Hold Me Now

A Totally '80s Romance #3

by Addison Moore

December 1985

Senior year is really shaping up to be something. In an effort to turn my humdrum life around, I decide to take a walk on the wild side. By the time graduation hits, everyone will know who I am. Only, things don't exactly go as planned. They go horribly, terribly wrong right out of the streaking gate. Not only have I embarrassed myself in front of Jessie Fox, the only boy I've ever had a crush on, but the entire basketball team now has an obscene nickname just for me. Sadly, I got my wish. Everybody knows who I am. Yeah, senior year is really shaping up to be something. Jennifer Barkly has caught my eye before, but I don't know why I didn't zero in on her sooner. As soon as she started tutoring my little sister, I knew I wanted to keep her in my life. Things have been a little chaotic on the girl front for the last few years. I've got chicks lining up for whatever I'm willing to give them, and, for the most part, it's been fun, but lately it's not feeling so great anymore. I want to slow it down, rein it in. Jennifer wants to go wild just as I'm looking to explore my mild side. I think maybe we should meet in the middle. I'll be her wild if she'll be my mild. It's a nice balance that could work for both of us. I'm sort of hoping it's Jennifer and I that will work in the end. My name is Tess Nichols. And my name is Rachel Torres. Jessie Fox belongs to us. Sure, he's gifted a hickey necklace to just about every girl on campus, but we're his tried-and-true, forever-by-his-side, and in-his-bed girls. And now this little skank Jennifer comes along and thinks she's going to break us up? Like, fer sure. We're so serious. Jennifer might think she's going to weasel her way into his bedroom, but we're not going down without a fight. We know a dirty little thing or two about Little Miss Innocent. And we also know a thing or two about making a wannabe "Jessie's Girl" disappear from our boyfriend's life forever. Jennifer isn't the first ho we've evicted from his harem, and she won't be the last. Yeah, my name is Tess Nichols. And my name is Rachel Torres. Jessie Fox belongs to us.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary

292 pages, Paperback

Published March 13, 2016

About the author

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Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.


FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
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Reviews

[Three Chicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Lisa Kane
I loved this this throwback to the '80's romance series. I love the products shout outs and the fashions and the music and the whole '80's vibe.

The first two stories were Melissa and Joel's and Heather and Russ'. This one belongs to Jen and Jessie. Jessie Fox is the big guy on campus; the talented athlete who has girls climbing like spider monkeys all over him. But he can't seem to shake two-Tess and Rachel. He sleeps with both (separately so far) and can't decide which one to keep and which to let go. He doesn't much care either way, since he thinks they're both toxic.

Jennifer Barkly feels like the fifth wheel amongst her friends right now. She's still got her V-card and is trying to convince herself that she's fine without a boyfriend. Hard to do when she is constantly surrounded by her besties sucking face with their guys. Hard to do when Jessie Fox is everywhere and she wants him badly-but knows he would never be without a geek like her.

Turns out Jen has Jessie's attention at a party, but flubs it up out of nerves. She's so disgusted with herself that she ends up talking to herself while going for a run, gets frustrated, takes off a few articles of clothing and is spotted by the entire basketball team -including Jessie himself.

Jen is mortified and Jessie is more than a little intrigued. But Russ and Joel make sure to waste no time in warning him off. But Jessie is craving a more mild life and Jen wants to take a walk on the wild side. Maybe they can help each other out?

Throw in scheming mean girls, a slightly eccentric younger sibling, a father who loathes monogamy and the usual drama associated with high school and you have a bubbling cauldron of a story! I love a good epilogue and this one wraps up all three couples and gives a nice peek into their futures.

[Just Jules and her Book]

Hold me Now gives you a sneak into the 80's. Be prepared to sing these songs as they bring back memories of you 80's readers.

Jesse and Heather began their journey together. Again Addison out does herself in this amazing series. It's fun, it's frothy, full of spunk, yet gives you the drama back to back that teenagers deal with in high school. It pulls you back in time to a time that one is trying to find themselves.

Jesse is a player and is pulled by Heathers beauty. He wants something different but can he change? Does he change?

Heather is a girl that loves books and while she's secretly had the hots for Jesse, she sure doesn't want him to know that. She wishes she can be wilder. Will there wild and mild mix and become a balance? The different clicks in life are constantly at war. Will there time happen because their from different tracts of life, walk of life? You'll have to read and find out.

As always, Addison's books are amazingly easy to read and keeps you own edge with her next word. You never know what to expect but the humor will keep you rolling and lol for hours to come. I'd love to meet this women because her humor is so amazingly funny that sometimes you almost pee your pants when you're reading. Lol

This is an amazingly, funny, witty, nostalgic, and frothy read I couldn't get enough of! I found myself singing to the songs as I read~ Nook Books and More Blog

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every girl wanted the hot guy, and in this case, it was Jessie Fox. He was the hottest guy around, didn't have a sense of the word commitment and had a harem of girls currently though he was dating two girls Tess and Rachel. The year is 1985, and Jennifer Barkly has had a crush on Jessie for as long as she can remember, she wishes that she could be Jessie's girl ( yep, I just wrote an 80's song lyric pun). This is her year to be wild and free, and it seems she has already cemented a reputation as being crazy, ever since she flashed by mistake her boobs to the Basketball team. The irony though is that Jessie, on the other hand, is sick and tired of being a guy without commitment and wants to settle down. He has his eyes sit on Jennifer who has been tutoring his younger sister. What will happen when Jessie gives Jennifer the reins to choose his girlfriend out of Tess and Rachel - as he only wants one and doesn't know who to pick? Can Jessie have his eyes open to what he wants in a girlfriend and that Jennifer is his "dream girl"? Find out in Hold Me Now. A Fun 80's High School Read.

[Marisela M. Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer and Jessie were meant to be from the beginning. I loved everything about this story and I was rooting for them from the beginning. I love how both of the. Had a tight nit group of friends and there bond was strong. The perfect ending to in incredible series.

[bookgeek607 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read from Addison Moore! Makes me wish I wasn't born in the 80's but a teenager in the 80's! Reading this series even if each can be read as a stand alone has spun me into a world of bitching hair full of aquanet, leg warmers, jelly shoes, and omg the music. Jennifer in her words is a self-proclaimed nerd ( hey we can't all be awesome nerds sometimes it happens by birth) who loves books, music, her best friends and keeps a diary. Jessie is her totally a bad boy crush that plays sports and tries his best to be there for his sister. Jessie is told in his life that monogamy is nothing but heart ache and a waste, hence why he has Tess and Rachel or as I like to refer to them the bitch twins. Some where down the line Jenny has decided she wants to find her wild and Jessie wants to try mild, and this takes us on all of those ups and downs of their journey to each other. As my favorite line in the book says, "Mild just met wild in the most delicious way", and this book is wild and so much more! Let's not forget to add here our favorite characters are back from the other two books and OMG the play list in the book had me singing 80's music in my head and out loud!

[Lucinda Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is from my paperback copy! Well here's the last of Addison Moore's Totally 80's Romance and I'm so sad.....I loved this series so much, from the first to the last book. Ms. Moore aced the 80's descriptions of life and people for sure. This had to be my favorite out of all three books but don't think that the first two books weren't good, this one being the end of the series was just a little more awesome for me. Jennifer Barkley and Jesse Fox were great characters, they had the sexy, crazy, nerdy, jock, let's just say they were fantastic, you also had to love Jilly the little sis too!!! I certainly liked the way she wrote the epilog and gave some insight on the couple's life after high school. I haven't read a book yet by this author that didn't grab me and not let me go! A GREAT fun series to read definitely if you remember the crazy 80's!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how each book in this series tells their own story, but the characters still all stay intertwined.<3 It was Jennifer's time to shine . She always wanted to be Jessie's girl and her wish finally comes true! There are many obstacles they have to overcome. Like the horrible Tess and Rachel! Then there's Jilly who is Jen's champion from day one. That little girl has been dealt a crappy hand at life but Jen gives her love and hope. Tess and Rachel rear their ugly head to try and take Jessie from Jennifer but the mean girls never win. I loved Jessie's and Jennifer's story and you still get to hear of Melissa and Heather with Joel and Russell. Perfect ending for a great series<3

[Atlanta Whitlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Addison Moore has written such an amazing book to finish off a series. Her writing is incredible and it shows through her writing that she was a huge fan of the 80’s music. Each time I pick a book up of Addison’s, I can’t help but fall in love with her work and I just want to keep reading more of it. The way that she wrote this book, I thought that she did amazingly and it fitted in well with the rest of the two books.
This book carries on from where you finish in Heather’s story and starts just a few months after at New Year’s with Jennifer. I thought that as things worked out for both Heather and Melissa, that Jennifer deserved to have everything work out for her. Out of the three of them, Jennifer was always the one that wasn’t as daring and didn’t really let out her wild side, even though it tried to at times. I loved how she never gave into pressure and was always looking at things rationally. I do feel for her a lot during this book because it seems just as things start looking up for her there is always someone trying to make her unhappy. All three of the girls have been through such a lot during their time at Glen Heights High School and I think it’s pretty safe to say that when they do finally graduate that they will have learnt some very important life lessons. But honestly, I really do hope that things work out for Jennifer in the end and that she does get to find that someone special. I’m hoping that maybe some time down the line that Addison will revisit these girls and we get to have a sequel for them as to how life in College is.

[Addy the Book Bat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this series has come to an end. I loved all three books. The plot and characters were amazing and Addison Moore really makes you feel as though you are living the big hair, neon clothing era. It really made me wish I was a teen in the 80s (so many bands I'd like to see in their prime years).

I loved how each book gave each best friend their own time to shine and how they're all intertwined with each other. I especially love how the first book is in fact a true story. I hope the real Melissa and the real Joel effing Miller are doing well (as well as the other characters in the trilogy). This trilogy has earned a special place in my heart and digital bookshelf (hopefully one day I will find them in a bookstore).

Also, I couldn't help but to create playlist for each book on spotify 😂. I know Addison Moore has playlist too, but I found a few songs missing.
Here's my playlist for Hold Me Now: https://open.spotify.com/user/22su4cj...
Tainted Love:
https://open.spotify.com/user/22su4cj...
I need to fix the playlist for Melt With You but I will make it public once I have it ready.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, too!!!!! I know, regardless of the UGLY hairstyles, my regrettable Aqua Net use, the incredibly ridiculous fashion, the hair crimping, teasing(!??!) and curling, and the rotary phones -- the '80's era was FUNtastic! Friends are better connected in spite of the low technology we've experienced then. We don't just glue ourselves to our phones and laptops to stay connected to friends, 'cause back then, we actually have to go to friends' houses and talk to them non-stop.
The music. The MTV. the movies.... love them all!

[Mary Stockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

All of these '80's books by this author are fun to read. I am seventy three years of age and raised two teenage girls through the eighties. Even if that weren't the case, I would still recommend this book to all ages except young children.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold Me Now

It took a long time for Jessie Fox to fall but when he found himself under Jennifer Barkly's spell his love-em and leave-em days were over.

Of the three this is my favorite. Regardless of the over abundance of cliches throughout this story was the most enjoyable.

[Leighanne Cooper nottingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third book in the series... I loved it!! Great series!!

[Beth Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute

What a very nice ending to a really great series! I wish real life would work out like that! I willingly read more books by this author!!

[Shawana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute and I always appreciate a "bow" on an epilogue.

[Paganalexandria]

included in bundle

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you mild, or are you wild?

This book is totally rad! Ok, I don't think I ever used that in the 80's since I didn't really grow up in the US. But it totally is! This might be my favorite of the three books. I can't decide really if it's the first one, or this. But anyways, I really, really enjoyed this book!

Imagine your HS crush, the hottest guy in class, the one you obsess with. The one you buy clothes for in his favorite color. Yes, that guy! You have his 411, like everything about him, but he's a player. So basically you need to either throw yourself at him or be one of those skank-y girls to get noticed. Then suddenly out of the blue, he walks up to you. What do you do? Stutter. Verbal diarrhea. Yep, that's what happened to Jennifer Barkly. Jessie Fox is, well, a total fox! He's Glen Heights High's resident playboy. His talent? To give you a hickey necklace! Eww. Not really a fan of those, but maybe if it was Jessie, I'd allow just a pendant. Ha! Anyway, Jessie is looking to change his life. Go to the mild side, while Jennifer wants to take it to the wild side. What do they do? They have an arrangement to be each others mild/wild! Not really a smart way to do it, but hey it's a start! Now, what do you think happens to that kind of arrangement? Tsk tsk tsk... Plus, Jessie has a harem of hos following him around. Of course they'd be royally pissed that they'd be replaced with a "simple" and geeky Jennifer! Mean girls... they think they can win? Nope... never.

Reading this book had me singing something every chapter – the chapter titles! Plus, you'd see other memorable songs within the chapters. But the title itself... One of my most favorite songs of the 80s! Yes, it never leaves my playlist. So go down memory lane, get nostalgic with the fashion, music, and most especially, the hair! Take a roller coaster ride back to the 80s with this, I totally promise you'll be laughing out loud, swooning, get mad, and fall in love with Jessie and Jen!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect ending to this fabulous series! These books were so fun to read and I enjoyed each book just as much as the previous story. I loved the use of the alternating POV again and Addison does a fabulous job with the dialogue. Each couple in the series had a unique challenge to overcome, and I enjoyed each one's journey toward their happily ever after.

I adored finally getting Jesse and Jennifer's story since they are featured in the first two books. While each book can be read as a standalone, this is the last book in the series so it contains an epilogue which I loved! It wraps up all the stories giving us perfect closure. This book, as well as the others in the series, is full of wonderful 80's nostalgia, swoon-worthy boys, BFFs, mean girl drama, heartbreak, falling in love, and everything that made High School amazing, (as well as painful at times.;)

I love the YA genre and books about the 80's and Addison did an amazing job with this series. If you are an 80's music fan, she references songs in the book that she put on a Spotify playlist, so check those out with the links she provides at the end. (FYI, this is a more adult YA with language and sexual situations, so just keep that in mind.)

Overall, I highly recommend this book, and the other books in this series. If you love a fun, nostalgic and romantic YA read with a HEA, you will love this book! Thanks to the fabulous Addison Moore for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I hope you read and enjoy this series as much as I did.;)

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was totally awesome!

The ending was great, albeit a little out of nowhere since I had no warning before I was thrust into imagining the characters' lives a decade or so forward. I'm kinda wishing I got a peek into Tess and Rachel's lives just for the banter that would have ensued.


Anyway, Jen's and Jessie's romance was super sweet. Or, maybe, it was bittersweet. I'm not sure, but it seemed just a tad unrealistic (this is the cynic in me overtaking) since first love doesn't always end in a happily ever after or whatever. I'm so not like Jessie's father who's completely opposed to the idea of love because of heartbreak, but, dang, first love is pretty crazy.


Off the love topic: Jilly was such a cute kid, minus the too-smart-for-her-own-good mouth she was sporting. She was hilarious, though, and very perceptive, too.

I definitely recommend the series. There were moments where I was laughing my head off, looking like a lunatic on public transport, and there were moments where I was bawling my eyes both in the privacy of my room and out of it. Total rollercoasters. And totally worth it—these books.

[Michele A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. Jessie finally notices Jennifer and is interested in trying out "mild" while she wants to try out "wild". Jennifer definitely made a few mistakes in this story and I was unsure what she was thinking some of the time. Her helping Jilly was nice and it allowed her and Jessie to get to know each other. I was disappointed with Heather and Mel and their inability to support Jennifer in her quest of a relationship with Jessie. Instead of asking her how she felt, they decided to tell her how to feel and were hypocrites in their advice. The fact they thought their relationships were different was appalling. Jennifer really needed their support and didn't get it. Jessie did reform his ways and it was nice to see his growth at acknowledging this feelings and stepping away from his father's advice. I did have a hard time understanding how Jennifer didn't figure out how those "secrets" got out. It had a nice ending and I really have enjoyed this series. It was a nice look back at the 80's.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite in the series... Fer sure!

Jen is so incredibly relatable and I was cheering for her the entire book. My only complaint is it had to end. I loved the Diary entries followed by the dual POV. The writing is phenomenal, and the relationships between the six main characters across the series is fantastic. Sometimes I wanted to smack the boys in head and have them communicate to their respective girlfriends their observations with Jessie and Jen.

This book made me want to Be Jessie's girl, and go wild for him!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie is a really lovable, funny guy, "Jessie holds up the unopened rubber a moment. “You ready to meet the Barbarian?” Out of this series this one is my favorite because of the code names they have for each other's goodies, “what? You’re not a freak.” He gives my shoulders a quick squeeze. I can feel his chest thumping with a rumble of a laugh. “No. I promise you the Barbarian is perfectly fine. In fact, he’s missing Genie already. He’s greedy that way.” I really liked this book.

[Krista Heit Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable story of good (mild) girl meets bad (wild) boy and find themselves in each other, but of course not with out a few little bumps in the way. Love that Mrs. Moore also wrapped up the series at the end and gave a future glimpse of all the couples from this series so that you don't leave the series with book hangover. Overall a cute, fun and easy read. Sometimes a girl just needs a little bit of a love story and happy ending to brighten her day.

[Lourdes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved this book! It was the perfect conclusion to the Totally '80s Romance books. As the previous installments, the story of Jenny and Jessie has the sweet feel of youth and first love with just the right amount of drama. I enjoyed every minute of it, the fashion, the music and the trip down memory lane. If you have fond memories of the '80s, you should definitely read these books. They won't disappoint!

[Christy (CaptainReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my fave of the series

I like the straight and nerdy girl who wants the bad boy. Those tend to be my favorite! I liked the way the author chose to write this and the approach she took. I loved the epilogue and how it neatly wrapped up everything up. Overall a really great series and such fun reads.

[Donna Lello · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun, I really enjoyed this. I personally graduated high school in 1987 so the fashion and the music totally take me back even the stores at the mall. Being from NY the linguistics, were totally fer sure different.. Loved the end and the whole wrap of the series

[Jennifer Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel this was the best one yet!!!! I love Jennifer and Jessie's relationship and how it progressed. I really really really adored Jilly!!!! Such a great series that took me back to the days where I had so much fun!

[KC Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so tired right now that my eyes are about to close so this will be a short review and I will say that I absolutely loved this series but heartbroken that it's over. Each book was like a different version of Pretty in Pink but the author really pulled it off. Definite must read!

[Jody Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one

Addison Moore has done it again. This is another good young adult high school romance. I mean who didn't love the 80's right? You will enjoy all of her books of you like this genre of course.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this trilogy. I smiled and laughed through it all. I'm sad it's over.