Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review
If you like to read NA books filled with overused tropes, then this is the book for you.
We've got the frustrating misunderstandings that keep getting in the way of the two main characters getting together. Like, I understand that you can't have them together form page one because then there would be no way to sustain the novel, but this was ridiculous. Especially because we saw both points of view, so we knew the explanations for everything they saw/overheard.
And then we've got the bitchy love rival, who's not actually given a personality other than bitchiness, because apparently women can't be friends - they're only competition. I prefer my novels without the misogyny, thanks.
Harley was annoying - she was from a lot of money, but kept on saying how money wasn't important, and it didn't matter. This comes from someone who will never have to worry about meeting ends meet or earning a living wage in her life. She says she's never asked for a thing in her life, but owns four horses and has never had a job. She complains about the opportunities her mum wants to give her - going to university, living abroad, etc. I know her mother's intentions might've not been great, but Harley was never thankful for a single thing she had, and made it seem like if you cared about money, you were shallow.
Wyatt was all 'holier than thou' and seemed a bit judgemental to me. I didn't like his possessiveness over Harley, like the way he blew up when talking on the phone to Collin, or the way he shamed her for sleeping with other people when they were apart. He was mean about Dorcas and the girl that Truman was dating. He just annoyed me, all of the time.
The phrasing in this novel could sometimes be a little bit weird, also. I wouldn't say it was badly written, so much as just in need of an editor, maybe. There were also a fair few typos, so if this is something that annoys you, then maybe this isn't the book for you. I also felt that the first part of the novel was an awful lot of recounting what had already happened - how they fell in love the first time. It was a bit boring to read, as the style made it feel like this was all just background for when we got to the main action.
There were some moments of nice romance, but I never really felt connected to the characters or the storyline. I thought the novel was a bit all over the place, if I'm honest. I've given it two stars because it's not the worst book I've read this week, so there's always that.