like him.
As a protagonist, Rory was refreshing to read about, because she used logic to make her decisions, and even when she was emotionally compromised, she managed to see the “forest for the trees,” grasping the big picture. Seeing her come out of her shell and gain confidence around others was a pleasure to read. Tyler was also lovely. He was responsible beyond his years, being forced to grow up and look after his younger brothers as a result of crappy parents. The first scene where we meet his mother made me want to cry for him. He’s so noble, trying to do what’s right.
I had a couple of snags with this story, but they were pretty minor and didn’t take up much of the story. The first one was the whole idea of Rory’s friends buying off a guy to seduce her. I didn’t care for the idea, and I can’t say that I bought it. I really don’t see this happening with the way they seemed to care for Rory throughout the story, unless they were incredibly stupid. If you care about someone, you’re going to pay off some guy to take her virginity?!! Isn’t that supposed to be important to most people? But like I said: small portion of the story. The second snag I had was in regards to Jessica (one of Rory’s friends) and Tyler’s relationship in the beginning. I won’t elaborate too much but it just grated on me. I was quickly emailing Jenny as soon as it came up which was somewhere at the 4% mark, and fortunately she assured me this did not have a major impact on the story. Thanks, Jenny!! I really love your “hand-holding” (you should’ve seen our emails about Iced (Dani O'Malley #1)!)! I guess at 4% I should’ve been a little more patient, lol!
I was really happy to find out at the end of this story there’s a companion novel centering on Rory’s friend, Jessica. There's no title yet, but it's supposed to be out November of this year. I was totally happy to get a little glimpse of Rory and Tyler in the future with the excerpt I read!
In the end, True was more than just a romance between the “awkward girl” and the “popular hot guy.” This was a story about finding a true connection and love in the midst real and messy lives.
You can read this review and more at The Readers Den.
June 3, 2013
I will start by saying that I only read this because I got it for free and I wanted to be able to offer a counterpoint to what I saw as a determination to sweep the book's problematic elements under the rug and dismiss its critics as oversensitive. I didn't start it with an open mind: based on the first chapter posted at Dear Author, I fully expected to not only dislike the book, but to hate it. In the end, the book proved so unenjoyable for me that I couldn't finish it.
What made it so unenjoyable for me ended up not being all the problematic stereotypes - although there were plenty of those, believe you me - it was the awkward writing. McCarthy wrote some of the weirdest dialog and prose I've read in a while. She had questionable metaphors ("Fear flooded my mouth."), not-quite-similes ("She made those fuzzy circle scarves that were like an acrylic barrier between your skin and the wind.") and really mangled the whole first-person narration thing. For example, there's this line shared in the middle of an account of her being sexually assaulted: “I had long, dark-red hair, which made it easy for him to entwine his fingers to control my head and my neck, holding me so I couldn’t move.” Unless red hair has extra grip than other colored hair - and my heart goes out to gingers everywhere if it does - the middle of a traumatic event is the wrong time to info dump about her hair color.
If you can hang with her writing, your reward is a steaming pile of stereotypes about race and poverty. The first chapter is lousy with it.
I'm not totally sure what my favorite comparison was, to be honest. Using a racially charged word like "ghetto" along with the also fraught crack-smoking was some primo shit, but parallelling a poor neighborhood and a gross toilet seat was also pretty amazing. Just in case you missed the POOR NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF BLACK PEOPLE vibe, the chapter closes out with a throwaway fried chicken reference ("... I followed Tyler down the metal stairs, the smell of fried foods strong in the hallway...") I don't think any of this was necessary to establish 1. that the heroine can't leave the apartment on her own or 2. that she's fairly sheltered and unaware of her privilege. Seeing as how all the protagonists are white, I don't see how any of the racial imagery was relevant.
And I'm gonna go ahead and say this in all caps: SEXUAL ASSAULT ISN'T A MEET CUTE. Seriously. While she's in this apartment she can't leave on her own, a friend of the hero's roommate tries to force fellatio on the heroine. He's stopped by the hero swooping as her white knight. It serves no purpose but to introduce the hero and heroine and make the hero look like a champion. No one calls the cops, (although I get that, as cops are almost useless with SA) and the heroine doesn't seem to react to it much. Directly after it, she accepts a ride home, alone, from the hero, who she doesn't know. Makes perfect sense in Romance Logic, since we know he's the hero, but I found her willingness to trust her own character judgement so quickly just bizarre. The would-be-rapist shows up again halfway through the book to sow some drama, and that's about it. It's a pretty superficial plot device.
I didn't finish it, so I can't say from personal experience, but I'm pretty sure there's a generous helping of ableism as well in the form of the hero's younger brother, who has Down Syndrome. I did notice everyone spoke to him like they would to a puppy, but all the dialog was so forced that I'm wary of attributing to malice what can be explained by incompetence. And don't even get me going on the portrayal of poverty. The hero is trying to work his way out of poverty caused by his mother's drug addiction. Because this is Romancelandia, OF COURSE they're poor because their parents were lazy, bad people who had the weak character to fall prey to addiction. This one gets an F, for fuck you.
What made it so unenjoyable for me ended up not being all the problematic stereotypes - although there were plenty of those, believe you me - it was the awkward writing. McCarthy wrote some of the weirdest dialog and prose I've read in a while. She had questionable metaphors ("Fear flooded my mouth."), not-quite-similes ("She made those fuzzy circle scarves that were like an acrylic barrier between your skin and the wind.") and really mangled the whole first-person narration thing. For example, there's this line shared in the middle of an account of her being sexually assaulted: “I had long, dark-red hair, which made it easy for him to entwine his fingers to control my head and my neck, holding me so I couldn’t move.” Unless red hair has extra grip than other colored hair - and my heart goes out to gingers everywhere if it does - the middle of a traumatic event is the wrong time to info dump about her hair color.
If you can hang with her writing, your reward is a steaming pile of stereotypes about race and poverty. The first chapter is lousy with it.
“It was too far to walk back to the dorms, and it was the kind of off-campus neighborhood that had my dad raising his eyebrows and suggesting I go to college in some cow town like Bowling Green, where there were no dirty couches on sagging front porches and no residents’ smoking crack in full view of the street.
So walking back was not happening, because I didn’t smoke crack and I was no risk-taker. At all.
Yet sitting there alone with Grant while my roommates were off having a good time almost seemed riskier than strolling through the ghetto. Because it was sort of like perching over a public toilet seat without actually touching anything. It was difficult. Awkward.”
I'm not totally sure what my favorite comparison was, to be honest. Using a racially charged word like "ghetto" along with the also fraught crack-smoking was some primo shit, but parallelling a poor neighborhood and a gross toilet seat was also pretty amazing. Just in case you missed the POOR NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF BLACK PEOPLE vibe, the chapter closes out with a throwaway fried chicken reference ("... I followed Tyler down the metal stairs, the smell of fried foods strong in the hallway...") I don't think any of this was necessary to establish 1. that the heroine can't leave the apartment on her own or 2. that she's fairly sheltered and unaware of her privilege. Seeing as how all the protagonists are white, I don't see how any of the racial imagery was relevant.
And I'm gonna go ahead and say this in all caps: SEXUAL ASSAULT ISN'T A MEET CUTE. Seriously. While she's in this apartment she can't leave on her own, a friend of the hero's roommate tries to force fellatio on the heroine. He's stopped by the hero swooping as her white knight. It serves no purpose but to introduce the hero and heroine and make the hero look like a champion. No one calls the cops, (although I get that, as cops are almost useless with SA) and the heroine doesn't seem to react to it much. Directly after it, she accepts a ride home, alone, from the hero, who she doesn't know. Makes perfect sense in Romance Logic, since we know he's the hero, but I found her willingness to trust her own character judgement so quickly just bizarre. The would-be-rapist shows up again halfway through the book to sow some drama, and that's about it. It's a pretty superficial plot device.
I didn't finish it, so I can't say from personal experience, but I'm pretty sure there's a generous helping of ableism as well in the form of the hero's younger brother, who has Down Syndrome. I did notice everyone spoke to him like they would to a puppy, but all the dialog was so forced that I'm wary of attributing to malice what can be explained by incompetence. And don't even get me going on the portrayal of poverty. The hero is trying to work his way out of poverty caused by his mother's drug addiction. Because this is Romancelandia, OF COURSE they're poor because their parents were lazy, bad people who had the weak character to fall prey to addiction. This one gets an F, for fuck you.
July 11, 2014
I have been pleasantly surprised by this book, and I can't wait to continue reading this wonderful series. "True" is book one in the True Believer series, and it is about Rory and Tyler.
Rory is a shy virgin who has kept herself shut off from people for most of her life. She is in college now and her roomates (unknowingly to Rory) pay a guy named Tyler Mann to have sex with her. Tyler is a popular guy, but has had an extremely hard home life with his drug addict mother. He has been mostly responsible for his two younger brothers, (one of the brothers even has down syndrome)with the help of his older brother Riley. These two are from extremely different worlds but somehow they begin to realize that they are very much the same inside.
"Because we both see beyond what other people see about us. We both know that sometimes the best things are below the surface. When I look at you, I see this amazingly smart, funny, generous, and beautiful girl." --in the words of Tyler Mann--
Erin McCarthy has written a hidden gem of a book, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read it. The Mann brothers are an interesting crew to get to know, and I have to admit that they have caught my heart very easily! I am fully invested in this series now, and I can't wait to find more out about each brother. This is a story that has sex, love, but also lots of substance. This goes a lot deeper into how the characters are feeling, and also their struggles in life. It isn't all about warm fuzzies, there are very realistic life issues included in the pages of "True." It is a great read that will make you smile, laugh, and even cry.
I have had experience with this author's other series about her car racing fellows..and I fell in love with her writing then! I am super happy that this series fell into my lap through Net Galley, and I can't wait to dive into Book #2!!! This is a book worth checking out, if you are looking for a wonderful storyline that bring out your emotions!
Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group for this copy of True by Erin McCarthy!
Rory is a shy virgin who has kept herself shut off from people for most of her life. She is in college now and her roomates (unknowingly to Rory) pay a guy named Tyler Mann to have sex with her. Tyler is a popular guy, but has had an extremely hard home life with his drug addict mother. He has been mostly responsible for his two younger brothers, (one of the brothers even has down syndrome)with the help of his older brother Riley. These two are from extremely different worlds but somehow they begin to realize that they are very much the same inside.
"Because we both see beyond what other people see about us. We both know that sometimes the best things are below the surface. When I look at you, I see this amazingly smart, funny, generous, and beautiful girl." --in the words of Tyler Mann--
Erin McCarthy has written a hidden gem of a book, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read it. The Mann brothers are an interesting crew to get to know, and I have to admit that they have caught my heart very easily! I am fully invested in this series now, and I can't wait to find more out about each brother. This is a story that has sex, love, but also lots of substance. This goes a lot deeper into how the characters are feeling, and also their struggles in life. It isn't all about warm fuzzies, there are very realistic life issues included in the pages of "True." It is a great read that will make you smile, laugh, and even cry.
I have had experience with this author's other series about her car racing fellows..and I fell in love with her writing then! I am super happy that this series fell into my lap through Net Galley, and I can't wait to dive into Book #2!!! This is a book worth checking out, if you are looking for a wonderful storyline that bring out your emotions!
Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group for this copy of True by Erin McCarthy!
June 3, 2013
Oh, the angst! And such shallow characters. This was a meh read for me 1.5-2 stars.
There’s a new genre in town and it’s called New Adult. Now, New Adult is supposed to encompass the coming of age stories, stories about college-aged kids, and the like. It’s supposedly for readers who have graduated from the traditional young adult fare and who are looking for a little bit more. Perhaps they are looking for all those “firsts” when someone goes away to college, experiencing freedom for the first time.
It’s been a long time since I was that age and perhaps that’s why this book did not appeal to me. However, I must say that I enjoyed other books in this genre like Easy, Pushing the Limits, and Sea of Tranquility. So what made me dislike this book? Here it is, Exhibit A:
Are kids really THAT shallow? A small, unscientific poll of a college-aged male (my son) confirmed that yes, this could be in the realm of possibility in his group of friends. But really? What kind of friends do something like this? Has virginity become a condition that “needs to be taken care of?”
Also, what is it about tattoos and piercings? Why does the “good” girl always go for the “bad” boy who is inevitably covered in tattoos and piercings? (NOTE: I am not saying that tattoos and piercings are wrong or bad, it’s the stereotype of bad boy covered in tattoos and piercings that I have a problem with. You can have clean-cut non-tattooed, non-pierced jerks, too).
Looking through my notes on the book, I noticed a lot of “meh” moments punctuated by “meh, I don’t get it,” and “meh, too angsty.” I know that a lot of people loved this book. I am not one of them. Your results may vary.
So there you have it – True by Erin McCarthy – my recommendation would be to Read With Caution.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
There’s a new genre in town and it’s called New Adult. Now, New Adult is supposed to encompass the coming of age stories, stories about college-aged kids, and the like. It’s supposedly for readers who have graduated from the traditional young adult fare and who are looking for a little bit more. Perhaps they are looking for all those “firsts” when someone goes away to college, experiencing freedom for the first time.
It’s been a long time since I was that age and perhaps that’s why this book did not appeal to me. However, I must say that I enjoyed other books in this genre like Easy, Pushing the Limits, and Sea of Tranquility. So what made me dislike this book? Here it is, Exhibit A:
“Oh. My. God. I sucked in my breath. I couldn’t help it. My roommates had paid Tyler to have sex with me. For whatever creepy, misguided reason. And he had been willing to take it.”
Are kids really THAT shallow? A small, unscientific poll of a college-aged male (my son) confirmed that yes, this could be in the realm of possibility in his group of friends. But really? What kind of friends do something like this? Has virginity become a condition that “needs to be taken care of?”
Also, what is it about tattoos and piercings? Why does the “good” girl always go for the “bad” boy who is inevitably covered in tattoos and piercings? (NOTE: I am not saying that tattoos and piercings are wrong or bad, it’s the stereotype of bad boy covered in tattoos and piercings that I have a problem with. You can have clean-cut non-tattooed, non-pierced jerks, too).
Looking through my notes on the book, I noticed a lot of “meh” moments punctuated by “meh, I don’t get it,” and “meh, too angsty.” I know that a lot of people loved this book. I am not one of them. Your results may vary.
So there you have it – True by Erin McCarthy – my recommendation would be to Read With Caution.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
May 31, 2013
I really like this author, and have since she was a newbie. I like how her books tend to be a bit more explicit than a lot of contemporary authors, so I was curious how she'd handle toning it down for an NA read. Overall, the story was great. It tugs on your heartstrings a little bit. Tyler's brothers and their home life are a tough thing to read about, especially considering one of them has Downs Syndrome. I love that the author included a special needs kid that was fairly high functioning and didn't portray him as someone who was a huge burden to Tyler. That aspect of Tyler's character, plus the way that he just overall seems to be a protective kind of guy made me fall in love with him. REally, the guy did nothing to upset me at all, which usually doesn't happen in an NA book.
Rory comes across as shy and awkward, but she also comes across as a bit too naive and somewhat self centered sometimes. Master of the obvious, she is not. I did appreciate that while she was a virgin, she wasn't a motive behind the story that revolved around her losing her virginity...as if it's goal to attain. One big thing that bothered me was that Rory's friend was sleeping with Tyler in the opening scene. That skeeves me out. You don't sleep with a guy that has been inside your friend. That's gross. And I'm sorry but girls are more possessive than Rory's friend. It's like she just handed Tyler off to Rory with apparently no thoughts about the situation at all.
Overall, it was okay. Somewhat forgettable, but while I was reading it, I was thoroughly entertained and I liked the overall message...there is more to a person than they show you initially. You have to really get to know someone before you...REALLY get to know them. And it's almost always worth the effort.
Copy of ARC provided by Penguin via Net Galley
Rory comes across as shy and awkward, but she also comes across as a bit too naive and somewhat self centered sometimes. Master of the obvious, she is not. I did appreciate that while she was a virgin, she wasn't a motive behind the story that revolved around her losing her virginity...as if it's goal to attain. One big thing that bothered me was that Rory's friend was sleeping with Tyler in the opening scene. That skeeves me out. You don't sleep with a guy that has been inside your friend. That's gross. And I'm sorry but girls are more possessive than Rory's friend. It's like she just handed Tyler off to Rory with apparently no thoughts about the situation at all.
Overall, it was okay. Somewhat forgettable, but while I was reading it, I was thoroughly entertained and I liked the overall message...there is more to a person than they show you initially. You have to really get to know someone before you...REALLY get to know them. And it's almost always worth the effort.
Copy of ARC provided by Penguin via Net Galley
December 25, 2013
Actual rating: 2.5 cheesy stars
Upon reflection, if I had read this book first before the second one, I never would've read
. Jessica is just...blah in here.
Upon reflection, if I had read this book first before the second one, I never would've read
. Jessica is just...blah in here. 
October 31, 2017
An okay read. I think all these NA books have a similar storylines as I’ve read a lot of them and now I think it’s getting a little boring for me.
If you haven’t read any NA books then you’d probably love this because the story-line isn’t that bad but it’s just not unique from others.
If you haven’t read any NA books then you’d probably love this because the story-line isn’t that bad but it’s just not unique from others.
April 22, 2013
Don't take the 3 star rating as a good / bad sign. I just can't decide on this book. The premise is stupid. The characters do stupid things. Everyone's just kind of dumb, flailing around in their own filth and dumbness, saying dumb things and making bad decisions.
Basically, the book True is a teenager. Just a flaky, full of shit teenager looking for its place in the world.
And that would be fine, if only the effort weren't so lazy.
Authors, I get it. This New Adult craze is so easy to cash in on right now. It's an entirely new book genre with SEX for YOUNG PEOPLE. It's The CW of books, if you will. Once you get over your preoccupation with telling the SAME STORY of two pretty, emotionally damaged people fucking, I'm sure quality will come rolling out of the genre like the chocolate in Lucy's Famous Chocolate Scene. But let me tell you my unwelcome opinion. Spinning out the same troubling story over and over again is silly and lazy. I don't care how many mind-blowing orgasms you give the heroine or how TOTES AWFUL the hero's life is. You can't simply sprinkle a book with dark themes and expect it to work itself out. It won't. It'll just end up looking melodramatic and stupid. Kindly put some effort into weaving together a real story that isn't a blatant money grab. I can see what you're doing. You aren't as sneaky as you think you are.
Let's talk about True, the tepid, awkward cousin of the only good New Adult novel I've read, Easy. True isn't all that offensive, so I can't rage about the content that much. I can poke fun at it, which I will. But in a genre full of demented alpha douchebags and self-entitled whimpering damsels, True has at least a semblance of a moral fiber. It also isn't that poorly written. Most of the time, the grammar is passable.
This is the story of brainy Rory, who is "shy" and "awkward and "plain." This is also the story of Rory's Virginity, because her untouched vagina is apparently THAT important. After Rory tells her roommates, Jessica and Kylie, that she's still a virgin, they decide to take her purity into their own hands. They pay sexy and tattooed Tyler, who was literally JUST sleeping with Jessica, $100 to solve her virginity problem.
Because if there's one problem big enough to turn a guy into a cheap prostitute, it's a 20-year-old's virginity.
Hijinks ensue. Shenanigans are plentiful. And MY GOD, THESE PEOPLE ARE SO FUCKING DUMB.
True takes on 4 serious issues - rape, death of a parent, child abuse, and poverty - and pisses them all down its leg. It's almost comical. I can imagine the author sitting there, thinking, "I really want Rory and Tyler to have sex, but what can I add to the story to make it serious? I know! EVERYTHING!"
In the first scene, Rory is nearly raped by some bitch named Grant. His idea of sexual assault is to make her give him a blowjob, because that wouldn't be risky to your PENIS or anything. Well, before Rory can bite off Grant's manpendage, which I was totally ready for, a shirtless Tyler saves the day and punches Grant in the face for being a dirty rapist. AWESOME. Let's see how McCarthy handles the serious issues of rape ...
JUST KIDDING. She totally doesn't!
There's a scene halfway through the book in which Grant just shows up again and tells Rory that the only reason Tyler likes her is because he can save her and that they should have pretended to have sex to make Tyler jealous or something? I don't even fucking know. Grant, who GOT AWAY with trying to rape Rory, spends time alone with her while Tyler's out at the store, and it's just glazed over with a chatty "let's talk about how you almost raped me" session. And Rory is okay with it? And Tyler comes back and is all, "WTF?" And Rory is like, "It's cool. Whatever. The past is the past." And Grant's like, "Hee hee hee!" Strange, is what that chapter is. Strange, indeed.
So, Tyler's poor, and not adorable poor like Oliver Twist or anything. He has an abusive mom who is addicted to drugs, and she's always throwing beer cans at him and the boys and punching Tyler in the face. Tyler's entire Reason for Wangsting is that Rory's smart and not poor while he's scraping by to become an EMT and taking care of his brothers. I actually liked Tyler as a character. He's a noble guy with a tough life, and I can get behind a character like that. Obviously, he likes Rory from the beginning, and the $100 prostitution deal is later brushed aside when he admits that
Anyway, Rory comes floating into his family's life like a fucking Disney princess or whatever, feeding the boys vegetables and baking them pies and inviting them to her nice house for Thanksgiving dinner. The kids are all like, "I've never EATEN fresh vegetable before!" and whatnot, and it's obvious that Rory thinks she's THE BEST for introducing the poor kids to healthy food. The privilege and classism is strong in this one, friends.
Of course, Rory's dad doesn't approve of Tyler. So Tyler tries extra hard to impress him by getting arrested for drug possession. Tyler dumps Rory because he doesn't want to drag her down. She screams at the top of her lungs and throws a couple of pillows in her bedroom to VOICE HER RESISTANCE to her BIG MEANIE DADDY. There are some trite lessons about life going on. Then
A lot of the plot threads are left dangling and long forgotten. Rory finds out about her friends' "get Rory laid" scheme early in the story but never confronts them. Tyler goes to jail and drops out of school, ruining his EMT ambitions, but they never discuss it. WTF? Is the POWER OF LOVE supposed to sustain them through his shithole of a life? Grant: The World's Dumbest Rapist, is still prowling the streets, perfectly capable of victimizing another unsuspecting woman. The blunt, logical Rory that I grew to like in the first half of the story runs for the hills after declaring her love for Tyler, only to be replaced by a clingy little thing who's probably betting on a losing horse? (Sorry, Tyler.)
I don't expect the entire story to be wrapped up in a happily ever after bow, but leaving everything at the surface is LAZY. Sure, young people make ridiculous decisions sometimes. But wouldn't this book be more meaningful if - I don't know - they faced some repercussions for acting like dithering morons? Nothing is permanent. Nothing is explored. Nothing is fucking TRUE in this book. However, like every other New Adult book out there, it tries to convince me that it's worth taking seriously despite the fact that it's 90% ridiculous.
True is, at its base, drama for drama's sake. If there is some deeper meaning, besides immature love crossing class boundaries, I didn't catch it. To be honest, I spent a lot of time waiting for a detailed description of Tyler's penis ring. Alas, IT NEVER CAME.
Blah. Mediocrity at its disappointing finest, but god help me, I've read worse.
Basically, the book True is a teenager. Just a flaky, full of shit teenager looking for its place in the world.
And that would be fine, if only the effort weren't so lazy.
Authors, I get it. This New Adult craze is so easy to cash in on right now. It's an entirely new book genre with SEX for YOUNG PEOPLE. It's The CW of books, if you will. Once you get over your preoccupation with telling the SAME STORY of two pretty, emotionally damaged people fucking, I'm sure quality will come rolling out of the genre like the chocolate in Lucy's Famous Chocolate Scene. But let me tell you my unwelcome opinion. Spinning out the same troubling story over and over again is silly and lazy. I don't care how many mind-blowing orgasms you give the heroine or how TOTES AWFUL the hero's life is. You can't simply sprinkle a book with dark themes and expect it to work itself out. It won't. It'll just end up looking melodramatic and stupid. Kindly put some effort into weaving together a real story that isn't a blatant money grab. I can see what you're doing. You aren't as sneaky as you think you are.
Let's talk about True, the tepid, awkward cousin of the only good New Adult novel I've read, Easy. True isn't all that offensive, so I can't rage about the content that much. I can poke fun at it, which I will. But in a genre full of demented alpha douchebags and self-entitled whimpering damsels, True has at least a semblance of a moral fiber. It also isn't that poorly written. Most of the time, the grammar is passable.
This is the story of brainy Rory, who is "shy" and "awkward and "plain." This is also the story of Rory's Virginity, because her untouched vagina is apparently THAT important. After Rory tells her roommates, Jessica and Kylie, that she's still a virgin, they decide to take her purity into their own hands. They pay sexy and tattooed Tyler, who was literally JUST sleeping with Jessica, $100 to solve her virginity problem.
Because if there's one problem big enough to turn a guy into a cheap prostitute, it's a 20-year-old's virginity.
Hijinks ensue. Shenanigans are plentiful. And MY GOD, THESE PEOPLE ARE SO FUCKING DUMB.
True takes on 4 serious issues - rape, death of a parent, child abuse, and poverty - and pisses them all down its leg. It's almost comical. I can imagine the author sitting there, thinking, "I really want Rory and Tyler to have sex, but what can I add to the story to make it serious? I know! EVERYTHING!"
In the first scene, Rory is nearly raped by some bitch named Grant. His idea of sexual assault is to make her give him a blowjob, because that wouldn't be risky to your PENIS or anything. Well, before Rory can bite off Grant's manpendage, which I was totally ready for, a shirtless Tyler saves the day and punches Grant in the face for being a dirty rapist. AWESOME. Let's see how McCarthy handles the serious issues of rape ...
JUST KIDDING. She totally doesn't!
There's a scene halfway through the book in which Grant just shows up again and tells Rory that the only reason Tyler likes her is because he can save her and that they should have pretended to have sex to make Tyler jealous or something? I don't even fucking know. Grant, who GOT AWAY with trying to rape Rory, spends time alone with her while Tyler's out at the store, and it's just glazed over with a chatty "let's talk about how you almost raped me" session. And Rory is okay with it? And Tyler comes back and is all, "WTF?" And Rory is like, "It's cool. Whatever. The past is the past." And Grant's like, "Hee hee hee!" Strange, is what that chapter is. Strange, indeed.
So, Tyler's poor, and not adorable poor like Oliver Twist or anything. He has an abusive mom who is addicted to drugs, and she's always throwing beer cans at him and the boys and punching Tyler in the face. Tyler's entire Reason for Wangsting is that Rory's smart and not poor while he's scraping by to become an EMT and taking care of his brothers. I actually liked Tyler as a character. He's a noble guy with a tough life, and I can get behind a character like that. Obviously, he likes Rory from the beginning, and the $100 prostitution deal is later brushed aside when he admits that
Anyway, Rory comes floating into his family's life like a fucking Disney princess or whatever, feeding the boys vegetables and baking them pies and inviting them to her nice house for Thanksgiving dinner. The kids are all like, "I've never EATEN fresh vegetable before!" and whatnot, and it's obvious that Rory thinks she's THE BEST for introducing the poor kids to healthy food. The privilege and classism is strong in this one, friends.
Of course, Rory's dad doesn't approve of Tyler. So Tyler tries extra hard to impress him by getting arrested for drug possession. Tyler dumps Rory because he doesn't want to drag her down. She screams at the top of her lungs and throws a couple of pillows in her bedroom to VOICE HER RESISTANCE to her BIG MEANIE DADDY. There are some trite lessons about life going on. Then
A lot of the plot threads are left dangling and long forgotten. Rory finds out about her friends' "get Rory laid" scheme early in the story but never confronts them. Tyler goes to jail and drops out of school, ruining his EMT ambitions, but they never discuss it. WTF? Is the POWER OF LOVE supposed to sustain them through his shithole of a life? Grant: The World's Dumbest Rapist, is still prowling the streets, perfectly capable of victimizing another unsuspecting woman. The blunt, logical Rory that I grew to like in the first half of the story runs for the hills after declaring her love for Tyler, only to be replaced by a clingy little thing who's probably betting on a losing horse? (Sorry, Tyler.)
I don't expect the entire story to be wrapped up in a happily ever after bow, but leaving everything at the surface is LAZY. Sure, young people make ridiculous decisions sometimes. But wouldn't this book be more meaningful if - I don't know - they faced some repercussions for acting like dithering morons? Nothing is permanent. Nothing is explored. Nothing is fucking TRUE in this book. However, like every other New Adult book out there, it tries to convince me that it's worth taking seriously despite the fact that it's 90% ridiculous.
True is, at its base, drama for drama's sake. If there is some deeper meaning, besides immature love crossing class boundaries, I didn't catch it. To be honest, I spent a lot of time waiting for a detailed description of Tyler's penis ring. Alas, IT NEVER CAME.
Blah. Mediocrity at its disappointing finest, but god help me, I've read worse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2013
4.5 Surprising Stars
It’s not often that my expectations for a book and how much I’m going to enjoy it are not only met but exceeded. I’m picky like that. I wasn’t expecting much from True so to say I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Rory Macintosh is a 20 year old virgin who’s convinced herself she’s unattractive and weird simply because no guy has ever taken the time to get to know her. In reality Rory’s my favorite kind of person, maybe because I’m nothing like her. She’s brilliant and so logical it almost suffocates her, but she also realizes her own value, doesn’t take any unnecessary crap and has a biting but subtle sarcastic humor I find enviable. She’s the shy girl standing in the corner watching everything happen, hoping someone will care enough to actually see her.
He might be curious about who the mute brunette was, but in the same way that you’re curious as to why Donald Trump has a chinchilla on his head.
”I’ve never liked Tom Cruise. He always reminded me of someone’s creepy cousin, who smiles too big before he touches your butt and whispers something gross in your ear with hot whiskey breath.” Well said, Rory.
Tyler Mann is just trying to keep his family together. At 22 he’s responsible for taking care of his two younger brothers as well as fending off the occasional violent attack from his strung out mother. Yes, he’s a hot, tattooed and pierced man whore but his concern and love for his family was more prevalent to the story. Tyler’s intrigued by Rory, a friend of one of his friends with benefits, and wants to spend time with her. He gets his chance when her friends offer him $100 to relieve her of her virginity, unbeknownst to Rory.
The pay to play, devirginizing aspect of the story wasn’t as huge of a deal as I’d thought it would be. The issue’s discovered and taken care of, but it actually leads both Rory and Tyler to realize how much the other cares for them. As many times as something could’ve been blown out of proportion and exploited for the sake of drama, this story didn’t go there. It’s told entirely from Rory’s POV and because she’s a subtle and logical person for the most part, the book reads that way as well. There’s plenty of drama and some angst but none of it’s done up to the “OMG, I’m freaking out!” level that seems to be pervasive in a lot of the YA/NA I’ve read lately. Rory and Tyler can just be with each other and watching them both grow is a beautiful thing. The bumps in the road they experienced seemed inevitable and completely natural given their personalities.
I was never going to be able to emotionally distance myself from the people around me the way I had most of my life, and I didn’t want to. Being a loner was ultimately selfish, and if you never gave of yourself, you never got in return.
I can see where this book may not work for everyone and my rating’s based solely on how much I enjoyed the story. If you’re looking for an over the top, dramatic heroine this book may not be for you. There is a HFN ending and I’m hoping we’ll get to read more about them in the next book in the series.
ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
It’s not often that my expectations for a book and how much I’m going to enjoy it are not only met but exceeded. I’m picky like that. I wasn’t expecting much from True so to say I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Rory Macintosh is a 20 year old virgin who’s convinced herself she’s unattractive and weird simply because no guy has ever taken the time to get to know her. In reality Rory’s my favorite kind of person, maybe because I’m nothing like her. She’s brilliant and so logical it almost suffocates her, but she also realizes her own value, doesn’t take any unnecessary crap and has a biting but subtle sarcastic humor I find enviable. She’s the shy girl standing in the corner watching everything happen, hoping someone will care enough to actually see her.
He might be curious about who the mute brunette was, but in the same way that you’re curious as to why Donald Trump has a chinchilla on his head.
”I’ve never liked Tom Cruise. He always reminded me of someone’s creepy cousin, who smiles too big before he touches your butt and whispers something gross in your ear with hot whiskey breath.” Well said, Rory.
Tyler Mann is just trying to keep his family together. At 22 he’s responsible for taking care of his two younger brothers as well as fending off the occasional violent attack from his strung out mother. Yes, he’s a hot, tattooed and pierced man whore but his concern and love for his family was more prevalent to the story. Tyler’s intrigued by Rory, a friend of one of his friends with benefits, and wants to spend time with her. He gets his chance when her friends offer him $100 to relieve her of her virginity, unbeknownst to Rory.
The pay to play, devirginizing aspect of the story wasn’t as huge of a deal as I’d thought it would be. The issue’s discovered and taken care of, but it actually leads both Rory and Tyler to realize how much the other cares for them. As many times as something could’ve been blown out of proportion and exploited for the sake of drama, this story didn’t go there. It’s told entirely from Rory’s POV and because she’s a subtle and logical person for the most part, the book reads that way as well. There’s plenty of drama and some angst but none of it’s done up to the “OMG, I’m freaking out!” level that seems to be pervasive in a lot of the YA/NA I’ve read lately. Rory and Tyler can just be with each other and watching them both grow is a beautiful thing. The bumps in the road they experienced seemed inevitable and completely natural given their personalities.
I was never going to be able to emotionally distance myself from the people around me the way I had most of my life, and I didn’t want to. Being a loner was ultimately selfish, and if you never gave of yourself, you never got in return.
I can see where this book may not work for everyone and my rating’s based solely on how much I enjoyed the story. If you’re looking for an over the top, dramatic heroine this book may not be for you. There is a HFN ending and I’m hoping we’ll get to read more about them in the next book in the series.
ARC provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
July 9, 2016
This was my second new adult book and I have to say it's been my favorite so far. I really enjoyed Rory's character as well as Tyler. They were both very likable. I enjoyed reading Rory's thoughts and how she handled things with maturity. Who doesn't love a bad boy either? Tyler was an extremely sweet one at that! He never registered in my mind as the bad boy but I love how he was portrayed.
The only thing I did not enjoy about this book was the ending. I like the ending but it felt rushed. I wanted more of a conclusion. Overall I really enjoyed this book! Well done!
The only thing I did not enjoy about this book was the ending. I like the ending but it felt rushed. I wanted more of a conclusion. Overall I really enjoyed this book! Well done!
April 21, 2013
3.5 STARS
This book was refreshingly easy to read but is giving me a hard time reviewing because certain aspects of Rory's character hit a little too close to home. Not the present version of myself, but had I read this once upon a college semester I would've been thoroughly suspicious which of my friends wrote this. I never really liked that version of me, but that doesn't mean I understand her any less now.
"That pathetic, hopeless wanting. The desire for what you want but can't have. The need for someone like you. I recognize it because I saw it in my face everyday."
In the proverbial stable of New Adult heroines, Rory is a little different: she's geek smart, she's socially awkward and, dear God, she's a virgin. Okay maybe that last one doesn't set her apart so much except in this story, she isn't one by choice. In fact, this book starts with her on the path to rectifying that little inconvenience when things get ugly and her roommate's hookup for the night comes to her rescue.
Tyler Mann is of course, the tattooed bad boy who is more than his apadravya and Metallica t-shirts. When not rescuing distressed virgins, he's studying to be an EMT and can analyze Tennessee Williams' collected works faster than you can say Tennessee Williams. Which, of course, just happens to be Rory's weakest subject in school.
Rolling your eyes and gagging yet?
Don't.
Because these characters are two of the most honest and well-developed I've seen in the New Adult genre. I thoroughly appreciated the lack of hysterical drama, ghastly reveals and plot-twists that try and trick me into liking either of them. Their voices rang true and logical to me without the extra noise.
There's a terrible sadness in Rory's character. She somehow got herself straddling two different social strata in the college jungle: she isn't socially inept enough to be dumped among the intense nerds but isn't cool enough to fit with the in-crowd. She has friends belonging to the latter clique, who try their damnedest to pull her along with the best intentions but ended up trampling on her pride and feeding her insecurities in the process. As if that's not bad enough, she couldn't even be upset with them because they're the only friends she have.
I sobbed for the little girl I had been, who had never understood why I didn't just fit in, and for the realization that I never would. That my life was meant to be walked alone, with a thin plastic barrier pulled taut between me and everyone else, my thoughts never capable of running parallel with the majority of human beings. In the world of Stellas and Stanleys and Blanche, I was destined to be Harold.
Tyler was a refreshing hero to Rory's heroine. He has a botched Batman tattoo, he reads Harry Potter to his younger brother but most of all, he feels insecure around Rory. When he first brought her to his house his shame, while expected, didn't feel overplayed to effect pity from the reader. There's a proud, yet quiet dignity to his character that gives him the extra nudge beyond the usual alpha hero.
I was still on the couch and Tyler was in the bathroom. I had a feeling he was cleaning it because he'd gone in with the spray bottle and had been in there for twenty minutes.
Their relationship had a good, sensible build up founded on something other than the physical. Though Tyler has been referred to as hot, it wasn't hammered in my brain repeatedly just so I won't forget. The sexy scenes were tastefully written and didn't feel like pandering to a particular fan base. This actually read a little young for me, but I guess that's a plus in this case. There's great wit and sharpness in the dialogue and some silly moments that made me smile more than wince.
Kylie looked like the pink abominable snowman, dressed from head to toe in fuschia fur. I wasn't even sure which piece stopped and started. It was one giant fluffy assault on the senses.
"Is that a Care Bear?" Riley asked.
This should have been an easy 4-star for me but there were things that niggled and tugged me the wrong way. Inconsistencies such as Rory's explicit disgust on the taste of cigarettes but not making one comment about it when Tyler kisses her or her nervousness seeing Tyler naked because she's never seen a penis when b) she's in pre-med, that's a virtual impossibility. The treatment of Jayden who has Down's Syndrome may raise a few eyebrows and one statement from Rory did make me wince a bit. The ending felt rushed and abrupt, as if . I probably would've liked it better if .
But all things considered, for a book that felt a tad bit too real, for me, it provided a few entertaining hours of escape.
ARC provided by the publishers through NetGalley
This book was refreshingly easy to read but is giving me a hard time reviewing because certain aspects of Rory's character hit a little too close to home. Not the present version of myself, but had I read this once upon a college semester I would've been thoroughly suspicious which of my friends wrote this. I never really liked that version of me, but that doesn't mean I understand her any less now.
"That pathetic, hopeless wanting. The desire for what you want but can't have. The need for someone like you. I recognize it because I saw it in my face everyday."
In the proverbial stable of New Adult heroines, Rory is a little different: she's geek smart, she's socially awkward and, dear God, she's a virgin. Okay maybe that last one doesn't set her apart so much except in this story, she isn't one by choice. In fact, this book starts with her on the path to rectifying that little inconvenience when things get ugly and her roommate's hookup for the night comes to her rescue.
Tyler Mann is of course, the tattooed bad boy who is more than his apadravya and Metallica t-shirts. When not rescuing distressed virgins, he's studying to be an EMT and can analyze Tennessee Williams' collected works faster than you can say Tennessee Williams. Which, of course, just happens to be Rory's weakest subject in school.
Rolling your eyes and gagging yet?
Don't.
Because these characters are two of the most honest and well-developed I've seen in the New Adult genre. I thoroughly appreciated the lack of hysterical drama, ghastly reveals and plot-twists that try and trick me into liking either of them. Their voices rang true and logical to me without the extra noise.
There's a terrible sadness in Rory's character. She somehow got herself straddling two different social strata in the college jungle: she isn't socially inept enough to be dumped among the intense nerds but isn't cool enough to fit with the in-crowd. She has friends belonging to the latter clique, who try their damnedest to pull her along with the best intentions but ended up trampling on her pride and feeding her insecurities in the process. As if that's not bad enough, she couldn't even be upset with them because they're the only friends she have.
I sobbed for the little girl I had been, who had never understood why I didn't just fit in, and for the realization that I never would. That my life was meant to be walked alone, with a thin plastic barrier pulled taut between me and everyone else, my thoughts never capable of running parallel with the majority of human beings. In the world of Stellas and Stanleys and Blanche, I was destined to be Harold.
Tyler was a refreshing hero to Rory's heroine. He has a botched Batman tattoo, he reads Harry Potter to his younger brother but most of all, he feels insecure around Rory. When he first brought her to his house his shame, while expected, didn't feel overplayed to effect pity from the reader. There's a proud, yet quiet dignity to his character that gives him the extra nudge beyond the usual alpha hero.
I was still on the couch and Tyler was in the bathroom. I had a feeling he was cleaning it because he'd gone in with the spray bottle and had been in there for twenty minutes.
Their relationship had a good, sensible build up founded on something other than the physical. Though Tyler has been referred to as hot, it wasn't hammered in my brain repeatedly just so I won't forget. The sexy scenes were tastefully written and didn't feel like pandering to a particular fan base. This actually read a little young for me, but I guess that's a plus in this case. There's great wit and sharpness in the dialogue and some silly moments that made me smile more than wince.
Kylie looked like the pink abominable snowman, dressed from head to toe in fuschia fur. I wasn't even sure which piece stopped and started. It was one giant fluffy assault on the senses.
"Is that a Care Bear?" Riley asked.
This should have been an easy 4-star for me but there were things that niggled and tugged me the wrong way. Inconsistencies such as Rory's explicit disgust on the taste of cigarettes but not making one comment about it when Tyler kisses her or her nervousness seeing Tyler naked because she's never seen a penis when b) she's in pre-med, that's a virtual impossibility. The treatment of Jayden who has Down's Syndrome may raise a few eyebrows and one statement from Rory did make me wince a bit. The ending felt rushed and abrupt, as if . I probably would've liked it better if .
But all things considered, for a book that felt a tad bit too real, for me, it provided a few entertaining hours of escape.
ARC provided by the publishers through NetGalley
![Profile Image for Michelle [Helen Geek].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1448463806i%2F5557851._CR0%2C13%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 7, 2013
04/07/2013 --
Overall Rating = 2.5
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 4 / 3.5 = 3.75 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2.5 Stars
Character Development = 3.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 3 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars [An ARC, but will probably be around $7 Amazon]
++SPOILER ALERT++ There may be spoilers in the review.
Well, that was interesting... I guess everyone is trying to get on the New Adult train? I have to tell you, Erin McCarthy is a bit hit and miss for me. I loved her Fast Track series, but when I've tried to read others of hers, I didn't feel the same love. It is safe to say, this is exactly what happened for me with this one. No love felt.
A few thing I liked about this book first:
1 -- I liked Tyler. This poor guy couldn't get a break and his loyalty to his family was inspiring. He is working his way through a two year EMT program, not so much for himself, but to make things better for his brothers. He never dreamed he'd really fall for Rory [sound familiar?]. Rory was likable as a nerdy heroine of the story. She has a huge heart and really falls hard for Tyler [sound familiar?].
2 -- The secondary characters were good too. Mentioned the brothers earlier, but you have the whole cast of sexually active college friends who are looking to hook up with anything that has the right part -- penis for Rory's friends, vagina for Tyler's...
3 -- The cover was okay. Not unique, but it did grab my attention. Liked the title -- it has real meaning in the book. The blurb was okay.
4 -- Nothing else really.
More to dislike than like with this one:
1 -- Mainstream author does New Adult. Coming off a kick ass series, but then she give us New Adult? Okay, I can understand, IF, she can give us different, unique, good. Unfortunately, this reads like so many others I've read lately. Just more and more and more of the same old crapola; high sexual activity from college students who are slowly growing up and realizing they want more than a casual hookup. Sound familiar much?
2 -- Rory is a 20 year old virgin. I hate this theme with a passion. I've not ever read this particular storyline that works. EVER. It is one of my pet peeves. How is this a problem? Why all the anxiety over a little bit of hymen? I absolutely don't get it. Most of the time I don't even believe it. In this case, Rory is a bit of a non-social nerd, so I do believe it. But, who cares?
3 -- The ending just left you hanging. Not in the way you may think -- no cliffhanger here... You know Tyler has a seriously screwed up future. But, because he and Rory are together, we are to forget about that and consider this a happy ending? I guess I'm too adult for this tripe. I have a pretty good idea what these two will face together and it really isn't pretty. It will have to be played like an intricate ballet to end even remotely well.
4 -- I read to the end, but am sure I'll forget it tomorrow. There was nothing unique, unusual, evocative of feeling, great characterization, absolutely nothing about this book to highlight and remember. I'm sure some will like it and may identify with something here more than I did.
To say I was disappointed in this authors offering isn't saying enough. She has just come off a huge hit with Fast Track and this is what we get? This is a book worthy of many Indie book authors right now; a dime a dozen. This type of book or genre' seems to be the thing right now. I hope other authors read this review and takes time to ask themselves -- do I really want to reduce myself to another in a whole pack, or can I produce something standout? If you can come up with a standout -- go for it. If not, focus on what you do best. My opinion only.
Hope you are happier reading this one than I was ...
ARC provided by the publisher [PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW] in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Rating = 2.5
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 4 / 3.5 = 3.75 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2.5 Stars
Character Development = 3.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 3 Stars
Worth the Chili = 2 Stars [An ARC, but will probably be around $7 Amazon]
++SPOILER ALERT++ There may be spoilers in the review.
Well, that was interesting... I guess everyone is trying to get on the New Adult train? I have to tell you, Erin McCarthy is a bit hit and miss for me. I loved her Fast Track series, but when I've tried to read others of hers, I didn't feel the same love. It is safe to say, this is exactly what happened for me with this one. No love felt.
A few thing I liked about this book first:
1 -- I liked Tyler. This poor guy couldn't get a break and his loyalty to his family was inspiring. He is working his way through a two year EMT program, not so much for himself, but to make things better for his brothers. He never dreamed he'd really fall for Rory [sound familiar?]. Rory was likable as a nerdy heroine of the story. She has a huge heart and really falls hard for Tyler [sound familiar?].
2 -- The secondary characters were good too. Mentioned the brothers earlier, but you have the whole cast of sexually active college friends who are looking to hook up with anything that has the right part -- penis for Rory's friends, vagina for Tyler's...
3 -- The cover was okay. Not unique, but it did grab my attention. Liked the title -- it has real meaning in the book. The blurb was okay.
4 -- Nothing else really.
More to dislike than like with this one:
1 -- Mainstream author does New Adult. Coming off a kick ass series, but then she give us New Adult? Okay, I can understand, IF, she can give us different, unique, good. Unfortunately, this reads like so many others I've read lately. Just more and more and more of the same old crapola; high sexual activity from college students who are slowly growing up and realizing they want more than a casual hookup. Sound familiar much?
2 -- Rory is a 20 year old virgin. I hate this theme with a passion. I've not ever read this particular storyline that works. EVER. It is one of my pet peeves. How is this a problem? Why all the anxiety over a little bit of hymen? I absolutely don't get it. Most of the time I don't even believe it. In this case, Rory is a bit of a non-social nerd, so I do believe it. But, who cares?
3 -- The ending just left you hanging. Not in the way you may think -- no cliffhanger here... You know Tyler has a seriously screwed up future. But, because he and Rory are together, we are to forget about that and consider this a happy ending? I guess I'm too adult for this tripe. I have a pretty good idea what these two will face together and it really isn't pretty. It will have to be played like an intricate ballet to end even remotely well.
4 -- I read to the end, but am sure I'll forget it tomorrow. There was nothing unique, unusual, evocative of feeling, great characterization, absolutely nothing about this book to highlight and remember. I'm sure some will like it and may identify with something here more than I did.
To say I was disappointed in this authors offering isn't saying enough. She has just come off a huge hit with Fast Track and this is what we get? This is a book worthy of many Indie book authors right now; a dime a dozen. This type of book or genre' seems to be the thing right now. I hope other authors read this review and takes time to ask themselves -- do I really want to reduce myself to another in a whole pack, or can I produce something standout? If you can come up with a standout -- go for it. If not, focus on what you do best. My opinion only.
Hope you are happier reading this one than I was ...
ARC provided by the publisher [PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW] in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2016
Das Buch war wirklich sehr schön!!! Finde es sehr gut dass sich die Liebe zwischen Rory & Tyler langsam entwickelt hat! Nur das Ende kam irgendwie sehr plötzlich...
September 1, 2018
3.5 stars
October 15, 2019
✨ 3,5-4/5 Sterne für True #1! ✨
Ein wirklich schönes Buch für zwischendurch!
True ist eine typische, kitschige, klischeebehaftete Liebesgeschichte, die man 100%ig schon Mal so irgendwo gelesen hat. Trotzdem fand ich sie gut :D
Die Protagonisten haben mir wirklicht gut gefallen und ihre Chemie war auch sehr gut nachvollziehbar, wenn man das so sagen kann.
Die "Freunde" von Rory sind mir dagegen sehr suspekt. Ihre Handlungen waren für mich ein absolutes Rätsel genauso wie ihre Reaktionen auf wirklich schlimme Situationen. Whyyyy seid ihr so seltsam?? Wirkliche Freunde wären das für mich absolut nicht.. :D
Und das Ende kam für mich absolut zu plötzlich und abgehackt.
Gut angefangen und stark nach nachgelassen.. :D
Ein wirklich schönes Buch für zwischendurch!
True ist eine typische, kitschige, klischeebehaftete Liebesgeschichte, die man 100%ig schon Mal so irgendwo gelesen hat. Trotzdem fand ich sie gut :D
Die Protagonisten haben mir wirklicht gut gefallen und ihre Chemie war auch sehr gut nachvollziehbar, wenn man das so sagen kann.
Die "Freunde" von Rory sind mir dagegen sehr suspekt. Ihre Handlungen waren für mich ein absolutes Rätsel genauso wie ihre Reaktionen auf wirklich schlimme Situationen. Whyyyy seid ihr so seltsam?? Wirkliche Freunde wären das für mich absolut nicht.. :D
Und das Ende kam für mich absolut zu plötzlich und abgehackt.
Gut angefangen und stark nach nachgelassen.. :D
May 7, 2013
3.5 Stars
-The Story-
Rory Macintosh is a highly studious good girl who has never been with a guy. When her college roommates get a hold of this bit of news, they secretly decide to hire 'bad boy' Tyler Mann to help Rory rid herself of her virginity. Tyler is from a bad part of town and an equally bad family. He's trying to become an EMT in order to have the means necessary to get custody of his younger brothers. Rory and Tyler get close for no reason other than they are drawn to one another. They want a relationship, but Tyler's family may threaten their plans.
-My Thoughts-
TRUE was a New Adult story with quite a bit of character and storyline potential. Tyler and his family were interesting and compelling, particularly his younger brothers. Good girl falling for bad boy....well, that's one of my favorites. Tyler was a good guy (there was really no bad boy to be found here) who only wanted to do right by his brothers. The scenes with his mother and brothers were particularly effective.
Erin McCarthy is an author I have read and enjoyed in the past, and I was anxious to try her first foray into the New Adult genre. As usual, her writing style was engaging and easy to read. She has a real understanding of the plot points necessary to make a great NA read, and I hope she'll continue to expand on those.
The stories I truly gravitate toward and love the most in this genre are those with real depth, where you can tell the author has dug deep to give the reader something special. Erin McCarthy made a valiant effort to bring depth to TRUE, but it just wasn't quite there for me. I didn't feel like she dug deep enough into the characters or the storyline. Personally, it may have been that the author was trying too hard to fit the standard YA/NA mold, and, in doing so, missed out on telling the full, real story.
**ARC courtesy of InterMix (Penguin) via NetGalley**
-The Story-
Rory Macintosh is a highly studious good girl who has never been with a guy. When her college roommates get a hold of this bit of news, they secretly decide to hire 'bad boy' Tyler Mann to help Rory rid herself of her virginity. Tyler is from a bad part of town and an equally bad family. He's trying to become an EMT in order to have the means necessary to get custody of his younger brothers. Rory and Tyler get close for no reason other than they are drawn to one another. They want a relationship, but Tyler's family may threaten their plans.
-My Thoughts-
TRUE was a New Adult story with quite a bit of character and storyline potential. Tyler and his family were interesting and compelling, particularly his younger brothers. Good girl falling for bad boy....well, that's one of my favorites. Tyler was a good guy (there was really no bad boy to be found here) who only wanted to do right by his brothers. The scenes with his mother and brothers were particularly effective.
Erin McCarthy is an author I have read and enjoyed in the past, and I was anxious to try her first foray into the New Adult genre. As usual, her writing style was engaging and easy to read. She has a real understanding of the plot points necessary to make a great NA read, and I hope she'll continue to expand on those.
The stories I truly gravitate toward and love the most in this genre are those with real depth, where you can tell the author has dug deep to give the reader something special. Erin McCarthy made a valiant effort to bring depth to TRUE, but it just wasn't quite there for me. I didn't feel like she dug deep enough into the characters or the storyline. Personally, it may have been that the author was trying too hard to fit the standard YA/NA mold, and, in doing so, missed out on telling the full, real story.
**ARC courtesy of InterMix (Penguin) via NetGalley**
April 22, 2013
My inner geek had several 'nergasm' moments while reading. Like how often do you run across human variation sexual instinct theories in your everyday book? I was able to connect to Rory's geeky mind and anyone who loves 'bad boys should have zero problem falling for Tyler. He's definitely got a man-whore, bad boy allure.
But... there's always a 'but'... I did have a few bones to pick with this book. Bone #1: the end. Fear not, though it seems to be headed for cliffhanger city, you will get your dose of HEA... but it's a really, really short dose. Like blink, and it's gone, and you're back in a cliffhanger. For all the build-up and mind-boggling sequence of events, it felt like the HEA was a hastily placed band aid to stem the flow of my unhappiness. Like, I just got wham-bam-thank-you-mam'd by a HEA. Not what I want my ending to do to me. No drink, no dinner, it just stuck it to me. Bone #2... while I would not consider this a 'repeat' or a carbon copy of other romances, it still had elements of many popular romances. It's like going through a romance grocery store and grabbing a little bad boy from Beautiful Disaster, a little life situations from Slammed, a little 'V-card' brouhaha from Losing It... do you see where I'm going with this. It is unique from all those romances, but does include really visible (to me) inspirations from other works.
I think, ultimately, it is a good, solid romance. If you were a fan of Crash, Slammed, Beautiful Disaster, and Easy, then this should be up your alley. If the above books are on your least favorite list... you may want to pass on this. I found it satisfying, if a bit abrupt; if the series were continued (not sure if it's intended as a stand-alone or series beginner) I will want to read other books in this storyline.
An ARC was given to me by Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But... there's always a 'but'... I did have a few bones to pick with this book. Bone #1: the end. Fear not, though it seems to be headed for cliffhanger city, you will get your dose of HEA... but it's a really, really short dose. Like blink, and it's gone, and you're back in a cliffhanger. For all the build-up and mind-boggling sequence of events, it felt like the HEA was a hastily placed band aid to stem the flow of my unhappiness. Like, I just got wham-bam-thank-you-mam'd by a HEA. Not what I want my ending to do to me. No drink, no dinner, it just stuck it to me. Bone #2... while I would not consider this a 'repeat' or a carbon copy of other romances, it still had elements of many popular romances. It's like going through a romance grocery store and grabbing a little bad boy from Beautiful Disaster, a little life situations from Slammed, a little 'V-card' brouhaha from Losing It... do you see where I'm going with this. It is unique from all those romances, but does include really visible (to me) inspirations from other works.
I think, ultimately, it is a good, solid romance. If you were a fan of Crash, Slammed, Beautiful Disaster, and Easy, then this should be up your alley. If the above books are on your least favorite list... you may want to pass on this. I found it satisfying, if a bit abrupt; if the series were continued (not sure if it's intended as a stand-alone or series beginner) I will want to read other books in this storyline.
An ARC was given to me by Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2013
really enjoyed reading this one.... ending was a bit rushed for my tastes though.
looking forward to the next book!
looking forward to the next book!
February 7, 2017
Ich fand es hat einfach etwas an Tiefe gefehlt. Eine ausführliche Rezension gibt es auf meinem Blog
http://linabreatheswords.blogspot.de/...
http://linabreatheswords.blogspot.de/...
June 30, 2014
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
I had no idea this book was in the New Adult genre when I started reading it. In fact, I didn't even know the genre existed until...well, until I went to write this review a few minutes ago and had to look it up. Evidently, New Adult is for those kids who are just starting out in life.
I use the term kids, because I'mold past the age of, ahem, being a kid.
Out of high school, starting college, or just on their own for the first time. They're new at being adults, get it? Catchy, no? And pretty self-explanatory, now that I think about it. So I probably could have skipped this first paragraph entirely.
Aw, hell with it. Typing is hard. I'm keeping it.
Ok, on to the good stuff.
Rory is adorable if a bit clueless about the way people interact. I liked that about her, actually. I know this will surprise you, but occasionally I have verbal diarrhea when I'm plunked down in unfamiliar social territory. Just FYI, honesty is never the best policy with strangers. Ever.
The story opens with a pretty heavy scene that might upset some people. Not the fact that it happens, just the aftermath. Rory is drinking with some friends, and gets left alone in the living room with a guy she's kind of crushing on. She's convinced that he's a wounded soul that she might possibly be able to make a connection with. Unfortunately, he's not wounded. He's broken and disgusting. He lets her know he's interested in her roommate, then tries to force his dick in her mouth. Yum. Nothing compares to an unwanted penis poking you in the face. *shudder* Thankfully, Tyler comes out of one of the bedrooms and puts a stop to it. I kept waiting for something awful to happen to Grant (the owner of the gross penis), and nothing ever did. Nothing. At first I was like, What?!, but then I realized that it was actually what would have probably happened in real life. Sad, but true.
And that's how Tyler and Rory first start to get to know each other.
Tyler is your standard Bad-Boy-With-A-Heart. He's been handed a crummy lot in life, but he still manages to do the right thing. His mother is a drug addict, so he still lives at home in order to take care of his two younger brothers, one of whom has Downs Syndrome. After you see how awesome he is with both of those kids you can't help but fall for him a little bit.
Oh my God, I wanted to wrap him up and stick him in my purse!
At first, Rory is intimidated by his tattoos and piercings, but it turns out that he is just as intimidated by her brains and sense of honesty. He thinks she's too good for him, and she doesn't think a guy as cool as he is, would ever really consider dating an inexperienced plain-looking girl like her.
Of course he likes you, girl! Otherwise, you wouldn't be the star of a New Adult Romance novel!
Naturally, something has to happen to tear them apart. Boo! But I loved the way Rory didn't stop living even though she was totally heartbroken. She still went out with friends, worked hard at school, and even worked on her relationship with her father.
And THAT'S how it's supposed to be, ladies!
However, this is a romance. And I'm not giving out 4 stars to a book that doesn't have a Happily Ever After, dammit! And I did give it 4 stars. Soooo. Yeah, the ending is sweet and filled with caramel nougat.
There's a slow burn to this romance that I really liked. Couple that with the fact that Rory isn't an idiot, and you have a really good book to snuggle up with on a rainy day.
It's mentioned in the blurb that her roommates offer him money to deflower her, but how that all plays out is not for me to spoil.
Read it for yourself...
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book
I had no idea this book was in the New Adult genre when I started reading it. In fact, I didn't even know the genre existed until...well, until I went to write this review a few minutes ago and had to look it up. Evidently, New Adult is for those kids who are just starting out in life.
I use the term kids, because I'm
Out of high school, starting college, or just on their own for the first time. They're new at being adults, get it? Catchy, no? And pretty self-explanatory, now that I think about it. So I probably could have skipped this first paragraph entirely.
Aw, hell with it. Typing is hard. I'm keeping it.
Ok, on to the good stuff.
Rory is adorable if a bit clueless about the way people interact. I liked that about her, actually. I know this will surprise you, but occasionally I have verbal diarrhea when I'm plunked down in unfamiliar social territory. Just FYI, honesty is never the best policy with strangers. Ever.
The story opens with a pretty heavy scene that might upset some people. Not the fact that it happens, just the aftermath. Rory is drinking with some friends, and gets left alone in the living room with a guy she's kind of crushing on. She's convinced that he's a wounded soul that she might possibly be able to make a connection with. Unfortunately, he's not wounded. He's broken and disgusting. He lets her know he's interested in her roommate, then tries to force his dick in her mouth. Yum. Nothing compares to an unwanted penis poking you in the face. *shudder* Thankfully, Tyler comes out of one of the bedrooms and puts a stop to it. I kept waiting for something awful to happen to Grant (the owner of the gross penis), and nothing ever did. Nothing. At first I was like, What?!, but then I realized that it was actually what would have probably happened in real life. Sad, but true.
And that's how Tyler and Rory first start to get to know each other.
Tyler is your standard Bad-Boy-With-A-Heart. He's been handed a crummy lot in life, but he still manages to do the right thing. His mother is a drug addict, so he still lives at home in order to take care of his two younger brothers, one of whom has Downs Syndrome. After you see how awesome he is with both of those kids you can't help but fall for him a little bit.
Oh my God, I wanted to wrap him up and stick him in my purse!
At first, Rory is intimidated by his tattoos and piercings, but it turns out that he is just as intimidated by her brains and sense of honesty. He thinks she's too good for him, and she doesn't think a guy as cool as he is, would ever really consider dating an inexperienced plain-looking girl like her.
Of course he likes you, girl! Otherwise, you wouldn't be the star of a New Adult Romance novel!
Naturally, something has to happen to tear them apart. Boo! But I loved the way Rory didn't stop living even though she was totally heartbroken. She still went out with friends, worked hard at school, and even worked on her relationship with her father.
And THAT'S how it's supposed to be, ladies!
However, this is a romance. And I'm not giving out 4 stars to a book that doesn't have a Happily Ever After, dammit! And I did give it 4 stars. Soooo. Yeah, the ending is sweet and filled with caramel nougat.
There's a slow burn to this romance that I really liked. Couple that with the fact that Rory isn't an idiot, and you have a really good book to snuggle up with on a rainy day.
It's mentioned in the blurb that her roommates offer him money to deflower her, but how that all plays out is not for me to spoil.
Read it for yourself...
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book
May 7, 2013
5 “TRUER” STARS!!
Rory is a 20-year-old pre-med student. She’s naturally introverted, super smart, and socially awkward. And she’s a virgin. When tall, dark and tatted bad boy Tyler Mann starts paying her some attention, she is immediately suspicious.
“There was no way Tyler Mann was interested in me. He wasn’t. He wouldn’t be.”
She is convinced there is no way someone like Tyler could actually be interested in her. She soon discovers there’s more to Tyler than meets the eye and she starts falling for him.
When she discovers that her roommates had paid him $100 to have sex with her, she is devastated. They hoped that by getting close with Tyler, she would be more confident and come out of her shell. However well-meaning their intentions, Rory is humiliated.
“That was me. Totally stupid. Really, was it so shocking to think that a guy like Tyler didn’t have the purest of intentions. No. It wasn’t. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.”
Even though they didn’t actually have sex, Rory lets everyone believe they did. She thinks Tyler will take the money and disappear from her life, but he doesn’t. He’s still calling, texting, and asking her to study. Rory realizes that his actions just don’t add up and she can’t figure him out. Why is he still trying to be friends?
“So, do you really want me to just go away? Is that the message you’re giving me? Because I can do that. But the truth is, I’d rather not do that. I like hanging out with you.”
Once Tyler comes clean about his involvement in her roommates “set-up,” Rory and Tyler embark on a passionate relationship. It’s an emotional roller coaster, full of lots of ups and downs. They come from different worlds. She is a pre-med student with a bright future. He has a troubled home life and works at a convenience store while putting himself through school to become an EMT. Is their love strong enough to conquer all?
I loved this book. The writing is flawless. I connected with Rory right away because she’s so much like me… reserved, shy, a bit of a wallflower. And Tyler, he is such a good guy… dealing with his mom, taking care of his brothers. I fell in love with him right along with Rory. I enjoyed reading their story and hope to read more from this author!!
******************************************************
ARC courtesy of PENGUIN GROUP via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Rory is a 20-year-old pre-med student. She’s naturally introverted, super smart, and socially awkward. And she’s a virgin. When tall, dark and tatted bad boy Tyler Mann starts paying her some attention, she is immediately suspicious.
“There was no way Tyler Mann was interested in me. He wasn’t. He wouldn’t be.”
She is convinced there is no way someone like Tyler could actually be interested in her. She soon discovers there’s more to Tyler than meets the eye and she starts falling for him.
When she discovers that her roommates had paid him $100 to have sex with her, she is devastated. They hoped that by getting close with Tyler, she would be more confident and come out of her shell. However well-meaning their intentions, Rory is humiliated.
“That was me. Totally stupid. Really, was it so shocking to think that a guy like Tyler didn’t have the purest of intentions. No. It wasn’t. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.”
Even though they didn’t actually have sex, Rory lets everyone believe they did. She thinks Tyler will take the money and disappear from her life, but he doesn’t. He’s still calling, texting, and asking her to study. Rory realizes that his actions just don’t add up and she can’t figure him out. Why is he still trying to be friends?
“So, do you really want me to just go away? Is that the message you’re giving me? Because I can do that. But the truth is, I’d rather not do that. I like hanging out with you.”
Once Tyler comes clean about his involvement in her roommates “set-up,” Rory and Tyler embark on a passionate relationship. It’s an emotional roller coaster, full of lots of ups and downs. They come from different worlds. She is a pre-med student with a bright future. He has a troubled home life and works at a convenience store while putting himself through school to become an EMT. Is their love strong enough to conquer all?
I loved this book. The writing is flawless. I connected with Rory right away because she’s so much like me… reserved, shy, a bit of a wallflower. And Tyler, he is such a good guy… dealing with his mom, taking care of his brothers. I fell in love with him right along with Rory. I enjoyed reading their story and hope to read more from this author!!
******************************************************
ARC courtesy of PENGUIN GROUP via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 20, 2016
A really quick and good book! This is a fast read for inbetween, which does not necessarily mean it's not a good book, because it is! The story has different main topic's, which give us another not-so-perfect view of the world, and that is really interesting to read about. Rory is a person i can deeply relate to, not only is she a introvert like me, but she also has to have a more deeper connection to a person to really get intimate. She is more of a realist, while Tyler is a struggeling 22-year-old with a lot of problems, who sadly are caused by fate. His mother and her problems, the drugs and Rory's family all contribute to this. All this adds up to one huge confused 22-year-old. Even though he was bombed with all these problems, he was also one of the most romantic guys i have ever read about. Absolutely beautiful story, which i highly recommend! Awaiting book two ...
4/5 stars
4/5 stars
December 2, 2015
Items ticked off: 16
True was a New Adult book I looked forward to. Why? Well, several of my friends loved it. Many of my friends respect and like this author. I'd heard this was different from the usual New Adult book. I'd heard so many things about this, people claiming it would be different from my previous experience with the New Adult genre.
To all my friends who liked this: sorry, but I'm the black sheep once again.
True did not sit well with me. At what point did my interest dwindle? At 5%, when our hero tells the heroine that she can do better than the guy that tried to rape her. May I also mention he says this about five minutes after the attempted rape? I tried to keep an open mind; surely he had a reason for talking to the heroine this way. Something, anything to rationalize him talking about her attempted rape like you'd talk about the weather. But no. He continues that being with Grant (the almost rapist), she would be "wasting her virginity" and then continue with questions like, are you really a virgin.
I mean seriously.
Could you possibly trivialize an attempted rape more?
It didn't help that this book did not portray the emotional aftermath of an attempted rape in the least, what with our heroine talking with the almost rapist a few weeks later. Once again, rape was used as a plot device, very much alike many other New Adult stories.
Anyway, after that disturbing scene, our heroine, Rory and our hero, Tyler, start to hang out. Okay, they are actually helping each other study, and soon Rory starts to grow feelings for the guy. Needless to say, Tyler never managed to win me over after the opening scenes. That said, I did feel for him in some measure as his childhood was anything but sunshine. I felt for him on that part, but not much else.
And Rory. I so badly wanted to like her. She was a science geek, devoted student, and a bit socially awkward. First of all: if you're going to write a heroine that's interested in science you need to know elementary science.
Which never made any particular sense to me since electrons were composed of multiple atoms.
There's no good excuse for why this is in the story. So, basically, we have a heroine who claims to be a science geek but she doesn't even know what atoms and electrons are. This is where you use the fail hashtag. Not to mention that Rory needed to get off her high horse once or twice. In conclusion: I did not in particularly care for Rory. I didn't dislike her, but I didn't love her either.
In terms of plot, I'm ready to admit it wasn't exactly like every other NA story out there, but there's manufactured drama in the end that could've been left out (or changed for something else). Tyler's family must have been the most interesting thing in this entire story. Rory's family... I struggled with. Not because they were a bad bunch or anything, but because they are all supposed to be scientists and the portrayal of, what should we say, smart people irked me. Rory's father is a chemical engineer and her aunt has a Ph.D in physics, so basically they are a family of smart people. And all of them are described as incapable of function normally in a social setting. They are all pale and uncoordinated. They are all the ultimate stereotypical geek. Not everyone with a degree in science, be it physics or chemistry or what else, is asocial and incapable of performing in sports. So yeah, it's a big pet peeve of mine.
All in all, I'm ready to admit at parts this is better than the average New Adult story, but that's as far as I'm willing to go.
May 14, 2013
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
Source: A review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley
New Adult has been a self-publishing phenomenon, so it’s interesting to see what the big publishers are going to do with it. In that regard, True is an interesting addition to the sub-genre (?), and it successfully portrays the themes and subjects of NA. Unfortunately, there were other aspects in which the story wasn't as successful.
Rory is a bit of a nerd, so of course she’s a virgin. Lucky for her—and inexplicably for us—her best friends (and I use the term loosely) and roommates are hot party girls who know exactly what Rory needs: to get laid. So they enlist the help of Tyler, a guy they know from, well, having sex with him.
While that happens, Tyler and Rory get to know each other and date a little. There is chemistry between them and they develop a friendship that’s framed by sexual attraction. They become a couple, get over a couple of obstacles, and overall make it work. And then life gets in the way. And by “life” I mean Tyler’s responsibilities and shitty mother.
As I said before, Ms. McCarthy captures well the essence of NA. It’s not just age and setting, but the situations, feelings and issues that come with becoming independent for the first time, having new responsibilities, figuring out what to do with the future, and how different limitations impact the way we begin to shape that future. And as such, I thought it was a fairly competent entry in the sub-genre.
The romance was also effective, although I admit to being a bit tired of stories about bad boys with hearts of gold corrupting good, virginal girls. I think it’s time to read about bad girls corrupting virginal boys, or any other variation if we’re unable to simply get rid of the “bad”. But regardless, I thought there was chemistry between the leads, and I liked them together.
The premise is silly and screams of predictable misunderstanding and angst, but it never goes there. Once Rory discovers that her friends hired Tyler to sleep with her, she is outraged and hurt, but also stops to think about it and realizes that their relationship is real.
So the beginning was intriguing and the first half was promising, but I had a couple of issues with the second half; issues that the more I think about, the angrier they make me.
The first thing that bothered me was the portrayal of poverty. Tyler’s mother is an addict who terribly neglects and mistreats her children. She’s unreliable, so Tyler is mostly in charge of the household (and he’s really bad at it). He sacrifices his dreams to get a quick EMT certification in order to support his family. And in the meantime, the house is dirty, disgusting and foul. Because poor people are all abusive addicts who don’t know how to keep a tidy home, right? Tyler’s situation is used to make the heroine aware of her own privileged life, which may not be that bad, except that in doing so, the stereotypical portrayal of poverty becomes a plot device to teach the heroine a lesson, turn the hero into a martyr, and create a final conflict that was actually quite depressing.
The second thing that bothered me was the way the main characters treated Tyler’s brother, Jayden. He has Down syndrome, so of course he’s used as another way to show how awful their mother is. But more than that, I was bothered by the patronizing way Tyler and Rory treated him. Jayden is in his late teens, yet they treat him like a small child, and in fact, some of his behavior was that of a small child. This is a young man we’re talking about and he should be treated accordingly.
The final score is True: 0 – Stereotypes: 2. Stereotypes win, and we all lose.
Source: A review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley
New Adult has been a self-publishing phenomenon, so it’s interesting to see what the big publishers are going to do with it. In that regard, True is an interesting addition to the sub-genre (?), and it successfully portrays the themes and subjects of NA. Unfortunately, there were other aspects in which the story wasn't as successful.
Rory is a bit of a nerd, so of course she’s a virgin. Lucky for her—and inexplicably for us—her best friends (and I use the term loosely) and roommates are hot party girls who know exactly what Rory needs: to get laid. So they enlist the help of Tyler, a guy they know from, well, having sex with him.
While that happens, Tyler and Rory get to know each other and date a little. There is chemistry between them and they develop a friendship that’s framed by sexual attraction. They become a couple, get over a couple of obstacles, and overall make it work. And then life gets in the way. And by “life” I mean Tyler’s responsibilities and shitty mother.
As I said before, Ms. McCarthy captures well the essence of NA. It’s not just age and setting, but the situations, feelings and issues that come with becoming independent for the first time, having new responsibilities, figuring out what to do with the future, and how different limitations impact the way we begin to shape that future. And as such, I thought it was a fairly competent entry in the sub-genre.
The romance was also effective, although I admit to being a bit tired of stories about bad boys with hearts of gold corrupting good, virginal girls. I think it’s time to read about bad girls corrupting virginal boys, or any other variation if we’re unable to simply get rid of the “bad”. But regardless, I thought there was chemistry between the leads, and I liked them together.
The premise is silly and screams of predictable misunderstanding and angst, but it never goes there. Once Rory discovers that her friends hired Tyler to sleep with her, she is outraged and hurt, but also stops to think about it and realizes that their relationship is real.
So the beginning was intriguing and the first half was promising, but I had a couple of issues with the second half; issues that the more I think about, the angrier they make me.
The first thing that bothered me was the portrayal of poverty. Tyler’s mother is an addict who terribly neglects and mistreats her children. She’s unreliable, so Tyler is mostly in charge of the household (and he’s really bad at it). He sacrifices his dreams to get a quick EMT certification in order to support his family. And in the meantime, the house is dirty, disgusting and foul. Because poor people are all abusive addicts who don’t know how to keep a tidy home, right? Tyler’s situation is used to make the heroine aware of her own privileged life, which may not be that bad, except that in doing so, the stereotypical portrayal of poverty becomes a plot device to teach the heroine a lesson, turn the hero into a martyr, and create a final conflict that was actually quite depressing.
The second thing that bothered me was the way the main characters treated Tyler’s brother, Jayden. He has Down syndrome, so of course he’s used as another way to show how awful their mother is. But more than that, I was bothered by the patronizing way Tyler and Rory treated him. Jayden is in his late teens, yet they treat him like a small child, and in fact, some of his behavior was that of a small child. This is a young man we’re talking about and he should be treated accordingly.
The final score is True: 0 – Stereotypes: 2. Stereotypes win, and we all lose.
May 16, 2013
4 stars!!
Loved this story, was a different type of read from Erin and I must say I was not disappointed!!
The heroine is Rory, although she is a 20 year old virgin (and you might think, oh no not another one), this book is far from the norm. She is super intelligent, extremely honest but also has no self esteem, even though others think she is gorgeous she cannot see it herself. Her mum died when she was young and she was brought up by her father. He did the best he could and they have a very close relationship but she lacked that female influence whilst growing up. Her virginity is intact because she basically cut herself off and threw herself into her studies, she lacked the confidence to put herself out there, the one time she did make the effort it didn’t end well so she gave up trying to be the typical teenage girl.
Tyler was your typical bad boy, tattooed and pierced etc etc etc or was he…… We were led to believe that he was the player and was actually the “friends with benefits partner” of Rory’s friend..but after he and Rory became friends we saw another side to him. He was so not what you thought.
Rory and Tyler first become friends and study partners, Tyler is actually more intelligent than people give him credit for and wants to become an EMT, so he is doing his classes. The reason he wants to become an EMT is what pulls at your heart strings and is the reason that I fell in love with Tyler.
There are a lot of side characters in this book, especially Tyler’s family, his brothers were adorable TRUE which soon became TRUER…read it, you will see what I mean. There is no instalust/love in this book and it is the friendship between the two that grows into love…however it seems that Tyler already had feelings even before Rory was aware…
“ I never stood a f***king chance, did I? You had me the minute I first saw you telling the guy next to you that you were pre-med and that the human centipede movie is physically impossible”
The writing was beautiful and pulled you in, although their families are poles apart you felt that what they had was genuine and worth fighting for. The love that brothers had despite all their problems and hardships had you melting at times.
I can’t really say too much as it will give the story away, but suffice to say that this is a fab read and I would recommend it.
I was upset with the ending, I felt that it really needed an epilogue…there is a lot more to find out about Tyler and Rory, I would love to see what happens to them going forward…I think that this book maybe part of a series but the next book is about a different character, I just hope that during this book Rory and Tyler’s story continues in the background so that we can see what happens going forward.
www.theromancecover.com
Loved this story, was a different type of read from Erin and I must say I was not disappointed!!
The heroine is Rory, although she is a 20 year old virgin (and you might think, oh no not another one), this book is far from the norm. She is super intelligent, extremely honest but also has no self esteem, even though others think she is gorgeous she cannot see it herself. Her mum died when she was young and she was brought up by her father. He did the best he could and they have a very close relationship but she lacked that female influence whilst growing up. Her virginity is intact because she basically cut herself off and threw herself into her studies, she lacked the confidence to put herself out there, the one time she did make the effort it didn’t end well so she gave up trying to be the typical teenage girl.
Tyler was your typical bad boy, tattooed and pierced etc etc etc or was he…… We were led to believe that he was the player and was actually the “friends with benefits partner” of Rory’s friend..but after he and Rory became friends we saw another side to him. He was so not what you thought.
Rory and Tyler first become friends and study partners, Tyler is actually more intelligent than people give him credit for and wants to become an EMT, so he is doing his classes. The reason he wants to become an EMT is what pulls at your heart strings and is the reason that I fell in love with Tyler.
There are a lot of side characters in this book, especially Tyler’s family, his brothers were adorable TRUE which soon became TRUER…read it, you will see what I mean. There is no instalust/love in this book and it is the friendship between the two that grows into love…however it seems that Tyler already had feelings even before Rory was aware…
“ I never stood a f***king chance, did I? You had me the minute I first saw you telling the guy next to you that you were pre-med and that the human centipede movie is physically impossible”
The writing was beautiful and pulled you in, although their families are poles apart you felt that what they had was genuine and worth fighting for. The love that brothers had despite all their problems and hardships had you melting at times.
I can’t really say too much as it will give the story away, but suffice to say that this is a fab read and I would recommend it.
I was upset with the ending, I felt that it really needed an epilogue…there is a lot more to find out about Tyler and Rory, I would love to see what happens to them going forward…I think that this book maybe part of a series but the next book is about a different character, I just hope that during this book Rory and Tyler’s story continues in the background so that we can see what happens going forward.
www.theromancecover.com
June 3, 2013
ARC provided by The Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I truly enjoyed this book. This is my first book by Erin McCarthy and I wasn't disappointed. I will definitely continue to read book by this author. I'll start by saying that I really liked Rory, she was a strong female character who didn't whine very much. She did have bouts of self doubt when it came to the opposite gender but nothing that really rubbed me the wrong way. We all have those moments of weakness when it comes to our personal relationships. Tyler was a fabulous hero. Just the right mix of bad boy and swoon worthy hunk. He was so sweet and everything he had to sacrifice for his family was awe inspiring. I felt that Rory and Tyler were good together, they balanced each other out.
My only real complaint with the storyline was regarding the deal that was made between Tyler and Rory's roommates, Kylie and Jessica. I didn't think it really needed to be in there, but if the author was going to put it in there then I wish more of it would have been brought out. It was kind of just glossed over. Plus I didn't think Rory's reaction to it was very realistic. I know if I would've found out that my roommates did that to me I wouldn't have been as nice and forgiving as Rory was. Like I said for it having such a small part in the beginning of the book, I think it could've been left out.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good college aged story with the bad boy and nerdy girl who end up hitting it off.
I truly enjoyed this book. This is my first book by Erin McCarthy and I wasn't disappointed. I will definitely continue to read book by this author. I'll start by saying that I really liked Rory, she was a strong female character who didn't whine very much. She did have bouts of self doubt when it came to the opposite gender but nothing that really rubbed me the wrong way. We all have those moments of weakness when it comes to our personal relationships. Tyler was a fabulous hero. Just the right mix of bad boy and swoon worthy hunk. He was so sweet and everything he had to sacrifice for his family was awe inspiring. I felt that Rory and Tyler were good together, they balanced each other out.
My only real complaint with the storyline was regarding the deal that was made between Tyler and Rory's roommates, Kylie and Jessica. I didn't think it really needed to be in there, but if the author was going to put it in there then I wish more of it would have been brought out. It was kind of just glossed over. Plus I didn't think Rory's reaction to it was very realistic. I know if I would've found out that my roommates did that to me I wouldn't have been as nice and forgiving as Rory was. Like I said for it having such a small part in the beginning of the book, I think it could've been left out.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good college aged story with the bad boy and nerdy girl who end up hitting it off.
August 7, 2013
Heartbreaking story. How life can take a turn. TRUER!
Rory is a shy girl generally. On a night at her friends boyfriends' house she is rescued by Tyler from an unpleasant situation. Tyler, our hottie, is a couple of years older and training to be an EMT.
Despite their different lifestyles, they seem to fit well together. The story line has enough twists and turns to grasp your attention and make you finish the book in one sitting.
A nice read.
My Tyler
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