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Finished
It began with a drunken kiss, a furtive but passionate grope atop of pile of discarded winter coats. Downstairs, the party raged on, but all Jess hears is the pounding of her heart as Finn Evans - the guy she had fantasized about for God-knows-how-long - ran his hands along her body. It isn't until Finn staggers from the dark room that Jess realizes she has not only lost her virginity, but her underwear as well. Things only get worse when she sees Finn again and realizes he doesn't even know it was her in the bedroom that night! She heads to the Jersey Shore with her best friend, hoping a summer of fun will heal her broken heart.
Finn awakes with a colossal hangover and a pair of girl's underwear jammed in his pocket. It's not the first time he's had sex at a party, but it is the first time he doesn't know the girl's identity. Thinking he'll never see her again he heads to the Jersey Shore for a summer of sun, sand and sex.
While down at the shore, Jess and Finn find themselves thrown together time and time again, eventually forging an unlikely friendship. By the time Finn realizes he's fallen for her, Jess is with someone else. Will Finn be able to convince Jess that he is the one for her, or will his bad boy reputation haunt him forever?
Finn awakes with a colossal hangover and a pair of girl's underwear jammed in his pocket. It's not the first time he's had sex at a party, but it is the first time he doesn't know the girl's identity. Thinking he'll never see her again he heads to the Jersey Shore for a summer of sun, sand and sex.
While down at the shore, Jess and Finn find themselves thrown together time and time again, eventually forging an unlikely friendship. By the time Finn realizes he's fallen for her, Jess is with someone else. Will Finn be able to convince Jess that he is the one for her, or will his bad boy reputation haunt him forever?
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2016
10 people are currently reading
798 people want to read
About the author
Anne Holster
3 books301 followersI reside in Northern New Jersey with my husband and two children. When I'm not writing I enjoy spending time with my family, playing tennis and reading angsty romance novels. (The angstier the better!) I'm currently working on my fourth book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 6, 2016
A cute, mild version of Jersey Shore chick romance, with a hint of thriller. Despite story is a little longer to my taste, I enjoyed the twists and turns, and the cozy predictable ending.
October 13, 2016
My actual rating is 3.5-4 stars.
There were many things I liked about this book. The female protagonist, Jess, was sweet and endearing. Her relationship with her best friend may in fact be one of my favorite parts of the story. Their conversations were excellent and I found it easy to get sucked into the whole being young at the beach in the summer thing. This was a quick and easy romance, but it also had a bit of a thriller aspect to it so that kept me on my toes a bit. I liked the time span of this book. The romance didn't all happen at once. The story was a slow progression in that respect.
I did not like the male protagonist Finn. I guess eventually he does redeem himself, but I was already a bit tainted by his character in the beginning. Usually in books, I find myself loving the guy way more than the girl and often times that's what leads me through a story. This one did not have that for me. He got better as I stated, but I think I needed more from him other than the fact that he fell for the girl and wanted her.
Overall I'd say this was a fun and enjoyable read and I'm sure most readers will feel the same.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
There were many things I liked about this book. The female protagonist, Jess, was sweet and endearing. Her relationship with her best friend may in fact be one of my favorite parts of the story. Their conversations were excellent and I found it easy to get sucked into the whole being young at the beach in the summer thing. This was a quick and easy romance, but it also had a bit of a thriller aspect to it so that kept me on my toes a bit. I liked the time span of this book. The romance didn't all happen at once. The story was a slow progression in that respect.
I did not like the male protagonist Finn. I guess eventually he does redeem himself, but I was already a bit tainted by his character in the beginning. Usually in books, I find myself loving the guy way more than the girl and often times that's what leads me through a story. This one did not have that for me. He got better as I stated, but I think I needed more from him other than the fact that he fell for the girl and wanted her.
Overall I'd say this was a fun and enjoyable read and I'm sure most readers will feel the same.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2017
Finished is a novel by Anne Holster. It is a coming of age story of young people during the summer on the New Jersey shore. Jess and Jill go down to the shore to spend the summer, as usual, with Jill’s Grandmother Lily. They have jobs this summer to help pay for their fun and hopefully, to save for college in Jess’s case.
Finn, a boy who they had known of in school and who was a friend of Jill’s sister’s boyfriend; Pete; Nick; Christian; Tommy; and Donnie had all rented a house and were looking forward to three months of fun, sun, and sex. Finn had a job at Tino’s pizza again this year. He was friends with Tony Martino
, Mario’s son; but they didn’t hang out together too much. Finn was still trying to find out who the girl in the “Hello Kitty” underwear was. While they both were drunk, he had sex with her at a party at college thinking it was his girlfriend. He had no idea who she was and didn’t like that feeling.
Jess was out to have fun this year. Next year, she had to attend the junior college in town as she and her mother didn’t have the money for full tuition away. She wanted to go to Pines Valley College where Jill was going. At least they had this summer, although she didn’t like the idea of having to see Finn all summer. She had a crush on him for years; but when they had sex and he didn’t remember her, she was finished. She begins going out with Tony Martino. What has she gotten herself into? Is Tony who she thinks he is? Is Finn who she thinks he is?
The book is fun and easy to read. You never know what is going to happen next.
Finn, a boy who they had known of in school and who was a friend of Jill’s sister’s boyfriend; Pete; Nick; Christian; Tommy; and Donnie had all rented a house and were looking forward to three months of fun, sun, and sex. Finn had a job at Tino’s pizza again this year. He was friends with Tony Martino
, Mario’s son; but they didn’t hang out together too much. Finn was still trying to find out who the girl in the “Hello Kitty” underwear was. While they both were drunk, he had sex with her at a party at college thinking it was his girlfriend. He had no idea who she was and didn’t like that feeling.
Jess was out to have fun this year. Next year, she had to attend the junior college in town as she and her mother didn’t have the money for full tuition away. She wanted to go to Pines Valley College where Jill was going. At least they had this summer, although she didn’t like the idea of having to see Finn all summer. She had a crush on him for years; but when they had sex and he didn’t remember her, she was finished. She begins going out with Tony Martino. What has she gotten herself into? Is Tony who she thinks he is? Is Finn who she thinks he is?
The book is fun and easy to read. You never know what is going to happen next.
September 10, 2016
From the moment I read the summary of this book, I had to have it. And I am so glad I did. This book filled with secrets, suspense, yearning, jealousy, revenge, and most of all love. I think the reason I love new adult books so much is that screwing up is just part of life, but it is how someone deals with the pitfalls that defines a person. That young, there is still time for 2nd chances and is all about making mistakes and learning from them. This story unraveled perfectly. Starting from the one night stand, to the stolen moments on the beach, to the very end are full of surprises. Yes, miscommunication is once again the culprit, but so is missed moments. I would love to even see a short novella to see how the gang turns out. There are so many memorable characters that threw me back to my past: the crazy break up and back together couple, the party animal, the player, the good girl, and so much more. Finn's adventures were the best. All I could do as a woman was shake my head and as a mother of a son send up prayers that he NEVER treats women like that. But Se la vie! Great book full of great times and drama.
I received this book from the New Adult Book Club on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from the New Adult Book Club on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2016
I love reading romance novels and this book is yet another addition in the list of my all time favorite romance books. Finished kept me hooked till its end. Young couples, beaches, parties, and just sheer fun, a colorful book that deals with the feelings of millennial generation to which Jess, Jill, and many of other young characters of the story belong to. The book does have a bit of thrill that kept me intrigued and its romance element kept me entertained. I really liked the writing style of the author and the flow of the book from one chapter to another.
The characters are pretty entertaining and at the same time each one has its own set of problems to deal with. The book beautifully captures the emotions and feelings of each of its characters. I really like the female protagonist and her best friend Jill. The conversation between the two was quite interesting and often left me laughing silently as I flip through the pages.
Finn, the male protagonist however at times gave me a bad taste but as the novel progresses his transformation from a reckless and spoiled youngster to a caring lover exploring and understanding the universal emotion of love was something that made his character appealing and vividly clear in my mind. The only thing that bothered me was the title of the book – Finished. Though derived from the name of male protagonist, Finished sounds something like a book dealing with action, gore, or destruction rather than a fun-filled colorful romantic story that has a sweet and happy ending.
The characters are pretty entertaining and at the same time each one has its own set of problems to deal with. The book beautifully captures the emotions and feelings of each of its characters. I really like the female protagonist and her best friend Jill. The conversation between the two was quite interesting and often left me laughing silently as I flip through the pages.
Finn, the male protagonist however at times gave me a bad taste but as the novel progresses his transformation from a reckless and spoiled youngster to a caring lover exploring and understanding the universal emotion of love was something that made his character appealing and vividly clear in my mind. The only thing that bothered me was the title of the book – Finished. Though derived from the name of male protagonist, Finished sounds something like a book dealing with action, gore, or destruction rather than a fun-filled colorful romantic story that has a sweet and happy ending.
May 25, 2016
What a great book this was! It really took me back to my college days spending the summers at the Jersey shore. I loved both main characters (Jess and Finn) and found myself rooting for them throughout. The story is told from dual perspectives and it draws the reader in right away. I really hope the author comes out with another - perhaps Jill's or Christian's story! Well done!
June 26, 2016
Really great summer read! Perfect for the beach. Sometimes it would throw me off because the chapters alternate between two different perspectives. Overall, really good.
July 6, 2020
Even if Jess and Jill's college experience wasn't the sort that you had (certainly not the one I had), Holster paints such a vivid picture of a vibrant, party-infused, romance-shrouded college campus scene that it makes you feel that you're there and you've nostalgically experienced it yourself. Each character was clearly defined in my mind, with specific characterizations and distinct physical attributes that helped me keep track of who was who (*need* they be all so gorgeous though?? :P) Holster is undeniably a storyteller, and she has a way of fully immersing you into her world and into each protagonist's mindset.
Her protagonists rubbed off on me as a bit immature and silly at first, until I recalled how young and impressionable they actually were -- teens caught up in chasing that "college experience". Backstories detailing their not-so-super-rosy upbringings also help justify their personalities and decisions, to an extent. That said, I couldn't find Finn as endearing as Jess (mostly, I think, due to his misunderstanding of women, which I must assume was purposeful on the author's part to show his naivete -- e.g. thinks Cat Woman didn't approach him after the drunken encounter, thinks maybe a girl is a lesbian just because he can't get into her panties, etc.), though the chapters are cleverly structured to fluctuate between their two first-person POVs. Holster has a natural knack for crafting dialogue, which I love -- it always seems to flow from the page so naturally.
"Finished" isn't an exhaustive exploration of mankind, morality, or maturity -- and that's perfect, because is isn't meant to be. It's a light and flirty and occasionally serious summer beach read with some important themes, Nicholas Sparks meets Gilmore Girls style, the sort of book you read while curled up comfortably on your towel, surrounded by sand and sun and good vibes. It's probably intended for a bit younger audiences than me, too, readers who are closer to the characters' ages. Nevertheless, it's a pleasant, breezy, sexy, fun read, structured on solid world-building and believable characters and the classic plot-lines of a tumultuous boy-meets-girl story.
Her protagonists rubbed off on me as a bit immature and silly at first, until I recalled how young and impressionable they actually were -- teens caught up in chasing that "college experience". Backstories detailing their not-so-super-rosy upbringings also help justify their personalities and decisions, to an extent. That said, I couldn't find Finn as endearing as Jess (mostly, I think, due to his misunderstanding of women, which I must assume was purposeful on the author's part to show his naivete -- e.g. thinks Cat Woman didn't approach him after the drunken encounter, thinks maybe a girl is a lesbian just because he can't get into her panties, etc.), though the chapters are cleverly structured to fluctuate between their two first-person POVs. Holster has a natural knack for crafting dialogue, which I love -- it always seems to flow from the page so naturally.
"Finished" isn't an exhaustive exploration of mankind, morality, or maturity -- and that's perfect, because is isn't meant to be. It's a light and flirty and occasionally serious summer beach read with some important themes, Nicholas Sparks meets Gilmore Girls style, the sort of book you read while curled up comfortably on your towel, surrounded by sand and sun and good vibes. It's probably intended for a bit younger audiences than me, too, readers who are closer to the characters' ages. Nevertheless, it's a pleasant, breezy, sexy, fun read, structured on solid world-building and believable characters and the classic plot-lines of a tumultuous boy-meets-girl story.
April 18, 2017
Initially I thought of giving this book, three stars, not for nothing, but the fact that I don’t condone the promiscuous behavior of underage drinking and unprotected sex among teenagers. But promiscuous behavior aside, I did like the main characters, Jess and Finn. Actually, I like Finn more than I like Jess. Finn makes no apologies for who he is and he didn’t pretend to be something he was not. The fact that he had her underpants wasn’t his fault it was all hers. For that I gave him kudos. This is exactly how some girls go about accusing some boys of rape, but like I said, it’s not my judgement call.
The story was a quick, interesting read. I know there's a lesson in there somewhere: What not to do or vice versa, while attending high school. Lovers of YA will no doubt enjoy this book.
The story was a quick, interesting read. I know there's a lesson in there somewhere: What not to do or vice versa, while attending high school. Lovers of YA will no doubt enjoy this book.
July 18, 2017
The first half of the book moved slowly but the second half made up for it. I loved the story. Reading this book made me feel like I was a part of it. I was able to relate to the characters in some ways.
March 15, 2020
AMAZING BOOK! I really enjoyed it, totally relate-able. Anne paints a picture like no other and has a way of describing emotions where you feel them yourself. My only regret is that I read this in the winter, and not while sitting on the beach in the summer!!
April 23, 2020
I liked the characters Finn and Jess. I like their dynamic together. I liked that the setting was in New Jersey especially because that is where I am from.
July 21, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for honest review.**
I have some conflicting thoughts on this one. From checking out other reviews, everyone else seemed to really love it and while I did like it, I had a few issues.
Let's start with what I liked. The premise was sooooo dang good! I read the synopsis and did a backward flip of joy. Seriously. I couldn't wait to read this book even though my review wasn't due until almost two weeks later.
And the beginning was great! I loved the alternating POV between Jess and Finn. I felt connected to them in a way that doesn't happen in all books. To be honest, I cringed several times, which was awesome. I don't mean cringing is awesome but a book that can stir and surprise me, emotionally, is a good book. When Jess realizes that Finn doesn't remember their tryst together, I felt real embarrassing pain for her. And as Jess and Finn began to see more of each other, I could feel both sides of the awkward relationship. Serious points to the author for that, alone.
I was smiling to myself for the first half of the book, loving it. Then I began to wonder if the two main characters would have any actual moments of romance between them. It didn't seem that way. Moments would present themselves and then go awry. We don't get very much love-action or romance between the couple which is a shame because I really liked both characters. Even a nice kiss might have sufficed.
The end left me wanting something. While I want to be hopeful, I am not sure that Finn and Jess' relationship actually stands a chance to last considering for most of the book, there was practically zero romantic interaction between them. Maturing through the story is great, sure. But I want to believe they can find a way to be together and not just take the author's word for it. I wanted to get a glimpse of their HEA.
In closing...
I loved the characters and the idea of the plot. With, perhaps, an epilogue or if the author writes future books within this core group, I might finally get my satisfaction of seeing the HEA between Finn and Jess. I can't give it just 3 suns because despite my gripes, it was still better than a good read. So I'll bump it up a bit. 3.5 suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-tour-finished-by-anne-holster.html
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for honest review.**
I have some conflicting thoughts on this one. From checking out other reviews, everyone else seemed to really love it and while I did like it, I had a few issues.
Let's start with what I liked. The premise was sooooo dang good! I read the synopsis and did a backward flip of joy. Seriously. I couldn't wait to read this book even though my review wasn't due until almost two weeks later.
And the beginning was great! I loved the alternating POV between Jess and Finn. I felt connected to them in a way that doesn't happen in all books. To be honest, I cringed several times, which was awesome. I don't mean cringing is awesome but a book that can stir and surprise me, emotionally, is a good book. When Jess realizes that Finn doesn't remember their tryst together, I felt real embarrassing pain for her. And as Jess and Finn began to see more of each other, I could feel both sides of the awkward relationship. Serious points to the author for that, alone.
I was smiling to myself for the first half of the book, loving it. Then I began to wonder if the two main characters would have any actual moments of romance between them. It didn't seem that way. Moments would present themselves and then go awry. We don't get very much love-action or romance between the couple which is a shame because I really liked both characters. Even a nice kiss might have sufficed.
The end left me wanting something. While I want to be hopeful, I am not sure that Finn and Jess' relationship actually stands a chance to last considering for most of the book, there was practically zero romantic interaction between them. Maturing through the story is great, sure. But I want to believe they can find a way to be together and not just take the author's word for it. I wanted to get a glimpse of their HEA.
In closing...
I loved the characters and the idea of the plot. With, perhaps, an epilogue or if the author writes future books within this core group, I might finally get my satisfaction of seeing the HEA between Finn and Jess. I can't give it just 3 suns because despite my gripes, it was still better than a good read. So I'll bump it up a bit. 3.5 suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-tour-finished-by-anne-holster.html
August 3, 2016
“'Finn, are you ever gonna settle down? You’ve been flitting from girl to girl since grade school.’
He just stared at me for a moment, then said, ‘Maybe I’m just waiting for the right girl.’
‘And maybe you’ve met her already, Finn....Maybe you never even gave her a chance. Ever think of that?’
He paused for a beat. ‘All the time Jess,’ he said as he looked into my eyes. Then he lightly placed his hands on my shoulders, imitating me. ‘Lately I think about it all the time.’”
Miss Anne Holster definitely knows how to have a summer fling Jersey style. This book was fun, witty, with hint of danger, and a completely sweet romance. The story is set in the Jersey Shore and it brings back memories of summer loves and those crazy house parties with friends.
The whole hello kitty storyline was hilarious! Jess is an innocent high school girl who goes to a college party with her best friend and has a few too many drinks. This leads to things getting a little crazy for her when she finds herself in the arms of Finn Evans, an old time crush. Months later she finds herself with a new dilemma, Finn or Tony? Hmmm, two good looking guys; one is gorgeous, way too into himself and can’t remember he took her virginity- yet he’s pinned her hello kitty underwear onto his corkboard. The other is gorgeous boy #2, Tony. He seems perfect, but he has a darker side that Jess isn’t aware of. That tiny bit of suspense with Tony really gave the story a compelling twist.
Finn is the typical college boy who is in it for the girls, and only the girls. When you first meet him he’s just a typical guy, who says all the wrong things and is completely oblivious that Jess is pining for him. When the realization of his feelings for Jess finally hits him it’s too late, since Tony is now involved. I really loved how much he hated Tony at that moment, his reaction to them being a couple is totally self-destructive, he finds himself moping around and trying to figure his feelings out, but it’s nice to see his character grow and mature as he falls in love.
I really loved every minute of this story, from the innocence, to the house parties, to Tony’s dangerous side and Finn’s protective side. It played like a series in my head. It was like walking into the OC and stumbling across The Sopranos. Not only was I pulling my hair out yelling at Jess to open her eyes, but it also had me cheering for Finn for most of the book. It’s one of those books that grips you and you don’t want to put it down. This is definitely one to put on your bookshelves!
He just stared at me for a moment, then said, ‘Maybe I’m just waiting for the right girl.’
‘And maybe you’ve met her already, Finn....Maybe you never even gave her a chance. Ever think of that?’
He paused for a beat. ‘All the time Jess,’ he said as he looked into my eyes. Then he lightly placed his hands on my shoulders, imitating me. ‘Lately I think about it all the time.’”
Miss Anne Holster definitely knows how to have a summer fling Jersey style. This book was fun, witty, with hint of danger, and a completely sweet romance. The story is set in the Jersey Shore and it brings back memories of summer loves and those crazy house parties with friends.
The whole hello kitty storyline was hilarious! Jess is an innocent high school girl who goes to a college party with her best friend and has a few too many drinks. This leads to things getting a little crazy for her when she finds herself in the arms of Finn Evans, an old time crush. Months later she finds herself with a new dilemma, Finn or Tony? Hmmm, two good looking guys; one is gorgeous, way too into himself and can’t remember he took her virginity- yet he’s pinned her hello kitty underwear onto his corkboard. The other is gorgeous boy #2, Tony. He seems perfect, but he has a darker side that Jess isn’t aware of. That tiny bit of suspense with Tony really gave the story a compelling twist.
Finn is the typical college boy who is in it for the girls, and only the girls. When you first meet him he’s just a typical guy, who says all the wrong things and is completely oblivious that Jess is pining for him. When the realization of his feelings for Jess finally hits him it’s too late, since Tony is now involved. I really loved how much he hated Tony at that moment, his reaction to them being a couple is totally self-destructive, he finds himself moping around and trying to figure his feelings out, but it’s nice to see his character grow and mature as he falls in love.
I really loved every minute of this story, from the innocence, to the house parties, to Tony’s dangerous side and Finn’s protective side. It played like a series in my head. It was like walking into the OC and stumbling across The Sopranos. Not only was I pulling my hair out yelling at Jess to open her eyes, but it also had me cheering for Finn for most of the book. It’s one of those books that grips you and you don’t want to put it down. This is definitely one to put on your bookshelves!
September 16, 2016
I absolutely can't find a redeeming point in this book to bump it up to 2 stars. I loathed it, and knew I would from the first chapter, which should have been titled: is it date rape if he's hot?
The girl is an idiot. The guy is an idiot. I can't be taken in by a plot that revolves around the age old dilemma: "I can't believe he didn't know it was me he slept with and took my virginity!", anymore than I could empathize with Finn's pondering of his sexual techniques being the reason said mystery woman did not step forward.
Dude. If you didn't even realize she was a virgin, you should question your skills.
The writing is flat, the characters are flat (except when they are being especially stupid) and the story isn't a lighthearted summer romp, nor a more complex love story.
It's more of an insult to intelligence and morality.
I read it in bed while recovering from a ruptured ovarian cyst. It's a tie as to which was more painful, though I cried at the end of each, so grateful that they were over.
The girl is an idiot. The guy is an idiot. I can't be taken in by a plot that revolves around the age old dilemma: "I can't believe he didn't know it was me he slept with and took my virginity!", anymore than I could empathize with Finn's pondering of his sexual techniques being the reason said mystery woman did not step forward.
Dude. If you didn't even realize she was a virgin, you should question your skills.
The writing is flat, the characters are flat (except when they are being especially stupid) and the story isn't a lighthearted summer romp, nor a more complex love story.
It's more of an insult to intelligence and morality.
I read it in bed while recovering from a ruptured ovarian cyst. It's a tie as to which was more painful, though I cried at the end of each, so grateful that they were over.
September 23, 2016
This was a sweet book about falling in love in the Jersey Shore. Jess has always had a torch for Finn even though he doesn't know she exists. When they unexpectedly hook up at a party the aftermath leaves Jess devastated. This book has some twists and turns and a hfn ending. The only thing it was missing in my opinion is a epilogue about what happens next.
September 9, 2016
I "finished" this book in no time. Ha! See what I did there? Or should I say, I "Finn-ished" it? Okay, I'll stop now. :-P
This is a quick and easy read, and overall I enjoyed it. The pacing was a little strange to me, but the more I think about it, I probably felt that way just because it was different than I'm used to. So many books proceed with such a fast timeline. Guy meets girl. Guy likes girl immediately. Guy gets girl a couple days later. Guy and girl are in love by the end of the week. That is not the timeline in this book. The story takes place across an entire summer. Well really several years if you are really going beginning to end, but the bulk is over a summer. So rather than having a run down of every single day like those shorter timelines, this one skips multiple days or even weeks. This is actually a lot more realistic approach, because in real life things develop slowly and you spend whole days without anything significant happening, so I'm guessing the time jumping was very intentional. I think most readers would really enjoy that! I think even I enjoy it now that I'm really thinking about it, it was just at the time of reading it, it felt very foreign to me.
The characters are pretty good. Some better than others. This might be the first book ever where I liked the female MC more than the male. Although by the end I really did learn to love Finn, I just got a bad taste in my mouth about him from the opening chapter. Once I got over it, and he redeemed himself quite a bit, I started to like him a lot more. All the characters were frustrating at times, but that's how these books go. If they made good choices that I liked all the time, it wouldn't really create much drama. Haha!
I wanted more from the ending. Everything that happened in the final chapter, I wish had been drawn out more. I feel like it was very rushed and I was robbed of sweet moments, loving words, and passionate kisses. I read books for the romance, and I didn't get enough of it in this book, in my opinion.
Overall, it's a good read. If you are looking for something light and fun, with a little bit of love and suspense, and a whole lot of drama, then I'd recommend it!
This is a quick and easy read, and overall I enjoyed it. The pacing was a little strange to me, but the more I think about it, I probably felt that way just because it was different than I'm used to. So many books proceed with such a fast timeline. Guy meets girl. Guy likes girl immediately. Guy gets girl a couple days later. Guy and girl are in love by the end of the week. That is not the timeline in this book. The story takes place across an entire summer. Well really several years if you are really going beginning to end, but the bulk is over a summer. So rather than having a run down of every single day like those shorter timelines, this one skips multiple days or even weeks. This is actually a lot more realistic approach, because in real life things develop slowly and you spend whole days without anything significant happening, so I'm guessing the time jumping was very intentional. I think most readers would really enjoy that! I think even I enjoy it now that I'm really thinking about it, it was just at the time of reading it, it felt very foreign to me.
The characters are pretty good. Some better than others. This might be the first book ever where I liked the female MC more than the male. Although by the end I really did learn to love Finn, I just got a bad taste in my mouth about him from the opening chapter. Once I got over it, and he redeemed himself quite a bit, I started to like him a lot more. All the characters were frustrating at times, but that's how these books go. If they made good choices that I liked all the time, it wouldn't really create much drama. Haha!
I wanted more from the ending. Everything that happened in the final chapter, I wish had been drawn out more. I feel like it was very rushed and I was robbed of sweet moments, loving words, and passionate kisses. I read books for the romance, and I didn't get enough of it in this book, in my opinion.
Overall, it's a good read. If you are looking for something light and fun, with a little bit of love and suspense, and a whole lot of drama, then I'd recommend it!
October 3, 2016
As a mother to a teenager, and having been a teenager in a past life myself (although my teen tells me this cannot be true), this book covered a full range of memories and emotions as I read it. On the one hand I was taken back to the age of being 16-20 years old. Years of experimentation and those times where I believed I was continously making good decisions, although in hindsight with age and wisdom, comes the questioning of how much I really knew at all.
From the other perspective, I was able to read this story from the viewpoint of a parent, being reminded of where life can lead in teen years, and some consequences that can come from teenage decisions made. But overall, I found this to be a very real story. There is a story of destiny and love simmering underneath, but over the top of that is a raw realism that I could easily relate to. It isn't all fluffy and easy - the characters in this story learn some lessons and come to reassess their views on what they are doing, and the choices they are making.
While this may not be a book I would necessarily hand to a teenager, if I saw my teen reading it I would eagerly open conversation about it, as a way to talk about so many situations that most certainly could come to be in their path as they travel through the late teen years. It is written for young adult and there is nothing extreme in it that would make me uncomfortable about a teen reading it - sexual scenes are more implied than explicit, and similarly the scenes that involve fighting are once again implied but not gruesome. The only thing that concerned me slightly was the thought of a teen reading it but there being no mention of contraception ...
Overall, though, this is a great read, and I would recommend to any reader to not stop short of the first few pages, which do have a real side to them that some may not like. Read past it and give the entire story a chance because the teens in this are on a learning journey of self-development. And anyone reading this book can be taken on the same path. A good read, from start to finish.
From the other perspective, I was able to read this story from the viewpoint of a parent, being reminded of where life can lead in teen years, and some consequences that can come from teenage decisions made. But overall, I found this to be a very real story. There is a story of destiny and love simmering underneath, but over the top of that is a raw realism that I could easily relate to. It isn't all fluffy and easy - the characters in this story learn some lessons and come to reassess their views on what they are doing, and the choices they are making.
While this may not be a book I would necessarily hand to a teenager, if I saw my teen reading it I would eagerly open conversation about it, as a way to talk about so many situations that most certainly could come to be in their path as they travel through the late teen years. It is written for young adult and there is nothing extreme in it that would make me uncomfortable about a teen reading it - sexual scenes are more implied than explicit, and similarly the scenes that involve fighting are once again implied but not gruesome. The only thing that concerned me slightly was the thought of a teen reading it but there being no mention of contraception ...
Overall, though, this is a great read, and I would recommend to any reader to not stop short of the first few pages, which do have a real side to them that some may not like. Read past it and give the entire story a chance because the teens in this are on a learning journey of self-development. And anyone reading this book can be taken on the same path. A good read, from start to finish.
August 9, 2016
I finished reading this book a few days ago (but I was out of town and couldn't write a review until now), and yet I'm still thinking about these characters! There's something about this book that stayed with me. I got really invested in Jess's life and really cared about her.
At first, I wasn't a big fan of Finn, but he turned around and changed quite a bit throughout the book! I liked Jess from the start, though. Their social group felt pretty realistic, too, and I felt like I was involved in all of the drama. (And with Jill, Jess's best friend, there was always drama!) I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that there were some definite surprises, especially concerning Tony, one of the guys in the group, and I liked that I didn't see any of it coming.
Because I was so invested in the characters and the story, I would have liked to see more of Jess and Finn together. Not necessarily sexy scenes, but just more of their interaction when things were good and not awkward. Some of their interactions were just described in narration and not shown, and I thought, "Aww, bummer. I bet that was a really cute conversation." I also would have liked to see more of them towards the end of the book, after the surprising incidents that I hinted at above.
This book does an excellent job at using its setting well, and it's a setting I particularly liked (the Jersey shore), because I've been there. I could picture everything vividly. This made for a really great summer read, and I'd definitely read more in this universe, if Anne Holster writes a series or spin off. I'll be watching for her future books, and will recommend this to anyone who wants a true "summer romance" read!
At first, I wasn't a big fan of Finn, but he turned around and changed quite a bit throughout the book! I liked Jess from the start, though. Their social group felt pretty realistic, too, and I felt like I was involved in all of the drama. (And with Jill, Jess's best friend, there was always drama!) I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that there were some definite surprises, especially concerning Tony, one of the guys in the group, and I liked that I didn't see any of it coming.
Because I was so invested in the characters and the story, I would have liked to see more of Jess and Finn together. Not necessarily sexy scenes, but just more of their interaction when things were good and not awkward. Some of their interactions were just described in narration and not shown, and I thought, "Aww, bummer. I bet that was a really cute conversation." I also would have liked to see more of them towards the end of the book, after the surprising incidents that I hinted at above.
This book does an excellent job at using its setting well, and it's a setting I particularly liked (the Jersey shore), because I've been there. I could picture everything vividly. This made for a really great summer read, and I'd definitely read more in this universe, if Anne Holster writes a series or spin off. I'll be watching for her future books, and will recommend this to anyone who wants a true "summer romance" read!
September 24, 2016
Finished by Anne Holster tells the story of Jess and Finn. Jess has admired Finn from afar since they were both kids. One drunken hookup later, Jess finds out Finn has no idea it was her. She goes to the Jersey shore with her friend Jill to get away from life for the summer and soon finds out Finn also is there for the summer as well. They form an unlikely friendship until Finn finds out that Jess is the mystery girl he has been looking for. But Jess has already moved on with Tony. Is Finn too late?
After reading the short teaser for this book, it sounded like it was right up my alley. A sweet summer romance. Boy, I missed the mark a bit! This book had some grit to it! It was so much more than I expected it to be and at times quite intense. It kept me hooked and wanting to find out what was going to happen next. The characters were well developed and relatable for the reader. I wasn't too fond of Finn in the beginning but he quickly turned around the further I read.
There were only a couple of criticisms I had. I wanted a bit more at the end. I felt like it was rushed and it would have been nice to have had a bit more to the story further into the future or an epilogue. The romance aspect of the story could have been stepped up a bit more too. For a romance novel, that element of the book lacked for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a summer read.
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
After reading the short teaser for this book, it sounded like it was right up my alley. A sweet summer romance. Boy, I missed the mark a bit! This book had some grit to it! It was so much more than I expected it to be and at times quite intense. It kept me hooked and wanting to find out what was going to happen next. The characters were well developed and relatable for the reader. I wasn't too fond of Finn in the beginning but he quickly turned around the further I read.
There were only a couple of criticisms I had. I wanted a bit more at the end. I felt like it was rushed and it would have been nice to have had a bit more to the story further into the future or an epilogue. The romance aspect of the story could have been stepped up a bit more too. For a romance novel, that element of the book lacked for me.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a summer read.
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
July 27, 2016
I received this book in exchange of an honest review!
I believe all of us have good memories of our high school/college years, no matter our countries or "clans"; it is a time of our lives most of all will remember tenderly.
This book takes us right there: to that time when most girls had butterflies in their stomachs towards some boy - who usually was seen as this special by a bunch of other girls. It may sound cliche, but Finished proves you wrong: although it is a typical romantic plot, I could not leave this book for a second! I actually ate it in a bit more than 24 hours, and I can assure you all that it was worth it.
So, basically, Finished describes the summer of Jess and Jill, two friends that went to Jersey for their vacation, and their friends - including Finn, the badass that all the girls would like to have for themselves. Being an old crush of Jess, Finn had no idea that they kind of had a past together, let alone of her feelings towards him, and when Jess starts dating Tony, an apparent real gentleman, things start to change for all of them.
I have to be honest and say that I saw myself in many parts of this book, and it gave me those butterflies in the stomach to revisit some parts of my teenage days.
A very delicate book, full of emotions and very well written!
I do recommend it as a great and light summer reading!
Kind regards,
Denise
Please check my personal blog for other reviews and comments - mypapertrips.wordpress.com
I believe all of us have good memories of our high school/college years, no matter our countries or "clans"; it is a time of our lives most of all will remember tenderly.
This book takes us right there: to that time when most girls had butterflies in their stomachs towards some boy - who usually was seen as this special by a bunch of other girls. It may sound cliche, but Finished proves you wrong: although it is a typical romantic plot, I could not leave this book for a second! I actually ate it in a bit more than 24 hours, and I can assure you all that it was worth it.
So, basically, Finished describes the summer of Jess and Jill, two friends that went to Jersey for their vacation, and their friends - including Finn, the badass that all the girls would like to have for themselves. Being an old crush of Jess, Finn had no idea that they kind of had a past together, let alone of her feelings towards him, and when Jess starts dating Tony, an apparent real gentleman, things start to change for all of them.
I have to be honest and say that I saw myself in many parts of this book, and it gave me those butterflies in the stomach to revisit some parts of my teenage days.
A very delicate book, full of emotions and very well written!
I do recommend it as a great and light summer reading!
Kind regards,
Denise
Please check my personal blog for other reviews and comments - mypapertrips.wordpress.com
October 31, 2016
Well I haven't put this book down since I got it the drama excitement and the comedy in this book had me hanging on the edge of my seat.
You have two completely different people you have Jess who is not really a party girl until one weekend she and Jill her best friend go to this party with her sister Hannah who is dating donnie she gets so drunk that she goes to a bedroom and collapses on a pile of coats after a while she hears the bedroom door go and then hears a smash in the bathroom then she hears the door lock after that she gets took advantage of by Finn who she has had a crush on for so long.
Then you have Finn who loves to party and is a player and he wakes up the next day with a ranging hangover but finds a little something in his jeans pocket. Jess underwear after that everything changes between Jess and Finn and they become great friends until she starts seeing Tony then everything changes Finn gets jealous and starts feeling things for Jess he has never felt. After Finn gets a job working with Tony he starts to find himself in a very big trouble and starts to see Tony for what he is. A cheating scumbag.
Will Finn tell Jess what he knows and risk losing her?
I am giving this book 5/5 I am so got review this book amazing read and well done Anne who made this book come to life right before eyes.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
September 15, 2016
My favorite quote from the book:
“You can meet the greatest, most perfect person in the world, but if the timing isn’t right then it just ain’t gonna happen. Agree?”
Finished by Anne Holster is a coming of age romance filled with angst.
What I seriously liked about the book was how playful Anne Holster was with the characters. Each one of them were unique and memorable in their own way. I loved how presumptions and misunderstandings are a part of growing up and the instances mentioned in the book are very real. The book was light-hearted although I had a completely different take on Jess and Finn’s actions in the first chapter. When I went along reading the book, I got to know where they were coming from.
Not to mention the fact that there was a lot of drama. The main drama queen in the book is Jill, Jess’s best friend. She is annoying AF. Seriously, I felt like just slapping her enough to make her think straight. Just imagine, if I could actually become so emotional about a sidekick, how on the edge I must’ve been about Jess and Finn’s relationship.
The book is hyper-realistic and I bet many readers would be able to relate to it.
I just didn’t agree to the time-lapse in the book. Overall, Finished by Anne Holster was an enjoyable read.
“You can meet the greatest, most perfect person in the world, but if the timing isn’t right then it just ain’t gonna happen. Agree?”
Finished by Anne Holster is a coming of age romance filled with angst.
What I seriously liked about the book was how playful Anne Holster was with the characters. Each one of them were unique and memorable in their own way. I loved how presumptions and misunderstandings are a part of growing up and the instances mentioned in the book are very real. The book was light-hearted although I had a completely different take on Jess and Finn’s actions in the first chapter. When I went along reading the book, I got to know where they were coming from.
Not to mention the fact that there was a lot of drama. The main drama queen in the book is Jill, Jess’s best friend. She is annoying AF. Seriously, I felt like just slapping her enough to make her think straight. Just imagine, if I could actually become so emotional about a sidekick, how on the edge I must’ve been about Jess and Finn’s relationship.
The book is hyper-realistic and I bet many readers would be able to relate to it.
I just didn’t agree to the time-lapse in the book. Overall, Finished by Anne Holster was an enjoyable read.
August 3, 2016
Overall: 5 / 5
Amount of sex - 4 / 5
How explicit - 4 / 5
Romance - 5 / 5
Finished by Anne Holster is unlike any book I have read. It is refreshing to read such a love story where the characters, Finn and Jess, go through so much for love. Early in the book, Jess and Finn have an encounter which has Jess hopeful and Finn clueless. You see, Jess has had a crush on Finn since she was in grade school. Finn is a player who goes through girls like tissues. As soon as Finn grasps how wonderful Jess is, he realizes he’s too late. As I read the book, I was totally rooting for both Jess and Finn.
The characters were well developed as well as the setting. I could imagine myself on the Boardwalk with Jess and Jill walking to get a slice of pizza at Tino’s. The story line was exciting and was reading late into the night. There were many twist and turns that not only surprised me, but kept me guessing if they would ever find love. This is not your typical college love story. I absolutely recommend you putting this on your TBR list. A wonderful story! **ARC was received in exchange for an honest review**
Amount of sex - 4 / 5
How explicit - 4 / 5
Romance - 5 / 5
Finished by Anne Holster is unlike any book I have read. It is refreshing to read such a love story where the characters, Finn and Jess, go through so much for love. Early in the book, Jess and Finn have an encounter which has Jess hopeful and Finn clueless. You see, Jess has had a crush on Finn since she was in grade school. Finn is a player who goes through girls like tissues. As soon as Finn grasps how wonderful Jess is, he realizes he’s too late. As I read the book, I was totally rooting for both Jess and Finn.
The characters were well developed as well as the setting. I could imagine myself on the Boardwalk with Jess and Jill walking to get a slice of pizza at Tino’s. The story line was exciting and was reading late into the night. There were many twist and turns that not only surprised me, but kept me guessing if they would ever find love. This is not your typical college love story. I absolutely recommend you putting this on your TBR list. A wonderful story! **ARC was received in exchange for an honest review**
September 13, 2016
After reading blurb I had expectations for a light and fluffy summer romance, but I was in for a surprise. The plot twists had a thriller feel to them and it got me turning pages faster and faster. It was so refreshing that it was not like just another romance. The twists and turns make it hard to predict next move.
Character growth was really good and left me wanting to read more about them (maybe series or spin-off). Nice summery and beachy read with a bit of thriller type of a feeling. Only minus for me was the ending that felt forced and did not feel at place with the fluid writing through the novel.
3,5 GR stars from me.
Thanks to The New Adult Book Club I received a copy from author in exchange for an honest review.
Character growth was really good and left me wanting to read more about them (maybe series or spin-off). Nice summery and beachy read with a bit of thriller type of a feeling. Only minus for me was the ending that felt forced and did not feel at place with the fluid writing through the novel.
3,5 GR stars from me.
Thanks to The New Adult Book Club I received a copy from author in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2016
Anne Holster Does It Again!
Such an enjoyable read! Ann Holster certainly knows how to surprise her readers. Just when I thought certain things would happen--surprise! I loved the characters, the style, the setting and the story--they were all able to let me picture everything that was happening and even made me remember certain things about the Jersey Shore from my youth to the present, one of those things being the fish pond! This is the second read from Ann Holster for me (the first was Imaginary Grace) and I must say, she has me hooked! Looking forward to more great novels from her in the future!
Such an enjoyable read! Ann Holster certainly knows how to surprise her readers. Just when I thought certain things would happen--surprise! I loved the characters, the style, the setting and the story--they were all able to let me picture everything that was happening and even made me remember certain things about the Jersey Shore from my youth to the present, one of those things being the fish pond! This is the second read from Ann Holster for me (the first was Imaginary Grace) and I must say, she has me hooked! Looking forward to more great novels from her in the future!
September 17, 2016
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick and easy read and perfect for summer.
This book follows Jess and Jill, inseparable best friends who head to the beach for the summer to have some fun. Jess and Jill are polar opposites and manages to balance one another out well, feisty and our going Jill as a little OTT and high maintenance. Jess on the other hand is quiet, caring and a romantic.
One drunken night leads to somewhat comedic scenario of knickers on a pin board and one mans quest to find their owner.
This story has good depth and some grittier characters (Tony and Sean) which makes for an interesting read.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick and easy read and perfect for summer.
This book follows Jess and Jill, inseparable best friends who head to the beach for the summer to have some fun. Jess and Jill are polar opposites and manages to balance one another out well, feisty and our going Jill as a little OTT and high maintenance. Jess on the other hand is quiet, caring and a romantic.
One drunken night leads to somewhat comedic scenario of knickers on a pin board and one mans quest to find their owner.
This story has good depth and some grittier characters (Tony and Sean) which makes for an interesting read.
November 14, 2016
This is my first read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. I enjoyed reading Finished.
The setting,characters,were so well developed it was like I was there with them right in the story. I love it when a book can do that it was a good adventure to get into. I sure couldn't put this book down.
Jess is my favorite character in the story and I was rooting for her and Finn for there relationship in the story.
Alot of suspense,drama,twist and turns in this story. Just makes it that much better.
Recommend for readers who love New Adult Contemporary Romance Books.
I voluntary received a copy of this book to give my honest opinion.
The setting,characters,were so well developed it was like I was there with them right in the story. I love it when a book can do that it was a good adventure to get into. I sure couldn't put this book down.
Jess is my favorite character in the story and I was rooting for her and Finn for there relationship in the story.
Alot of suspense,drama,twist and turns in this story. Just makes it that much better.
Recommend for readers who love New Adult Contemporary Romance Books.
I voluntary received a copy of this book to give my honest opinion.
July 13, 2016
After enjoying Anne Holster's first book, "Imaginary Grace", I was excited to read her latest book, "Finished". Once again, another fun read! Being a "Jersey Girl" myself, the Jersey Shore holds a special place in my heart and this book brings me right back to my fun teen/young adult memories! I really enjoy Anne's writing style, her humor and the fun way she develops her characters. When the story comes to an end I find myself wondering, "What are they doing now?" I would recommend his book and will look forward to Anne Holster's next book. I'm a fan!
September 7, 2016
When i began the book, I had an idea of where i excepted it to go, but there were a dramatic turns that i did not expected! I would have liked to see a little more development of Jess and Finn's relationship. I didn't quite feel the transition from him being a womanizer to possibly having feels for her. It happened in an instant. Overall, I was entertained. It wasn't as predicable as i initially expected. There were some shocks along the way.
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