Write For Me

by Michelle Holt

My name is Bently Young. I wouldn’t say I’m an angry person. In fact my life had been like a bubble gum infused sundae topped with happiness sprinkles up until the age of when I could date. And I started to date a lot. Guys were fun at first, a nice dinner, someone to tell me I was pretty and laugh at my sarcastic jokes. But then the little creeps started showing their true colors. And they were not my favorite colors. They were like barf green and overripe fungus tangerine. And it made me angry.

Swearing off dating all together was too drastic, but I sure wanted to not do it for a while. I had my family and friends to keep me occupied. I didn’t need a man to take me to cheesy restaurants. One could only eat so much free bread and butter. Life could keep zooming along without the necessity of someone with chest hair being around.

Oh but then I met Josh. If I could have just never known he existed, all would have been fine. Of course, I don’t mean that because if I never knew he was in the world, my own world would have been an awful place. He makes me want to dance under a happiness sprinkle hail storm. Pretty much he is gorgeous and has the insane ability to use his words to make my heart float out of my chest. That made things a lot better when everything else I knew in my life decided to implode. But we weren’t immune to the black hole of horribleness either.

Ours is an epic love story and I just happened to write it down for you…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2015

About the author

Michelle Holt is a West Coast author who likes to spend her time dreaming up fun love stories and testing out the best chocolate chip cookie recipes. She has been a writer for as long as she can remember. Beginning with her dramatic Barbie and Ken plot lines that were often requested by friends. She has refined her craft since then. Her favorite stories to tell are the ones she tells her kids that revolve around the secret life of their family dog. But stories about cute boys who fall in love with funny girls are a close second. :)

Reviews

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with attitude, snark, drama and a cheeky romance, Write For Me was a fantastic debut.

Bently Young is a self-declared spinster after having the worst dating year of her life. After being dumped by every type of man she’s now sworn to be single forever. Who needs a man right? So when she attends a party with her best friend Vanessa, the last thing she wants is to meet a guy who will eventually break her heart. In true Bently style she proceeds to bite the head off any guy who comes near her with her hilarious witty comebacks. But after meeting infuriatingly gorgeous Josh and having her ‘fake boyfriend’ lie blow up in her face she starts to think maybe the life of a spinster isn’t for her anymore.

What I loved about this book was the humour, it kept me laughing throughout, it’s definitely the type of book where you see parts of yourself in the MC when it comes to boys, best friends and drama. This book also tackles some hard-hitting moments when Bently suffers a family tragedy, this added some depth to the plot and also gave us some great character development. Bently is not a perfect Mary Sue, she’s flawed, stubborn and is quick to ‘jump the gun’ in situations and when she becomes uncomfortable. So yes I grew to love her but she did ruffle my feathers a few times but it was great to watch her mature and pull through the hard times.

The romance was sweet and realistic; Josh having been through a similar situation to Bently is able to help her through it. The relationship was slow one and definitely went through the motions of a typical epic romance filled with drama. Josh easily weasels his way into your heart, he’s so kind, thoughtful and I suppose it helps that he’s drop dead gorgeous. Well if you like that sort of thing. ME, I DO!

So if you enjoy a heart warming, laugh out loud read with lots of drama then this is definitely for you.

Literary-ly Obsessed

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about college student Bently Young. She’s decided to avoid dating after dating too many guys and have her heart broken way too many times. She’s keeping her self busy with schoolwork and spending time with her friend Taylor. One night Taylor drags Bently to a party pretty much against her wishes and rather than join in the fun she hangs out in the kitchen snooping in the cupboards and wondering why they have so much paprika. That’s when she meets Josh who makes the whole not dating thing complicated.


Something horrible happens in Bently’s life and Josh is there to help pick up the pieces having dealt with something similar happen to him. What you end up with is an Epic Love Story.

This book is really a rollercoaster ride, Its hilarious to the point where I’m laughing so much I get hiccups then absolutely devastating and have to hold back tears. You fall in love with the characters, then they break your heart and then they try to piece it together with sticky tape. I felt like it was emotional torture reading the book but I couldn’t put it down! It was amazing! I would compare it to what Abby and Travis had in Beautiful Disaster. I love the drama.

Josh is one of those book boyfriends, which will be remembered

“He was protective, Funny, Sincere and just so Mouthwateringly beautiful. He was everything I’d never had in a boyfriend”

A couple of quotes from the book I must share are:


“I was an independent woman. I ain’t need no G to pay my bills. And when my subconscious went gangsta, I knew I was really upset.”


“You can’t spend another night watching Seinfeld reruns. It’s not healthy. And I think I heard you say George Costanza’s name in your sleep last night.”

*There are quite a few references to Seinfeld in this book

When I first saw this book I didn’t get the cover or the blurb of it but after reading It, It makes sense. Its not something I would pick up usually but I guess not all New Adult books need to have a half naked man on the cover to be good!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a New Adult book with a mix of humor and drama; it’s a really great read that had me hooked from the beginning, I didn’t want to put it down and read it in one night.

My Rating: 4 Stars ****

Skyesbookblog.wordpress.com

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...

Oh, this was a lot of fun to read, sprinkled with highly-entertaining sarcasm, witty dialogue and one girl with an attitude that cannot be beaten.

In Michelle Holt's Write For Me, readers are introduced to Bently Young, college student and avoider of the male species. As soon as Bently opened her mouth, I loved her. She was fluent in sarcasm, hilarious in wit, and I took to her character like a duck to water. It's been such a long time since I've spent time with young-ish characters, so it felt fantastic to be strolling down those corridors filled with noisy, chatting students alongside Bently. After a disastrous past dating wise, young Bently decides to take a step away from males for a while and just let life carry her along. Until Josh steps on the scene and completely knocks Bently off of her feet...

As love stories go, I thoroughly enjoyed Bently and Josh's. As I mentioned above, it's been a while since I dipped into a story focusing on young-ish characters and so, I found this completely refreshing. Taking into account Bently's rule to not get involved, the tale of she and Josh meeting and falling for each other was an entertaining one to say the least. It was a whirlwind of emotions and angst, worries and doubts, but enjoyable all the same. Not only does the author have this new blossoming romance to keep under control, but there were a ton of characters and sub-plots for me to sink into. I loved Bently's best-friend Taylor. The relationship between she and Bently was an amusing one, but one which I could tell meant a lot to the both of them, therefore felt all the more real to me. The dialogue and narrative was spot-on, although at times, I did feel like the pace was a little slower than necessary. Thankfully, Holt's characters were enough to keep me turning those pages, and when Bently's life takes a life-changing tumble, I really didn't want to turn away.

What I found exciting was that throughout Write For Me, the characters' circumstances were almost constantly changing. There was always something going on in Bently's life, something that I wanted to see the outcome of and watch how she reacted to it. There were ups and downs within the plot, as well as in Bently's life, and all the while, I couldn't help wondering where the author would take Bently next. There were moments of tenderness, of that all-consuming 'first real love' that I loved reading about time and time again. There was the girlish banter between two friends which really made me giggle, and in keeping with the title, the essence of note-writing in class (and out of class) that takes me right back to my own years in school. It was fun and flirty to an extent, until the plot twisted Bently's life completely around and suddenly, she had to do a lot of growing up.

What I adored most about this novel though, was how Bently's character developed from beginning to end. It was wonderful, although tragic at times, and with the help of Josh, made this story all the more pleasing. Becca's Books is awarding Write For Me by Michelle Holt with four gorgeous cupcakes!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I loved this book it was everything i hoped it would be and more. I laughed, I cried and I even got angry with the characters that I've grown to love so much. Bently is an extraordinary character! It was easy to read from her point of view and picture her world. She was such a strong character it was amazing after the things she'd gone through. Although sometimes her quick temper got her into more trouble than needed she was funny, quirky and she was so strange it was hilarious to be in her mind sometimes.

I absolutely adored Josh from the first time he talked to her, I was just in love with the idea of Josh and Bently. Josh is kind and considerate you can see that throughout the book but you later see that he can be easily manipulated and taken advantage of after the death of this brother. It's sad to see both Bently and Josh having to go through so much but their relationship grows and I think Bently needed to learn to grow up and take responsibility for her actions and I loved being with her as that happened.

I'd love there to be more books based on the characters in this book such as Taylor and Heath as well as Griffin. I would also like to know what happens to Amanda even though I don't like her, I think it would be good for her to have a break from the facade that was her life. So Mrs Michelle if you feel like getting a reviewer for your next books just let me know I'd love to review them!

Overall, I just loved the characters though at times they annoyed me I still love them and want more books of them!!. I recommend this to anyone who wants a good cheesy romance that has drama and a smoking hot man also known as Josh in it. I think I might just go and do a re-read of the book. Great job Michelle!!!!

[Maureen McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can check out my review here:
http://diariesofabooklover.blogspot.c...

[Donna Huber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book reminded me I'm not in my 20s anymore and these type of stories no longer appeal to me. I only finished it because I hate not finishing a book. There were a number of inconsistencies, like at the beginning of the book Josh is a super cleaner but then towards the middle, she calls him a slob. I thought Bentley was melodramatic and seemed to swing between one emotional extreme to the other. Also, she was too fond of descriptions. She couldn't just be sad but had to be convulsing with saddness. Most of the book is told from the inside of her head (instead of dialogue) and I didn't like her. I think perhaps a bit too much of the story happened off the page.

[Zareena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Review original posted on The Slanted Bookshelf.

First and foremost, Write For Me was a funny read :) The main character, Bently, hasn’t has the best luck when it comes to romance. At first it seemed like she was going to be bitter about it but instead she was freaking hilarious. After swearing off guys Bently meets Josh at a party. At first she hates him – that was more due to bitterness – but pretty soon they have a friendship that worked well. There’s a lot of underlying tension because both Josh and Bently know they want more than friendship but the banter they have together made me laugh so much! It was good ;)

I’ve mentioned that Bently is funny as hell but she was also realistic. Having said that, not very far into Write For Me Bently faces tragedy in her life and sadly I didn’t think her emotions were that believable. Sometimes Bently seemed to forget about what had happened and was completely obsessed with Josh. I just wanted Bently to calm down sometimes! It seemed like she was going at full throttle for the whole book and completely overreacted to situations when it wasn’t necessary. Also, at the end of the book Bently does something which I though was unacceptable. Josh thinks so too but then it is all forgiven – personally, I think she got off the hook way too easily.

As for Josh, he was super sweet ;) Sometimes his dialogue was too flowery and poetic but to be honest I didn’t mind too much. While Josh was could banter like anything with Bently he is also protective and cares a lot about her.

Anyway, Write For Me was a fun read and is so worth it just for the laughs! But as well as the funny moments there are also serious aspects that make this book more than a light summer read.

New Adult
3.5 stars

**Thank you, Michelle Holt, for providing me with a review copy! All views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.**

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bently Young is my kind of girl: smart, witty and sarcastic to fault. I truly enjoyed getting to know her throughout the story. While I expected a lighthearted love story this book tackles some serious issues that I wasn't prepared for after reading the synopsis. I don't want to give too much away but I do want to mention it for those looking for a lighter read.

I cannot pinpoint exactly what made me fall in love with this story, but I think the characters are definitely the top of my list. When we meet Bently, she is a scorned woman wallowing from her recent break up. Luckily her bff/roomie Taylor is there to help her pick up the pieces, as a good friend would, by helping her move on. Enter Josh.

The insta-love that so many of the NA books I've read are guilty of is not part of this story, and I am so grateful. Bently and Josh have chemistry, don't get me wrong, but their relationship is full of trials and tribulations. There are laugh out loud funny moments and ball your eyes out sadness in this roller coaster of a story, but somehow you can't seem to put it down.

The note writing habits of Josh are equally adorable and cringe worthy in sappiness. I personally enjoy getting notes from my significant other so I find them endearing, but others may not. Regardless, this book is about more than just Bently and Josh's romance. It's about life, family, friends and most of all, growing up.

I would recommend this to New Adult fans, as well as anyone who enjoys good story telling. This book was well written and flowed beautifully from moment to moment.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

There is something about this book that not only made me agree to read it, but that I really enjoyed. I think it was the author's voice, if you like the way the blurb is written, then it gives you a good idea to the humour and wit involved in this book.

Even in truly devastating parts of the story, there is still an element that made me not be able to take the story completely seriously.

This is Bently and Josh's story, it is not your average straight forward romance, and has many ups and downs to it. What really kept making me smile, were the notes that Josh was continually passing to Bently. They were written on lined notebook paper, and were a mix of bad rhymes, random thoughts and feelings, as well as sometimes practical details of when their next date,

You need to keep an eye out for Josh's ex-girlfriend, as she really is a nasty piece of work, and doesn't take being dumped for Bently all that well. You will be amazed at the extents she goes to for revenge.

There was plenty in this story to make me laugh, and at other times cringe. There were a few storylines, including one with her professor, that possibly should have been fleshed out a bit more, as could have been really good.

Write For Me had plenty of good ideas in it, and the pace moved really fast. This is a very pleasant and enjoyable read, great for whiling away a rainy afternoon. I found Write For Me to be a promising debut novel, and will be interested to see what Michelle Holt writes next.

Thank you so much to Michelle for offering me a copy of this book to review. This was my honest opinion and review.

[Lunaloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The storyline sucks you in and you can't wait to see what happens next. Bentley's a great character. She's funny, snarky, kind of clueless, and totally relatable. There are lots of parts that made me laugh out loud. My husband looked at me like I was a loon, every time I started laughing loudly(This happened a lot.). Bently gets tossed through a ton of drama, heartbreak, loss, revenge, and not really knowing what she wants in life. She's only 21, in college, has really bad luck with men, and meets Josh, just when she decides to take a break from dating. Josh's a good guy, sweet, and a little corny, but not perfect and has his own set of issues. All of the character mesh very well and we all know "the jerky guy", "the poisonous ex girlfriend", "the awesome funny best friend", etc... That's not to say that these characters are cookie cutter by any means, each's interesting and fits perfectly into the storyline. The last quarter of the book's my favorite. You really see how Bentley grows and deals with her parents death, a boyfriend who will not put up with her crap, a jealous ex-girlfriend willing to do anything to get Josh back, Josh's mother, who doesn't really like her, making her own mistakes and having to deal with the consequences for her actions, and finding her own spirituality. Bottom line, this is a great book that deals some pretty serious topics, but at the same time's a funny and charming read.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! I really loved how funny it was. There are so many quotes I made while reading. For a debut this was really good. The lead character Bently Young is somewhat typical. The author gives her a special dialogue flair that makes you adore her. There is Josh who is seemingly perfect. When Josh has signs of a girlfriend I was annoyed. I liked these two characters together and the book was so funny I didnt want the dialogue to stop. It didnt! Josh and Bently have a wonderful story in here that has to be enjoyed.

The plot makes you think and just in case you were gonna get sad, don't there is a lot of George Costanza, Lord of the Idiots here to enjoy. If you like CLEAN reads then YES it is for you. Going a little out there I will say if you have a YA reader this is just the type of book that MAY just get them to read. So much to admire about the Bently character and also so much to relate to.

Connecting with the story, locations and characters will make you do the happy dance. I think that there is a perfect balance of comedy, romance and seriousness here. Bently needs an entire series and this author really should be recognized for her amazing breakout talent. Her humor was something to be savored.


Ours is an epic love story and I just happened to write it down for you…

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Write for Me is a fresh take on love. After receiving an ARC, it took only a few minutes for my interest to be peaked into reading the entire book. The way Michelle Holt describes the main character’s, Bently, inner thoughts and ideas is a refreshing and funny take on the average female character in a young adult novel. Bently’s way of looking at the world is quirky, yet seriously relatable. It’s as if Ms. Holt has her finger on the pulse of what is happening in the facebook/social media related world of today, without being “basic”. Ms. Holt allows Bently’s character to make mistakes, but also keeps Bently true to her moral compass as well. Ms. Holt’s writing gives her characters depth and realness, leaving the reader feel connected to them and wanting to know how the story plays out. Ms. Holt leads the reader through the life of Bently effortlessly, flowing from each life event and situation without the slightest jolt . The lives of all the characters entertwine seamlessly, leaving the reader feel like they know these people and are not just reading a story about them. The lighthearted nature of this novel makes it a fun read, but also tackles the issues of losing loved ones and losing yourself in the midst of living life. This is a must-read!

[Kerry smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book broke my heart! I cried so much I wasn't even sure if I wanted to keep going but I'm glad I did! I thought it was going to be a light read from the blurb but I was seriously mistaken. Bentley had this perfect family life that is quickly ripped away from her and in no way was she prepared for it. Bentley and Josh are perfect for each other they have both suffered tragedies in their life's and need each other to get through. Add in a scheming ex and Josh's mum not liking Bentley at all she has a lot to overcome.
This story is so different from anything I have read lately at one point I thought there wasn't going to be a HEA and was shouting at my kindle. Both characters writing letters to each other was lovely it's so much better than the usual texting that I see happening in a lot of books lately. I can't give this author enough praise for this book. The only reason it isn't a 5 star read for me as I found some of the scenes a bit childish and a far fetched. I would read more from this author as this was the first book of hers I had read so went in totally blind but I'm glad I did.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honored to be one of the few who received an ARC copy from the talented author. This book was truly amazing from the beginning to the end. It had me glued to each page wondering what was going to happen next and found myself connecting to the characters. This novel not only has a great story line, but also allows the reader to really relate to the life of Bently as well as admire Josh. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be engulfed into a true romantic comedy. You truly will not be disappointed and will be eager to read the next novel by this engaging author.

[Katelyn Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

One for my body and One f or my heart

A fun romantic story of Bentley Young, a college student who swears off of love and dating only to find the perfect man who is regrettably attached to another. I love how she ultimately finds her own strength through love and through embracing a tragic loss. My favorite line, "I now have two homes one for my body and one for my heart."

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review posted at: http://othersideoftheshelf.blogspot.c...