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Hart University #1
Rikki
Ever since junior high and an ill-fated game of seven minutes in heaven, Rikki Eisendrath and Sam Payne have hated each others’ guts. But when they end up at the same college—and the same dorm—they figure it’s time to declare a truce.
They even become friends… sort of. But when Sam asks Rikki to model for his sculpting project, they start spending more time together—and her feelings for him get more complicated.
She tries to focus on the guy she’s been crushing on instead. But Sam’s the one she can’t stop thinking about, even though their arguments are starting to heat up as much as the chemistry between them.
With antagonism and attraction this intense, there’s bound to be an explosion. But when the dust settles, will Sam and Rikki be enemies, friends… or something more?
They even become friends… sort of. But when Sam asks Rikki to model for his sculpting project, they start spending more time together—and her feelings for him get more complicated.
She tries to focus on the guy she’s been crushing on instead. But Sam’s the one she can’t stop thinking about, even though their arguments are starting to heat up as much as the chemistry between them.
With antagonism and attraction this intense, there’s bound to be an explosion. But when the dust settles, will Sam and Rikki be enemies, friends… or something more?
212 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2015
139 people are currently reading
1577 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Strom
28 books401 followersAbigail Strom started writing stories at the age of seven and has never been able to stop. She lives in New England with her family, a variety of animals, and a towering TBR pile. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached at abigail@abigailstrom.com.
I read everything, but I especially love YA, MG, mystery, romance, sci fi, and fantasy.
I read everything, but I especially love YA, MG, mystery, romance, sci fi, and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
December 8, 2015
***5 "Love to Hate" stars with all my heart***
This story was beyond hatred...
It was beyond friendship...
And surely was beyond love...
This was a really sweet and anticipating story...
Why was that???
This book gave me wrong signs toward the whole story...
Or should i say the right signs who Sam and Rikki thought wrong????
I did confuse you, right??? I'm still very frustrated too over this book...
And that's why my feelings were torned apart in every chapter...
I felt angst (too much angst) and sweetness and terror and panic...
I felt joy and happiness and tenderness...
All the time my hopes were rising and a big smile plastered in my mouth and then... my hopes were shattered for once again...
It was like a ping pong game between hope and disappointment...
But no, don't you ever think that i didn't like that book!!! I am a major majocist and i enjoyed every single moment in it...
I just lost my way some times and that's from clear frustration...
But i think that i have to explain you what was the deal with this book...
Rikki and Sam were classmates for all their lives and they didn't like each other at all...
Their hatred was too big and all came from their antagonistics natures...
They were too much into school and they wanted to be the best, and if you want to be the best, you have to bit the second best....
One day when they were about 13 years old, they went to a party and from a twist of luck they stuck together inside a closet while they were playing "Seven Minutes in Heaven", and Rikki was kissed forthe first time in her life by her sworn emeny!!!
After that kiss they got back to their old ways, ignoring each other...
Now, after some interesting facts, they go both to the Hart University but not only that, they are living and to the same dorms... They even have the same friends...
So they start to have more friendly contact and they decide to put a stop to their old hatred and they are embracing this new friendship...
Everything are starting to change when Sam asks Rikki to be the model for a sculpture that he had to make for an essay... and Rikki is accepting it.
So now, the already blurred lines becomes more unrecognisable than ever...
Was it always hate that they were feeling for each other or was it something beyond that??? Something that will make them run into a hill and hide away from everyone???
Well, Rikki was an interested and challenging character...
She was a control freak who loved to study and she had some serious goals in her life...
Her love life sucked... She took her first kiss from her enemy and now, she is the only remained virgin around the Hart University...
She never takes risks especially for love and she is very acceptable to anything...
She doesn't judge nobody and i liked that to her...
But she is so insecure about herself and that was pissing me off.
As for her feelings for Sam???
I think that she always felt something big for him but that scared her and she preffered to ignore it. It was easiest this way!!!
Sam was a really brilliant and wonderfull young man...
For the first time that i saw him in this book, i instantly fell in love with his character...
He was so thoughtfull, so caring, so decent... He was putting the others above himself, and especially Rikki...
Yeah, i know that i told you that they were enemies, but i always felt that behind Sam's behavior underlying some solid and big feelings for Rikki...
The way Sam seeing her was amazing and the way he was caring for her was so touching...
So that's why i'm wondering how the hell she wasn't seeing it???
But Rikki underestimated herself so much that i wanted to shake her up and open her eyes with force...
That's why i almost got crazy... because everytime that i was saying "now, it's the time", the time was passing and i was getting very disappointed!!!
I don't know what else can i say to you about this book, i don't want to reveal you too much....
I'll just say that i really liked the plot and i will recommend it to everyone that liked this kind of stories...
It was a sweet and deep story...
A story about finding yourself and learning to take risks in the name of love...
I can not wait for Claire's turn...
***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
This story was beyond hatred...
It was beyond friendship...
And surely was beyond love...
This was a really sweet and anticipating story...
Why was that???
This book gave me wrong signs toward the whole story...
Or should i say the right signs who Sam and Rikki thought wrong????
I did confuse you, right??? I'm still very frustrated too over this book...
And that's why my feelings were torned apart in every chapter...
I felt angst (too much angst) and sweetness and terror and panic...
I felt joy and happiness and tenderness...
All the time my hopes were rising and a big smile plastered in my mouth and then... my hopes were shattered for once again...
It was like a ping pong game between hope and disappointment...
But no, don't you ever think that i didn't like that book!!! I am a major majocist and i enjoyed every single moment in it...
I just lost my way some times and that's from clear frustration...
But i think that i have to explain you what was the deal with this book...
Rikki and Sam were classmates for all their lives and they didn't like each other at all...
Their hatred was too big and all came from their antagonistics natures...
They were too much into school and they wanted to be the best, and if you want to be the best, you have to bit the second best....
One day when they were about 13 years old, they went to a party and from a twist of luck they stuck together inside a closet while they were playing "Seven Minutes in Heaven", and Rikki was kissed forthe first time in her life by her sworn emeny!!!
After that kiss they got back to their old ways, ignoring each other...
Now, after some interesting facts, they go both to the Hart University but not only that, they are living and to the same dorms... They even have the same friends...
So they start to have more friendly contact and they decide to put a stop to their old hatred and they are embracing this new friendship...
Everything are starting to change when Sam asks Rikki to be the model for a sculpture that he had to make for an essay... and Rikki is accepting it.
So now, the already blurred lines becomes more unrecognisable than ever...
Was it always hate that they were feeling for each other or was it something beyond that??? Something that will make them run into a hill and hide away from everyone???
Well, Rikki was an interested and challenging character...
She was a control freak who loved to study and she had some serious goals in her life...
Her love life sucked... She took her first kiss from her enemy and now, she is the only remained virgin around the Hart University...
She never takes risks especially for love and she is very acceptable to anything...
She doesn't judge nobody and i liked that to her...
But she is so insecure about herself and that was pissing me off.
As for her feelings for Sam???
I think that she always felt something big for him but that scared her and she preffered to ignore it. It was easiest this way!!!
Sam was a really brilliant and wonderfull young man...
For the first time that i saw him in this book, i instantly fell in love with his character...
He was so thoughtfull, so caring, so decent... He was putting the others above himself, and especially Rikki...
Yeah, i know that i told you that they were enemies, but i always felt that behind Sam's behavior underlying some solid and big feelings for Rikki...
The way Sam seeing her was amazing and the way he was caring for her was so touching...
So that's why i'm wondering how the hell she wasn't seeing it???
But Rikki underestimated herself so much that i wanted to shake her up and open her eyes with force...
That's why i almost got crazy... because everytime that i was saying "now, it's the time", the time was passing and i was getting very disappointed!!!
I don't know what else can i say to you about this book, i don't want to reveal you too much....
I'll just say that i really liked the plot and i will recommend it to everyone that liked this kind of stories...
It was a sweet and deep story...
A story about finding yourself and learning to take risks in the name of love...
I can not wait for Claire's turn...
***ARC kindly provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review***
August 15, 2018
4.5 “Your intelligence turns me on” Stars
Disclaimer: Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I guess I read this book in the perfect moment, it was unexpected, entertaining and made me feel all the feels.
You know when you have a book you really like, but then you feel is a guilty pleasure and you shouldn’t love it as much? Well, this book is that for me. But I know I shouldn’t be ashamed of anything I like, I am just insecure. (?)
The romance. It was like this romance was my kryptonite, I was addicted to this shit. If you love hate-to-love relationships this is perfect for you. It was a slow burn, the chemistry was flowing out of the pages to my body, I felt butterflies all over me. I had to re-read many scenes like three times because I need to feel everything again, every single detail I had to absorb.
Characters.It was so perfect for me because the characters are not a cliché, they are odd, different, quirky, not blindingly hot, more like average. They are people focused on academics, going through their first year in college, with normal problems in their lives. I love the fact that Rikki had a diverse family, been raised by two moms. Something really important too was how consent was portrayed very well. The characters always asked each other if it was okay to this or that, that it was okay to stop at any time, and it gave a sweeter tone more than awkwardness. I also liked some secondary characters, especially Andre and Tasmin, I am looking forward to their books.
Plot. Well, here is the way I couldn’t give it five full stars. Almost at the end of the book, there is this conflict that happens, where I just wanted to fucking punch Sam, because he was so perfect until that point.I lost a lot of respect for him, and I felt the author should have put a bit more of difficulty to solve it. Apart from that, everything was perfect for me.
I really want for more people to read this and discuss the same scenes that made fall for this book.
Disclaimer: Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I guess I read this book in the perfect moment, it was unexpected, entertaining and made me feel all the feels.
You know when you have a book you really like, but then you feel is a guilty pleasure and you shouldn’t love it as much? Well, this book is that for me. But I know I shouldn’t be ashamed of anything I like, I am just insecure. (?)
The romance. It was like this romance was my kryptonite, I was addicted to this shit. If you love hate-to-love relationships this is perfect for you. It was a slow burn, the chemistry was flowing out of the pages to my body, I felt butterflies all over me. I had to re-read many scenes like three times because I need to feel everything again, every single detail I had to absorb.
Characters.It was so perfect for me because the characters are not a cliché, they are odd, different, quirky, not blindingly hot, more like average. They are people focused on academics, going through their first year in college, with normal problems in their lives. I love the fact that Rikki had a diverse family, been raised by two moms. Something really important too was how consent was portrayed very well. The characters always asked each other if it was okay to this or that, that it was okay to stop at any time, and it gave a sweeter tone more than awkwardness. I also liked some secondary characters, especially Andre and Tasmin, I am looking forward to their books.
Plot. Well, here is the way I couldn’t give it five full stars. Almost at the end of the book, there is this conflict that happens, where I just wanted to fucking punch Sam, because he was so perfect until that point.I lost a lot of respect for him, and I felt the author should have put a bit more of difficulty to solve it. Apart from that, everything was perfect for me.
I really want for more people to read this and discuss the same scenes that made fall for this book.
October 21, 2015
Quick and cute leisure read for all those who enjoy enemies-to-lovers trope in romance genre. Writing has this natural feel to it and I liked it. Also, I liked heroine. She was "opinionated but non-judgmental". Her enemies/friends/lovers dynamics with Sam were fun to read about.
However, this story is very short and straightforward. It lacks deeper character development or more detailed insight into other characters' life. So overall, Rikki is good but average book with nothing that would make it stand out. In next couple of weeks, this novel will be lost in a sea of other contemporary romances in my mind and I probably won't even remember the names of the characters...
However, this story is very short and straightforward. It lacks deeper character development or more detailed insight into other characters' life. So overall, Rikki is good but average book with nothing that would make it stand out. In next couple of weeks, this novel will be lost in a sea of other contemporary romances in my mind and I probably won't even remember the names of the characters...
February 24, 2018
sometimes you see someone reading a book & you just have to know what all the fuss is about. thank you Sara, this was the perfect friday night read.
the story is about sam and rikki (duh) and their hate-to-love relationship which spans roughly 5 years of their lives. they're both academically competitive, and seem to have real feelings and interests which didn't make them flat characters... HELL YEAH.
i genuinely liked everything about this story. we had lesbian moms, college hijinks, and some cute chemistry, my dudes. i also liked the tone of this, idk it was relatable and not corny.
only reason this wasn't perfect was the lack of *ahem* consummation. don't build me up if you ain't gon sex me up (or at least provide me with some gorgeous sexual imagery, ya feel).
the story is about sam and rikki (duh) and their hate-to-love relationship which spans roughly 5 years of their lives. they're both academically competitive, and seem to have real feelings and interests which didn't make them flat characters... HELL YEAH.
i genuinely liked everything about this story. we had lesbian moms, college hijinks, and some cute chemistry, my dudes. i also liked the tone of this, idk it was relatable and not corny.
only reason this wasn't perfect was the lack of *ahem* consummation. don't build me up if you ain't gon sex me up (or at least provide me with some gorgeous sexual imagery, ya feel).
September 27, 2015
I'll dive in right away! Rikki is an interesting book as a wholesome. It has unique characters, perspective, no slut-shaming to a delirious degree and in actuality an open-minded community who is very politically correct to the T and very supportive.
Yeah right, please enroll me there right away! Where is it? Near Narnia you say, between Hogwarts and the dystopian Chicago from the Divergent series? Cool, tonight i'll drink to that!
Come on all those proactive things are absolutely amazing and i'm sure at some point in the far, far, far future -and maybe in a galaxy far, far away- this will be possible but for now it's sadly not!
And that's the main problem for me. Although the characters are intensely realistic and compelling the story missed its mark while trying to get a footing in the N.A. world. Sorry, but i don't think there is a person out there that when a friend, who is only 18 btw, confesses that she/he already slept with 23 people, won't be alarmed.
It doesn't have to be judgemental but there must be some concern! Or at least a WOW! I would ask if everything is alright. I think that while the author tried to write a refreshing and a bit utopian version of the late-millennials in college something went terribly wrong. Adjusting an idea in order to fit in every new sociological factor is not always very wise.
But apart from all that i enjoyed the storyline very much. I found it tumbling between a unique innocence and a new sexual conceptism. The heroine was a bit too analytical but the hero was very sweet, chivalrous and likeable even when he made a mistake. I will read the next in the series and keep an eye on the authors for other releases!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK
- It was very easy to read it. In just a few hours.
- Her family was very interesting i wanted to know more.
- There is no mention of her friends after she leaves. None at all.
- I liked their chemistry and the sweet tension that was an ongoing theme between them.
- I didn't like Mena right from the start. She was so snobby.
- Tamsin was a little insensitive at first but she grew on me.
- 3,5 Stars!
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
Yeah right, please enroll me there right away! Where is it? Near Narnia you say, between Hogwarts and the dystopian Chicago from the Divergent series? Cool, tonight i'll drink to that!
Come on all those proactive things are absolutely amazing and i'm sure at some point in the far, far, far future -and maybe in a galaxy far, far away- this will be possible but for now it's sadly not!
And that's the main problem for me. Although the characters are intensely realistic and compelling the story missed its mark while trying to get a footing in the N.A. world. Sorry, but i don't think there is a person out there that when a friend, who is only 18 btw, confesses that she/he already slept with 23 people, won't be alarmed.
It doesn't have to be judgemental but there must be some concern! Or at least a WOW! I would ask if everything is alright. I think that while the author tried to write a refreshing and a bit utopian version of the late-millennials in college something went terribly wrong. Adjusting an idea in order to fit in every new sociological factor is not always very wise.
But apart from all that i enjoyed the storyline very much. I found it tumbling between a unique innocence and a new sexual conceptism. The heroine was a bit too analytical but the hero was very sweet, chivalrous and likeable even when he made a mistake. I will read the next in the series and keep an eye on the authors for other releases!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE BOOK
- It was very easy to read it. In just a few hours.
- Her family was very interesting i wanted to know more.
- There is no mention of her friends after she leaves. None at all.
- I liked their chemistry and the sweet tension that was an ongoing theme between them.
- I didn't like Mena right from the start. She was so snobby.
- Tamsin was a little insensitive at first but she grew on me.
- 3,5 Stars!
ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
May 29, 2018
Rikki
by Abigail Strom
4/5 Stars!
After reading depressing books one after another, all I wanted to read was a cute and fluffy
contemporary novel and this book was exactly it.
Also from enemies to friends and then to lovers? I can never resist that.
The main characters: Rikki and Sam are always head to head in the top of the class, they're always competing against one another for being the best, They've been 'kind of enemies' since they were 11 years old.
Also, this book beside romance was about love, friendship and more importantly figuring yourself out and what you really want. So overall, this book was adorable, they were diverse characters which I really liked and the book was a perfect feel good read.
by Abigail Strom
4/5 Stars!
After reading depressing books one after another, all I wanted to read was a cute and fluffy
contemporary novel and this book was exactly it.
Also from enemies to friends and then to lovers? I can never resist that.
The main characters: Rikki and Sam are always head to head in the top of the class, they're always competing against one another for being the best, They've been 'kind of enemies' since they were 11 years old.
Also, this book beside romance was about love, friendship and more importantly figuring yourself out and what you really want. So overall, this book was adorable, they were diverse characters which I really liked and the book was a perfect feel good read.
October 19, 2015
Yesss! That's what I'm talking about!
I must say, I very much enjoyed the younger vibe in this one. Somehow there was more tension and chemistry that way. Really enjoyed it! And Rikki gets bonus points for making me laugh quite a bit :-)
I must say, I very much enjoyed the younger vibe in this one. Somehow there was more tension and chemistry that way. Really enjoyed it! And Rikki gets bonus points for making me laugh quite a bit :-)
just-not-for-me-stay-away-hell-no
March 30, 2016Self Note:H loses his V-card to OW couple of hours before he has sex with h( who is a virgin). Thats just stupid ! Not something im interested in.
October 20, 2015
So I did something unthinkable yesterday. I read a book in one day. Something I did not think I would ever do now that I have an infant in the house, but even with the lack of sleep, so I thought it was worth it.
It took one game in Junior High to get Rikki and Sam to hate each other for most of their high school year. Two very motivated, driven teens who love the competition between each other on an intellectual level. Sam has always proven to be a worthy opponent to Rikki and she had never seen him past what he really was, her competition, her rival. When one ill-fated game of seven minutes in heaven leaves a lot of miscommunication, the two go through high school mostly not speaking. But fate brings them back together their first year in college. Of course being under the same roof, the two call a truce and become friends, except sparks fly and soon test the boundaries of their relationship.
Wow. I did not know I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did, but the moment I picked it up I did not regret it. I found myself pulled into this world, Strom's writing and had a really hard time putting it down. I honestly don't know how I made it through the book in one day, I know I missed hours of sleep because of it, but I have done it. The plan was to finish it in two days, but once I got involved with Rikki and Sam, I knew I had to find out how it was all going to turn out.
The romance was slow burn and exciting. The character's felt, real, true, and emotionally raw. I loved watching Rikki grow through the story, and I loved that Strom kept her character true to form. Rikki was inexperienced, but she was far from perfect and flawed in her own way. She wasn't good in relationships, she never really had a grown up relationship, so when she finds herself in college she wants a boyfriend. Despite her want for adult relationship, I still found glimpses of her teenage like innocence. She isn't readily prepared for the influx of emotion she starts to suddenly feel towards Sam, and doesn't know how to handle it. Her inexperience only ends up causing more headache than necessary between the two as well as her inability to deduct that she was the girl who Sam wants but thinks he cannot have.
"I've wanted you for six years"
Sam, poor foolish Sam. I honestly couldn't believe he didn't pick up on her actions. Okay, they weren't the greatest moves to seduce in the world, but the girl practically had it written all over her face. Why didn't he just ask her?
"You want to fight with me?" he asked with a grin. "It seems like we've been doing that for years." "No. I want to fight for you."
I was really rooting for these two. Given their inexperience the romantic in me was hoping for the two to be together, but then Sam went and done something stupid and I felt a small crack in my heart for Rikki.
Okay, to be fair. I get it, he didn't know. But I also felt it was a little out of character for him. I didn't feel like he had enough for him to drink to do that, not when he had other beliefs about the whole situation. For him to assume that poor inexperienced Rikki was headed in that direction was pigheaded. I found myself uncharacteristically angry and a little heartbroken. I am still not 100% sure I agree with the choice here, alcohol or not, but whatever. I picked up the pieces and plowed on with the story in hopes it got the little cracks healed.
It did, Abigail Strom did manage to take the little pieces and neatly place them back together. I did come to the conclusion that I was just being a grumpy hopeless romantic and Sam wasn't with her at that time, his inexperience was also his flaw biggest flaw here.
I think I spent more time blabbing than writing an actual review, but you get it. I found myself very invested with the characters and was rationalizing their mistakes. In the end, I loved the story, I thought it was good. I took some brownie points for Sam's stupid mistake, which I found out of character, and alcohol or not, I didn't feel like he would have done it. I love that there was enough steam in it without being too much, just seemed perfect for these two. Unlike other New Adult books out there, this one was refreshing, tame and a wonderful, well written read. Looking forward to the next book in the series featuring Claire and I think Will ;)
I have been doing this thing lately, taking suggestions on some of my reads from friends. I picked this one up because Ali @ My Guilty Obsession really enjoyed it. Had good experience so far, so how about it :) what book did you guys seriously loved recently that you think I should give a shot? I am taking suggestions! Any genre is welcome :)
P.S. The gif review was just me mixing it up a little.This review was originally posted on Night Owl Book Café
October 1, 2015
It has been awhile since I have read anything in this genre because, if truth be told, I have been a bit burnt out on it. So it was with little expectation that I picked this up, even though I have loved Strom's work before. It wasn't anything against her, I just wasn't sure I was ready to dive back into the genre yet.
Boy was I wrong. This was such a fun read and it made me realize why I fell in love with this genre to begin with.
It had just the right amount of fun, steam, and romance as well and character growth.
All the fun romantic tropes I crave and love most, all packed into a little read that was so worth my time.
It left me with a smile on my face and just a complete feeling. Like seeing an old friend you haven't seen in forever and remembering why they were your friend to begin with.
Strom did a fun job delivering and making every aspect of this believable and entertaining and she reminded me why I trust her work to being with.
I can't wait for the next book!
*An ARC Copy of this was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Boy was I wrong. This was such a fun read and it made me realize why I fell in love with this genre to begin with.
It had just the right amount of fun, steam, and romance as well and character growth.
All the fun romantic tropes I crave and love most, all packed into a little read that was so worth my time.
It left me with a smile on my face and just a complete feeling. Like seeing an old friend you haven't seen in forever and remembering why they were your friend to begin with.
Strom did a fun job delivering and making every aspect of this believable and entertaining and she reminded me why I trust her work to being with.
I can't wait for the next book!
*An ARC Copy of this was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
October 1, 2015
I'm going to be massively blunt here and say that I have an extreme love/hate relationship with this book. Rikki was fantastic up until about 85%, and then it made me gasp aloud, and want to bawl my darn head off. Not for good reasons either! Even looking past that bit, it was -still- a good book, but what takes place is hard to swallow. It's also hard for me to wrap my head around because I did not see it coming, nor did I imagine it would happen. I'm not sure if it feels like an author's plot hook for the shock factor to me, or if it's just diabolical genius. I also absolutely hated the plot hook used, because it is one that is over used... but again, it was jaw dropping results. I wasn't sure if I wanted to put my Kindle down and stop reading one moment, or just keep on reading because I wanted to know how it turned out. I kept reading!
Let me back up a bit and give you the technical information. Rikki is the first novel in new-to-me author Abigail Storm's new Hart University series. It's told primarily from a first person point-of-view by Rikki, the female lead of the book. It can be read as a standalone, has an HEA and thankfully, no cliffhanger. It is intense in some regards, angsty, it'll give you the feels, and it'll very likely make you want to punch out one of the main characters are one point.
Rikki and Sam have known each other since grade school. They've been competing their whole lives, over everything when it comes to academics. They don't talk, they don't have much to do with each other before or after their Jr. High game of Seven Minutes in Heaven. (Not sure what that is, look here .) That is pretty much where the book starts off too. You get a sense of Rikki's feelings on it and it goes from there.
As characters, Rikki and Sam are both pretty developed. They can make you want to pull your hair out though because both are stubborn, they don't know how to talk, and when it comes to each other.. they totally suck at communicating. In a way I feel like you watch them grown up, and do stupid things, and learn from their mistakes. Things are not easy for them, and a majority of the time, when it comes to them, it's their own faults.
I'm giving it a solid four stars because it is a great book. It'd have been a five for me, save for the plot twist that I still can't get past. As a reader, it was like being smacked upside the head with it, and a part of me feels betrayed by it, which is probably silly, but there it is. Overall, I would definitely recommend the book!
Let me back up a bit and give you the technical information. Rikki is the first novel in new-to-me author Abigail Storm's new Hart University series. It's told primarily from a first person point-of-view by Rikki, the female lead of the book. It can be read as a standalone, has an HEA and thankfully, no cliffhanger. It is intense in some regards, angsty, it'll give you the feels, and it'll very likely make you want to punch out one of the main characters are one point.
Rikki and Sam have known each other since grade school. They've been competing their whole lives, over everything when it comes to academics. They don't talk, they don't have much to do with each other before or after their Jr. High game of Seven Minutes in Heaven. (Not sure what that is, look here .) That is pretty much where the book starts off too. You get a sense of Rikki's feelings on it and it goes from there.
As characters, Rikki and Sam are both pretty developed. They can make you want to pull your hair out though because both are stubborn, they don't know how to talk, and when it comes to each other.. they totally suck at communicating. In a way I feel like you watch them grown up, and do stupid things, and learn from their mistakes. Things are not easy for them, and a majority of the time, when it comes to them, it's their own faults.
I'm giving it a solid four stars because it is a great book. It'd have been a five for me, save for the plot twist that I still can't get past. As a reader, it was like being smacked upside the head with it, and a part of me feels betrayed by it, which is probably silly, but there it is. Overall, I would definitely recommend the book!
September 25, 2015
Initial reaction: How in fresh heck do I write a review on this book? I'll need a full night to meditate on my thoughts, but I'll give all of you some precursory details.
I actually thought there were many great parts of this book and it proved to be a very quick read - I read this in a matter of a couple of hours, I think. Plus I found some of the interactions and inclusions refreshing to read, which were direct knockdowns of a lot of New Adult stereotypes. Kudos to Abigail Strom for addressing them and even being responsible for addressing the conflicts themselves via the characters' dialogue.
But then the latter half of the book, I felt, tried to throw in too much, especially given the quick nature of the style and dictation this had from the beginning. I could get behind some of the occurrences, I could definitely feel for them, but some of it was overload.
Still, I'm in for following this series and the rest of the author's works.
Full review:
"Rikki" was a breath of fresh air in New Adult on many levels. I really liked how fluid the writing and interactions were (it took me only a couple of hours to read through it). I loved how it made me laugh at some of the banter between characters (Rikki and Alex had moments that left me doubled over in stitches laughing). I also. really appreciated that it incorporated a diversity of different characters and seemed to knock down many New Adult stereotypes. Rikki's parents were a lesbian couple who had prominent featuring in the book, Rikki herself was a sex-positive young woman who didn't believe in slut shaming (none of the characters did, to think of it), and even with this book dealing a lot with jealousy factors, for many places in the narrative, it handled it much better than I thought it would. I could probably credit Abigail Strom for dealing with all the conflicts in this novel in a plausible, open dialogue way that gave good insight into the motivations of the characters.
If there were a couple of caveats I would say that made me knock a few stars from the overarching experience, I'd say two things.
1. The novel's aide in its fluidity and brevity might've also been its Achilles Heel, because I think I would've easily given this higher stars if the narrative had a little more flesh to it. The college environment was realistic, the interests of the characters were too. I especially liked the dialogue and how it flowed, but I still felt like the characters themselves only scratched the surface of having depth enough to care about fully for me to identify with them. It's a good start to a series though, and I expect I'll get to know these characters more as the series goes on. I have some investment in them. Probably the most investment came with the two leads - what it was supposed to do, but a little more dimension to the side characters would've made this more fun as well.
2. I think the latter part of this novel threw too many curveballs/eggs against the wall. I mean, I expected to be frustrated with the sexual tension between the two leads and some other conflicts that were occurring around them (which felt realistic and palpable, I'm not saying none of this is realistic at all). I even expected that the heroine would be asked to grapple with some tough coming to terms. While all the conflicts were addressed in a way that felt conversational and aired things out in the open, in the last 40% of the novel it all felt like it was way too fast to digest and piled on more than I could really process. The flow of the first part of the novel was progressive and even, but it felt like the latter part disrupted the flow a bit.
And for personal peeves: I did have issues with the panty thing, and probably that's just my own level of discomfort within a novel that had uncomfortable moments, but at least it addressed that issue too. Although (slight spoiler):
But this novel had fun moments and some building blocks that were steps in decent directions, so I have to give it credit for that. I'm definitely reading more of Strom's work, and this series, to get more accustomed to her style, because I like the flow, dialogue, and bits of the humor in her writing.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
I actually thought there were many great parts of this book and it proved to be a very quick read - I read this in a matter of a couple of hours, I think. Plus I found some of the interactions and inclusions refreshing to read, which were direct knockdowns of a lot of New Adult stereotypes. Kudos to Abigail Strom for addressing them and even being responsible for addressing the conflicts themselves via the characters' dialogue.
But then the latter half of the book, I felt, tried to throw in too much, especially given the quick nature of the style and dictation this had from the beginning. I could get behind some of the occurrences, I could definitely feel for them, but some of it was overload.
Still, I'm in for following this series and the rest of the author's works.
Full review:
"Rikki" was a breath of fresh air in New Adult on many levels. I really liked how fluid the writing and interactions were (it took me only a couple of hours to read through it). I loved how it made me laugh at some of the banter between characters (Rikki and Alex had moments that left me doubled over in stitches laughing). I also. really appreciated that it incorporated a diversity of different characters and seemed to knock down many New Adult stereotypes. Rikki's parents were a lesbian couple who had prominent featuring in the book, Rikki herself was a sex-positive young woman who didn't believe in slut shaming (none of the characters did, to think of it), and even with this book dealing a lot with jealousy factors, for many places in the narrative, it handled it much better than I thought it would. I could probably credit Abigail Strom for dealing with all the conflicts in this novel in a plausible, open dialogue way that gave good insight into the motivations of the characters.
If there were a couple of caveats I would say that made me knock a few stars from the overarching experience, I'd say two things.
1. The novel's aide in its fluidity and brevity might've also been its Achilles Heel, because I think I would've easily given this higher stars if the narrative had a little more flesh to it. The college environment was realistic, the interests of the characters were too. I especially liked the dialogue and how it flowed, but I still felt like the characters themselves only scratched the surface of having depth enough to care about fully for me to identify with them. It's a good start to a series though, and I expect I'll get to know these characters more as the series goes on. I have some investment in them. Probably the most investment came with the two leads - what it was supposed to do, but a little more dimension to the side characters would've made this more fun as well.
2. I think the latter part of this novel threw too many curveballs/eggs against the wall. I mean, I expected to be frustrated with the sexual tension between the two leads and some other conflicts that were occurring around them (which felt realistic and palpable, I'm not saying none of this is realistic at all). I even expected that the heroine would be asked to grapple with some tough coming to terms. While all the conflicts were addressed in a way that felt conversational and aired things out in the open, in the last 40% of the novel it all felt like it was way too fast to digest and piled on more than I could really process. The flow of the first part of the novel was progressive and even, but it felt like the latter part disrupted the flow a bit.
And for personal peeves: I did have issues with the panty thing, and probably that's just my own level of discomfort within a novel that had uncomfortable moments, but at least it addressed that issue too. Although (slight spoiler):
But this novel had fun moments and some building blocks that were steps in decent directions, so I have to give it credit for that. I'm definitely reading more of Strom's work, and this series, to get more accustomed to her style, because I like the flow, dialogue, and bits of the humor in her writing.
Overall score: 3/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
November 2, 2015
Rikki and Sam have been at odds since junior high, fighting for the valedictorian position. They may have had one moment during a game of seven minutes in heaven, but now they hate each other. Except, Rikki doesn't really hate anyone and when they end up at college together, their hatred slowly changes. From enemies they grow into friends, friends that help each other out when they need it. From late night talks to posing for Sam's art project, Rikki slowly finds her feelings becoming a bit confusing. She goes for the jock she's had her eyes on and tried being anyone but herself, but in the end, their arguments may be more than just arguments.
This book definitely makes its mark in the NA genre. The characters are freshman at college, probably the coolest college I've ever heard of, and they are a mixed bag. They're nerdy, artistic, athletic, and all a little bit strange. I really enjoyed Rikki as a character, she reminded me a lot of my friends, and so did the many other characters. The setting was realistic and so were the characters. I enjoyed reading her inner turmoil and the conversations she have with Sam just show you how nerdy they are. While it is hard to keep up with their confusing push and pull relationship, I rooted for them from start to finish. The feelings this book gave me reminded me of my high school and first years at college, trying to figure it out on my own, leaning on friends for support, and being an adult just a bit too early. There is the natural teenage awkwardness, something I think a lot of authors leave out, but Strom did so well. The emotions are overwhelming, described with great detail and as a reader, I felt like I was sitting right in the dorm room with Rikki and Sam. I loved reading this book, at times seeing the characters shatter apart, and how Strom put it all together. It's an easy read, with a good mix of growth, fun, and smut scenes. I highly recommend this one, particularly to readers coming out of high school and those in college. I feel like this book has a great message that it is okay to be yourself, even if you're 18 and a virgin or if you doubting the risk of a random roommate or if you've never taken the chance on the boy you loved forever. It's a perfect story for all those feelings and many more.
This book definitely makes its mark in the NA genre. The characters are freshman at college, probably the coolest college I've ever heard of, and they are a mixed bag. They're nerdy, artistic, athletic, and all a little bit strange. I really enjoyed Rikki as a character, she reminded me a lot of my friends, and so did the many other characters. The setting was realistic and so were the characters. I enjoyed reading her inner turmoil and the conversations she have with Sam just show you how nerdy they are. While it is hard to keep up with their confusing push and pull relationship, I rooted for them from start to finish. The feelings this book gave me reminded me of my high school and first years at college, trying to figure it out on my own, leaning on friends for support, and being an adult just a bit too early. There is the natural teenage awkwardness, something I think a lot of authors leave out, but Strom did so well. The emotions are overwhelming, described with great detail and as a reader, I felt like I was sitting right in the dorm room with Rikki and Sam. I loved reading this book, at times seeing the characters shatter apart, and how Strom put it all together. It's an easy read, with a good mix of growth, fun, and smut scenes. I highly recommend this one, particularly to readers coming out of high school and those in college. I feel like this book has a great message that it is okay to be yourself, even if you're 18 and a virgin or if you doubting the risk of a random roommate or if you've never taken the chance on the boy you loved forever. It's a perfect story for all those feelings and many more.
March 16, 2016
2 stars
I remember liking Kate from Abigail Strom's earlier Almost Like Love; a feisty, strong-minded nerd who tamed the not-really-a-bad-boy. Unfortunately, college freshman Rikki from this NA romance left me cold.
Most of the novel is Rikki's endless internal dialogue. At first, Rikki is a promising character, a smart valedictorian with supportive lesbian parents. But it turns out Rikki may be the world's most analytical and timid freshman, internally debating everything but almost always deciding to do nothing. She runs into Sam Payne, her high school nemesis, at Hart University, and their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story felt flat, due to Rikki's endless dithering.
The story had a lot of promise. Rikki and Sam, after competing against each other in high school, find they can be friends and discover they are both virgins. But there were plot twists that really threw me and not in a good way. First, and then Towards the end of the novel, I could only hear Ross' voice from that Friends episode: "We were on a breaaaakkk!"
I think Abigail Strom is a talented writer but NA may not be her forte. The stilted, bland tone of Rikki's internal thoughts and the conversations between college-aged characters made it more akin to a YA novel (despite the more adult plot twists) than a true dramatic or romantic NA.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I remember liking Kate from Abigail Strom's earlier Almost Like Love; a feisty, strong-minded nerd who tamed the not-really-a-bad-boy. Unfortunately, college freshman Rikki from this NA romance left me cold.
Most of the novel is Rikki's endless internal dialogue. At first, Rikki is a promising character, a smart valedictorian with supportive lesbian parents. But it turns out Rikki may be the world's most analytical and timid freshman, internally debating everything but almost always deciding to do nothing. She runs into Sam Payne, her high school nemesis, at Hart University, and their enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story felt flat, due to Rikki's endless dithering.
The story had a lot of promise. Rikki and Sam, after competing against each other in high school, find they can be friends and discover they are both virgins. But there were plot twists that really threw me and not in a good way. First, and then Towards the end of the novel, I could only hear Ross' voice from that Friends episode: "We were on a breaaaakkk!"
I think Abigail Strom is a talented writer but NA may not be her forte. The stilted, bland tone of Rikki's internal thoughts and the conversations between college-aged characters made it more akin to a YA novel (despite the more adult plot twists) than a true dramatic or romantic NA.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2016
Not the most original story out there, but it was fluffy, cute and entertaining... until it wasn't.
That ending?
The last 15% ruined the book for me :[
That ending?
The last 15% ruined the book for me :[
May 15, 2016
"I still believe love is about shared values and respect and compromise. It’s about forging a connection with another human being that grows deeper and deeper over time. But love is also raw and passionate and irrational and primitive, and if you’re too afraid of that part of yourself it has a way of popping up at the worst possible moments."
Rikki was such a sweet read. I was a bit hesitant during the prologue since it sounded like a very shallow read, but from the proceeding chapters and onwards, this book has absolutely captured my heart. In no means was it something I can call a "different" story since I've read books that had a similar premise, but I guess what made it stand out was its genuinity and the very fact that it was character-driven, which I really appreciated.
He shrugged. "I’ve seen you look like that before. You get this flash of illumination."
"I do?"
"Yeah."
I felt more complimented than if he’d said I had beautiful hair or gorgeous eyes. Maybe that was because Sam and I were meant to have an intellectual connection, not a physical one.
Rikki was such a relatable character. I like her ideology and principles, and I think it's admirable how she doesn't forget to apply this in approaching different people with different views in life. With Sam, I liked how he wasn't your usual annoying male lead character that needs his ego fed. He's such a sweet guy, and my favorite attribute of his would have to be his intelligence.
"You didn’t ruin anything. I did, and I’m still pissed at myself. But if you can forgive me, then I’ll get over it. Because my second time is going to be with you. And once that happens, I’m not going to remember anything else."
A shiver ran through me as I looked up into Sam’s eyes.
"Are you cold?" he asked me, hugging me tighter.
"No. Just in love."
"I know the feeling," he said softly.
And I swear, you guys don't know how many times I've paused my reading, looked up at my ceiling, and just said "AWWWW!"
"You made me beautiful. I’m not beautiful in real life."
"Yes, you are. Do you want to fight about it? Because I’ll win."
*cue "AWWWWW!"*
This adorable read was exactly what I needed! 5 stars!
"Love was the real enemy. Love makes fools out of otherwise smart, sensible people."
March 9, 2016
Most romance covers try to be really scintillating, sensuous or try to win the reader over with risqué poses. Might I say I appreciated that this book's cover was none of the three. the simple, intimate, joyful moment does more for me than any other overly sexual pose could ever aspire to.
As for the actual story. Both the hero and heroine are the completely studious type of people. They have their hobbies but studies are important to them and I liked the idea of a romance between them.
Sam is quite the intense guy but that time when he steals something pretty naughty from Rikki's room was unbelievably hilarious. The naughty, naughty boy!
The book's just perfect but the problem is, it is just too perfect. The author has made all the characters so politically correct and mature that I found it difficult to believe that the kids I am reading about are just 18 year olds. Sure, I wholly support the idea of reducing the blatant use of unnecessary crass words and situations in books, but this was a little too squeaky clean for me. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a read.
Suggested read
As for the actual story. Both the hero and heroine are the completely studious type of people. They have their hobbies but studies are important to them and I liked the idea of a romance between them.
Sam is quite the intense guy but that time when he steals something pretty naughty from Rikki's room was unbelievably hilarious. The naughty, naughty boy!
The book's just perfect but the problem is, it is just too perfect. The author has made all the characters so politically correct and mature that I found it difficult to believe that the kids I am reading about are just 18 year olds. Sure, I wholly support the idea of reducing the blatant use of unnecessary crass words and situations in books, but this was a little too squeaky clean for me. Nevertheless, it is definitely worth a read.
Suggested read
December 1, 2019
This was really nice and soft and I quite enjoyed it.
A little synopsis
So Sam and Rikki are the two kids at the top of their class at 13, always competing against each other to be the best academically. They attend a party and naturally end up in the closet together during a seven minutes in heaven game where Sam takes Rikki’s first kiss. Rikki can’t stop thinking about it but when she sees Sam in school after that, he acts like it never happened. Then begins their hate relationship. They still keep competing of course but now also hate each other. Anyway, fast forward and it’s time to go to college and of course they’re attending the same one.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s just venturing into romance. There was no sex in it, but still a tiny bit of heat. I mean, Sam asked Rikki to model for his art project (almost nude👀). Take from that what you will.
Anyway, they were both really really cute and very shippable. The only problem I had was with the writing. It read a little juvenile.... like very informal. More like how you talk to someone in real life with very little description. But yeah, still fun!
A little synopsis
So Sam and Rikki are the two kids at the top of their class at 13, always competing against each other to be the best academically. They attend a party and naturally end up in the closet together during a seven minutes in heaven game where Sam takes Rikki’s first kiss. Rikki can’t stop thinking about it but when she sees Sam in school after that, he acts like it never happened. Then begins their hate relationship. They still keep competing of course but now also hate each other. Anyway, fast forward and it’s time to go to college and of course they’re attending the same one.
I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s just venturing into romance. There was no sex in it, but still a tiny bit of heat. I mean, Sam asked Rikki to model for his art project (almost nude👀). Take from that what you will.
Anyway, they were both really really cute and very shippable. The only problem I had was with the writing. It read a little juvenile.... like very informal. More like how you talk to someone in real life with very little description. But yeah, still fun!
October 26, 2015
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
This was definitely not my kind of book but I ended up falling in love with it. It was so, so good! Though I was frustrated for most of the times and there was angst, lots and lots of angst between the characters but I just loved it! It made it more exiting in a kind of way. I started the book with a neutral attitude and I'm so glad I gave this book a chance, it ended up being my new favourite!
The story is about Rikki and Sam who shared their first kiss together in a game called seven minutes in heaven in their high school days. They were never friends in high school and they went back to ignoring each other after this incident. When they ended up in the same university, also in the same dorm room, they declared a truce and decided to try being friends. But as they start to spend time with each other, Rikki starts to feel strongly for Sam which scares her and she feels conflicted about Sam feeling for her. As the chemistry between them intensifies, it's upto them to decide that they want to remain enemies, be friends or much more.
The plot was different from any NA book that I've ever read. The story revolves around the first year of university lives of Rikki and Sam. It also stated the experience of innocence to a new sexual conceptism. Although being enemies, Rikki have always felt something for Sam but she has never acted upon her feelings because she thought Sam hated her. She continues to do the same in her university. I was frustrated a lot, because just as I was thinking something was going to happen or one of them would confess, it always went the opposite way. But that doesn't mean I didn't love it, it was exactly the opposite. I enjoyed the friendship and the banters between Rikki and Sam, I also the sexual tension between them and their chemistry was undeniable. I loved the family and the friendship aspect of this book, I wish there was more of it.
Rikki and Sam were two fully different people yet same in so many ways. Rikki was a control freak and that's why she was scared when she couldn't understand her feelings for Sam. But I loved her and I can totally relate to her, not the control freak thingy though. She loved studying and she was totally focused it. She was caring, kept to herself and also not judgemental. And I loved Sam as well though he was really good at hiding his feeling and that's why at first I wanted to hit him. Though he did a terrible mistake, he remained chivalrous. He was a pretty decent guy, the things he kept doing for her, you can't help but love him. I just loved these two together. This book depicted the experience of new friendship, first love and delving into much more. I simply loved all the characters, they were fresh and unique and also relatable and realistic.
I loved the other characters as well. Both of Rikki's moms were totally great, specially Beth. I wanted more of them. I wasn't sure of what I felt for Tamsin, Rikki's roommate at first but as the story progressed, I absolutely loved her. She was an awsome friend.
The writing was simple and beautiful. I absolutely loved how the dialogues flowed out. I breezed through the book in a day. The pace was even throughout the book, neither too slow nor too fast. The story didn't slack in any portion and I didn't feel bored for even a second. It was pretty hard to put this book down, I was constantly turning the pages to see what happened next.
Overall, Rikki was a great read for me. The plot was great, it depicted a beautiful story of friendship and love. The characters were unique and diverse. I loved all of them. I specially enjoyed the romance and the angst between Rikki and Sam. They had a crackling chemistry. The writing style was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book. I'm definitely looking forward to read this series and also any other works by this author.
Recommend it?
Yes!
**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
This was definitely not my kind of book but I ended up falling in love with it. It was so, so good! Though I was frustrated for most of the times and there was angst, lots and lots of angst between the characters but I just loved it! It made it more exiting in a kind of way. I started the book with a neutral attitude and I'm so glad I gave this book a chance, it ended up being my new favourite!
The story is about Rikki and Sam who shared their first kiss together in a game called seven minutes in heaven in their high school days. They were never friends in high school and they went back to ignoring each other after this incident. When they ended up in the same university, also in the same dorm room, they declared a truce and decided to try being friends. But as they start to spend time with each other, Rikki starts to feel strongly for Sam which scares her and she feels conflicted about Sam feeling for her. As the chemistry between them intensifies, it's upto them to decide that they want to remain enemies, be friends or much more.
The plot was different from any NA book that I've ever read. The story revolves around the first year of university lives of Rikki and Sam. It also stated the experience of innocence to a new sexual conceptism. Although being enemies, Rikki have always felt something for Sam but she has never acted upon her feelings because she thought Sam hated her. She continues to do the same in her university. I was frustrated a lot, because just as I was thinking something was going to happen or one of them would confess, it always went the opposite way. But that doesn't mean I didn't love it, it was exactly the opposite. I enjoyed the friendship and the banters between Rikki and Sam, I also the sexual tension between them and their chemistry was undeniable. I loved the family and the friendship aspect of this book, I wish there was more of it.
Rikki and Sam were two fully different people yet same in so many ways. Rikki was a control freak and that's why she was scared when she couldn't understand her feelings for Sam. But I loved her and I can totally relate to her, not the control freak thingy though. She loved studying and she was totally focused it. She was caring, kept to herself and also not judgemental. And I loved Sam as well though he was really good at hiding his feeling and that's why at first I wanted to hit him. Though he did a terrible mistake, he remained chivalrous. He was a pretty decent guy, the things he kept doing for her, you can't help but love him. I just loved these two together. This book depicted the experience of new friendship, first love and delving into much more. I simply loved all the characters, they were fresh and unique and also relatable and realistic.
I loved the other characters as well. Both of Rikki's moms were totally great, specially Beth. I wanted more of them. I wasn't sure of what I felt for Tamsin, Rikki's roommate at first but as the story progressed, I absolutely loved her. She was an awsome friend.
The writing was simple and beautiful. I absolutely loved how the dialogues flowed out. I breezed through the book in a day. The pace was even throughout the book, neither too slow nor too fast. The story didn't slack in any portion and I didn't feel bored for even a second. It was pretty hard to put this book down, I was constantly turning the pages to see what happened next.
Overall, Rikki was a great read for me. The plot was great, it depicted a beautiful story of friendship and love. The characters were unique and diverse. I loved all of them. I specially enjoyed the romance and the angst between Rikki and Sam. They had a crackling chemistry. The writing style was smooth and the pace was even throughout the book. I'm definitely looking forward to read this series and also any other works by this author.
Recommend it?
Yes!
April 21, 2016
* I kindly received and ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Actual rating=4.95
Oh my god this is the reason I love contemporary romance novels. They are hit and misses but still If you are lucky, you can find awesome ones like this one. I feeling so mushy right now. I don't even know whether that is a legit word but I have no other words to describe this feeling.
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Yep still mushy after about 20 minutes (it took me time find the correct gif). So how can I start this? Well some people might say that this is just any other contemporary romance but for me each awesome contemporary romances are great on its own. The writing for me was so good. I didn't put my reader down till I finished every single page. This was another one of those books that hooked me completely. I mean its so amazing that people can touch others hearts like this. I don't mean in the crying sense but I really like when an author gets to me totally and i become a big fan of her/him. Abigail Storm is without doubt one of those awesome authors and I think I would read anything of hers, as long as she doesn't write a vampire romance or BDSM. Or maybe I'll read BDSM even. Now before I go off topic I'lll just write briefly what I completely loved about this book.
The characters were awesome. I really liked the two main characters. Rikki was level headed and nice to read about and Sam was so sweet. I liked that he wasn't perfect and that he fucked up. It made him look more real. I hate when guys don't fuck up even once :D That doesn't happen in real life. I also liked how they managed not to be stranded in each others lives. I mean like when Sam was with Mena. It shows that he wasn't the perfect guy again. Wait, maybe that part got me pissed off a bit. Well a part of me was expecting him to say that it was just a ruse to make Rikki jealous. I mean he had a shot with her but he chose to go out with a girl just in front of her. Ok now that i've written it down I don't think I was at all happy with that part. He should have tried harder. But then again she was also giving the wrong signals to him. But the fact that he totally had me in fits. Do 18-year old sane guys do that? Ok I didn't mean to imply them insane. The correct term would be horny I think :D Also it showed how trial love could be. For me how Rikki thought totally hit hard cuz I kinda think in a similar way. Not completely but there are many girls out there afraid of falling in love just cuz they are afraid of getting hurt. It was sad to see Rikki get hurt just after she stood on her feet and of course it was ass-move by Sam.
The supporting charters didn't stay that strongly unfortunately. It was as if they were they for the sake of it. I'm not sure I would love the second book as much as this because it is about the Claire It wasn't her fault and I'm sure she didn't even know what was happening between all of them. But why do I get a feeling that Jason kind of like Claire? Maybe not. Maybe he actually showed that picture cuz he liked Rikki?
Anywyaz this was really cute to read. Now I read it over I feel like this review is as confusing and twisted as my usual reviews. I really need to work on my reviews.
Well I would like to finish my weird half-assed review saying that I just loved this book to pieces and if possible re-read it again but unfortunately the copy i receive will expire within another day :( love it anyways ;)
Actual rating=4.95
Oh my god this is the reason I love contemporary romance novels. They are hit and misses but still If you are lucky, you can find awesome ones like this one. I feeling so mushy right now. I don't even know whether that is a legit word but I have no other words to describe this feeling.
Yep still mushy after about 20 minutes (it took me time find the correct gif). So how can I start this? Well some people might say that this is just any other contemporary romance but for me each awesome contemporary romances are great on its own. The writing for me was so good. I didn't put my reader down till I finished every single page. This was another one of those books that hooked me completely. I mean its so amazing that people can touch others hearts like this. I don't mean in the crying sense but I really like when an author gets to me totally and i become a big fan of her/him. Abigail Storm is without doubt one of those awesome authors and I think I would read anything of hers, as long as she doesn't write a vampire romance or BDSM. Or maybe I'll read BDSM even. Now before I go off topic I'lll just write briefly what I completely loved about this book.
The characters were awesome. I really liked the two main characters. Rikki was level headed and nice to read about and Sam was so sweet. I liked that he wasn't perfect and that he fucked up. It made him look more real. I hate when guys don't fuck up even once :D That doesn't happen in real life. I also liked how they managed not to be stranded in each others lives. I mean like when Sam was with Mena. It shows that he wasn't the perfect guy again. Wait, maybe that part got me pissed off a bit. Well a part of me was expecting him to say that it was just a ruse to make Rikki jealous. I mean he had a shot with her but he chose to go out with a girl just in front of her. Ok now that i've written it down I don't think I was at all happy with that part. He should have tried harder. But then again she was also giving the wrong signals to him. But the fact that he totally had me in fits. Do 18-year old sane guys do that? Ok I didn't mean to imply them insane. The correct term would be horny I think :D Also it showed how trial love could be. For me how Rikki thought totally hit hard cuz I kinda think in a similar way. Not completely but there are many girls out there afraid of falling in love just cuz they are afraid of getting hurt. It was sad to see Rikki get hurt just after she stood on her feet and of course it was ass-move by Sam.
The supporting charters didn't stay that strongly unfortunately. It was as if they were they for the sake of it. I'm not sure I would love the second book as much as this because it is about the Claire It wasn't her fault and I'm sure she didn't even know what was happening between all of them. But why do I get a feeling that Jason kind of like Claire? Maybe not. Maybe he actually showed that picture cuz he liked Rikki?
Anywyaz this was really cute to read. Now I read it over I feel like this review is as confusing and twisted as my usual reviews. I really need to work on my reviews.
Well I would like to finish my weird half-assed review saying that I just loved this book to pieces and if possible re-read it again but unfortunately the copy i receive will expire within another day :( love it anyways ;)
October 9, 2015
I loved this story. I loved how it played with my emotions and had me really invested in the characters, in spite of how frustrated they made me. Rikki and Sam had so much angst between them that it gave me the fireworks. They spent years oblivious and completely misunderstanding each other, and throughout the book I just wanted to shake some senses into them. There were moments that made me laugh, and there were moments that made me want to cry. Yeah, like I said, the emotions were definitely there.
I connected with Rikki in the sense that she liked holding on to control. I understood her character and felt like she was as realistic as an eighteen year old trying to figure out her life gets. I liked the family she came from, and I admired her determination and her drive to focus on her education and excel at everything. She was very intellectual, and I think the greatest thing about the story is that Rikki and Sam connected based on something they had in common: they were both very smart and always performed at their utmost best. And I loved that there wasn't an insta-love or constant gushing over one's appearance, but they were attracted to each other's minds. Their relationship wasn't the best at start, but after several years of competing in academics and misunderstanding their feelings for each other, I was happy when they realized there was no hate and decided to be friends in college. I felt like had they not done that, then they wouldn't have been able to spend more time learning about each other and developing clarity about their true feelings.
Sam was such a good person. He wasn't the typical model-like guy found in most YA books, and he wasn't a star athlete, but he was sort of a nerd with great qualities and the type of guy I swooned over because he was cute in his own way. He had to deal with loss and some other issues in his family, and it was so sad how he liked Rikki in secret all that time but believed she wasn't interested in him because of her silly crushing on the supposedly good-looking guys in school. It was funny how in the end, they both admitted to thinking the other wasn't interested and hence thought it was best to start pining over someone else. But their feelings were so strong that trying to be with someone else never worked out for either of them.
Gosh, there's so much I could go on about but I don't want to spoil it too much for anyone who hasn't read the story. All I can say is that you'll definitely feel like plucking your lashes out over the relationship between Rikki and Sam, and your emotions will be scattered from beginning to end. These characters didn't only go through high school completely oblivious and often in denial about each other, it continued to university. So you can only imagine how much their craziness will frustrate readers. Aside from the constant back and forth, there were juicy moments and some humor thrown in the mix to keep things interesting. The writing is great, and the pacing is quick. Not necessarily light, but this book will indeed make you feel things. I highly recommend.
I connected with Rikki in the sense that she liked holding on to control. I understood her character and felt like she was as realistic as an eighteen year old trying to figure out her life gets. I liked the family she came from, and I admired her determination and her drive to focus on her education and excel at everything. She was very intellectual, and I think the greatest thing about the story is that Rikki and Sam connected based on something they had in common: they were both very smart and always performed at their utmost best. And I loved that there wasn't an insta-love or constant gushing over one's appearance, but they were attracted to each other's minds. Their relationship wasn't the best at start, but after several years of competing in academics and misunderstanding their feelings for each other, I was happy when they realized there was no hate and decided to be friends in college. I felt like had they not done that, then they wouldn't have been able to spend more time learning about each other and developing clarity about their true feelings.
Sam was such a good person. He wasn't the typical model-like guy found in most YA books, and he wasn't a star athlete, but he was sort of a nerd with great qualities and the type of guy I swooned over because he was cute in his own way. He had to deal with loss and some other issues in his family, and it was so sad how he liked Rikki in secret all that time but believed she wasn't interested in him because of her silly crushing on the supposedly good-looking guys in school. It was funny how in the end, they both admitted to thinking the other wasn't interested and hence thought it was best to start pining over someone else. But their feelings were so strong that trying to be with someone else never worked out for either of them.
Gosh, there's so much I could go on about but I don't want to spoil it too much for anyone who hasn't read the story. All I can say is that you'll definitely feel like plucking your lashes out over the relationship between Rikki and Sam, and your emotions will be scattered from beginning to end. These characters didn't only go through high school completely oblivious and often in denial about each other, it continued to university. So you can only imagine how much their craziness will frustrate readers. Aside from the constant back and forth, there were juicy moments and some humor thrown in the mix to keep things interesting. The writing is great, and the pacing is quick. Not necessarily light, but this book will indeed make you feel things. I highly recommend.
September 18, 2023
oh this was great!
Read
March 1, 2016No rating stopped at 16%
3 stupid ass names and I've just looked at some reviews and the hero sleeps with another woman hours before sleeping with heroine err no thanks not for me!
3 stupid ass names and I've just looked at some reviews and the hero sleeps with another woman hours before sleeping with heroine err no thanks not for me!
Want to read
October 25, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/25/2017)!
August 18, 2018
Wowee. Talk about chemistry!
This was cute and endearing and I loved both Rikki and Sam. They’re such sweethearts who were so likable and sensible and goddamn adorable. I lived for their conversations and their relationship was just so 👌🏻.
God, that was such a nice enemies-to-lovers story with a good (but insanely frustrating) slowburn.
3.5 stars 🌟
This was cute and endearing and I loved both Rikki and Sam. They’re such sweethearts who were so likable and sensible and goddamn adorable. I lived for their conversations and their relationship was just so 👌🏻.
God, that was such a nice enemies-to-lovers story with a good (but insanely frustrating) slowburn.
3.5 stars 🌟
July 7, 2020
3 estrellas.
Una novela romántica bien escrita, que se lee en un suspiro, de esas en los que los personajes se odian al principio pero después resulta que no tanto, pero que no va más allá. Unos meses después de leerla, apenas puedo recordar algunos detalles de los personajes y la trama.
Una novela romántica bien escrita, que se lee en un suspiro, de esas en los que los personajes se odian al principio pero después resulta que no tanto, pero que no va más allá. Unos meses después de leerla, apenas puedo recordar algunos detalles de los personajes y la trama.
December 10, 2015
Review by Trinette Dungee
This is the first book in new series (Hart University) by Abigail Strom where a group, comprised mostly of college freshman, forges new friendships. This book follows Rikki and Sam who have had a love-hate relationship since middle school….they just love to hate each other. They actually thrive off of it. These two give competition a new name. When they end up at the same college the competitive streak is still there but they decide to call a truce and try their hand at friendship.
Things are going pretty well for them as new friends excpet for the fact that well, there’s this little thing called attraction that they both have towards each other. Rikki is surprised to discover that she’s actually attracted to Sam and the thought of him dating one of her new friends doesn’t really set well with her. Convinced that Sam could never be interested in her she decides to focus her energy on her dream guy. Sam thinks Rikki’s taste in guys leaves a lot to be decided but since he’s sure Rikki would never be interested in him, he moves ahead with his dating life.
During this new journey into friendship Sam and Rikki learn that they have a lot more in common than just the desire to be the best in class. Who knew virginity could be such a bonding experience? The two are also dealing with their fair share of family issues. Sam has recently loss his dad to cancer. He struggles with leaving his mom and younger sister to fend for themselves while Rikki is dealing with the divorce of her parents.
There really isn’t too much I can say about this book except, READ IT! I loved the characters, I loved the pace, and I loved experiencing the progression of Rikki’s and Sam’s relationship as well as meeting the cast of characters in this book. I loved that Sam wasn’t the typical “gorgeous jock” and Rikki wasn’t the typical “hot chick”, they were just average. I loved that the situation in general was very relatable. I’m looking forward to reading future books about the other characters.
This is my second Abigail Strom book and it did not disappoint.
This is the first book in new series (Hart University) by Abigail Strom where a group, comprised mostly of college freshman, forges new friendships. This book follows Rikki and Sam who have had a love-hate relationship since middle school….they just love to hate each other. They actually thrive off of it. These two give competition a new name. When they end up at the same college the competitive streak is still there but they decide to call a truce and try their hand at friendship.
Things are going pretty well for them as new friends excpet for the fact that well, there’s this little thing called attraction that they both have towards each other. Rikki is surprised to discover that she’s actually attracted to Sam and the thought of him dating one of her new friends doesn’t really set well with her. Convinced that Sam could never be interested in her she decides to focus her energy on her dream guy. Sam thinks Rikki’s taste in guys leaves a lot to be decided but since he’s sure Rikki would never be interested in him, he moves ahead with his dating life.
During this new journey into friendship Sam and Rikki learn that they have a lot more in common than just the desire to be the best in class. Who knew virginity could be such a bonding experience? The two are also dealing with their fair share of family issues. Sam has recently loss his dad to cancer. He struggles with leaving his mom and younger sister to fend for themselves while Rikki is dealing with the divorce of her parents.
There really isn’t too much I can say about this book except, READ IT! I loved the characters, I loved the pace, and I loved experiencing the progression of Rikki’s and Sam’s relationship as well as meeting the cast of characters in this book. I loved that Sam wasn’t the typical “gorgeous jock” and Rikki wasn’t the typical “hot chick”, they were just average. I loved that the situation in general was very relatable. I’m looking forward to reading future books about the other characters.
This is my second Abigail Strom book and it did not disappoint.
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June 24, 2018Old rating: 5 Stars
Think what you like about my previous thoughts, they're staying for now, but I don't recommend this book or this series anymore, which is why I deleted the rating. Peace and love my friends, teens are amazing and not cocky.
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What a lovely feeling it is when a book makes every cell in your body electric, when it makes you want to scream at the characters and their situation. It is a feeling I've missed. This book is sex positive, anti slutshaming and has relatable characters that are complex, awkward and have that extra flare inside of them. Rikki is a book that is funny, infuriating (in the best way) and amazing. This is a book you should have on you to be read list. When I'm in a less busy time of my life I'll try and write a better review because I desperately want everyone to read this book. It's that great.
Think what you like about my previous thoughts, they're staying for now, but I don't recommend this book or this series anymore, which is why I deleted the rating. Peace and love my friends, teens are amazing and not cocky.
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What a lovely feeling it is when a book makes every cell in your body electric, when it makes you want to scream at the characters and their situation. It is a feeling I've missed. This book is sex positive, anti slutshaming and has relatable characters that are complex, awkward and have that extra flare inside of them. Rikki is a book that is funny, infuriating (in the best way) and amazing. This is a book you should have on you to be read list. When I'm in a less busy time of my life I'll try and write a better review because I desperately want everyone to read this book. It's that great.
December 22, 2020
3 sweet stars
October 28, 2017
I haven't read a coming of age romance in years. This being the first in a while, it was sweet, nothing overtly sexual but romantic and patient. It was lovely.
I loved that they connected intellectually, that they were each other's first in many ways; it would be great to see their lives a few years into the future. I think when a love blossoms from seven minutes in Heaven in junior high, its bound to last.
It would have been great to get a dual POV but for a coming of age romance, it made sense that we were stuck in the mind of adolescent virgin who can't grasp the concept of sexual frustration or apparently her own feelings.
Overall, I would recommend. I know there are other books in the series but other than Tansim, the development of the secondary characters wasn't enough to draw me into the series as a whole.
I loved that they connected intellectually, that they were each other's first in many ways; it would be great to see their lives a few years into the future. I think when a love blossoms from seven minutes in Heaven in junior high, its bound to last.
It would have been great to get a dual POV but for a coming of age romance, it made sense that we were stuck in the mind of adolescent virgin who can't grasp the concept of sexual frustration or apparently her own feelings.
Overall, I would recommend. I know there are other books in the series but other than Tansim, the development of the secondary characters wasn't enough to draw me into the series as a whole.
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