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The Ivy Chronicles #1
Foreplay
Foreplay by Sophie Jordan has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
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First published November 5, 2013
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About the author
Sophie Jordan
83 books8,993 followersPseudonym:
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
Sharie Kohler
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,815 reviews
January 5, 2014
I am conducting what I'm shelving as a "New Adult (NA) Experiment". I'm going to work my way through some of the popular New Adult books and see if I can weed out the crap and hopefully find some surprising gems. Here's hoping!
"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."
- John Lennon
This book is New Adult. It's contemporary romance. And it's New Adult. I liked it. And it's New Adult. I'm starting to believe that 2014 may be the year when pigs grow wings and take off in flight.
For this once in a blue moon occurrence, I'm going to treat you to some visual, er, stimulation. Let's take a look at the hottie of this piece (well, in my mind):
I don't want to risk overselling this to my cynical, unromantic friends on the internet (you know who you are) - if you couldn't tell already, Foreplay is a contemporary romance with a lot of sexual content. I doubt your life or worldly perspective is going to be changed by this book. But it is an entertaining, fast-paced read that avoids all the usual misogyny and actually produces a male love interest that I could see myself being interested in in real life. Plus, throw in a bit of humour, crazy ass college friends and a story about the way our perspective changes as we get older... and you have a pretty damn good book. If you ask me.
I really liked the way the romance played out in this one. The author approached it in a slightly different way. Our heroine doesn't fall in love instantly and Reese (see above) wasn't supposed to be the one she ended up with. Pepper has been in love with Hunter forever. He represents everything she longs for in life: safety, security, comfort, love... and his recent breakup with his girlfriend makes her start to wonder if there could finally be a chance for the two of them. But Pepper is socially awkward, clumsy and inexperienced. She says stupid things when trying to flirt. She knows next to nothing about sex and/or relationships. But unlike other books I've read recently (take your pick from my na-experiment shelf), this isn't another example of a book that creates a good girls versus "slutty" girls story. It's handled in a far more sophisticated way.
"This wasn't a fling. It was less than that. It was us pretending. Playing at something more."
Anyway, so Pepper decides to find a guy she can use to show her the ropes of foreplay. And who better than the smokin' hot bartender. It's easy, she thinks, she can just use him to become a sexual goddess and then go running back into Hunter's arms a whole new woman. But, as you can imagine, things don't quite go to plan. And I like that. It's why I started with that John Lennon quote. I don't know about you, but the best things that have happened to me in my life have always been the unplanned, unprecedented accidents that drive me to exactly where I needed to be - even though I never realised it at the time. We have so many plans and dreams and thoughts about who we are and where we're headed but, in the end, life isn't something you can really plan for.
I liked a lot of things about this novel, including the fact that the guy was sweet instead of the usual jerkfaced douchebag. And I was thankful for the lack of icky sweet nothings. My criticisms are few, but the main one which irked me was the use of yet another attempted rape scene to instigate a scenario where Reese got to play hero. This is used so often it's fast becoming a cliche. And a particularly annoying one at that. The book would have been better without it.
Honestly, I liked Foreplay. I didn't really expect to and I will continue to keep my expectations of New Adult low. But it's nice to know a few good ones are out there.
September 8, 2019
4 Light Stars
This was exactly what I was in the mood for and I really enjoyed it.
This was exactly what I was in the mood for and I really enjoyed it.
November 20, 2013
BE WARNED: GIFs ahead
Ugh. Experiment FAIL.
Let me start with a quick note about names. Yeah, BAVR likes to open with the important stuff. What in the name of all things holy is up with the names in these New Adult books? Here are the names of some of thejerks characters in this book: Pepper, Reece, Emerson, Hunter, and Georgia. On their own, the names are wholly inoffensive, I suppose. I wouldn't name my child any of those things, but it's not like the author named them "Speedboat" or "Kitchen" or anything. However, compare that list of names to this list of popular/common names if you search for the year 1992 (the median year of their likely births).
Do you see what I'm getting at here? Where are the Jennifers and the Mikes and the Ashleys and the Brandons?
Am I being too picky?
So, Foreplay is pretty much the paint-by-numbers story you get when a big name publisher decides to take on the New Adult genre. The grammar is passable, perhaps the story is less offensive, but the annoying tropes are ALL THERE.
Oh, and if this were a classroom and the teacher called "Sexism's" name, it would probably raise its hand and say, "Present!" But I'm sure you expected that.
Pepper, the narrator, is kind of an asshole. Is that okay to state right off the bat? I mean, I'm not ashamed of calling her an asshole because she is one, but maybe I should start with something more concrete. Like that she's a cow. Pepper is a virgin (big surprise!), never been kissed ...
Sorry, Drew Barrymore.
... and so fucking above the "college scene" of dating and partying at bars and stuff.
She is surrounded by the typical NA people:
- her friend Emerson, who gamely takes on the role of Contractually Obligated NA Skank Roommate
- her responsible friend Georgia, who's practically married to some dude I have a feeling will be Outsville in an inevitable sequel
- good-natured, wealthy Hunter, brother of her best friend from home and aspiring doctor
- tortured bad boy Reece who sets Pepper's nether regions afire
Pepper has been in love with Hunter since she was a kid, and her life's plan includes becoming a therapist for children and marrying him. Unfortunately, she isn't dating him yet, nor does he know that she cares. This is normal, guys. All girls seriously plan their futures with guys who are oblivious to their feelings. Then our dads/brothers/guardians hand over our dowries to them, and we pop out 14 kids to make sure the family fortune will pass down to male heirs.
Duh.
But Pepper's smart (so they say), and she realizes that she can't marry Hunter unless she actually slaps on some big girl panties and talks to him. But, like, talking is really hard for this girl.
Emerson comes up with a totes brill plan to teach Pepper what should come naturally to a human being. After all, Pepper's been beautiful all along. The only thing she needs is some practice with an easily expendable boy toy .
And Pepper, who I have to repeat is a PSYCH MAJOR, decides that she must learn to flirt with boys. For science.
Enter: Reece ...
... the guy at the local bar who apparently hooks up with EVERYONE.
So Pepper drags Reece into her little plan, and it's as awful as I suspected. The problem with this is that Reece is, for the most part, a really good guy. He makes a decent living, he genuinely likes Pepper, he gives her orgasms like whoa, and .
And for probably 80% of the story, Pepper looks down on him because he doesn't have a formal education and works in a bar. Don't believe me? Eat some quotes!
Moo.
There's nothing like a classist heroine to get BAVR's jaws a-chomping.
When Hunter starts to show interest in the "new and improved" Pepper, our bovine heroine is left with a big choice. Will her "foreplay lessons" with Reece lead to true love, or is her destiny forever intertwined with that guy she latched onto because he comes from a wealthy family and treats her like a little sister?
Personally, I wanted Reece to dump her ass and hook up with someone who doesn't suck, but I won't spoil the ending for you. Read if you dare.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I've read one of Sophie Jordan's HR novels and enjoyed it far more than this. I was hoping she could bring something new to the New Adult formula, but that doesn't seem to be anyone's intention at the moment. Authors: Please make that your intention. I'm on the tail-end of the NA demographic and can't relate to these stories at all. There is so much potential in the genre, and everyone's pissing it down their leg in exchange for eroticrap and trite drama. My generation is better than this, people. Step it up.
Ugh. Experiment FAIL.
Let me start with a quick note about names. Yeah, BAVR likes to open with the important stuff. What in the name of all things holy is up with the names in these New Adult books? Here are the names of some of the
Do you see what I'm getting at here? Where are the Jennifers and the Mikes and the Ashleys and the Brandons?
Am I being too picky?
So, Foreplay is pretty much the paint-by-numbers story you get when a big name publisher decides to take on the New Adult genre. The grammar is passable, perhaps the story is less offensive, but the annoying tropes are ALL THERE.
Oh, and if this were a classroom and the teacher called "Sexism's" name, it would probably raise its hand and say, "Present!" But I'm sure you expected that.
Pepper, the narrator, is kind of an asshole. Is that okay to state right off the bat? I mean, I'm not ashamed of calling her an asshole because she is one, but maybe I should start with something more concrete. Like that she's a cow. Pepper is a virgin (big surprise!), never been kissed ...
Sorry, Drew Barrymore.
... and so fucking above the "college scene" of dating and partying at bars and stuff.
She is surrounded by the typical NA people:
- her friend Emerson, who gamely takes on the role of Contractually Obligated NA Skank Roommate
Turning, she lined up her pool stick and prepared her shot, earning a lot of stares when she bent over, thrusting her bottom up in the air to the appreciative gazes of nearby guys, specifically the two that had invited us to play pool with them.
- her responsible friend Georgia, who's practically married to some dude I have a feeling will be Outsville in an inevitable sequel
- good-natured, wealthy Hunter, brother of her best friend from home and aspiring doctor
- tortured bad boy Reece who sets Pepper's nether regions afire
Pepper has been in love with Hunter since she was a kid, and her life's plan includes becoming a therapist for children and marrying him. Unfortunately, she isn't dating him yet, nor does he know that she cares. This is normal, guys. All girls seriously plan their futures with guys who are oblivious to their feelings. Then our dads/brothers/guardians hand over our dowries to them, and we pop out 14 kids to make sure the family fortune will pass down to male heirs.
Duh.
But Pepper's smart (so they say), and she realizes that she can't marry Hunter unless she actually slaps on some big girl panties and talks to him. But, like, talking is really hard for this girl.
I took a sip from my cup and glanced around the room, eyeing the crowd. Beautiful girls were everywhere, laughing, talking, flipping their hair with smooth, gliding movements. I'd never felt so apart from my environment as I did in that moment. Any one of these girls had a better shot with Hunter than I did. All because they weren't afraid to go after what they wanted. All because they knew how to talk, how to act, how to be around guys. And they didn't need a kind club to educate them. They figured it out and I could, too.
Emerson comes up with a totes brill plan to teach Pepper what should come naturally to a human being. After all, Pepper's been beautiful all along. The only thing she needs is some practice with an easily expendable boy toy .
And Pepper, who I have to repeat is a PSYCH MAJOR, decides that she must learn to flirt with boys. For science.
Enter: Reece ...
... the guy at the local bar who apparently hooks up with EVERYONE.
So Pepper drags Reece into her little plan, and it's as awful as I suspected. The problem with this is that Reece is, for the most part, a really good guy. He makes a decent living, he genuinely likes Pepper, he gives her orgasms like whoa, and .
And for probably 80% of the story, Pepper looks down on him because he doesn't have a formal education and works in a bar. Don't believe me? Eat some quotes!
Was he a student, too? What else did he do? Besides half the girls that trolled through here--if rumors were to be believed. He had to have something else going for him. Disappointment curled through me to think that there might be nothing more for him than this. No goals outside of tending bar.
So working at the bar was all there was for him. Again, there was that stab of disappointment. Which was not only judgmental of me but absurd. I wasn't considering this guy for a boyfriend or lifelong partner material. I shouldn't feel anything at his lack of ambition.
Moo.
There's nothing like a classist heroine to get BAVR's jaws a-chomping.
When Hunter starts to show interest in the "new and improved" Pepper, our bovine heroine is left with a big choice. Will her "foreplay lessons" with Reece lead to true love, or is her destiny forever intertwined with that guy she latched onto because he comes from a wealthy family and treats her like a little sister?
Personally, I wanted Reece to dump her ass and hook up with someone who doesn't suck, but I won't spoil the ending for you. Read if you dare.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I've read one of Sophie Jordan's HR novels and enjoyed it far more than this. I was hoping she could bring something new to the New Adult formula, but that doesn't seem to be anyone's intention at the moment. Authors: Please make that your intention. I'm on the tail-end of the NA demographic and can't relate to these stories at all. There is so much potential in the genre, and everyone's pissing it down their leg in exchange for eroticrap and trite drama. My generation is better than this, people. Step it up.
November 9, 2013
4.5 stars
These days, I mostly bitch about predictabilty, boring plots and themes that are used so many times, I don’t have to read all book to know how it’ll go. Writing unique and refreshing New Adult Book started to be very hard task, as I’ve read so many books in the same taste it’s almost impossible to surprise me. But guess what? Foreplay took me by surprise with it’s predictability (!) and the fact that I freaking loved it anyways. I know crazy, right? I think I’m bipolar.
The story follows Pepper, almost twenty year old girl without a real ‘dating’ experience. She has never dated, kissed or had any kind of physical contact with a male. She always crushed on her best friend’s brother and never really thought about other guys. She craved his affection from the time they were kids, but unfortunately Hunter never had the same feelings as she. Now, years later, Pepper still is madly in love with him and she had a little bit of luck. Hunter just broke up with his girlfriend. Pepper and her besties want to seduce Hunter and make him realize, Pepper is the love of his life.
Pepper doesn’t feel confident enough to make a move, though. Her inexperience aka ‘v-card’ stands in her way. So what she has to do? Find a man whore who will cash it.
And Reece the sexy as hell, tattoed and drool worthy bartender will be the one to do so.
I was astonished when the usual ‘virgin heroine meet experienced bad boy hero’ theme was so enjoyable I completely fell for it and almost begged for more. I got hooked on the plot and even the slight love triangle thing didn’t scare me away. It’s so unusual for me. I mean, I - the hater of the haters of love triangles – freaking adored this cute, sexy book!
I really don’t have any idea if there was thing I didn’t enjoy. And mind you, normally I would diss the hell out of a New Adult book with a virginal heroine that pins for her best friend’s brother and whines all the time, that she can’t have him. The moment Pepper met Reece, I kind of forgot there was the other guy, she ‘loved’, though. I couldn’t even remember his name. The two just stole the show and the amazing, stunning, off the charts chemistry between them clouded every Hunter (that’s the other guy name) related thing.
Reece and Pepper’s relationship was a constant foreplay. Such a freaking tease! And ladies it was so fucking hott to see them together. The sexual tension blew me away.
I was on the cloud nine, filled with this warm, fuzzy emotions and with butterflies in my tummy, high as a kite on romance and I just quickly forgot that Pepper was a little bit frustrating, that there was no uniquness and that I could guess how it would end even before I picked up Foreplay.
Foreplay kind of stole my heart and attacked my brain changing it to a useless goe and I feel so fluffy right now, I want to sing and scream and just hug someone.
Overall, I’m not ashmed to confess that from time to time, I need some sweetness in my reading and Foreplay was a like a fluffy bunny, rainbow, unicorn, chocolate and great sex rolled into one.
December 30, 2014
Idiotic, cliched and bland. Once again, I was tricked into reading another new adult novel with an overused storyline. See, all those stereotypes (yes, the negative ones) associated with new adult books are in this one. Let's make a checklist, friends.
1.) The inexperienced, supposedly "intelligent" heroine--Pepper. Oh dear Lord, where do I even start? Pepper's our resident elitist bitch and virgin. She needs to get her foot out of her ass and really get to know people before she puts them down and treats them like shit (the love interest, especially). Another thing: this lady's kinda cray-cray. A bit of a stalker, really. As you know, she wanted a bit of "experience" before going after her dream guy, Hunter. So she hears about the local bartender who's incredibly sexy and experienced. And then she goes there to stare at him three nights in a row. Creepy.
2.) The sexy (older) bad boy--Reece. I didn't care for his character AT ALL. He kind of made me want to puke sometimes. Plus he's an idiot. He knows Pepper's just using him but he just lets himself be used! Come on, he even said it himself:
“Oh. Yeah? Then do me a favor and explain it to me. Why is Hunter so important? Why does it gotta be him? ’Cause that’s what this is about, right? You fuck me but you still want to be with him.”
I'm not fond of people who are fine with degrading themselves and becoming mindless dogs, thank you very much.
3.) Shitty best friends. I know a thing or two about pushing your friends to make moves on their crushes, but HELLO. It is NOT okay to convince your friend to stalk a guy, and it is definitely not good to encourage your friend to find "experience" with a guy you hardly know.
4.) Insta-love with some insta-lust thrown in there for good measure. I think on their third or so meeting, Reece (knowing he's being used) agrees to "help" Pepper with her thing. And they go on and on with this stupid flirty relationship until BAM they're in love, and of course, don't bother admitting it to each other until the very end where the most stupid and random twist takes place.
So let's end this review with a warning. Read this book if a) you've read and enjoyed most of the popular new adult books, b) if you have you're extremely patient or c) you're unconscious.
September 4, 2019
Still great the 3rd time!
For Readathon-2017: 31/52
In the category "A book with only one word on the title"
Woman authors: 27/27
I loved it.
Reread 05/11/2017
So the past week I've been on a marathon of rereading some of my favorite NA series. I still love the books and this one was as great as I remembered it. Pepper and Reece are an amazing couple and if you haven't read this book yet harry up and read it. You won't regret it. Sophie Jordan somehow avoids many of the tropes used in this gender while keeping the humor and hotness in high level.
For Readathon-2017: 31/52
In the category "A book with only one word on the title"
Woman authors: 27/27
I loved it.
Reread 05/11/2017
So the past week I've been on a marathon of rereading some of my favorite NA series. I still love the books and this one was as great as I remembered it. Pepper and Reece are an amazing couple and if you haven't read this book yet harry up and read it. You won't regret it. Sophie Jordan somehow avoids many of the tropes used in this gender while keeping the humor and hotness in high level.
January 7, 2014
Do me a favor and disregard everything you've heard about this book. (Especially if you've read the synopsis.) And, while you're at it, throw out those pre-conceived notions you may have looking at the cover or title of this novel.
Hmm...ready to listen? Foreplay is, in a few simple words, a genuinely good New Adult title.
Now that you've gone off in a huff, called me crazy, shut down your laptops and hastily logged back in, I'll use a few more words, shall I?
Jordan's Foreplay is about Pepper. From the first page itself, Pepper is in love with Hunter Montgomery, her best friend's older brother. Unlike the Montgomery's, Pepper's life has been far from perfect. Instead of a nuclear family she's dealt with a deceased father and missing mother, being brought up by her grandmother. Instead of family vacations to Disney land and an atmosphere of safety, Pepper has never been able to let go of the past she led running from one place to the next when her mother was still around. Needless to say, for as long as Pepper can remember, Hunter Montgomery has been the symbol of all she has ever hoped for: safety, security, and love. Now that he's finally single, though, after two years in a committed relationship, Pepper has no idea how to woo him over.
Enter: Reece. Or, as most people would rather call him, sexy bartender. While Reece isn't the type of guy Pepper would ever go for - and neither is the goody-two-shoes beauty the type of girl he'd usually pick either - the two are strangely drawn to one another. And Pepper, hoping for an experienced guy to teach her a few tricks of the trade, happily launches onto Reece to become that person. What she doesn't expect is the unexpected intimacy - and genuine feeling - that creeps into her heart after spending so much time with him. After all this time, is Hunter really the one she wants? Or is it someone else?
Although Foreplay doesn't necessarily sound as original as, say, mutant zombies in space wielding katanas and riding space unicorns (I just made that up...), in comparison to other New Adult reads, it genuinely does stand out. (Besides, isn't the summary I just gave you far better than the nasty internet rumor going around of Foreplay being about a girl who wants to lose her virginity?)
1. This is a story about broken people who do NOT heal one another. Both Reece and Pepper haven't lead the best or more comfortable lives, but they fall in love despite those issues, not because they expect to change each others lives. Moreover, Jordan never sugarcoats their romance. Every issue that Reece and Pepper start out with in the beginning of the book is carried over to the end, but that only strengthens the bond between these two.
2. Zero Slut Shaming. Zero. First off, Pepper doesn't want to lose her virginity in this book. She is more than happy to stay a virgin until she finds the right guy, but she doesn't look down upon those with different attitudes either. Are there still women who "thrust their cleavage" and what-not? Of course, but these are treated as observations and never explicitly remarked upon, which I appreciated. It's all too common for New Adult books to veer into sexism or misogyny because alpha-males are trying to hard, but Jordan avoids that issue with this book quite adeptly.
3. Friends. Real Ones. Emerson and Georgia, Pepper's close college friends, though leading different lifestyles than Pepper are watching out for her regardless. If she isn't comfortable in a situation and they're about to land a hot date, they do the right thing and make sure Pepper gets home instead of ditching her for their one-night stand. Friendship. It exists in NA. *gasp*
4. College Exams/Dorm Life/Jobs. Everyone in this book is young, but they deal with regular activities like a job, parties, exams, having dorm rooms and suite mates. It's so blessedly normal and the fact that this existence is even acknowledged outside the romance is a plus point in favor of this novel. (Yes, that's how bad NA has gotten...)
5. A respectful romance. What I really appreciated with this one was how little angst was present. Reece knows that Pepper wants Hunter for safety and comfort and though he has feelings for her - and her for him that she refuses to acknowledge - he's mature and let's her find her way on her own without ever forcing himself on her. Reece only goes as far as Pepper is willing, never telling her that she'll enjoy more or trying to please only himself. It's a strong, mutual relationship in which both parties give and take, compromising in a realistic, but equal, manner.
If those aren't five promising reasons to pick this one up, then I don't know what are! Seriously - give this one a shot. You won't be disappointed.
P.S. - Emily May's NA Experiment has never led me astray. If you aren't already aware of this, I'd urge you to keep track of these reviews. Not only have they helped me find decent NA reads, but they're wonderfully written too. Thanks Emily May! :)
Hmm...ready to listen? Foreplay is, in a few simple words, a genuinely good New Adult title.
Now that you've gone off in a huff, called me crazy, shut down your laptops and hastily logged back in, I'll use a few more words, shall I?
Jordan's Foreplay is about Pepper. From the first page itself, Pepper is in love with Hunter Montgomery, her best friend's older brother. Unlike the Montgomery's, Pepper's life has been far from perfect. Instead of a nuclear family she's dealt with a deceased father and missing mother, being brought up by her grandmother. Instead of family vacations to Disney land and an atmosphere of safety, Pepper has never been able to let go of the past she led running from one place to the next when her mother was still around. Needless to say, for as long as Pepper can remember, Hunter Montgomery has been the symbol of all she has ever hoped for: safety, security, and love. Now that he's finally single, though, after two years in a committed relationship, Pepper has no idea how to woo him over.
Enter: Reece. Or, as most people would rather call him, sexy bartender. While Reece isn't the type of guy Pepper would ever go for - and neither is the goody-two-shoes beauty the type of girl he'd usually pick either - the two are strangely drawn to one another. And Pepper, hoping for an experienced guy to teach her a few tricks of the trade, happily launches onto Reece to become that person. What she doesn't expect is the unexpected intimacy - and genuine feeling - that creeps into her heart after spending so much time with him. After all this time, is Hunter really the one she wants? Or is it someone else?
Although Foreplay doesn't necessarily sound as original as, say, mutant zombies in space wielding katanas and riding space unicorns (I just made that up...), in comparison to other New Adult reads, it genuinely does stand out. (Besides, isn't the summary I just gave you far better than the nasty internet rumor going around of Foreplay being about a girl who wants to lose her virginity?)
1. This is a story about broken people who do NOT heal one another. Both Reece and Pepper haven't lead the best or more comfortable lives, but they fall in love despite those issues, not because they expect to change each others lives. Moreover, Jordan never sugarcoats their romance. Every issue that Reece and Pepper start out with in the beginning of the book is carried over to the end, but that only strengthens the bond between these two.
2. Zero Slut Shaming. Zero. First off, Pepper doesn't want to lose her virginity in this book. She is more than happy to stay a virgin until she finds the right guy, but she doesn't look down upon those with different attitudes either. Are there still women who "thrust their cleavage" and what-not? Of course, but these are treated as observations and never explicitly remarked upon, which I appreciated. It's all too common for New Adult books to veer into sexism or misogyny because alpha-males are trying to hard, but Jordan avoids that issue with this book quite adeptly.
3. Friends. Real Ones. Emerson and Georgia, Pepper's close college friends, though leading different lifestyles than Pepper are watching out for her regardless. If she isn't comfortable in a situation and they're about to land a hot date, they do the right thing and make sure Pepper gets home instead of ditching her for their one-night stand. Friendship. It exists in NA. *gasp*
4. College Exams/Dorm Life/Jobs. Everyone in this book is young, but they deal with regular activities like a job, parties, exams, having dorm rooms and suite mates. It's so blessedly normal and the fact that this existence is even acknowledged outside the romance is a plus point in favor of this novel. (Yes, that's how bad NA has gotten...)
5. A respectful romance. What I really appreciated with this one was how little angst was present. Reece knows that Pepper wants Hunter for safety and comfort and though he has feelings for her - and her for him that she refuses to acknowledge - he's mature and let's her find her way on her own without ever forcing himself on her. Reece only goes as far as Pepper is willing, never telling her that she'll enjoy more or trying to please only himself. It's a strong, mutual relationship in which both parties give and take, compromising in a realistic, but equal, manner.
If those aren't five promising reasons to pick this one up, then I don't know what are! Seriously - give this one a shot. You won't be disappointed.
P.S. - Emily May's NA Experiment has never led me astray. If you aren't already aware of this, I'd urge you to keep track of these reviews. Not only have they helped me find decent NA reads, but they're wonderfully written too. Thanks Emily May! :)
November 6, 2013
This was pretty typical for the NA genre. But it was well written and I liked the characters for the most part. It was single POV, from the heroine. There really wasn't anything that I didn't like about it, it just didn't stand out for me.
Some of the basics:
Virgin meets tattooed bad boy
Both had "damaged" pasts
College-ish setting (she's 19 and in college, he's 24 and dropped out)
h in pining for her BFFs older brother
Foreplay is the story of Pepper (loved the name btw) and Reese. Pepper has been in love with her BFFs brother Hunter since they were kids. She's kind of put him on this pedestal of being the perfect guy. He's kind, polite, smart....comes from a good family. All things that Pepper never had growing up and craves.
But Pepper has no experience with dating, kissing, sex. So Pepper and her roomates decide they are going to meet the local bartender who is known for "getting around". Said bartender can educate Pepper in all things Foreplay and she will be ready for Hunter when he finally "sees" her. There's a bit of a bartender mix up along the way.
Of course the lines between foreplay and real feelings get blurry. But Pepper remains steadfast in her commitment to winning Hunter. He's now single and Pepper's just waiting for her moment. I'm not going to lie, I got a little frustrated with Pepper here. She was so blind to what was right in front of her.
Which I get....for Pepper, Hunter represented safety and love and a home. Reese was passion and fire and a risk. It took Pepper a bit to see what she had with Reese...I wouldn't really say it was a love triangle or anything. Pepper doesn't really get her "chance" with Hunter until the end of the book. The majority of the book is the build-up of Reese and Pepper's "relationship" via yummy foreplay.
I loved Reese from the very beginning. And while this book was mostly foreplay the sexual tension and chemistry between Reese and Pepper was really HOT. And fear not, Pepper's virginity is no longer intact by the end of the book.
Overall, this was a sweet and sexy read with not a lot of angst. The ending felt a tad incomplete I guess but this is a series so perhaps we will get more of these characters in the books to come. It's definitely a happy ending but just not one that goes very far out in to the future.
Some of the basics:
Virgin meets tattooed bad boy
Both had "damaged" pasts
College-ish setting (she's 19 and in college, he's 24 and dropped out)
h in pining for her BFFs older brother
Foreplay is the story of Pepper (loved the name btw) and Reese. Pepper has been in love with her BFFs brother Hunter since they were kids. She's kind of put him on this pedestal of being the perfect guy. He's kind, polite, smart....comes from a good family. All things that Pepper never had growing up and craves.
But Pepper has no experience with dating, kissing, sex. So Pepper and her roomates decide they are going to meet the local bartender who is known for "getting around". Said bartender can educate Pepper in all things Foreplay and she will be ready for Hunter when he finally "sees" her. There's a bit of a bartender mix up along the way.
Of course the lines between foreplay and real feelings get blurry. But Pepper remains steadfast in her commitment to winning Hunter. He's now single and Pepper's just waiting for her moment. I'm not going to lie, I got a little frustrated with Pepper here. She was so blind to what was right in front of her.
Which I get....for Pepper, Hunter represented safety and love and a home. Reese was passion and fire and a risk. It took Pepper a bit to see what she had with Reese...I wouldn't really say it was a love triangle or anything. Pepper doesn't really get her "chance" with Hunter until the end of the book. The majority of the book is the build-up of Reese and Pepper's "relationship" via yummy foreplay.
I loved Reese from the very beginning. And while this book was mostly foreplay the sexual tension and chemistry between Reese and Pepper was really HOT. And fear not, Pepper's virginity is no longer intact by the end of the book.
Overall, this was a sweet and sexy read with not a lot of angst. The ending felt a tad incomplete I guess but this is a series so perhaps we will get more of these characters in the books to come. It's definitely a happy ending but just not one that goes very far out in to the future.
October 30, 2018
A nice one: thier chemistry is good and there is a decent amount of genre required angst.
Although the book did get my hopes up early on for a love triangle situation but did not go that way. Oh well mea culpa. I guess I just can’t go through life reading books and always hoping for love triangles..... right? (Really?)
OH WELL.
rating: ★★★½
Although the book did get my hopes up early on for a love triangle situation but did not go that way. Oh well mea culpa. I guess I just can’t go through life reading books and always hoping for love triangles..... right? (Really?)
OH WELL.
rating: ★★★½
April 3, 2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Shouldn't have re-read*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Re-read: 03.04.2018
Can't figure out why I decided to re-read this one but I couldn't find anything new that looked interesting enough to catch my interest, so I went through my '4-stars' shelf and I found this. A book I didn't remember much - if anything - about. But I clearly liked it when I read it considering the rating (but I haven't written review for it, so I a bit uncertain), so why not. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of the story this time around. The story had its appeal, but things annoyed me too much.
“You can’t even see it. I’m the safest thing you’ll ever find.”
Pepper (19), with her back and forth and the dream man/life vision was tiering and frankly, bartender at Mulvaney’s, Reece Mulvaney (23) deserved way more. Pepper wasn't a bad character per se, but she had her annoying thoughts that got to me too many times and I didn't like how she treated Reece. Reece was the reason this book was... not exactly worth the re-read, but made it alright enough. He was awesome, sexy and the perfect man. I do wish we had gotten more about their future though.
But it’s strange how that thing you run from always finds a way of catching up with you. When you’re not looking, it’s suddenly there, tapping you on the shoulder, daring you to turn around.
Sometimes you can’t help yourself. You have to stop. You have to turn and look.
You have to let yourself fall and hope for the best. Hope that when it’s all over you come out in one piece.
Other characters:
↦ Emerson ‘Em’ and Georgia, Pepper's friends.
↦ Hunter Montgomery (21), Pepper has been in love with him since she was twelve.
↦ Lila Montgomery, Pepper's best friend. Hunter's sister.
↦ Logan Mulvaney (18), Reece's brother and a playboy.
“You know, Pepper,” Georgia said, crossing her Lycra-clad legs, “the world won’t end if you end up with someone besides Hunter.”
Everything in me tightened, resisting the idea. “But I want Hunter. I always have.” I’d always wanted to be a Montgomery. “And for once it doesn’t seem like such an impossible thing.”
“I never thought it was impossible. Especially not now that he’s single. He’d be lucky to have you. Any guy would.” She uncrossed her legs. Pressing her knees together, she scooted to the edge of my bed and looked at me earnestly. “But sometimes the thing you want isn’t what you really need.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (New Adult) Contemporary Romance.
Series: - Series (Standalone?), Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Reece Mulvaney.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
New Rating - 2.5/3 stars.
First read review:
My casting:
Rate: 4/3 Stars.
May 26, 2018
Actualización de review
Ok, Foreplay quizás no sea uno de los mejores libros New Adult, pero fue la primera novela de ese género que leí y por eso tengo derecho a ponerle 5 ★★★★, ya que me parecía increíble. Además, Reece Mulvaney es uno de los primeros protagonistas masculinos que me enamoraron (junto con Cameron Hamilton, obvio).
Lo acepto, podría ser un poco más original que el “chica buena conoce a chico malo”. Sin embargo, aunque tiene varios elementos clichés, hay algo interesante y refrescante en la historia. Tiene un ritmo ágil, no es muy extensa y no se torna aburrida o muy dramática. La historia tiene momentos graciosos, sexys, emotivos y románticos. También creo que los personajes son un elemento muy positivo, sobre todo, Reece. Son muy simpáticos y conectas con ellos desde el inicio.
Reece fue mi personaje favoritos por varias razones. Creo que es un protagonista masculino muy completo. No es perfecto y eso lo vuelve aún más real. Y, aunque aparenta ser un chico malo, es más que eso también. Creo que Reece es una combinación de muchas cosas que lo hacen el tipo ideal. Él es tan maduro, inteligente, directo, sexy, atractivo, leal, protector… awww podría seguir por siempre...LO AMO... (perdoname, Cam).
Por otro lado, Pepper fue el personaje con quien más conecte. He leído varias novelas con protagonistas con características similares a ella, pero no me agradan del todo o nunca terminan de llegarme. Sin embargo, con Pepper es distinto. No voy a negarlo, hubo ratos (muy breves) en que me costó porque tenía pensamientos bobos (culpo a la adolescencia). Sin embargo, en general, ella me pareció un personaje muy bueno.
Ella me agradaba y no me parecía sosa. De hecho, era una chica buena, pero no estúpida. Tenía un corazón muy grande. Ella es amable, cariñosa, inteligente, responsable. Simplemente, a veces, tenía miedo por cómo su infancia había sido junto a su madre. Sus inseguridades y miedos los entendía por completo. Lo que no entendía y si me costaba era que creyera que Hunter seria la solucion, pero bueno.
En cuanto a los personajes secundarios, estuvieron bien. Aunque sin destacar. Mi favorita fue Emerson (su libro me gusta mucho también). Hunter no me gusto mucho en esta novela, pero si en su novela super corta, Crash. Georgia y los demás fueron nehh.
El romance es lo mejor. No es exactamente un “insta-love” y eso es algo muy MUY bueno, caso contrario, todo se hubiera arruinado. Las circunstancias en que Reece y Pepper se conocen son muy peculiares pero, de alguna forma, todo es muy convincente. De hecho, en general, la evolución de su relación me pareció muy auténtica. Es lenta, emotiva, se construye poco a poco con mucha tensión, química y momentos demasiados adorables, divertidos y sexys. Ellos son como la pareja perfecta, a pesar de que tienen actitudes muy diferentes.
Así que si, es uno de mis novelas NA favoritas y no me arrepiento de nada. La recomiendo por completo y, finalmente, ya la compre.
~~*~~
25/05/14
Lo ame!!!! Me encantó Reece y pienso que el y Pepper hacen una extraordinaria pareja. Me parecieron tan lindos y tiernos. Fue hermoso!!!
“I wouldn’t have waited this long for you. I would have already showed up at your dorm the minute I decided I wanted you. I wouldn’t leave until I convinced you that you were mine”
Ok, Foreplay quizás no sea uno de los mejores libros New Adult, pero fue la primera novela de ese género que leí y por eso tengo derecho a ponerle 5 ★★★★, ya que me parecía increíble. Además, Reece Mulvaney es uno de los primeros protagonistas masculinos que me enamoraron (junto con Cameron Hamilton, obvio).
Lo acepto, podría ser un poco más original que el “chica buena conoce a chico malo”. Sin embargo, aunque tiene varios elementos clichés, hay algo interesante y refrescante en la historia. Tiene un ritmo ágil, no es muy extensa y no se torna aburrida o muy dramática. La historia tiene momentos graciosos, sexys, emotivos y románticos. También creo que los personajes son un elemento muy positivo, sobre todo, Reece. Son muy simpáticos y conectas con ellos desde el inicio.
“You can’t even see it. I’m the safest thing you’ll ever find”
Reece fue mi personaje favoritos por varias razones. Creo que es un protagonista masculino muy completo. No es perfecto y eso lo vuelve aún más real. Y, aunque aparenta ser un chico malo, es más que eso también. Creo que Reece es una combinación de muchas cosas que lo hacen el tipo ideal. Él es tan maduro, inteligente, directo, sexy, atractivo, leal, protector… awww podría seguir por siempre...LO AMO... (perdoname, Cam).
Por otro lado, Pepper fue el personaje con quien más conecte. He leído varias novelas con protagonistas con características similares a ella, pero no me agradan del todo o nunca terminan de llegarme. Sin embargo, con Pepper es distinto. No voy a negarlo, hubo ratos (muy breves) en que me costó porque tenía pensamientos bobos (culpo a la adolescencia). Sin embargo, en general, ella me pareció un personaje muy bueno.
“I see enough. I saw you.”
Ella me agradaba y no me parecía sosa. De hecho, era una chica buena, pero no estúpida. Tenía un corazón muy grande. Ella es amable, cariñosa, inteligente, responsable. Simplemente, a veces, tenía miedo por cómo su infancia había sido junto a su madre. Sus inseguridades y miedos los entendía por completo. Lo que no entendía y si me costaba era que creyera que Hunter seria la solucion, pero bueno.
En cuanto a los personajes secundarios, estuvieron bien. Aunque sin destacar. Mi favorita fue Emerson (su libro me gusta mucho también). Hunter no me gusto mucho en esta novela, pero si en su novela super corta, Crash. Georgia y los demás fueron nehh.
“I’m not going through this again with you just so you can run when you get scared that I’m not like some ideal you built up in your head. I love you. I’m fucking in love with you, but it’s all or nothing. I won’t do this again unless it’s going to be like that.”
El romance es lo mejor. No es exactamente un “insta-love” y eso es algo muy MUY bueno, caso contrario, todo se hubiera arruinado. Las circunstancias en que Reece y Pepper se conocen son muy peculiares pero, de alguna forma, todo es muy convincente. De hecho, en general, la evolución de su relación me pareció muy auténtica. Es lenta, emotiva, se construye poco a poco con mucha tensión, química y momentos demasiados adorables, divertidos y sexys. Ellos son como la pareja perfecta, a pesar de que tienen actitudes muy diferentes.
Así que si, es uno de mis novelas NA favoritas y no me arrepiento de nada. La recomiendo por completo y, finalmente, ya la compre.
~~*~~
25/05/14
Lo ame!!!! Me encantó Reece y pienso que el y Pepper hacen una extraordinaria pareja. Me parecieron tan lindos y tiernos. Fue hermoso!!!
November 8, 2013
A 19 year old who's been in love with her best friend's brother for the longest time. The brother just broke up with his girlfriend so along came her chance of making him fall in love with her. However, there's just one bit of a problem. She's totally inexperienced... yep, she's a virgin. So she and her friends came up with an idea to get the training from some other guy... preferably a hot, tattooed bartender.
I really don't mind reading books with cliché story line because sometimes I still do find hidden gems. What bothered me here though was the too quiet hero. It's a single pov from the heroine. So the first half of the book, I was left wondering who the heck was this guy. I love mysterious men. It's the reason why I read this in the first place but this guy was just too much for me. Once or twice I was actually swooning but when "he stared at me... he looked at me with impassive face" was repeated many times, it's not fun anymore. This guy was almost non-existent from the first 50%. And when the real reason was brought into the light on why the heroine was chasing him, they started hooking up. Man, this gave me the creeps. The hero was a total stranger. The steamy scenes may have been well written but when there's not even a bit of lust connection, how am I supposed to react?
There were also too much repetition of events. For example, friends selecting outfit for the heroine, they go to the bar every night, they contemplate on who will order the drinks, friend convincing her to talk to the hero, unnecessary conversations, too much inner dialogue about almost everything including her thinking how gorgeous her friend was and giving descriptions on how her friend was so different from her. Small things like these would drag a story. I didn't feel any connection at all and for a NA romance novel, chemistry makes up a story. Even though the author tried to redeem the characters, I guess it just became too late for me.
And there's also something that happened towards the ending that was downright unnecessary. It felt rushed and ridiculous. Having said all that, I could be in the minority here. I could say that maybe it's not the book, it's me... So, maybe it's still a must read...
I really don't mind reading books with cliché story line because sometimes I still do find hidden gems. What bothered me here though was the too quiet hero. It's a single pov from the heroine. So the first half of the book, I was left wondering who the heck was this guy. I love mysterious men. It's the reason why I read this in the first place but this guy was just too much for me. Once or twice I was actually swooning but when "he stared at me... he looked at me with impassive face" was repeated many times, it's not fun anymore. This guy was almost non-existent from the first 50%. And when the real reason was brought into the light on why the heroine was chasing him, they started hooking up. Man, this gave me the creeps. The hero was a total stranger. The steamy scenes may have been well written but when there's not even a bit of lust connection, how am I supposed to react?
There were also too much repetition of events. For example, friends selecting outfit for the heroine, they go to the bar every night, they contemplate on who will order the drinks, friend convincing her to talk to the hero, unnecessary conversations, too much inner dialogue about almost everything including her thinking how gorgeous her friend was and giving descriptions on how her friend was so different from her. Small things like these would drag a story. I didn't feel any connection at all and for a NA romance novel, chemistry makes up a story. Even though the author tried to redeem the characters, I guess it just became too late for me.
And there's also something that happened towards the ending that was downright unnecessary. It felt rushed and ridiculous. Having said all that, I could be in the minority here. I could say that maybe it's not the book, it's me... So, maybe it's still a must read...
December 31, 2014
4.5 Stars
I loved this little bit of NA goodness! Well done all the way around. I can't wait to read Georgia's story.
I loved this little bit of NA goodness! Well done all the way around. I can't wait to read Georgia's story.
July 7, 2017
Nah life's too short. DNF. Fuck. This. Book.
"He had to have something else going for him. Disappointment curled through me to think that there was nothing more for him than this. No goals outside of tending bar."
"So working in a bar was all there was for him. Again, there was a stab of disappointment. "
FUCK YOU. This lassie is the fucking worst. Seriously I am disgusted by the judgmental message here. I can't actually believe what I just read.
"I'm not like most girls."
"Not one of the sex pots tripping through the bar every night, but - "
"You're nothing like the other girls I see every night."
"That's not a bad thing trust me"
FUCK YOU. AND FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU BOTH.
Why hasn't the most girls line died a fiery death yet? I fucking hate it and everything it implies. Get over yourself girl. And seriously there's nothing less attractive than a lad who is attracted to a girl because what? She doesn't dress a certain way he thinks isn't suitable and she doesn't flirt with him like those dreaded "other girls." What a sexist pig.
Also I was already so over hearing her talk about Hunter.
"Hunter was just one goal for me."
But bartending is beneath you. Bye Felicia.
I want to bleach this sexist and elitist piece of trash from my brain.
Tease is one of my favourite books and I can't believe it's in the same series as this.
"He had to have something else going for him. Disappointment curled through me to think that there was nothing more for him than this. No goals outside of tending bar."
"So working in a bar was all there was for him. Again, there was a stab of disappointment. "
FUCK YOU. This lassie is the fucking worst. Seriously I am disgusted by the judgmental message here. I can't actually believe what I just read.
"I'm not like most girls."
"Not one of the sex pots tripping through the bar every night, but - "
"You're nothing like the other girls I see every night."
"That's not a bad thing trust me"
FUCK YOU. AND FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU BOTH.
Why hasn't the most girls line died a fiery death yet? I fucking hate it and everything it implies. Get over yourself girl. And seriously there's nothing less attractive than a lad who is attracted to a girl because what? She doesn't dress a certain way he thinks isn't suitable and she doesn't flirt with him like those dreaded "other girls." What a sexist pig.
Also I was already so over hearing her talk about Hunter.
"Hunter was just one goal for me."
But bartending is beneath you. Bye Felicia.
I want to bleach this sexist and elitist piece of trash from my brain.
Tease is one of my favourite books and I can't believe it's in the same series as this.
December 16, 2014
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Actual rating: 1.5 stars
Well, here I am again. I fell for the hype and came out a black sheep. As much as I don’t like the existence of New Adult as a classification, I am totally up for books about people transitioning into adulthood. As such, I keep hoping that the age classification will produce books that will actually cover that time of life and its issues, rather than just being a garden variety romance novel that makes sure to indulge in every trope possible. Foreplay is not that book. There’s nothing original or out of the standard NA package here.
I should have known better. I admit that freely. If only I read book blurbs, I wouldn’t have trusted the hype, because experience has told me that characters named things like Pepper and Reece in a contemporary novel will never end well. The heroine, Pepper, is a virgin in her sophomore year of college. She studies hard and disdains partying. Though she attends a prestigious ivy college, she’s had a hard knock life, basically raised at her grandmother’s retirement village.
Pepper annoys me greatly. For one thing, I don’t like the virgin-shaming that happens towards her character. Her friends Emerson and Georgia encourage her to get out there, and approve of her scheme to hook up with a random guy before making a move for the guy she actually wants. Meanwhile, all the girls subtly slut shame one another. Now, I don’t mind the occasional ��skank” between friends, as long as everyone knows it’s a joke and the love is obvious, but these characters are so flat. They’re nothing but vehicles of slut-shaming and virgin-shaming. That is not okay.
Is it too much to ask for the friends in new adult novels to actually be friends? I’m all for sex in novels and in life, but only if the people involved truly want to have it and understand the choices they’re making. Friendship isn’t urging your friend to hook up with some playboy she doesn’t know just so she can check off some list and be more appealing to the guy she actually wants. This premise is so creepy and uncomfortable. I could see it if Hunter, Pepper’s dream man, hadn’t just become available, but why go after someone else when the target is in her sights? Plus, the “friends” completely disappear as soon as the romance starts up. They’re around only to push Pepper to go out to the bars, drink alcohol, and dress sexier.
The writing in the book is passable, but incredibly cliched. The attempts at banter fall flat, due to the lack of a real personality in the characters. The romantic lines are hackneyed. The descriptions of sex gave me major deja vu to the repetitive descriptions from the romance novels I read obsessively when I was a teen.
Mostly, Foreplay isn’t terrible. It’s tepid. It’s unoriginal. It’s exactly the same as a hundred other books. Where romance novels have the chance to really shine is in the characterization. The reason to care about the outcome isn’t the plot or the world building; it’s the ship, and to care about a ship, you need to not only care about the love interests but also feel a connection between them. For me, that connection needs to be more than just sexual, which, sadly, this doesn’t seem to be.
Where I am giving some points to this book is Reece. He’s actually a nice guy. He has tats and piercings, but he’s not remotely a bad boy. He’s sweet and respectful of Pepper’s boundaries. While he is aggressive, he never tries to force her into anything. When he feels jealous, he usually keeps that to himself, since he knows he and Pepper aren’t in a relationship, but, if he lashes out, he apologizes sincerely. As NA heroes go, he’s a pretty good one.
However, they really just didn’t have anything but a sexual connection. Rather than discussing their interests or anything, they do trade their stories of why they’re broken. Because of course they’re both broken from childhood abuse, since otherwise this couldn’t be a new adult novel, right? “You’re broken? Me too! Obviously we’re perfect together. And now we never need therapy because of the healing powers of simultaneous orgasms.” No, genre. No.
Like the attempts at dark pasts, the love triangle is also half-assed. There’s no attempt made to show why Pepper was so into Hunter, and she’s so obviously bored by him (even she knows this), but she drags the stupid thing out for about a month. And then THAT ENDING: My brain, it melts a little.
If the standard new adult romance formula works for you, that’s great. You will love this. It’s frankly not my thing, and I thought the dialog and characterization was much better in the self pub offerings by Lyla Payne and Gennifer Albin.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
Well, here I am again. I fell for the hype and came out a black sheep. As much as I don’t like the existence of New Adult as a classification, I am totally up for books about people transitioning into adulthood. As such, I keep hoping that the age classification will produce books that will actually cover that time of life and its issues, rather than just being a garden variety romance novel that makes sure to indulge in every trope possible. Foreplay is not that book. There’s nothing original or out of the standard NA package here.
I should have known better. I admit that freely. If only I read book blurbs, I wouldn’t have trusted the hype, because experience has told me that characters named things like Pepper and Reece in a contemporary novel will never end well. The heroine, Pepper, is a virgin in her sophomore year of college. She studies hard and disdains partying. Though she attends a prestigious ivy college, she’s had a hard knock life, basically raised at her grandmother’s retirement village.
Pepper annoys me greatly. For one thing, I don’t like the virgin-shaming that happens towards her character. Her friends Emerson and Georgia encourage her to get out there, and approve of her scheme to hook up with a random guy before making a move for the guy she actually wants. Meanwhile, all the girls subtly slut shame one another. Now, I don’t mind the occasional ��skank” between friends, as long as everyone knows it’s a joke and the love is obvious, but these characters are so flat. They’re nothing but vehicles of slut-shaming and virgin-shaming. That is not okay.
Is it too much to ask for the friends in new adult novels to actually be friends? I’m all for sex in novels and in life, but only if the people involved truly want to have it and understand the choices they’re making. Friendship isn’t urging your friend to hook up with some playboy she doesn’t know just so she can check off some list and be more appealing to the guy she actually wants. This premise is so creepy and uncomfortable. I could see it if Hunter, Pepper’s dream man, hadn’t just become available, but why go after someone else when the target is in her sights? Plus, the “friends” completely disappear as soon as the romance starts up. They’re around only to push Pepper to go out to the bars, drink alcohol, and dress sexier.
The writing in the book is passable, but incredibly cliched. The attempts at banter fall flat, due to the lack of a real personality in the characters. The romantic lines are hackneyed. The descriptions of sex gave me major deja vu to the repetitive descriptions from the romance novels I read obsessively when I was a teen.
Mostly, Foreplay isn’t terrible. It’s tepid. It’s unoriginal. It’s exactly the same as a hundred other books. Where romance novels have the chance to really shine is in the characterization. The reason to care about the outcome isn’t the plot or the world building; it’s the ship, and to care about a ship, you need to not only care about the love interests but also feel a connection between them. For me, that connection needs to be more than just sexual, which, sadly, this doesn’t seem to be.
Where I am giving some points to this book is Reece. He’s actually a nice guy. He has tats and piercings, but he’s not remotely a bad boy. He’s sweet and respectful of Pepper’s boundaries. While he is aggressive, he never tries to force her into anything. When he feels jealous, he usually keeps that to himself, since he knows he and Pepper aren’t in a relationship, but, if he lashes out, he apologizes sincerely. As NA heroes go, he’s a pretty good one.
However, they really just didn’t have anything but a sexual connection. Rather than discussing their interests or anything, they do trade their stories of why they’re broken. Because of course they’re both broken from childhood abuse, since otherwise this couldn’t be a new adult novel, right? “You’re broken? Me too! Obviously we’re perfect together. And now we never need therapy because of the healing powers of simultaneous orgasms.” No, genre. No.
Like the attempts at dark pasts, the love triangle is also half-assed. There’s no attempt made to show why Pepper was so into Hunter, and she’s so obviously bored by him (even she knows this), but she drags the stupid thing out for about a month. And then THAT ENDING: My brain, it melts a little.
If the standard new adult romance formula works for you, that’s great. You will love this. It’s frankly not my thing, and I thought the dialog and characterization was much better in the self pub offerings by Lyla Payne and Gennifer Albin.
December 26, 2018
Pepper, having gone through a rough childhood, craves warmth and comfort of a stable relationship and Hunter is the embodiment of everything she needs. But, things take an unexpected turn when she finds herself attracted to a bartender Resse, who’s gorgeous, dangerous and has a troubled past. Now, she has to choose between what she really wants and what she needs.
It’s a genuinely good book despite what the title and description suggest. It was a refreshing take on an adult romance. The story is engaging with likable and imperfect characters. I loved the way the relationship blossomed. Sometimes things don’t go according to your plan and you have to accept that and make the best of it. That’s what the story expressed. I really enjoyed reading it.
It’s a genuinely good book despite what the title and description suggest. It was a refreshing take on an adult romance. The story is engaging with likable and imperfect characters. I loved the way the relationship blossomed. Sometimes things don’t go according to your plan and you have to accept that and make the best of it. That’s what the story expressed. I really enjoyed reading it.
July 5, 2019
Full of flaws. Because there is a severe lack of New Adult books and it's a genre I do enjoy, I will continue the series, but think I'll be done with Jordan's books after this because she tends to write women who hate other women (sex shaming, etc). Would only recommend to discerning adults looking for steamy New Adult books.
tw: house fire with children and pets present, addict parent, abusive parent, pedo men, maybe cheating?, at least 1 weight shaming comment, sex shaming (for both having too much AND having too little), crappy attitude toward disability
Audiobook: Narration was robotic but it was mostly masked when played on a higher speed.
tw: house fire with children and pets present, addict parent, abusive parent, pedo men, maybe cheating?, at least 1 weight shaming comment, sex shaming (for both having too much AND having too little), crappy attitude toward disability
Audiobook: Narration was robotic but it was mostly masked when played on a higher speed.
February 22, 2014
4 Super Cute Stars
Pepper is a virgin. She doesn’t go on dates nor has any interest in them. She’s awkward, shy and very naïve when it comes to sex. Her long time crush Hunter, is recently single and this is finally Pepper’s chance to snag her crush. She just needs confidence sexually. Pepper’s girlfriends decide Pepper needs to find a hot guy to teach her the art of foreplay. Sexy bartender Reece is the guy that is happy to step up to the plate and help Pepper.
Foreplay is a super adorable easy, feel happy kind of novel. I really like the summary and plot.
Pepper is the typical virgin Heroine. She wasn’t annoying or too shy. I liked her innocence. Reece is the sexy bartender who doesn’t really give any attention to girls. I was surprised he wasn’t a man-whore, so it was really refreshing. I also liked how in the beginning it was Pepper pursuing Reece to get his attention.
The relationship between Reece and Pepper was cute. It wasn’t typical and I really enjoyed the slow connection that was forming. I wouldn’t say Foreplay is too steamy, but I still interested and very entertained. As Reece and Pepper get to know each other better, their past secrets are slowly revealed and it kind of brings them closer.
I kind of wished Sophie Jordan played up on the past issues more. I wanted Reece and Pepper to go to the next level and be really open. Although the dialogue flowed and the chemistry was there, I wanted something deeper.
There is a slight love triangle because of Hunter and that I enjoyed. It brought tension the book. I was really surprised on how much I enjoyed Foreplay. I recommend.
AMAZON
For more reviews, http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
Pepper is a virgin. She doesn’t go on dates nor has any interest in them. She’s awkward, shy and very naïve when it comes to sex. Her long time crush Hunter, is recently single and this is finally Pepper’s chance to snag her crush. She just needs confidence sexually. Pepper’s girlfriends decide Pepper needs to find a hot guy to teach her the art of foreplay. Sexy bartender Reece is the guy that is happy to step up to the plate and help Pepper.
Foreplay is a super adorable easy, feel happy kind of novel. I really like the summary and plot.
I know you've been hurt....So have I. Maybe we can help heal each other
Pepper is the typical virgin Heroine. She wasn’t annoying or too shy. I liked her innocence. Reece is the sexy bartender who doesn’t really give any attention to girls. I was surprised he wasn’t a man-whore, so it was really refreshing. I also liked how in the beginning it was Pepper pursuing Reece to get his attention.
The relationship between Reece and Pepper was cute. It wasn’t typical and I really enjoyed the slow connection that was forming. I wouldn’t say Foreplay is too steamy, but I still interested and very entertained. As Reece and Pepper get to know each other better, their past secrets are slowly revealed and it kind of brings them closer.
I kind of wished Sophie Jordan played up on the past issues more. I wanted Reece and Pepper to go to the next level and be really open. Although the dialogue flowed and the chemistry was there, I wanted something deeper.
There is a slight love triangle because of Hunter and that I enjoyed. It brought tension the book. I was really surprised on how much I enjoyed Foreplay. I recommend.
AMAZONFor more reviews, http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
August 13, 2013
I'm continuing to read titles marketed as NA, and this one caught my eye because it's from an established YA and adult romance writer and published in paperback by an imprint of a Big 6(5) publishing house (HarperCollins).
It has all the hallmarks of NA -- 1) tattooed supposedly "bad boy/player" 2) a heroine with a past of sexual abuse/rape/etc 3) main characters who are lower middle to lower class 4) little actual "college" beyond bars/sex 5) contrived plot to bring the main characters together 6) overly dramatic "plot twist" at the end.
NA is emerging as a very specific type of story rather than a more general category, and I hope it continues to develop more variety. This one was perhaps the best I've read yet, and a quick, easy read, but nothing special.
I will continue my investigation and write a longer post comparing and contrasting this round of reads.
It has all the hallmarks of NA -- 1) tattooed supposedly "bad boy/player" 2) a heroine with a past of sexual abuse/rape/etc 3) main characters who are lower middle to lower class 4) little actual "college" beyond bars/sex 5) contrived plot to bring the main characters together 6) overly dramatic "plot twist" at the end.
NA is emerging as a very specific type of story rather than a more general category, and I hope it continues to develop more variety. This one was perhaps the best I've read yet, and a quick, easy read, but nothing special.
I will continue my investigation and write a longer post comparing and contrasting this round of reads.
September 7, 2020
4.5
Davvero carino! Tralasciamo però il discorso cover: mi aspettavo una cosa totalmente diversa!
Davvero carino! Tralasciamo però il discorso cover: mi aspettavo una cosa totalmente diversa!
August 11, 2013
This is the story of a bad boy with a reputation that precedes him and the goody two-shoes girl who wants to experience being with a bad boy—first. Sounds cliché? I already pass my judgment without even reading it. But can you blame me? This has been done over and over again. I’m not against recycled plot but at least offer something new. Something different despite the originality being an issue.
My introduction sounds negative right? But don’t fret good people I actually liked this book. Yes, it’s been a while since I have read new adult book and enjoyed it. This book though offers an identical plot there’s still something about it that I find really enjoyable and amusingly quite endearing. So let me start from the very beginning.
So goody two-shoes girl Pepper has been secretly admiring her best friend brother Hunter. News circulates that he and his girlfriend broke up paving the chance for him to notice her. But the problem? How could she makes him notice her when he only thought of her as his little sister’s friend? A family? She needs to be like the girls he dated. So her friends suggested that she needs to learn the act of seduction and foreplay. So enter the hot bartender with a reputation of his nightly conquest. Turns out it was the wrong guy, but Reece the guy didn’t hold back and agree to teach her. But things are starting to get messy when feelings are now suddenly involved. When it is not according to her plan. And Reece isn’t who she thought he is.
I know it’s typical and I know it’s predictable. But you know what, I really liked it. Probably because the two main leads are not annoying and too broken. I mean, they still have family issue that they are still dealing with. But I’m profoundly grateful that it didn’t focus on that. Guess what, if I want a family drama, I would have just read a family drama book. And if I want it sensual, I would have just read erotica. But this isn’t those, there’s got to be balance in there to make the story enjoyable. It shouldn’t focus too much on one or two aspects. And that’s what I loved about Pepper and Reece story. There’s just enough drama, angst, romance and sensuality that I cordially dig in. I can see there’s development between the two. I loved that Reece wasn’t the stereotypical bad boy. Stripped him down the piercing and tattoosis a hot body you can see there’s a character that truly his. Pepper isn’t too annoying to me which is a miracle considering most girls who are crafted this way has a potential to piss the living daylights out of me. Yes, she has issue and yes she is conflicted with her feelings. But she didn’t drown herself with her past. She’s actually trying to rectify it and that’s why she was hesitant on letting Reece in. He’s different from the foolproof plan she created for herself.
I thought it’s going to be massively messy relationship with Hunter getting into the picture. But man Hunter was cool and understanding. I hope to read his story one day— the hot doctor to be.
This is getting long; anyway I really liked this one (I’m sounding like a broken record). When I finished this book there’s a smile on my face, an acknowledgment that I did love it. And a final note, who wouldn’t love to go in what people called ‘the happiest place on earth?’ Right Pepper?
I received an eARC from William Morrow via Edelweiss. Thank you.
See original post here @ Aeropapers
My introduction sounds negative right? But don’t fret good people I actually liked this book. Yes, it’s been a while since I have read new adult book and enjoyed it. This book though offers an identical plot there’s still something about it that I find really enjoyable and amusingly quite endearing. So let me start from the very beginning.
So goody two-shoes girl Pepper has been secretly admiring her best friend brother Hunter. News circulates that he and his girlfriend broke up paving the chance for him to notice her. But the problem? How could she makes him notice her when he only thought of her as his little sister’s friend? A family? She needs to be like the girls he dated. So her friends suggested that she needs to learn the act of seduction and foreplay. So enter the hot bartender with a reputation of his nightly conquest. Turns out it was the wrong guy, but Reece the guy didn’t hold back and agree to teach her. But things are starting to get messy when feelings are now suddenly involved. When it is not according to her plan. And Reece isn’t who she thought he is.
I know it’s typical and I know it’s predictable. But you know what, I really liked it. Probably because the two main leads are not annoying and too broken. I mean, they still have family issue that they are still dealing with. But I’m profoundly grateful that it didn’t focus on that. Guess what, if I want a family drama, I would have just read a family drama book. And if I want it sensual, I would have just read erotica. But this isn’t those, there’s got to be balance in there to make the story enjoyable. It shouldn’t focus too much on one or two aspects. And that’s what I loved about Pepper and Reece story. There’s just enough drama, angst, romance and sensuality that I cordially dig in. I can see there’s development between the two. I loved that Reece wasn’t the stereotypical bad boy. Stripped him down the piercing and tattoos
I thought it’s going to be massively messy relationship with Hunter getting into the picture. But man Hunter was cool and understanding. I hope to read his story one day— the hot doctor to be.
This is getting long; anyway I really liked this one (I’m sounding like a broken record). When I finished this book there’s a smile on my face, an acknowledgment that I did love it. And a final note, who wouldn’t love to go in what people called ‘the happiest place on earth?’ Right Pepper?
I received an eARC from William Morrow via Edelweiss. Thank you.
See original post here @ Aeropapers
September 2, 2013
Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek
I already know what negative reviews of this book will say. They will say they’ve read this story before and that it’s not unique and I am going to say…whatever. Not a very strong argument, I know, but I enjoyed this book. When I opened Sophie Jordan’s FOREPLAY, I was really stressed out. It was 48 hours before an intense deadline and I needed a break. I tried other books, but I could not get into them. FOREPLAY pulled me in right away. Why? Because I understood Pepper more than I have understood a character in a long time.
Pepper is a girl who has made up her mind. In fact, her mind has been made up most of her life. She loves Hunter Montgomery. In fact, she loves Hunter so much that no other guy exists. She has spent her life in love with an idea and a hope. She is so focused that she allowed relationships, experience and most of the years regulated to being wild, to pass her by. When Hunter is suddenly available, Pepper freaks out. She doesn’t have the experience of other girls her age and the last thing she wants to do is turn off her dream guy with her lack of ability. Enter Reece, the hot bartender with the even hotter reputation. The hot bartender from the local bar may not be the one, but he is definitely the one to train Pepper in the art of Foreplay.
FOREPLAY is one of the most emotional books I have read this year, because it is subtle. I say subtle, because I did not cry, but I felt Pepper’s journey. I know what it is to have a tough life and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. I know what it feels like to see a life that you want and work endlessly until you have that life. For Pepper, that life is family dinners, vacations to Disney world and Hunter Montgomery.
What’s great about this book is that you think you know how it’s going to end. If you have seen enough movies or TV you know that the guy being used, becomes the guy. The issue with FOREPLAY is you understand that he may not and you get why. Pepper’s reasons for being attracted to both Reece and Hunter are very real. They are both perfect, charming and handsome in their own ways.
With all that, I can’t really call this story a love triangle, because from the very start one of these guys never stood a chance. It becomes pretty clear early on who Pepper’s true love is and it is really just waiting for her to get the guy.
So yes, FOREPLAY has elements we have seen before. Many heroines have had pretend boyfriends and many heroines have used a guy to grab the attention of another, but none of those Heroines learned the art of Foreplay from Reece. He may not be the one for her, but Reece is HOT! So, so, very HOT. Their scenes roll of the page with literal steam. Reading this book you understand sexual attraction. You understand what it is to look across the room and see someone you want. Reece sets a fire to Pepper that she didn’t know she was capable of.
FOREPLAY is funny, it’s awkward, sexy, romantic and filled with drama. There’s a moment so stressful, that I screamed and threw my nook across the room to get away from it. Honestly, it is that well written and executed. Just great. Absolutely fantastic.
Recommended for fans of Easy, A Song for Julia and Slammed.
I already know what negative reviews of this book will say. They will say they’ve read this story before and that it’s not unique and I am going to say…whatever. Not a very strong argument, I know, but I enjoyed this book. When I opened Sophie Jordan’s FOREPLAY, I was really stressed out. It was 48 hours before an intense deadline and I needed a break. I tried other books, but I could not get into them. FOREPLAY pulled me in right away. Why? Because I understood Pepper more than I have understood a character in a long time.
Pepper is a girl who has made up her mind. In fact, her mind has been made up most of her life. She loves Hunter Montgomery. In fact, she loves Hunter so much that no other guy exists. She has spent her life in love with an idea and a hope. She is so focused that she allowed relationships, experience and most of the years regulated to being wild, to pass her by. When Hunter is suddenly available, Pepper freaks out. She doesn’t have the experience of other girls her age and the last thing she wants to do is turn off her dream guy with her lack of ability. Enter Reece, the hot bartender with the even hotter reputation. The hot bartender from the local bar may not be the one, but he is definitely the one to train Pepper in the art of Foreplay.
FOREPLAY is one of the most emotional books I have read this year, because it is subtle. I say subtle, because I did not cry, but I felt Pepper’s journey. I know what it is to have a tough life and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. I know what it feels like to see a life that you want and work endlessly until you have that life. For Pepper, that life is family dinners, vacations to Disney world and Hunter Montgomery.
What’s great about this book is that you think you know how it’s going to end. If you have seen enough movies or TV you know that the guy being used, becomes the guy. The issue with FOREPLAY is you understand that he may not and you get why. Pepper’s reasons for being attracted to both Reece and Hunter are very real. They are both perfect, charming and handsome in their own ways.
With all that, I can’t really call this story a love triangle, because from the very start one of these guys never stood a chance. It becomes pretty clear early on who Pepper’s true love is and it is really just waiting for her to get the guy.
So yes, FOREPLAY has elements we have seen before. Many heroines have had pretend boyfriends and many heroines have used a guy to grab the attention of another, but none of those Heroines learned the art of Foreplay from Reece. He may not be the one for her, but Reece is HOT! So, so, very HOT. Their scenes roll of the page with literal steam. Reading this book you understand sexual attraction. You understand what it is to look across the room and see someone you want. Reece sets a fire to Pepper that she didn’t know she was capable of.
FOREPLAY is funny, it’s awkward, sexy, romantic and filled with drama. There’s a moment so stressful, that I screamed and threw my nook across the room to get away from it. Honestly, it is that well written and executed. Just great. Absolutely fantastic.
Recommended for fans of Easy, A Song for Julia and Slammed.
February 6, 2017
It was cute!
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First by Sophie Jordan
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First by Sophie Jordan
May 23, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a widely-read book, so I’m not going to spend too much time on a review. I’ll just say that it was really sweet, in a good way... the characters were likable and the story good without being over the top. Reece was a great hero, and Pepper, while frustrating at times, was hard not to love. I’ve never been a fan of the inexperienced-girl trope, so that fact I enjoyed this one speaks volumes. If you’re looking for a sweet story about how love can be found in unexpected places, this one should hit the spot!!
This is a widely-read book, so I’m not going to spend too much time on a review. I’ll just say that it was really sweet, in a good way... the characters were likable and the story good without being over the top. Reece was a great hero, and Pepper, while frustrating at times, was hard not to love. I’ve never been a fan of the inexperienced-girl trope, so that fact I enjoyed this one speaks volumes. If you’re looking for a sweet story about how love can be found in unexpected places, this one should hit the spot!!
November 11, 2013
What happens when the one you want isn't the one you need?
What happens when pretend turns out to be real?
What happens when you finally get the one you want only to realize he's not?
To answer all these questions, you have got to read Foreplay. Pepper has been pining for Hunter for as long as she could remember. He's her best friends brother and what she's always considered her future.
If he ever saw her as more than a little sister. Or a friend.
Pepper's inexperienced. She longs to be a seductress, a tempting woman, in order to catch Hunter's eye. So to do so, she follows her roomies advice and scopes out a viable, experienced and sexy bartender to get some pointers in foreplay.
Enter Reece: the hot and available bartender who fits the bill. But what begins as an education soon turns into a lesson of a lifetime: WHAT YOU WANT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU NEED.
I loved this book of unexpected love and emotion. Pepper held on to her childhood desires for so long. It was annoying at times, especially considering her deepening feelings for Reece. While the whole time Reece tried to get her to see what was right in front of her.
I felt his pain and exasperation over a situation that was obvious to everyone else except Pepper. He held on and tried his hand despite her reluctance to see the light.
It took time, but Foreplay turned into something else. Something real. Something beautiful. And although we were treated to tons of sexy, erotic foreplay, we did get some smexy time as well. With the right guy. YES!!
This is the first in a series and although Pepper and Reece's story is happily resolved, there seems to be other secondary characters in need of their own HEA.
Loved this!
What happens when pretend turns out to be real?
What happens when you finally get the one you want only to realize he's not?
To answer all these questions, you have got to read Foreplay. Pepper has been pining for Hunter for as long as she could remember. He's her best friends brother and what she's always considered her future.
If he ever saw her as more than a little sister. Or a friend.
Pepper's inexperienced. She longs to be a seductress, a tempting woman, in order to catch Hunter's eye. So to do so, she follows her roomies advice and scopes out a viable, experienced and sexy bartender to get some pointers in foreplay.
Enter Reece: the hot and available bartender who fits the bill. But what begins as an education soon turns into a lesson of a lifetime: WHAT YOU WANT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU NEED.
I loved this book of unexpected love and emotion. Pepper held on to her childhood desires for so long. It was annoying at times, especially considering her deepening feelings for Reece. While the whole time Reece tried to get her to see what was right in front of her.
I felt his pain and exasperation over a situation that was obvious to everyone else except Pepper. He held on and tried his hand despite her reluctance to see the light.
It took time, but Foreplay turned into something else. Something real. Something beautiful. And although we were treated to tons of sexy, erotic foreplay, we did get some smexy time as well. With the right guy. YES!!
This is the first in a series and although Pepper and Reece's story is happily resolved, there seems to be other secondary characters in need of their own HEA.
Loved this!
April 16, 2015
Not the best, not the worst. I won't bore you with the details of Pepper's Special Snowflake complex or Reece's average hotness. Instead, I'll provide you with some of my favorite Taylor Townsend moments, since those just kept popping in my head through the book since Reece described Pepper as "all cream and peaches".
March 22, 2016
I liked the book quite a bit. It wasn`t at all what i was expecting, but not in a negative way. The difference was that the book focused more on the needs of emotion rather than the lust-filled feeling i get with quite a lot of other books in this genre. Pepper and Reece, well, what do i have to say about them? Instead of the usual difficulties they had the trust issues other clichees had. I think that was the one factor that kept the book from a five-star book. Pepper was a real cute character, so was Reece! He was more of the unconventional type of bad boy, meaning he had the looks but not the matching personality. He was unbelievably sweet and considerate. I loved the book in the end, it was charming and exciting and everyhting a good romance novel needs!
4/5 stars
4/5 stars
March 14, 2018
Re read and adjusting the rating to 5 stars.
I've read so much bad NA over the years, this is definitely a great one ( if you like all the drama that comes with NA).
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4 Stars
This is a typical, fluffy NA story. I liked the characters and the writing.
The H, Reece, makes a good book boyfriend ;)
The whole series is great. I'm a sucker for this NA/college stuff. I can't help myself.
If you like this kind of books, you'll love Foreplay.
*re-read May 2017
I've read so much bad NA over the years, this is definitely a great one ( if you like all the drama that comes with NA).
****************************************
4 Stars
This is a typical, fluffy NA story. I liked the characters and the writing.
The H, Reece, makes a good book boyfriend ;)
The whole series is great. I'm a sucker for this NA/college stuff. I can't help myself.
If you like this kind of books, you'll love Foreplay.
*re-read May 2017
November 7, 2013
Of all the NA books I've read, this is far and away my favorite. Gorgeous, smart and sexy (like both lead characters), it completely resonated with me. Loved it. One of those instant-reread-your-favorite-scenes books.
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