Defying Gravity

Finding Perfect #2

by Kendra C. Highley

Two brothers. One girl. May the best man win.

Disclaimer: This book contains enough sexual tension to melt snow, the hottest near-kiss in the history of near-kisses, and a sexy snowboarder determined to win the heart of the girl he loves.

Zoey Miller lives for her holidays in Aspen. Her time up on the mountain with the Madison brothers, Parker and Luke, is everything. But for the first time, it’s not enough. This time, she’s determined to win one of the brothers’ hearts.

But the brother she has in mind is a renowned player, with hordes of snow-bunnies following him around Snowmass resort. And the other…well, he’s her best friend and knows she deserves better. Namely him. And he’s going to win her heart.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, High School, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

Paperback

First published July 25, 2016

About the author

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to four self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories, and the restorative powers of dark chocolate

Reviews

[Deniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

For ALL of you out there who want to have more of Luke...
Read Luke's side of the Story and interview by K.C. Highley over at Closet Geeks and Slow Mo




7/18/16
3.5Stars
Why? Why does Goodreads not have half-stars?!
This is right between good and great for me-- so 3.5stars
Now hover I'll be hanging round having to decided if I am rounding up or down ...

Review: 7/25

Let's just put it out there: I rounded up. Because simply put Defying Gravity is a well written and entertaining cute & fluffy and I found myself wondering what Highley will write next.


Just like in Finding Perfect I kept smiling and I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment of the series.

Highley writes beautifully. I love her descriptions and think she got the romance, all the angst (not too much) all the excitement and all the swoony bits just right.
When I initially started I suddenly got all worried, because I wasn't that much into the boarding bits. Why is that important? Well, I grew up in the Swiss alps.. I am a boarder. When I was Zoe's age boarding was a huge part in my life. So many amazing memories and so many amazing hours spent on the board, meant I have huge gigantus expectations. So I cautiously counseled myself to tone them down. As much as possible. I kept wondering if I managed to do so, until I hit the scene where Zoe goes boarding on her own. I could barely read it it affected me so much. (the not so good memories rearing it's ugly head) So retrospectively I think Highley got a lot of the boarding side right.
Her descriptions of the mountain are brilliant! I ended up missing my mountains, the feel of being high up and surrounded by the majestic giants, the quiet and my board. (and odd compliment, I know, but a most sincere and well deserved one)
The book is written from Parker and Zoe's POV and they both have very distinct voices, which I really liked.

The plot is a best friends become more kind of one. And I was totally loving it. It is a tad predictable. But who cares when the ride is absolutely enjoyable. It's cute, sweet and swooney. No insta anything around. Just lots of great stuff that make up a nice story line.

While I do like most of the character building. I was least impressed with the two male MCs.
Well actually I do like them. I just found them both to be too extreme. Luke was petty, jealous and shallow, while Parker is thoughtful, kind and just awesome. I mean I get that Highley was trying to set them in contrast. But it was taken a tad too far for my taste. And while we're at this, I couldn't believe the mother's reaction. I mean really?! He is YOUR son. How can you say those things to your OTHER son none the less? WTH? Why didn't you teach him better?
I did like the parents though. I think it's quite unique, a lot of YA books paint the parents in a bleak and unflattering light. Highley however manages again to give us an insight into different families. And even if the parents are featured really little, they each have interesting and diverse personalities.
I liked Zoe in Finding Perfect already. And now? I adore her. I love how she tries to find her own way and tries to discover who she is and what she wants to do. I get her issues and I could totally related to her. Same could be said about Parker, he is totally swoon worthy. But as I said I found him a bit too black and white. Same goes for Luke. Which is why this is 3.5 Stars btw rather than a solid 4Stars.
Still I liked Parker and am routing for him. And while we at it, I do like Luke as well. I mean I think there is more than what we got so far. And I am so hoping Highley will write a book about him. So hoping! (HINT HINT!!!)

[Stacee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I loved the premise of this and BFF to more is one of my favorites.

Right from the beginning I was annoyed with Zoey. She's so wishy washy and that continues through the entire book. The push and pull and constant miscommunication between Parker and Zoey was just exasperating.

I did love both sets of parents and there are some really sweet moments. I liked the setting and the use of snowboarding, but I hated the bet and I loathed Luke. And sadly, those were both huge plot points.

Overall, the promise of Parker and Zoey actually having the correct conversation was what kept me reading. I'm not sure I would read more in this series.

**Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.25

Find my FULL review and others at this link: http://kaitbooktopia.blogspot.com/201...


Overall, this was an sweet YA contemporary with a swoon-worthy romance between a girl trying to figure out who and what she wants and the boy who knows who he is and what he wants which is her. Highley wrote a highly relatable and cute book and I am certain that she will have great success in the near future when it comes to writing. This book will definitely give you a new book boyfriend!

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Rating: 4.5 stars

I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as a completely unbiased review, so I want to preface this one by saying that I've been stressing hard recently about a few things. This external stress can make me really hard to please sometimes, but, in this case, it made me love this book so much more. Defying Gravity helped me do just what the title says. While life was pulling me down, Zoey and Parker raised me up. I felt like I was floating giddily above my problems, and all I can say is thank you to Highley!

I read another book recently – a "YA" contemporary (though I'd argue it's NA) – where the romance was there in words and sentences, but it wasn't there in emotions. I couldn't feel the love in that one. I can tell you... I felt this one. Boy, did I feel it. I was completely swept off my feet by Parker, and the chemistry between him and Zoey was intense. There were scenes where I stopped breathing, including the near kiss mentioned in the blurb. GAH. When they finally kissed for real, I just about died.

I could relate so much to Zoey. I haven't read the first book, so I didn't know anything about what she was like in Texas, apart from what she shared in this book. Back in Texas, she put on a show: the popular president of the student council with her life together. However, in reality, that was all an armour, and she didn't know who she was or what she was supposed to do. Girl, let me tell you... I just turned 25, and I still don't know. She's given advice by someone to go to college and try a few different classes to see what sticks, and all I can think is that that is what I should have done, instead of committing to something someone else said I'd be good at (I wasn't) and would be practical and guarantee me a job (not in this economy, it won't). So yeah, I was completely there with Zoey on the whole "figuring your life out" stuff.

Luke? Psh. No thanks. I can see what others might see in him, but I was Team Parker from 2%, though that may have been for superficial reasons... :D (Land Rovers beat Jeeps.) I loved how sure and devoted he was, and I am such a sucker for guys who know their feelings and will work hard to get the girl. Also, HELLO TOWEL SCENE. OH, and how hot is it that he could do tricks on a snowboard? Bear with me while I daydream...



I usually don't like snowboarders. I'm a skier. The damn boarders are always sitting around on the slopes, getting in people's way. AND YET I WAS IN LOVE WITH PARKER. But anyway, back to skiing. This book made me feel so nostalgic for the days when my family would go skiing. I could almost feel the biting cold, the crunch of snow beneath my ski boots, the bench of the ski lift as it swung around and scooped me up. I've been down a couple of black diamonds, but I always much preferred the gentler greens and blues, as I was a relaxation skier, not a speed demon. (That was my brother.) For that reason, while reading about Zoey zooming down black runs and enjoying it, I felt sheer terror, but also exhilaration because I could experience them through her without actually risking falling myself. (I do not fall, thank you very much.)

Overall, this was an excellent YA contemporary with a delicious romance between a girl trying to figure out who and what she wants and the boy who knows who he is and what he wants – her. Highley is two for two with me, the first book I read being Sidelined , and I'll definitely be following her work from now on. This book was better than therapy!

See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.

You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to read this sequel. Again, the main characters are eighteen, finishing school soon and deciding where to study next. This time, however, the story is set in Aspen and involved snowboarding, family holidays and many choices to be made….and the title is highly appropriate but you'll have to read it yourself to find out why!

The Miller and Madison parents have been friends since college and have regularly spent holidays together, especially after they had children. Their children have therefore grown up together, even though they lived miles apart. The Millers have a daughter, Zoey, whilst the Madisons have two sons, Luke and Parker. Luke is a charismatic risk taker, always enjoying being the centre of attention, especially when that attention is from attractive females. Parker is younger, a similar age to Zoey, and this holiday he is planning on letting Zoey know that he’d like to be much more than best friends with her. Well, that was his plan till he spotted that Zoey is flirting with Luke and Luke has also noticed that she is no longer a child and flirting back. The young men have always been rivals but never quite like this. When Luke challenges Parker to let them see which of them can win her attention things are going to be fun - until one of them has to admit to losing . . . Get ready for snow bunnies flirting with the young men, a hot incident with a towel, a serious competition, illness and a nasty accident as Zoey learns more about the young men and finally makes up her mind.

The author has maintained her brilliant character writing, with each of the main characters growing and developing through the course of the story. It was great to follow them maturing through their experiences in the story. There are some great laugh out loud moments and some that have you gasping in shock, a total emotional roller coaster ride that keeps the reader engaged and turning pages. I highly recommend this to anyone seeking a cute YA romance, a delightful, easy and engaging read with superb characters to escape into.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Brown Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Friends,

True confession: I like to read Entangled Teen's Crush books as much as I like to write them. If I'd had these books when I was a teenager I would've been delirious with geeky, drama-loving, book boyfriend joy. As an adult, I'm still pretty gaga about these fun YA romances.

Defying Gravity by Kendra Highley should absolutely go on your to-read list if you like YA romance. Parker is a snowboarding god, plus he's a sweetheart. His brother Luke is a whole bunch of hot trouble and I have a sneaking suspicion we'll see his story in another book - I hope so! Zoey is a heroine you'll care about, especially watching her journey to embrace who she really is.

All the feels for this one, and as a native Coloradan, I give props to Kendra for getting Aspen and the snowboarding scene exactly right!

[Kate McMurry · Rating 3 out of 5]

BFFs-to-romance, YA novel set in Aspen, Colorado

Zoey Miller and Parker Madison are 18-year-old seniors, and Parker's 19-year-old brother, Luke, is a college freshman. Both of the Madison brothers are equally handsome, well built and outstanding at skiing, attributes that catch many a feminine eye on the ski slopes of their hometown, Aspen, Colorado. However, Parker has never felt romantically inclined toward any girl other than Zoey, while Luke is a "love 'em and leave 'em" lothario.

Zoey and Parker's mothers have been friends since college, and after marriage, their fathers became best buddies as well. As a result, Zoey and Parker have known each other since they were babies, and have considered themselves BFFs since early childhood. Sadly for Parker, though he started having a crush on Zoey two years ago, and a year ago realized he is in love with her, Zoey hasn't a clue that he views the two of them as more than platonic friends.

When Parker's family moved from Texas to Colorado a few years ago, Zoey's parents bought the house next door to them as a second home. Parker has greatly missed seeing Zoey every single day, as they were able to do for years in Texas, but at least her family's vacationing during the Christmas holidays and the month of July in Aspen has allowed him to spend six weeks of face-to-face time with Zoey every year.

The previous July, Parker was emotionally primed to confess his love to Zoey, but Luke kept hanging around as a third wheel, and Parker never found the ideal moment to bare his soul. It is currently Christmas break, and Parker is determined to finally speak up. Until Zoey informs him that she's decided to try to date Luke.

Although Zoey fully realizes that no one in the world understands her as much as Parker does, and he is an all-around decent human being and extremely good looking, she wants their friendship to last forever. If she were to try to date him, it could very well blow up in their faces and cause her to lose the most important relationship she's ever had outside of her parents. She has decided that it's much safer to go out with Luke, because she instinctively, if not consciously, realizes that, if it doesn't work out between them, it's no big loss to either of them.

During this novel, Zoe's growth journey involves coming to realize what a lousy, superficial choice it would be to date a womanizer like Luke. She also has to get over the main romantic conflict that exists in every single "friends become lovers" romance plot, fear of losing a BFF by dating him/her since it might not work out. Ultimately, the protagonists in these stories always realize the obvious, that a BFF is the romantic ideal for a mate in our culture. And in the case of this particular story, a wonderful, attentive, cinnamon-roll hero like Parker, whose greatest desire in life is to make Zoey happy, is a dream come true.

This is a slightly PG, teen romance in that there is some off-color language. However, there is no underage drinking or marijuana use, and nothing beyond a few kisses onstage and some offstage making out.

I received access to the audiobook version of this novel through Hoopla. It has two narrators, Preston Geer and Tara Marie Kirk. He narrates the chapters from Parker's point of view, and she narrates the chapters from Zoey's POV. Unfortunately, every sentence that Ms. Kirk utters has a downward inflection. That is extremely jarring because, in normal human speech, a question has a rising tone, with the inflection going up at the end of the sentence. A statement has no change in inflection and is flat at the end of the sentence. And only an overt or subtle command has a downward inflection at the end of the sentence. Her contorted, plodding speech pattern would be hard to listen to even if this were nonfiction rather than a story with characters, who need to be portrayed realistically, in order to be both relatable and believable. It made it almost unbearable for me to listen to her half of the book. In contrast, Mr. Geer, thankfully, meets the bare minimum requirement for a competent audiobook narrator, being capable of conveying normal inflection in human speech.

[Rê · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 “Best friend and snow” STARS

ARC via NetGalley

Thank you, Entangled!

Sometimes you just start reading and you enjoy the story so much you can’t even stop to update your Goodreads status. That’s what happened here.

I started “Defying Gravity” thinking it’d another super cute YA love story published by Entangled Crush – I’ve been having a lot of luck with those – but I didn’t expect to fall in love with it as fast as I did.

I mean, by the end of chapter one I already had a major crush on Parker. Major. I’m serious. That was a positive and a negative thing. Why? Because it kind of made me angry at Zoey and how long it took her to realize Parker was just the perfect guy for her – and for me too, if I were more than ten years younger.



Honestly, being a little angry at Zoey was kind of pointless because I came into this book knowing it’d take her a while to choose between the brothers. After all, the premise is the famous Parker likes Zoey who likes Luke who likes all girls. Either way, I still yelled How can you not love him? a couple of times.

Sorry, Zoey. Nothing personal. Just my love for Parker taking over me.

The story of Zoey, Parker and Luke starts way before chapter one. Their parents have been BFFs since college, which means the kids have known each other since they were born. And while they live miles apart, these two families always meet in Aspen on holidays.

It’s days before Christmas when Parker, Luke and Zoey meet again after months apart. Both Zoey and Parker have a goal in mind: making a move on the people they like. Zoey is ready to impress Luke, and Parker is ready to move away from the friendzone and finally tell Zoey he wants to be more than her best friend. Except he notices how Zoey is flirting with his older brother, who is obviously flirting back, and that puts a temporary stop to his plans to come clean. Acting on that brotherly rivalry that always makes things entertaining and complicated, Parker accepts the challenge when Luke suggests they should both fight for Zoey’s attention. The brother she doesn't choose in the end will have to just deal with it.

Oblivious to that little bet, Zoey starts winter break by trying hard to get Luke’s attention. She doesn’t want him to see her as the little girl he grew up with anymore, but she also doesn’t want to be the next girl in a long line of forgettable flings. That’s when we have problem #1: the girl is clearly hoping to change Luke and make him into a one-girl kind of guy when he clearly isn’t like that. Problem #2: she’s trying to impress him so hard, that she’s forgetting Aspen is the only place where she doesn’t have to hide who she truly is. Unlike when she’s home, Zoey doesn’t have to pretend she’s Queen B for the weeks she’s around the Madison boys, especially with her best friend Parker.

But there’s hope for Zoey, because as Parker starts to show her how much fun they can have by just being the two of them – no Luke and no masks needed --, she starts noticing him as more than a friend. Funny how that’s when I stop wanting to shake some sense into her.



Look, the author does a great job creating two very different brothers, and that’s clear after just a couple of pages.

Luke is the typical player and more than just a bit arrogant – he’s known around for his snowboarding skills and has a legion of fans (snow-bunnies – didn’t even know that was a thing) following his every move. Parker, on the other hand, despite being as good-looking and just as talented on the snowboard as his big brother is a much more humble soul.

Though we don’t get to see Parker around his other friends as much as I would’ve liked, it’s pretty clear that he’s nice to everyone around, not just Zoey. He’s legitimately a good guy – and he’s sexy AF. That little towel trick? Awesome. You'll agree with me once you read it. Plus, he has all the good traits that make a great boyfriend: he makes sure to ask Zoey if she's okay instead of assuming one way or the other, he listens to her, he respects her boundaries, he takes care of her when she's sick… *swoons* These are all things that made me like him even more. Everything about Parker was amazing.

Luke, on the other hand, was a real jackass. I tried to hold on to the hope that he was acting the way he was in order to help his brother and push him into confessing his feelings for Zoey, but that’s not how things turned out. He was really as arrogant as he made it look. He’s still redeemable, and while I can understand why Zoey had a crush on him, I don’t think I would’ve ever chosen him over Parker, even for just a minute. It would’ve been Parker from the start.

In the end, Zoey makes the right choice, and that’s pretty much all that matters.

As you can see, I would've had a heart attack if things had been different. That's how commited to Parker's happiness I was.

“Defying Gravity” is the second book in the “Finding Perfect” series, but you can easily read it as a stand-alone. I did. After finishing this, I wish I’ve read the first book simply because I think the writer is really talented at writing super cute YA romances. I’m guessing the romance in the first book must be as adorable as this one. Besides, it looks like Zoey was a big part of that story. It would’ve been nice to have seen her surrounded by her high school friends in order to better understand the difference between that Zoey and Aspen-Zoey. Plus, the first book has a great premise and awesome reviews on Goodreads.

My advice to you is: read both books, but most importantly, read this one because you won’t regret it.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. Zoey was a pretty unlikable character. I hated how wishy-washy and shallow she was - while we were supposed to think she was the opposite of shallow. Luke's character make absolutely no sense whatsoever. I liked Parker, he was the saving grace of the book.

I read a lot of YA, even though I am around twice the age of the main characters. Usually I can still really appreciate them, but this is one of those books that makes me think I'm getting too old for YA.

[Cristina (My Tiny Obsessions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read full review HERE



This was my second book by Kendra C. Highley, as I read the first book of this series, Finding Perfect, last year and really enjoyed it – you can check out my review of it here. And once again, I really liked this one.

The book is told in dual POV, from Zoey and Parker’s points of view, and told in the third person. Though this is not my favorite type of writing, I still enjoyed it a lot, and the 2 voices were clearly distinct. Also, damn, they were funny.

I had liked Zoey by the end of book 1, because she was an awesome friend to Paige, and I liked her even more here. Zoey is always put together while at school, and mostly hides her true self most of the time, except when she’s in Aspen, with her best friend. I really liked that although she was the typical Queen-Bee at school, she was not really like that, and she grows a lot during this book and learns that while she’s hiding stuff, she won’t ever be truly happy.

Parker was dreamy dreamy. He has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, not really having an opportunity to shine himself, but he won’t let Luke get the one thing he loves most of all, his BFF and the girl he loves. I thought it was amazing how each brother had their strongest fields, and that they could both be AMAZING at slightly different things. And it was amazing to see Parker finally get his time to shine.

I loved Zoey’s relationship with Parker. They have been best friends since forever, and they’re always themselves around each other, with no pretense or bullshit (or makeup). The progression from friendship to more had been a long time coming, and they were truly two halves of the same whole – according to their moms… Yeah… their moms were their biggest shippers. It bothered me a bit that Zoey was so adamant to pursuit Luke, though I understood her fear: Luke was just easier, because if it didn’t work out, she wouldn’t lose her best friend. But I still could have done with a little less indecision from her front. I’m still not sure how I feel about Luke, because while I do think he’s not a bad guy, I really didn’t like some of his actions during this book.

The inclusion of Paige and Ben, from book 1, in the story was perfect, and it was so great to see where they stood.

The plot was fun and lighthearted, but with a good message: you have to be yourself to be complete. The dialogues and interactions between the main characters were awesome, and charged. It was a really enjoyable read, and I have to recommend this YA series… it’s so much fun.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoey loves Aspen. It's the only place where she can be herself. At school she's the perfect popular girl who hides behind a mask, but when she goes on holiday she can be who she really is for a while. When she's in Aspen she spends most of her time with the Madison brothers. Parker is her best friend and he loves to take her snowboarding. Luke is a year older and he's already in college. He has a lot of female fans and Zoey is one of them, she has a huge crush on him. When it's time to go to Aspen again she decides to find out if he feels the same about her.

Luke is a player and he breaks a lot of hearts. He doesn't mind ditching one girl for another and just lives for the moment. Zoey is a pretty girl, so he likes to flirt with her and thinks that maybe she can be his for a while. Parker has been in love with Zoey for a long time and he wants her to be his long-term girlfriend. The girl of his dreams is having a crush on his brother, but he's determined to change that. He's going to convince her that he's the one for her. Will Zoey choose the right Madison brother?

Defying Gravity is a wonderful winter story. I immediately loved the beautiful setting. Kendra C. Highley's descriptions of Aspen are magical and she makes the place come to life very well. I could easily picture the mountains and the beautiful snow. The snowboard descriptions are amazing, Kendra C. Highley writes about what it feels like to descend the mountains in an enthusiastic and lively manner. It's a fabulous topic for a story and I think it has been thoroughly researched and executed.

Zoey is pretty and popular, but most of the time she's acting. She doesn't have as much confidence as she likes people to believe and she actually would rather be a person who doesn't wear makeup and carefully selected outfits, which is one of the reasons she treasures her holidays. She loves snowboarding, reading, baking cookies and watching a lot of movies. Parker is the only one who gets to see who she is on the inside and their friendship is special. Luke is a player and he's extremely competitive towards Parker. He wants to beat his younger brother in everything, even in getting the girl Parker has always been in love with. As Parker is such a sweet guy that was quite tough to see, but he's giving everything he has and I loved that about him. There's plenty of great chemistry and I liked the heartwarming romance a lot.

Kendra C. Highley has written a great story about love, future dreams, friendship and snowboarding. Aspen is the perfect setting for a romantic story. I loved the main characters and the wonderful atmosphere. If you enjoy fun, flirty winter wonderland books you should definitely read Defying Gravity, it's a delightful story.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoey Miller lives two lives. Back home she's super put together, super popular, class president, all-round Miss Perfect. But every winter vacation she comes back to Aspen and it's here Zoey lets out the person she really is - the laid back, sporty girl who just wants to hang with her two best friends, Parker and Luke - brothers, who have known Zoey since they were infants. However, this year something changed. Zoey comes to Aspen with a plan - make Luke notice her in a more than friend sort of way. The only problem with that is Parker has the exact same plan for Zoey.

Yup, this book has a love triangle: 2 brothers and a girl.

Overall, I found this book adorable. Zoey, for the most part, is likeable. She's fun, sweet, cares about her friends and is trying to figure out where her future lies outside of high school and this bubble that she's created. The Zoey I didn't like so much was the fake one that surrounded Luke. For someone who spends most of the book complaining about having to be someone she's not back home and how those people only like one side of her, she certainly becomes the perfect little snow bunny just following Luke around. It really didn't make sense as to why she would fall so hard for the superficial shallow brother knowing what we know about her.

The brothers were like night and day. Luke, as I said before, was full of himself, rude, and just not a nice guy. Can you tell I didn't like Luke? The only reason her pursues Zoey is because he wants to beat Parker at everything. (How Zoey doesn't see through his charade is beyond me.) Then there's Parker. Sweet, adorable, Parker. He's been in love with Zoey for years and when he decides to make his move, suddenly she's chasing his brother. I felt really bad for him but at the same time, I wanted him to man up and tell her what was going on.

These books are just like candy. Short and sweet following the formula we all know. Despite this being set in the winter, it's a perfect read for day at the beach. And I dare you not to fall for Parker. Another plus, even though it's a series, you don't necessarily have to read them in order to understand the plot. Each book is it's own. Also, side note, I want to learn how to snowboard now.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defying Gravity!!! First things first: I received an ARC of this book from Entangled through NetGalley.
The book came out july 25th. Check it out if you want something cute and fun.
 
Book summary: Zoey Miller lives for her holidays in Aspen. Her time up on the mountain with the Madison brothers, Parker and Luke, is everything. But for the first time, it’s not enough. This time, she’s determined to win one of the brothers’ hearts. But the brother she has in mind is a renowned player, with hordes of snow-bunnies following him around Snowmass resort. And the other…well, he’s her best friend and knows she deserves better. Namely him. And he’s going to win her heart.
 
This is the second book in the Finding Perfect series. To read this, you don't have to read the first book. Zoey was a minor character in the first one, now she is the main character.
 
I really loved Zoey in the first book (and actually wanted to have a book dedicated to her), so I was really happy when I saw that this was going to be a story from her point of view. We also got some mentions of Paige and Ben, who where the main characters in the first book, something that I really enjoyed cause I loved these two adorable idiots.
 
In this book we met the Madison brothers, Parker and Luke. And they couldn't be any more different from each other, except their love for snowboarding. I really loved Parker right from the start, he was kind, sweet and funny, AND so obviously in love with Zoey. I loved their friendship. They basically grew up together and you could tell, the chemistry between these two were off the charts. And then we have Luke, the older brother, and no, he wasn't my cup of tea. It's not even that he's a player, cause you know, to each it's own, but I found him really annoying. I couldn't see what Zoey saw in him (thank god in time, Zoey didn't either).
 
Other things that I really loved about this book:
 
- The setting. Aspen. I loved the focus on snowboarding and I think those moments were really well written.
- The mom's!!!!
- Parker's friends and wish we could have seen more of them. Especially Shawn.
- The fact that everyone who saw Parker and Zoey together thought they were a couple and were obviously rooting for them. I love things like that.
 
 

[Anjie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author and Entangled Teen for providing me with an Advanced Reader's Copy of Defying Gravity! This in no way affected my opinion of the book.

I was beyond excited and happy to hear that Kendra Highley was publishing a second book to Finding Perfect! I was even more excited when I found out it was a story about Zoey and the Madison brothers. We got to know a lot about Zoey in the first book and one of the reasons why I loved the first book so much was because of her amazing relationship with Paige. I loved that we get to know her even more. She was just as I remembered but even better. We get to see inside her head. She's not just the popular, chic, peppy girl but she's sporty and down to earth. I hope that she lets those at her high school see that side of her because they would think she was even more cooler. As for the brothers ... I fell in love with Parker! Seriously! I didn't think that anyone would be better than Ben but wow. Parker was a lot like Zoey, athletic, loyal, funny, and humble. His humility and sole focus on Zoey are the main reasons why I liked him more than I liked Luke. In all honesty, I didn't like Luke at all. Their athleticism and good looks were just about the only things they had in common. Luke was too much of a playboy and arrogant and just no.

Kendra's writing was just as fantastic here. There were definitely moments of great swooning. I was really worried that it would be one of those bad love triangles but I actually really enjoyed it. The book was a lot of fun to read and I would give it 5 stars solely on entertainment value. It's perfect for a summer read! The pacing was fantastic and I loved the storyline. I also loved the dual POVs! It was great to be able to see what was happening in Zoey's end and what was happening between Parker and Luke. The relationships are fantastic and I really wanted to see more. I just don't understand how Luke can be such a jerk to his kid brother but I don't know ... are all older brothers like that?! Anyway, we even get a little bit of Paige and Ben! I loved that Kendra squeezed them in! I was just smiling from ear to ear when they popped up. I also enjoyed the epilogue and I really wish that there was more. I don't even care what the plot is, I just want more Parker haha!

[Madi ~☆TheBookNerdDiaries☆~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I got this one for a tour and thought "what the heck, I gave the last one 3-4 stars so why not?". And I ended up skimming after 2% trying to find something remotely interesting or that caught my eye but alas nothing.

To be honest, I didn't even remember who Zoey Miller was until I went back to my old review and then I was like:
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because Zoey kind of sucked in the last one. I mean she was more of that cliche "smart girl's totally hot & rich friend" character than one with substance. But I at least somewhat enjoyed the last book, Finding Perfect, so I thought I'd at least give this one a try.

The book begins with a new character's POV (Parker? Idk I didn't care for him so...) and he is arguing? with his brother (Luke?, again Idk) about how Zoey hadn't shown up. Literally all I remember from the first chapter was that and I think he said he knew when her plane touched down and was debating if that was creepy. Uh, yeah bud, it kind of is when you don't give me much context to your relationship.

After the first 3%, I was bored out of my mind so I decided to skim.
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And skim I did. I never did find anything to keep me reading after that. From the snippets I did read, it seemed like one of those cliched stories where two brothers want a girl (obviously from the beginning and you could obviously tell Parker? was gonna get the girl and the other brother was a jerk who the girl dated and they broke up. But then the jerk leaves her stranded, she gets hurt, and the other brother saves her. Bleh.

Yeah, I didn't like this sequel. Maybe if it had been about Paige and Ben, but Zoey's story was yeeck.

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[Deitre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realize that I could love a boy more than Benjamin Franklin—no, not the founding father. I’m talking about the boy that stole Paige Westfield’s heart in Finding Perfect! Because, I’ve already admitted and accepted fully, that I fell head over heels in love with him. Parker Madison…he might have given Ben a run for his money; though, it’s not fair to compare the two, honestly, because they are so different, as are Paige and Zoey. What did these two books have in common? They trapped me. Once I dove in, I could barely put it down. I wanted to go back to Aspen and spend all my time with Zoey and Parker and wouldn’t have wanted to spend a long car ride any other way.

Read the rest of the review!



Read ALM's review of Finding Perfect

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome teen friends to more story! Zoey, Parker, and Luke have been friends for as long as they can remember. Parker and Luke are brothers and every year they meet up with Zoey when she comes to Aspen for winter break. Parker has been in love with Zoey for a while but never wanted to risk the friendship. It's now or never though. He's noticed she's flirting with his brother Luke and that just won't do. Zoey is definitely crushing on Luke and plans to let him know this winter. That is until she really starts paying attention to Parker and discovering that maybe he's more to her liking than Luke is. Which brother will win the girl?

A very fun read and a book I would definitely recommend.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defying Gravity is such a delightful little story of long time childhood friends discovering they have much stronger feelings for each other than friendship...although it takes one a little longer to realize it than the other!

Zoey returns to Aspen for Christmas break, determined to get Luke, the older playboy of the Madison brothers, to notice her. At the same time, Parker, her longtime best friend, is determined that this year he's going to get Zoey to notice him, and not just as her best friend. Ah, teen angst...

I really enjoyed this sweet book- Parker is a complete doll, a swoon-worthy hero in the making, and Zoey is a fun and fiesty gal, who's able to be her true self when she's around Parker.

***Arc received courtesy of Entangled Publishing.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love BFFs who fall in love, so I was all set to love this one, but I just....didn’t, mostly because of how wishy-washy Zoey was about her feelings. She’s back and forth between the two brothers constantly, and it made her seem really fickle. Luke’s motivations were strange to say the least, and Parker was the only character I really liked. He seemed way too good for Zoey.

I feel like this is the second book I’ve read about two brothers that like the same girl which is just an odd concept to me. Isn’t that against the bro-code?

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up most of the night reading this book with a smile on my face. Ever since reading Finding Perfect last year, I've been waiting to read this one because Zoey needed an HEA, too. I loved the battle between Luke and Parker, but only one of them could truly make her happy.

Add in the cameos of Paige and Ben, and the "striptease," which was more teasing than stripping, and this was awesome!

[Sophie Marsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC

[Paulinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute! I enjoyed it very much!

[Erica Chilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title to read & review for Wicked Reads

Young adult age-range: 13+.

4 stars for young adults.
2 stars from me personally.
3 stars total.

I need to preface this review by stating I've enjoyed this author in the past, five-starring the previous book, and the majority of Entangled: Crush Publishing's titles have been a hit with me. The female narrator rubbed me the wrong way, completely derailing any enjoyment I could find from the nearly 200-page novel. This is the review from an adult perspective of a young adult novel. So please take my review with a grain of salt, but I had to get it off my chest.

I had looked forward to this novel, but the narrator sounded different, written in a different voice than her chapter at the last of the previous book, and her actions with Paige and Ben. Zoey was previously written as being seen as a shallow high school 'it' girl, who everyone wanted to be or get with. Paige spent the majority of her novel voicing how no one saw Zoey for who she truly was, and I felt Parker did the same during this novel. But no matter what light Paige and Parker showed Zoey, being 'inside' Zoey's head negated everything the author was trying to 'tell' the reader.

For me, Zoey truly was as vapid as her classmates felt her to be- boy-crazy, shallow, and her behavior contradicted how she acted in the first book.

Being an adult, I had a hard time empathizing and relating to Zoey- I couldn’t respect her at all (it was at the start thru mid book, and even near the ending) Zoey’s crush on Luke made her look vapid, even if it’s how teenage girls behave/act/react. Zoey wasn't 'that girl'. The book was to show she wasn’t like that, yet she was written exactly as that, with Parker ‘trying’ to show Zoey's true nature. But the reader can only trust Zoey’s narration, as she is speaking and thinking, not as a side character but the narrator herself.

Zoey = Paige's best friend. Zoey = 'I'm not that type of girl' but she truly is, no matter how many times she thinks it, her behavior has her acting that way when she was above it all in the previous book.

Parker & Luke = younger and older brother, with Parker Paige's other best friend, who happens to be in love with her, and Luke, the older, college guy who is just a pretty face who treats his brother like crap.

Zoey and Luke were the male and female equivalents of one another. But I could forgive it in Luke because 1) he wasn't the narrator, & 2) call a spade a spade- he never pretended to be anything but a player. Zoey lied to herself about who she was, with everyone doing the same.

I was looking forward to reading the Zoey who helped Ben & Paige, the girl with high standards who didn’t date high school boys because they were immature and only saw her looks and popularity, not the real Zoey. She was rational and kind, not me. me. me. and blind. In this book, Paige and Ben make a reappearance, and Ben asks Zoey if Luke meets her 'high standards'. But, with how Luke was written, for Zoey to like Luke means she has absolutely NO standards or self-esteem/respect/worth.


Girls who fall for guys like Luke need validation from a guy, instead of knowing their true worth, and are preyed upon by the Lukes of the world, until they mature. Zoey deserved more than to be portrayed as thus. She was written the opposite in the previous book, and upset how her friends saw her that way. Like the girl who took Zoey's seat at the restaurant- any girl with an ounce of self-respect would have left Luke.

Guys are not worth fighting over. They don't choose you- you choose them. If they don't want you back, walk away, because he's not the right guy for you. Stealing a guy from another girl means he's not worth it, for any girl. He's no prize. Zoey didn't want to be seen as a prize, yet she treated Luke as one.

All women deserve more, & it’s our job as women to teach the youngest of our gender the signs. The false smile and a bite of attention is not flattery- it’s disrespect.

This is where the adult reader comes into play. Luke isn't a bad guy, IF he ever grows up. Boys like Luke only exist because of girls like Zoey, so I couldn’t respect her character, even with the small emotional evolution, because girls who know who they are don't fall for Lukes. I would have LOVED Zoey if, from word-one, she thought Luke was a joke, treated him as a friend/brother, and told him to grow up.

If Luke gets a book, I can guarantee his girl won't be a hanger-on-er, so why write Zoey like that? No one respects that type of person (character). I can't respect Parker for even liking a girl who wanted his brother. Gross.

Luke’s charm is like currency- if girls didn’t buy the falsity he’s selling, he wont be a commodity anymore. & I wish parents, mothers, authors would show this. Because that type of guy is created by the same foolish people they ‘hurt’, & they grow up into men who hurt many.

The women are the problem- we create the monster by feeding into it.

Writing Zoey as saying she isn’t that type of girl, yet having her behave so… quote: “yesterday she had flirted with him shamelessly... … like the groupies she despised… she’d done her hair and makeup both yesterday & this morning, in hopes he’d notice.” “Oh, my God. She was finally alone with Luke. Maybe she should have done more to her hair.”

If I had a daughter and she thought like that (which is my problem with the book itself). You can’t get more shallow than that, the very shallow her BFF (Paige) promised Zoey wasn’t in the previous book.

To quote Parker: "Sad'" Zoey's behavior was 'sad'. As in, it's too bad a woman will debase herself in such as manner.

To want someone to like you on your looks instead of who you are is the very definition of shallow, exactly who you’d get in return. As an adult, I feel this perpetuates the cycle with the young adult reader, how only your looks matter. Then there is the manipulative, game-playing of using the best guy friend to trap his brother with jealousy, when said friend is in love with you.... and you love him too, and his brother, but only because he's a hot chick-magnet.

The author can write every character in the series to be Zoey's biggest fans, but when her inner monologue reads as such, there is nothing you can do to make me believe it. “Is this how guys back home felt when they tried to talk to her? If so, she could develop some sympathy for them.” “She needed to fight fire with fire. She’d ask Parker to go on that sleigh ride and they’d have a blast, and tell Luke he missed all the fun.”

But Zoey's NOT 'that girl'.

In the previous book, Zoey didn’t like how people judged her on her looks, money, & popularity, never wanting to get to know the ‘real’ her (which the reader never sees via Zoey, only the other character's narration) but she is doing the same to Luke, wanting him on looks & charm alone, wanting him to pick her over other girls, as if that is the value of her worth.

To be quite honest, my dislike on how Zoey was written was making me close to DNFing an angsty, love-triangle book I’d generally enjoy, when I was absolutely engrossed with the previous book. It all just felt forced (the entire storyline. Zoey, who everyone wants to be with, didn't think Parker wanted her? But wants Luke too for an ego-boost). I can’t empathize with a girl who is crying about absolutely nothing like it’s the end of the world. Zoey literally had no problems whatsoever, no personality, so her being upset about every little thing is beyond shallow in reaction. She would literally burst out bawling throughout the novel.

The author can ‘tell’ me Zoey is down-to-earth all through the book via the other characters, but Zoey ever wanting Luke romantically counters that, because her falling for his fake charm proves she’s attracted to bright & shiny, and nothing of real value, exactly who her classmates think her to be. I understand the triangle premise demands this, and teenagers fall prey to this daily, but just once I’d like to see a girl who thinks with her brain and heart, not with her eyes and status. & I thought that was the Zoey I was going to get- not as advertised.

While, no doubt, young adults would eat this book up, I wouldn't allow my imaginary teenage daughter to read it. The first book, yes. This book? No. I wouldn't risk my daughter modeling herself after Zoey.

All of the issues are due to miscommunication and silly, childish, beneath their age group mentality. 18-20 yos. Parker deserved a more mature friend in Zoey, but if they were such good friends, he should have at least told her what Luke was playing. (Would you allow your BFF to be lied to, played, and bet upon, even if it's by your brother? Actually, especially if it's by your brother, someone she trusts? NFW, and if you do, you're a crappy friend. Why not say Luke was with a bunch of girls when he said he was with the guys? SMH) No matter the outcome, I wasn’t pleased, because it involved Zoey, who needed to grow up in more ways than one, whether friendship or relationship, because Parker was blind and Zoey thought herself different than she behaved/acted/reacted- the ultimate of unreliable narrators.

I will read the next in the series and more by this author. But this installment of the series was most definitely not for me.

[Kelsey van Dillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE it when the best friend gets the girl. Very cute story, makes me super excited for winter season.

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read this review and more on my blog:

Plot:

Defying Gravity is a cute little romantic story about best friends, Zoey and Parker.

Zoey and Parker have been best friends since they were in diapers. Their parents are so close that Zoey’s parents bought a vacation home right next door to Parker’s family home.

Zoey and her family spend every Spring break with Parker’s family, and that works just fine for him because not only is Zoey his best friend she is also the girl he has been in love with for the past two years.

Parker decides that this is finally the year he is going to confess his feelings to Zoey, but there is one problem with that plan. Zoey just so happens to have a massive crush on Parker’s older brother Luke. And Luke is just enough of a player to enjoy being the object of Zoey’s affections.

Characters:

Zoey was cute and I definitely understood what both brothers saw in her. She was a bit of a cliche of the “perfect girl next door”. She was blond, beautiful, and just enough of a tomboy to enjoy snowboarding with the brothers. I would have gotten bored with her if you wasn’t so darn likable. She had enough dorky and insecure moments to give her a personality.

Luke was a player who had all the ski bunnies chasing him around the slopes so I guess he was supposed to be charming. But I didn’t like him that much.  He came across as a whiny jerk to me. He knew how his brother felt about Zoey, but he went after her anyway just to piss Parker off. I think part of him wanted to push Parker into finally admitting his feelings for Zoey, but his competitive nature took over and made him do some jerky things.  I will admit that Luke wasn’t a mean person, he was just a guy who liked to date around. A lot! And he was too competitive for his own good. I could actually see the author making him the lead of another book. He just has some growing up to do before I can put up with him for a few hundred pages.

Parker was a good leading man. He was a bit of a wuss when it came to Zoey. And by that I mean it took him way too long for him the admit his feelings to her. But mostly he was a sweet and confident guy who just didn’t want to screw things up with the girl he loved. The book is told from both his and Zoey’s points of view, and sometimes his inner monologue could be a bit too flowery but it was still sweet. I liked how humble he was without being insecure.

The romance:

I was very frustrated with this book when Zoey focused more on Luke than Parker. I understood why she was careful with Parker. He was her best friend and she didn’t want to ruin that by taking it to the next level. What I didn’t understand was why she liked Luke. He kept using these Cheesy pick up lines on her one minute then ditching her to flirt with another girl the next. And he did a lot of this flirting right in front of Zoey’s face.

When Zoey started focusing more on Parker, I enjoyed the story more. They had a lot of cute moments that made me smile. This wasn’t really a love triangle. Luke is more of a catalyst to them getting together than an obstacle, and the author makes this clear early in the story. That made those frustrating moments easier to deal with. When they finally do start flirting, things get even better, and the cute doesn’t let up for the rest of the book.

Final thoughts:

I think I’ve used the word cute at least five times already in this review because it’s the best word to describe it. Parker is cute, Zoey is cute, their parents are cute, their friends are cute, their shared love of snowboarding is cute, their relationship is cute, and even Luke had a cute moment or two. This book is just freaking cute! There’s no other word for it.

Read this if you need some cute in your life.


This review was originally posted on Kookie Krysp Reads

[Moriah Chavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

*This book will also appear on A Leisure Moment*

**I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

I didn’t realize that I could love a boy more than Benjamin Franklin—no, not the founding father. I’m talking about the boy that stole Paige Westfield’s heart in Finding Perfect! Because, I’ve already admitted and accepted fully, that I fell head over heels in love with him. Parker Madison…he might have given Ben a run for his money; though, it’s not fair to compare the two, honestly, because they are so different, as are Paige and Zoey. What did these two books have in common? They trapped me. Once I dove in, I could barely put it down. I wanted to go back to Aspen and spend all my time with Zoey and Parker and wouldn’t have wanted to spend a long car ride any other way.

When I read the first book in this series, Zoey’s character played an important role: the object of Ben’s affections. Or so he thought. It turned out that Paige and Ben were meant to be, which was a good thing for Zoey because she had her eyes on another boy. That boy was Luke Madison, and he was part of her other life, the life that her friends in Texas didn’t know about. She liked to keep Colorado Zoey and Texas Zoey separate, so the “Class President Barbie” that I met turned out to be a snowboarding, snow-loving Colorado girl through and through.

What was so wonderful about Zoey was that she wasn’t the stereotypical beauty queen. She didn’t snap her fingers and expect hordes of boys to come running because of her looks. Trips to Aspen were what she relished in and craved, a time where she felt she could truly be herself without judgment. I found her relatable because everyone at some point in time knows what it’s like to be some way or someone because it is what’s expected, not because it’s who you are. I liked the real Zoey—in fact I loved her. She made the story fun and interesting, and I enjoyed being inside her head. Zoey Miller is the kind of girl you would want to be friends with for life.

Get ready to swoon over Parker Madison. I actually stopped reading at one point to tell someone how wonderful I thought he was and that everyone needs a Parker in his or her life (don’t worry, I knew the person—although, he’s the kind of guy you tell strangers about, he’s that wonderful). His talents and abilities on a snowboard were a hobby, not a means to an end. Humility and tantalizing hazel eyes—what’s not to love? But my favorite part about my newest book boyfriend was how much he loved Zoey. They had grown up together, Peanut Butter and Jelly, as his brother liked to call them, and knew everything about each other. That friendship started to change, but a friendship still remained. They were like Nathan Scott and Haley James, as Quinn said, “[They’re] like two best friends that are in love with each other.”

I guess I have to talk about the other person who had Zoey’s affection: Luke. I tried to look at Luke in varying lights, and I think he can be saved. While Parker has my heart, I could see the appeal of Luke, though he wouldn’t have been my type. It would be entertaining to read about a girl that could calm down that heartbreaker.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I have no idea why you would want to. This series—oh, this series! I love it! I might have squealed when Kendra asked if I wanted to review it. If you don’t have an e-reader, here’s a perfect excuse to buy one. If you do, what are you waiting for? Defying Gravity made me wish for snowy weather and a mug of homemade hot chocolate—and a cute snowboarder wouldn’t hurt, either.

[Poulami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was perfect! But I have to admit, at first I was confused if I wanted to read it or not because this book had my most hated trope. Yup! You got it- the love triangle! But surprisingly it was a pretty fun and refreshing read and I ended up loving it!

*A little spoilery!*

Zoey Miller comes back to Aspen during the holidays to spend her time with her two best friends since childhood. But this time she wants to make Luke realise her feelings for him but on the other hand Parker, who is about the same age as her wants to confess his feelings for her. Zoey's heart gets entangled in the mess. Will she be able to realise who's Mr. Right for her?

I loved how the plot was handled! The Miller and the Madison family has been friends forever, even after moving to a different city, the Miller family comes back to celebrate every holiday together. But this time they have all grown up. Zoey decides to confess her long time crush on Parker's elder brother, Luke. But Parker and Zoey has been best friends forever but Zoey is devoid of the fact about Parker's feelings. When the brothers confront each other, Luke offers a proposal that Parker couldn't deny. I don't think he had a chance when Luke told he would win her away but Parker knew that would eventually hurt Zoey because Luke never settled for anyone particular, so he agreed to the deal.



I loved how both the brothers tried to win her! It was pretty fun to read about. But it was crystal clear from the start who actually cared about Zoey and who was just playing for fun. I was rooting for Parker from the very beginning! I loved their friendship so much which ultimately led to great chemistry between them! I liked the setting of this story so much, plus the snow boarding aspect made it more fun!

Zoey was a great character but yes, she got a little irritating sometimes, I also didn't like how she was biased towards Luke, nonetheless I was so glad when she began to have conflicting feelings. Parker was a total sweetheart, he was protective of Zoey (in a good way!) and cared about her so, so much. Luke on the other hand was not much of a favourite. I also loved the family aspect in this book, both the Miller and the Madison family were so great! I particularly loved the moms!

Overall, Defying Gravity was a great read! The plot kept me interested from the beginning and the characters were pretty awesome as well! I really enjoyed the chemistry between Zoey and Parker and I enjoyed this story so much! The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book. I wanted to read the first book in this series so badly but I never got the chance but now that I have read this book, I am dying to read that one as well!

Recommend it?

Yes!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also posted at: http://underthebookcover.blogspot.com...

5/5

Thank you to Entangled Teen for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review!

Defying Gravity is the second book in the Finding Perfect series, with characters from the first book making an appearance in this book. However, this book can be read as a standalone and you don't have to worry about missing anything from the first installment! This is becoming a trend (somehow) with a lot of books I've picked up lately, where it is the second in a series but is perfect as a standalone. I thought it would drive me nuts, not knowing what happened in the previous book, but I actually really enjoy them whether I've read the previous books or not. When an author is able to effortlessly expand on a world that they've built and blend any previous or future novels perfectly, I get so intrigued and am immediately interested in reading more!

Immediately after starting the book, I made my prediction about who Zoey would end up with and also spent the entire book wanting to shout at her to make up her mind! Honestly, it was fun going on the journey from start to finish with her and watching her figure things out for herself despite me wanting her to hurry up and just choose. Zoey was a really solid character, although she seems slightly insecure in herself. She had her "Texas Zoey" and her "Aspen Zoey" and throughout the book, she didn't seem to be happy with her "Texas Zoey." By the end of the book, I feel like she was much more confident in just being herself and not trying to put on a different persona just to impress people. I liked that she was able to make that decision to just be happy with who she was and be who she felt comfortable being. It sends a really good message to readers that being yourself isn't a bad thing, and to embrace who you really are.

Reading all about the snowboarding was really interesting, as it's a topic I don't commonly find in books. I've always thought it was fascinating and, even though I had no idea what any of the phrases or tricks were, it was definitely a fun read! Also, making Aspen as the setting allowed me to paint some absolutely beautiful pictures in my head as to the scenery and surroundings. Kendra C. Highley was able to really transport me to the mountain with her descriptive writing skills, and absolutely shines at drawing the reader in no matter where the characters are. I really felt like I could hop on a snowboard and take on The Cirque myself by the end!

Despite contemporary not being my go-to genre, Defying Gravity was a wonderful read. It was funny, with just the right amount of smooching and drama, and some really likable characters that had me laughing almost constantly throughout the book. Zoey was sassy and spunky, Parker was sweet and passionate, and Luke was just a big jerk most of the time, but really did seem to care when it came to Zoey's safety. This book definitely got me interested in picking up Finding Perfect so I can read more about Paige and Ben!

If you're looking for a nice, chilled out (haha, see what I did there?) contemporary romance to curl up and read, then Defying Gravity is the book for you! You'll find great characters, some amazing settings, and a very satisfying ending! The book comes out on July 25th, so be sure to pick it up on release day!

[Jordan Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*****I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.*****

This is book #2 in the Finding Perfect series, but you don't have to read book #1, this may be read as a stand-alone book.

Zoey Miller loves spending her holidays in Aspen with the Madison Brothers', Parker and Luke. Her time up on the mountain with Parker and Luke are the moments she lives for. In Aspen she can be the real Zoey and not the "Class President Barbie" that everyone back in Texas seems to think she is.
Parker and Zoey have been best friends for years, but Parker, who's in love with Zoey, is hoping to be more than just friends. Unfortunately, Zoey's got her mind set on winning the heart of Luke Madison, Parker's older Brother, who also happens to be a renowned player.

Anybody else feel like taking a trip to Aspen, Colorado after reading this? I think I might need to try my hand at snowboarding again! I've never been to Aspen, but I am totally ready for a visit this winter after reading this book. I was totally into all the shredding and the fact that the Madison brothers' were such amazing snowboarders. I don't snowboard, which means I didn't know any of the boarding terminology, but Highley did an excellent job painting the picture for me. Although, after spending the past few days sweltering in my non-air-conditioned apartment in NYC I was totally ready to fall in love with this snow story, but I think I mostly just fell in love with Parker. I liked the book it was a nice quick read, but I guess after reading book one I was expecting Zoey to be a little less of a burst into tears kind of gal. Nevertheless, other than all the crying I still really liked Zoey's character I found her to be very down-to-earth and relatable for a girl that has a vacation home in Aspen. Furthermore, I adored Parker, but who wouldn't? Total babe. Luke, the player, on the other hand, not so much, but he seemed to have some nice redeeming qualities. In fact, I would be intrigued to read about the kind of girl that could win his heart.

Honestly, after reading Finding Perfect I was quite charmed by Ben and Paige's story and I was looking forward to reading about Paige's best friend, Zoey. However, I just didn’t enjoy reading about Zoey the same way I did reading about Paige. In fact, after reading the blurb for book two I thought this one would be a winner for me, but it just didn’t appeal to me the same way the first book did. However, Highley does a phenomenal job at creating some swoon worthy male characters and I look forward to seeing what she is up to next! On that note, I would give Defying Gravity a 3.5 star rating if I could. For fans of Kasie West and Susane Colasanti this is great YA book to add to your TBR pile!

[CallMeSensei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, I had a bit of trouble getting into this novel. Defying Gravity is a story of a girl torn between two brothers who were also her childhood friends. Zoey decides that this is the vacation she's going to win over Luke, the oldest of the brothers who's a bit of an ass and a player. He's overly competitive and just, really, I didn't think there was anything redeeming about him.

But Parker, the younger brother, has other plans. He's fallen in love with Zoey and wants to win her over. He's supposed to be the sweet one, the one that really gets Zoey, and has fallen behind his brother's shadow. He's an okay character--really the only one I liked in the book.

Zoey is a typical popular girl back home but that's all a charade. She doesn't feel like anyone really gets her except for Parker who's known her all her life. Really she just wants the freedom to not have to put on the charade every day (though the author just goes on and on about how she wants to dress in leggings and sweaters... that doesn't really give a lot of depth to Zoey's character). She's basically in lust with Luke and starts to realize that she'd rather be with Parker. I didn't really like her character, to be honest, I thought she was kind of shallow and wishy-washy.

And honestly, I felt like the whole plot was a bit of a cliche. I knew that because they were snowboarding there would be some kind of accident. I figured that there would be some sort of confusion about which brother she wanted. And honestly, the only part I really liked was that strip-tease moment and the resolution of the novel.