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Crazy for This Girl
It all started the summer going into my Freshman year.
I became the new neighbor to a pretty blonde with a book in her lap that didn’t want my company.
Laynee Reese was a smart-mouthed, semi-music genius, who captured all my attention, from shoving me mercilessly into the lake outside our cabins to her failed attempts of trying to get me to like Good Charlotte.
We quickly became best friends, writing letters back and forth about everything and nothing. It became a placeholder for me to keep a piece of how I felt about her because every summer it got worse. I was getting jealous and I wanted more than two thousand miles between us and phone calls after nine.
Life has a funny way of fucking shit up, though, and the end result was the devastating loss of the only girl I’ve ever wanted.
Months turned to agonizing years but as fate would have it, she stepped right back into the limelight of my life with a second chance.
One she didn’t want to give me.
Now, she’s my personal assistant and she’s screwed because I’m not messing this up again.
Laynee can be pissed at my sudden disappearance when we were eighteen, the things I’ve done and didn’t do, however, all that doesn’t overcast the hardened fact that I’m still crazy for this girl.
And nothing and no one is going to get in my way this time. Even if I have to destroy every man not worthy of her that comes her way.
I became the new neighbor to a pretty blonde with a book in her lap that didn’t want my company.
Laynee Reese was a smart-mouthed, semi-music genius, who captured all my attention, from shoving me mercilessly into the lake outside our cabins to her failed attempts of trying to get me to like Good Charlotte.
We quickly became best friends, writing letters back and forth about everything and nothing. It became a placeholder for me to keep a piece of how I felt about her because every summer it got worse. I was getting jealous and I wanted more than two thousand miles between us and phone calls after nine.
Life has a funny way of fucking shit up, though, and the end result was the devastating loss of the only girl I’ve ever wanted.
Months turned to agonizing years but as fate would have it, she stepped right back into the limelight of my life with a second chance.
One she didn’t want to give me.
Now, she’s my personal assistant and she’s screwed because I’m not messing this up again.
Laynee can be pissed at my sudden disappearance when we were eighteen, the things I’ve done and didn’t do, however, all that doesn’t overcast the hardened fact that I’m still crazy for this girl.
And nothing and no one is going to get in my way this time. Even if I have to destroy every man not worthy of her that comes her way.
530 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2022
66 people are currently reading
748 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Grace
27 books535 followersHazel Grace is an avid music lover, an undefined human being, and hardcore Oakland Raiders fan from the mitten state of Michigan.
Always surprising her readers with weird Michigan sayings (they have their own cuss words) and writing "what the f*ck" storylines.
When she's not writing, she's on Spotify finding new bands, working on her Camaro or watching shows with her kids with annoying songs attached to them.
Check up on Hazel on the following platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hazelgraceauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hazelgraceauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/hazel...
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dlYOgn
Always surprising her readers with weird Michigan sayings (they have their own cuss words) and writing "what the f*ck" storylines.
When she's not writing, she's on Spotify finding new bands, working on her Camaro or watching shows with her kids with annoying songs attached to them.
Check up on Hazel on the following platforms:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hazelgraceauthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hazelgraceauthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/hazel...
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dlYOgn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 26, 2022
I promised myself that when I didn't have any arcs this would be my first non arc read. New to me author. crazy love the synopsis!!
God this book, these characters hit me in the feels, it’s long, it’s so full of emotional angst which made me love the too and fro these two put me through. Their song choices ( which I listened to via Spotify ) made me connect with these two even more whilst reading, and the txt messages were such nice touches to their story, This won’t be the last book I’ll read by this author.
God this book, these characters hit me in the feels, it’s long, it’s so full of emotional angst which made me love the too and fro these two put me through. Their song choices ( which I listened to via Spotify ) made me connect with these two even more whilst reading, and the txt messages were such nice touches to their story, This won’t be the last book I’ll read by this author.
February 8, 2022
DNF 50%. obviously not my author. I prefer characters to be faithful to each other after their first sex, even if years have passed. This is a book, not a real thing, I have enough reality in my life.
January 14, 2022
Where, oh, where do I even start with this review?
It's no secret that Hazel Grace is someone I hold very near and dear to my heart. She's not only my best friend, but someone I consider my nonbiological sister. That said, if you're afraid this review may come from a biased standpoint, I can assure you it is 100% unbiased, and I'll tell you why. Point blank—I'm one of Hazel's toughest critics, just as she is mine. If there's something wrong/missing in her plots, I'll be the first one to tell her (lovingly, of course lol.) If I feel her delivery could hit harder, I tell her. If something is lacking, I tell her. If I love a certain aspect and simply want more, I tell her. And I do it because I want her books to be the best they can be—always.
For the last couple of years, Wade Lockwood from Hazel's "Illusive Duet" has held the #1 spot for me from all the book boyfriends she's written.
Cal Harper has officially taken that spot.
There's so much I absolutely ADORED about CFTG, and for me, that's saying a lot because I'm usually a darker reads type of girl. It's a cold day in Hell when I pick up a sweet, easy contemporary over a mindf*ck or something filled with triggers. But when Hazel asked me to go through this baby before release, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to finally meet the infamous Cal Harper we'd talked so much about over the last 6m+
And he was everything I'd hope he'd be...and more.
He can be a$shole, especially the adult Cal, but he's that swoon-worthy-I can be super suave and sweet too—a$shole that you just can't resist. I can't tell you how many times I found myself sighing dreamily, hoping that one day I'll find someone who loves me as wholly and completely as Cal does Laynee.
Now, I'll say, CFTG is not all rainbows and sunshine. The things this man has to endure... **cries in devastated reader** (for those of you with triggers, don't worry, it's not depicted in detail - you should be fine.) However, as angry and gutted as I was during certain points, I couldn't even fault him. I understand why he made the decisions he made, and I still think his intentions were in the right place. Laynee's strong, but I don't think she would've been strong enough to handle that (no offense, Laynee—love youuu.)
What I loved about Laynee is that she's my best friend wrapped up in a fictional character. I'd heard more about Cal than Hazel ever told me about Laynee, and still I felt like I knew her. She's stubborn af and has a mouth on her **cough cough Hazel to a T cough** but she's also smart as whip, can pull the funniest stuff out of nowhere, and puts her absolute all into those she loves. She'll do anything for the people who hold space in her heart and soul, and I think that's what I loved most about her.
Overall, CFTG is well-written and beautifully thought out. If you're a friends to lovers fan, love a good second-chance romance with a slow burn, I beseech you to consider picking up a copy and giving it a shot. It'll make your heart race, you'll swoon, you'll likely cry (I was sobbing at one point), you may even wanna throw your Kindle at the nearest wall a few times—but the end is so worth it. It's my favorite Hazel Grace book to date, and I don't doubt that the next time I need a sweet read, I'll go back and revisit Cal and Laynee's story. They're unforgettable, and they'll now forever have a special place in my heart.
January 31, 2022
We all know Hazel for her dark, emotional, and lethal romances, but, hello world, Ms. Grace has just shown another side of herself and it’s a good one.
Crazy For This Girl is an uber emotional, contemporary romance of two best friends, Cal, and Laynee. Cal and Laynee meet at her cabin’s lake house one summer and the rest is history. Through letters, calls, and visits to the lake, their friendship continues to grow and it’s a beautiful one until it isn’t. Here is where Hazel’s tortuous mind takes over and she has found a new way to torment us, with a different repertoire of words, evoking a new skill set of emotions, and feelings.
While there were MANY times throughout this book that I found myself cursing at these characters (both primary and secondary), felt like pounding my head against a wall, or downright facepalming, I also fell in love.
Despite being claimed by another reader (Dee😉), I also need to stake my claim to him. Cal is a beautiful soul, who has bravely withstood a lot. He has burrowed his way deep inside, forever leaving me with a piece of him. He is an understanding and sweet soul who has metamorphosed into the biggest a-hole with a chip on each of his shoulders. Despite all this, I fell in love with Cal.
Laynee is this vessel full of love, freely giving it away to anyone that she holds near and dear. Are things easy for this sailor swearing, bullheaded, and quick-witted girl? Nope, not even close, but this is Laynee, she’s tough when she needs to be and feisty.
CTFG is chock full of amazing characters with a prodigious storyline and plotline. Be prepared to swoon, laugh, cry, and get mad.
March 6, 2023
I had high hopes cause I like pining heroes, not a Coward with his own planning and shits. I didn't like that book for many reasons and I was frustrated for expecting beautiful chemistry but it was dull. The whole story doesn't make sense. So I don't believe Cal is obsessed or he unrequitedly loves laynee since he was fourteen. He says he is obsessed with her but that's eww for me to fuck another blondie thinking as her and he says it's craziness, fucking delusional. Teenagers, I get it. Then why did he get married and almost had a kid with her?
His reply was plain that he fucked up.
I pity more than I hate him.
This book was too slow and a decade apart. He wasn't pining he just had feelings and feelings are never considered by dicks so it can mind its own business in any cunt.
I didn't hate Laynee, can't say the same about Cal.
Even when he was keeping taps on her throughout their ten-year-long apartment he dated models and she also tried to give someone her love but that wasn't able o enough strength to stand with Cal and her first love type of one. None of them was celibate during separation that's a positive side for me😏 so what? I believe in equality.
Both Cal and Laynee wanted to move on but they sucks and Cal got married had expected a kid but turned out his wife had a fiance and the child probably wasn't his still he was adamant to believe that it was his daughter and he named her after Laynee's middle name Mae.
~~~~~~~~
The white roses…who were those for?” Cal averts his eyes, and I feel an unsteadiness settle in my chest. “Girlfriend?”
He sighs then drops his next words of, “You dated, I almost got married, we dodged bullets for a reason.”
My eyes widen at his admission, pure jealousy and rage coursing through every inch of my being. Especially after all this, we talk and I would’ve given you anything crap. “You almost got married?”
“Almost,” he clips out, pulling his slitted greens back to me. “Key word.”
My nostrils flare, and I’m surprised fire isn’t coming out of them yet. “You proposed to someone? Like bought a ring and got down on your knee?”
“And you dated pricks from Duke. Again, they didn’t work out because they weren’t us.”
“You want to get on me for dating losers? I didn’t go off and plan a wedding.”
“Says the women who tried on fucking wedding dresses,” he bawls out, his face turning a light shade of red. “You weren’t available for me anymore. I tried to move on, Laynee.”
“I don’t want to hear anymore.” I hold out both palms to keep him from trying. “I just work for you. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t try.”
“Because I don’t like you. Because you make decisions for me. Because you expect me to drop what I’m doing and let you back in. What’s your next big idea, Cal? Are you going to enter into a covenant and become a priest?”
“Not when I don’t know what your pussy tastes like,” he counters with undiluted ire in his tone. “It’d be a cold day in Hell when that ever happened.”
“Had no problem with that when you decided to marry someone else.”
He takes one large stride in my direction and bears down all his intimidating height and glaring powers on me. “Sounds like you’re a little jealous and this is the last time that I’m going to say this, Laynee. So listen carefully because I won’t say it again. She’s dead. I was putting those on her grave not in her hands. I felt guilty for never loving her the way she deserved. For using her as a placeholder for someone who wasn’t in my life. But that’s until I ran into her other fiancé. The one who allegedly was having my child. I’m still waiting on those exciting results to come in to tell me if I lost a child in that car accident or if she fucking lied to me the whole time. If she got my hopes up and agreed on a fucking name with me. Fuck, that she was going to rip me off by taking half my money in her scheme of divorcing me within a year so that her and her prick of a douchebag could go run off and be happy. I’m hung up on the baby. Was she mine or was she his?”
She.
He was having a daughter. Cal was going to be a father and got a woman pregnant—maybe. The organ that has been thrown through the ringer in the last twenty minutes is starting to give out on me. It’s squeezing so tightly onto his pain and the resentment of a woman I’ll never meet. He claims to have tried to move on without me, and he did while I always stayed in one spot. My feet would move with these other men, but my brain would not budge from Cal Harper.
Ever.
For years.
For so many goddamn years.
I crave with everything within me to loathe him at this moment, but the grief and betrayal he must feel now I’m sure is overwhelming.
Still, he was about to have a family without me.
~~~~~~~~~~
And honestly, the last part when she thinks of starting Cal's own family without her hit me hard. I see it as a betrayal. Though it didn't make sense, let's forget that line. I believe he is selfish never confronting her or going back to her, he made choices for her. Why? Ten years was long enough to kiss and make up but he didn't for her. When she was in the same city as him, working in her aunt's flower shop and he bought flowers for his ex-wife's grave and there he saw her fiance and came to know the truth about his lying dead wife, RIP. Then he offers her a contract of two years and they are forced together.
I know he was in a hard time that moment when he left Lynee and he didn't return but texted most often. He had a shitty father so yeah he is broken and scarred. I was gaining sympathy for him but he killed is fast.
He was persistent? Yup but too late dude, you guys use your Dick before the actual age and forget that you have a brain to use. I didn't like the fact that Cal didn't explain why he had to marry another woman if he didn't loved her enough. Even lynee didn't question once despite she was hurt by his action.
Lynee was strong and from her point, I think she did right by always turning him down. She was afraid to love the same person again which was the reason she couldn't love anyone like him. She didn't give in easily but God Cal was annoying as fuck only thinking to get in her vagina either by eating or shoving his dick.
His reply was plain that he fucked up.
I pity more than I hate him.
This book was too slow and a decade apart. He wasn't pining he just had feelings and feelings are never considered by dicks so it can mind its own business in any cunt.
I didn't hate Laynee, can't say the same about Cal.
Even when he was keeping taps on her throughout their ten-year-long apartment he dated models and she also tried to give someone her love but that wasn't able o enough strength to stand with Cal and her first love type of one. None of them was celibate during separation that's a positive side for me😏 so what? I believe in equality.
Both Cal and Laynee wanted to move on but they sucks and Cal got married had expected a kid but turned out his wife had a fiance and the child probably wasn't his still he was adamant to believe that it was his daughter and he named her after Laynee's middle name Mae.
~~~~~~~~
The white roses…who were those for?” Cal averts his eyes, and I feel an unsteadiness settle in my chest. “Girlfriend?”
He sighs then drops his next words of, “You dated, I almost got married, we dodged bullets for a reason.”
My eyes widen at his admission, pure jealousy and rage coursing through every inch of my being. Especially after all this, we talk and I would’ve given you anything crap. “You almost got married?”
“Almost,” he clips out, pulling his slitted greens back to me. “Key word.”
My nostrils flare, and I’m surprised fire isn’t coming out of them yet. “You proposed to someone? Like bought a ring and got down on your knee?”
“And you dated pricks from Duke. Again, they didn’t work out because they weren’t us.”
“You want to get on me for dating losers? I didn’t go off and plan a wedding.”
“Says the women who tried on fucking wedding dresses,” he bawls out, his face turning a light shade of red. “You weren’t available for me anymore. I tried to move on, Laynee.”
“I don’t want to hear anymore.” I hold out both palms to keep him from trying. “I just work for you. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t try.”
“Because I don’t like you. Because you make decisions for me. Because you expect me to drop what I’m doing and let you back in. What’s your next big idea, Cal? Are you going to enter into a covenant and become a priest?”
“Not when I don’t know what your pussy tastes like,” he counters with undiluted ire in his tone. “It’d be a cold day in Hell when that ever happened.”
“Had no problem with that when you decided to marry someone else.”
He takes one large stride in my direction and bears down all his intimidating height and glaring powers on me. “Sounds like you’re a little jealous and this is the last time that I’m going to say this, Laynee. So listen carefully because I won’t say it again. She’s dead. I was putting those on her grave not in her hands. I felt guilty for never loving her the way she deserved. For using her as a placeholder for someone who wasn’t in my life. But that’s until I ran into her other fiancé. The one who allegedly was having my child. I’m still waiting on those exciting results to come in to tell me if I lost a child in that car accident or if she fucking lied to me the whole time. If she got my hopes up and agreed on a fucking name with me. Fuck, that she was going to rip me off by taking half my money in her scheme of divorcing me within a year so that her and her prick of a douchebag could go run off and be happy. I’m hung up on the baby. Was she mine or was she his?”
She.
He was having a daughter. Cal was going to be a father and got a woman pregnant—maybe. The organ that has been thrown through the ringer in the last twenty minutes is starting to give out on me. It’s squeezing so tightly onto his pain and the resentment of a woman I’ll never meet. He claims to have tried to move on without me, and he did while I always stayed in one spot. My feet would move with these other men, but my brain would not budge from Cal Harper.
Ever.
For years.
For so many goddamn years.
I crave with everything within me to loathe him at this moment, but the grief and betrayal he must feel now I’m sure is overwhelming.
Still, he was about to have a family without me.
~~~~~~~~~~
And honestly, the last part when she thinks of starting Cal's own family without her hit me hard. I see it as a betrayal. Though it didn't make sense, let's forget that line. I believe he is selfish never confronting her or going back to her, he made choices for her. Why? Ten years was long enough to kiss and make up but he didn't for her. When she was in the same city as him, working in her aunt's flower shop and he bought flowers for his ex-wife's grave and there he saw her fiance and came to know the truth about his lying dead wife, RIP. Then he offers her a contract of two years and they are forced together.
I know he was in a hard time that moment when he left Lynee and he didn't return but texted most often. He had a shitty father so yeah he is broken and scarred. I was gaining sympathy for him but he killed is fast.
He was persistent? Yup but too late dude, you guys use your Dick before the actual age and forget that you have a brain to use. I didn't like the fact that Cal didn't explain why he had to marry another woman if he didn't loved her enough. Even lynee didn't question once despite she was hurt by his action.
Lynee was strong and from her point, I think she did right by always turning him down. She was afraid to love the same person again which was the reason she couldn't love anyone like him. She didn't give in easily but God Cal was annoying as fuck only thinking to get in her vagina either by eating or shoving his dick.
February 3, 2022
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
3.5/5 ⭐️
2.75/5 🌶
Tropes:
- second chance romance
- childhood best friends to enemies to lovers
- workplace romance
- boss x employee
- possessive hero
- virgin heroine
POV: first person - dual
Type: stand-alone
What started off as two best friends who share a love for music turned into a life long connection. Being long distance friends when they aren’t spending summer vacation together didn’t affect their friendship until the person you thought would never leave you unexpectedly changes plans. Years later the last thing they expect is to see each other in the same, and in the same work place…with one being the CEO and the other being their assistant.
Second chance romances have always been a hit or miss for me. So when I saw this cover that hinted at letters I immediately was intrigued. The first part when they start off as best friends was done so damn perfectly. I loved the music aspect and the letters of course. The characters were fun and I was excited to see where time will take them.
The second portion which had a large time skip (which is bound to happen in a second chance romance, though the time skip felt too big for what it was). The characters have no semblance to who they were as teens.
I will say, something about the hero was really off putting. I won’t say much because I want to keep this spoiler free but he had a way about him that was uncomfortable at times. Whether it be his arrogance (and I’m talking white man with money “I get whatever I want and that includes you”) or the way he goes about things, that I spent more time being annoyed by him than I did liking him. This man also included a sexual comment in almost every conversation toward the last portion of the book where even the heroine called him out on it but he continues to do it anyway.
This book just wasn’t for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you!
If you’re looking for an angsty second chance romance that is bound to have you feeling every emotion, then definitely check this out!
3.5/5 ⭐️
2.75/5 🌶
Tropes:
- second chance romance
- childhood best friends to enemies to lovers
- workplace romance
- boss x employee
- possessive hero
- virgin heroine
POV: first person - dual
Type: stand-alone
What started off as two best friends who share a love for music turned into a life long connection. Being long distance friends when they aren’t spending summer vacation together didn’t affect their friendship until the person you thought would never leave you unexpectedly changes plans. Years later the last thing they expect is to see each other in the same, and in the same work place…with one being the CEO and the other being their assistant.
Second chance romances have always been a hit or miss for me. So when I saw this cover that hinted at letters I immediately was intrigued. The first part when they start off as best friends was done so damn perfectly. I loved the music aspect and the letters of course. The characters were fun and I was excited to see where time will take them.
The second portion which had a large time skip (which is bound to happen in a second chance romance, though the time skip felt too big for what it was). The characters have no semblance to who they were as teens.
I will say, something about the hero was really off putting. I won’t say much because I want to keep this spoiler free but he had a way about him that was uncomfortable at times. Whether it be his arrogance (and I’m talking white man with money “I get whatever I want and that includes you”) or the way he goes about things, that I spent more time being annoyed by him than I did liking him. This man also included a sexual comment in almost every conversation toward the last portion of the book where even the heroine called him out on it but he continues to do it anyway.
This book just wasn’t for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you!
If you’re looking for an angsty second chance romance that is bound to have you feeling every emotion, then definitely check this out!
February 20, 2022
DNF@50%.
I enjoyed the first 30% which was a summer friends to lover’s romance with epistolary storytelling.
I was sure this would be 4 stars but then the separation happened and the book went downhill:
- the reason for the separation was so dumb. Cal’s dad was hardly featured in the book then he does this one villainous thing which is the catalyst for a 10 year separation.
- Cal should have told Laynee where he was, there was no good reason not to. They could of had a long distance relationship without any problems.
- I didn’t like Laynee as an adult she seemed directionless and bitter.
- I did like Cal(based on what I read) but was betrayed when he had a fiancé in the future because he acted like he didn’t want anyone except Laynee once they confessed their feelings but that wasn’t true.
- The character development was inconsistent. The teenage versions of the characters are so different to who they became as adults that I felt like I was reading a completely new book which I obviously didn’t like.
- I read the epilogue and it seems like there were more annoying obstacles placed in their way until the end so am glad with my decision to DNF.
I enjoyed the first 30% which was a summer friends to lover’s romance with epistolary storytelling.
I was sure this would be 4 stars but then the separation happened and the book went downhill:
- the reason for the separation was so dumb. Cal’s dad was hardly featured in the book then he does this one villainous thing which is the catalyst for a 10 year separation.
- Cal should have told Laynee where he was, there was no good reason not to. They could of had a long distance relationship without any problems.
- I didn’t like Laynee as an adult she seemed directionless and bitter.
- I did like Cal(based on what I read) but was betrayed when he had a fiancé in the future because he acted like he didn’t want anyone except Laynee once they confessed their feelings but that wasn’t true.
- The character development was inconsistent. The teenage versions of the characters are so different to who they became as adults that I felt like I was reading a completely new book which I obviously didn’t like.
- I read the epilogue and it seems like there were more annoying obstacles placed in their way until the end so am glad with my decision to DNF.
March 5, 2022
this….this was a banger! wow!! i loved the plot line in this, so here it is:
📚CRAZY FOR THIS GIRL📚 follows Cal and Laynee, who first meet at their summer cabins on vacations. Laynee is kinda cold at first, i was getting major grumpy vibes from her and sunshine ish vibes from Cal, which was an instant yes. they stay friends over the years, seeing each other over summer vacation and sending letters and texts. Laynee keeps it strictly friends cause her mom is literally crazy over her life but it’s so obvious the love they have for each other! it’s one of those where you are screaming at your kindle for them to just f*ck already!!!
Cal is suddenly sent to the Marines and their constant contact stops, and Laynee is pissed!
ms girl was not happy with him but then he shows up weeks later and they reconcile, but he still goes back. he’s in a lil situation but he contacts her when he can and i swear my heart was crying at their every phone interaction over the years!!!
it spans a while, but Laynee finally gives up on their contact.
years years years later, Cal is Laynee’s boss and she signed a contract so girl can’t get out of it! Cal is changed, Laynee won’t let go of his betrayal and really makes dude grovel, i obviously loved to see it😏
there’s a HEA, they go back to the cabins where it all began and it’s so perfect!
let’s talk about all the tropes in this masterpiece:
✅childhood friends to lovers
✅friends to enemies to lovers
✅the ultimate second chance romance
✅forced proximity
✅workplace (second chance) romance
✅tons of tension
✅possessive MMC
✅grovelling
just to name the main ones. BUT:
❌surprise pregnancy trope
just thought i’d clarify🙄
really, what wasn’t to like about this! i loved following their story so here’s my thoughts:
we see a lot of their childhood and how their friendship developed, but i wish we saw a little more teasers of almost kissing you know?! we saw their internal feelings for each other but they never made even a smidge of a move! it was very realistic cause i wouldn’t have either lmaooo! Cal being sent to the Marines brought up a whole storyline behind the scenes and my instant thoughts were booo i don’t want a military romance! but i shocked myself by loving even that part! Cals trauma once they meet again is so heartbreaking like Laynee can’t you f*cking seeeeeee
but i loved it. their tension was everything, even if i would have liked them to get together a bit earlier in the plot, thus making it a bit shorter because it was chunky!
overall, a f*cking fav for second chance, truly. thanks for reading my review hahahaha
4.5/5⭐️
3/5🔥
📚CRAZY FOR THIS GIRL📚 follows Cal and Laynee, who first meet at their summer cabins on vacations. Laynee is kinda cold at first, i was getting major grumpy vibes from her and sunshine ish vibes from Cal, which was an instant yes. they stay friends over the years, seeing each other over summer vacation and sending letters and texts. Laynee keeps it strictly friends cause her mom is literally crazy over her life but it’s so obvious the love they have for each other! it’s one of those where you are screaming at your kindle for them to just f*ck already!!!
Cal is suddenly sent to the Marines and their constant contact stops, and Laynee is pissed!
ms girl was not happy with him but then he shows up weeks later and they reconcile, but he still goes back. he’s in a lil situation but he contacts her when he can and i swear my heart was crying at their every phone interaction over the years!!!
it spans a while, but Laynee finally gives up on their contact.
years years years later, Cal is Laynee’s boss and she signed a contract so girl can’t get out of it! Cal is changed, Laynee won’t let go of his betrayal and really makes dude grovel, i obviously loved to see it😏
there’s a HEA, they go back to the cabins where it all began and it’s so perfect!
let’s talk about all the tropes in this masterpiece:
✅childhood friends to lovers
✅friends to enemies to lovers
✅the ultimate second chance romance
✅forced proximity
✅workplace (second chance) romance
✅tons of tension
✅possessive MMC
✅grovelling
just to name the main ones. BUT:
❌surprise pregnancy trope
just thought i’d clarify🙄
really, what wasn’t to like about this! i loved following their story so here’s my thoughts:
we see a lot of their childhood and how their friendship developed, but i wish we saw a little more teasers of almost kissing you know?! we saw their internal feelings for each other but they never made even a smidge of a move! it was very realistic cause i wouldn’t have either lmaooo! Cal being sent to the Marines brought up a whole storyline behind the scenes and my instant thoughts were booo i don’t want a military romance! but i shocked myself by loving even that part! Cals trauma once they meet again is so heartbreaking like Laynee can’t you f*cking seeeeeee
but i loved it. their tension was everything, even if i would have liked them to get together a bit earlier in the plot, thus making it a bit shorter because it was chunky!
overall, a f*cking fav for second chance, truly. thanks for reading my review hahahaha
4.5/5⭐️
3/5🔥
February 22, 2022
Hazel Grace, STRUTTING through dropping her most versatile set of words yet. Literally-tossed a bomb of feelings at me that I was NOT prepared for, and loved every single second of it. Her writings usually a bit on the dark side, and I felt in this book she really threw caution to the wind and poured herself into the genuineness of two characters who held such a deep rooted friendship at first. She set the stage perfectly, we fell hard in love with Cal and Laynee, I was literally a giddy high schooler trying to hang out with them because I love them so much. This author pulled all these emotions from us, and then delivered one of the greatest second chance love stories-that my head was spinning. Though the book wasn’t dark, it was filled to the brim with so much angst and deep rooted heartache that I really couldn’t escape it for days afterward. I don’t think I’ve picked up a book since-as I’m afraid to dive back into the romance world. I would say this book is literally for any romance lover-and anyone who appreciates a fantastic story that really pulls at your heart strings.
February 11, 2022
Angsty, emotional, heartbreaking, and all consuming. Cal Harper is going to stick with me longer than many characters I’ve encountered. Watching him grow from a boy with a crush into a teen longing after his first love, to a man that’s suffered and a man that simply doesn’t giveAF had me completely enthralled. Cal’s single minded focus on Laynee and his JP nature will steal your heart too
𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡. ~ Cal
Laynee Reese is an innocent bookworm when we first meet her. Cal brings her out of her shell and boosts her confidence in ways she could never expect. But I still can’t believe how she was so oblivious to Cal’s blatant flirting and claiming all throughout her life. I remember wanting to scream at her ‘girl he wants you!! Go get him already’ 🤣😂🤣
“𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫.” ~ Cal
Each passing chapter had me feeling something different. We started with two sweetly innocent fourteen year olds who form a summer friendship. Their relationship evolves from old school penpals by snail mail to texting daily. Every year Laynee’s crush on Cal increases yet she is so innocent that she misses every single signal he sends her way. I mean he’s completely in love with her in a completely non-friend kind of way and he has no shame telling her.
Then everything is blown up and my heart broke along with Laynee. And even when I knew the reason, I was angry right alongside her too. I was so mad at Cal but I felt his pain and understood his reasons. I can’t say his tactics didn’t have merit. Then we time jump more than a decade and my soul hurt anew for these two. They both pined for the other and they both unsuccessfully tried to move on. They both did what they thought was best, even when it was worse than fighting for what was right.
Then everything got turned on it’s head yet again and the story finally - FINALLY- became everything I’d dreamed of seeing. And while this story hurt to read, for me personally, it was a beautiful tale that I hope everyone gets to enjoy.
💘 teenage crush to adult second chances
💌 penpals
🎶 two music lovers trading songs
💔 complicated love story
🎖 USMC veteran with PTSD, not shown in page but discussed
📝 mentions of other partners
🌶 high tension - one moment at 30% then another around 70% and what we all crave at close to 90%
🎼 playlist of songs woven throughout the story that have so many hidden meanings you could spend hours on that alone
𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
Instagram | Facebook | Bookbub
𝐋𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡. ~ Cal
Laynee Reese is an innocent bookworm when we first meet her. Cal brings her out of her shell and boosts her confidence in ways she could never expect. But I still can’t believe how she was so oblivious to Cal’s blatant flirting and claiming all throughout her life. I remember wanting to scream at her ‘girl he wants you!! Go get him already’ 🤣😂🤣
“𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫.” ~ Cal
Each passing chapter had me feeling something different. We started with two sweetly innocent fourteen year olds who form a summer friendship. Their relationship evolves from old school penpals by snail mail to texting daily. Every year Laynee’s crush on Cal increases yet she is so innocent that she misses every single signal he sends her way. I mean he’s completely in love with her in a completely non-friend kind of way and he has no shame telling her.
Then everything is blown up and my heart broke along with Laynee. And even when I knew the reason, I was angry right alongside her too. I was so mad at Cal but I felt his pain and understood his reasons. I can’t say his tactics didn’t have merit. Then we time jump more than a decade and my soul hurt anew for these two. They both pined for the other and they both unsuccessfully tried to move on. They both did what they thought was best, even when it was worse than fighting for what was right.
Then everything got turned on it’s head yet again and the story finally - FINALLY- became everything I’d dreamed of seeing. And while this story hurt to read, for me personally, it was a beautiful tale that I hope everyone gets to enjoy.
💘 teenage crush to adult second chances
💌 penpals
🎶 two music lovers trading songs
💔 complicated love story
🎖 USMC veteran with PTSD, not shown in page but discussed
📝 mentions of other partners
🌶 high tension - one moment at 30% then another around 70% and what we all crave at close to 90%
🎼 playlist of songs woven throughout the story that have so many hidden meanings you could spend hours on that alone
𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
Instagram | Facebook | Bookbub
July 15, 2024
Reread June 2024.
“I’ll marry the shit out of you.”
I’m so upset it’s over. What a book.
This book was just everything I needed and more.
One of the best book I’ve read.
One of the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. God I was a mess last night reading this. No book has made me angry and emotional like this one.
Hazel Grace I hate you for what you put me through with this story.
I got no sleep, I cried, I laughter and you don’t want to know the rest lol.
Absolutely brilliant second chance romance. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was more, so much more.
It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s frustrating, it’s gives you so many butterflies you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a book I will never forget. 🎶 💙
Here’s a little info about the book.
Laynee and Cal meet freshman year while on summer break at there families cabins. They become best friends and over the years they meet back there every summer. When they leave the cabins they write to each other. Still young, there letters are their hopes and dreams. They tell each other about what’s happening in there life. They grow together though the letters. I loved reading them. I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through.
As they get older they both develop feelings for each but remain only friends. They make all theses plan together. Cal plans to go to North Carolina where Laynee lives is he can be closer to her. But Cal doesn’t get on the plane to Laynee, no he shatters her heart. And mine along with it. This story is life time story as I like to call them. It’s years and years of details, there life over a very long period of time.
I absolutely loved this book. Everything about even all the anger it gave me. The side characters, all the details, the funny moments, the sex.. omg the sex 😆 🔥
the shy young woman who doesn’t find her way for so long. A woman who falls in love with a man who literally ruins her life and sets her on the wrong path.
“I just want you to know that I’m all in. I’m late, but I’m here.”
“You can call me daddy, baby, sweetheart, lover, or sexy motherfucker. I’m not picky as long as it’s me and my dick inside you.” 😆 💀
Merged review:
“I’ll marry the shit out of you.”
This book was just everything I needed and more.
One of the best book I’ve read.
One of the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. God I was a mess last night reading this. No book has made me angry and emotional like this one.
Hazel Grace I hate you for what you put me through with this story.
I got no sleep, I cried, I laughter and you don’t want to know the rest lol.
Absolutely brilliant second chance romance. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was more, so much more.
It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s frustrating, it’s gives you so many butterflies you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a book I will never forget. 🎶 💙
About the book.
Laynee and Cal meet freshman year while on summer break at there families cabins. They become best friends and over the years they meet back there every summer. When they leave the cabins they write to each other. Still young, there letters are their hopes and dreams. They tell each other about what’s happening in there life. They grow together though the letters. I loved reading them. I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through.
As they get older they both develop feelings for each but remain only friends. They make all theses plan together. Cal plans to go to North Carolina where Laynee lives is he can be closer to her. But Cal doesn’t get on the plane to Laynee, no he shatters her heart. And mine along with it. This story is life time story as I like to call them. It’s years and years of details, there life over a very long period of time.
I absolutely loved this book. Everything about even all the anger it gave me. The side characters, all the details, the funny moments, the sex.. omg the sex 😆 🔥
the shy young woman who doesn’t find her way for so long. A woman who falls in love with a man who literally ruins her life and sets her on the wrong path.
“I just want you to know that I’m all in. I’m late, but I’m here.”
“I’ll marry the shit out of you.”
I’m so upset it’s over. What a book.
This book was just everything I needed and more.
One of the best book I’ve read.
One of the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. God I was a mess last night reading this. No book has made me angry and emotional like this one.
Hazel Grace I hate you for what you put me through with this story.
I got no sleep, I cried, I laughter and you don’t want to know the rest lol.
Absolutely brilliant second chance romance. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was more, so much more.
It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s frustrating, it’s gives you so many butterflies you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a book I will never forget. 🎶 💙
Here’s a little info about the book.
Laynee and Cal meet freshman year while on summer break at there families cabins. They become best friends and over the years they meet back there every summer. When they leave the cabins they write to each other. Still young, there letters are their hopes and dreams. They tell each other about what’s happening in there life. They grow together though the letters. I loved reading them. I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through.
As they get older they both develop feelings for each but remain only friends. They make all theses plan together. Cal plans to go to North Carolina where Laynee lives is he can be closer to her. But Cal doesn’t get on the plane to Laynee, no he shatters her heart. And mine along with it. This story is life time story as I like to call them. It’s years and years of details, there life over a very long period of time.
I absolutely loved this book. Everything about even all the anger it gave me. The side characters, all the details, the funny moments, the sex.. omg the sex 😆 🔥
the shy young woman who doesn’t find her way for so long. A woman who falls in love with a man who literally ruins her life and sets her on the wrong path.
“I just want you to know that I’m all in. I’m late, but I’m here.”
“You can call me daddy, baby, sweetheart, lover, or sexy motherfucker. I’m not picky as long as it’s me and my dick inside you.” 😆 💀
Merged review:
“I’ll marry the shit out of you.”
This book was just everything I needed and more.
One of the best book I’ve read.
One of the most frustrating book I’ve ever read. God I was a mess last night reading this. No book has made me angry and emotional like this one.
Hazel Grace I hate you for what you put me through with this story.
I got no sleep, I cried, I laughter and you don’t want to know the rest lol.
Absolutely brilliant second chance romance. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. It was more, so much more.
It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s frustrating, it’s gives you so many butterflies you don’t know what to do with yourself. It’s a book I will never forget. 🎶 💙
About the book.
Laynee and Cal meet freshman year while on summer break at there families cabins. They become best friends and over the years they meet back there every summer. When they leave the cabins they write to each other. Still young, there letters are their hopes and dreams. They tell each other about what’s happening in there life. They grow together though the letters. I loved reading them. I couldn’t stop smiling all the way through.
As they get older they both develop feelings for each but remain only friends. They make all theses plan together. Cal plans to go to North Carolina where Laynee lives is he can be closer to her. But Cal doesn’t get on the plane to Laynee, no he shatters her heart. And mine along with it. This story is life time story as I like to call them. It’s years and years of details, there life over a very long period of time.
I absolutely loved this book. Everything about even all the anger it gave me. The side characters, all the details, the funny moments, the sex.. omg the sex 😆 🔥
the shy young woman who doesn’t find her way for so long. A woman who falls in love with a man who literally ruins her life and sets her on the wrong path.
“I just want you to know that I’m all in. I’m late, but I’m here.”
February 3, 2022
Where do I even start?!?!
This book got to me on so many levels!
1. The nostalgia this book created is incredible!
2. The soundtrack is unbelievable!
3. The story itself, while not a typical Hazel Grace story, still had those perfect punches that just made me want to scream at the author for making me feel this much!
Laynee Reese meets Cal Harper as a teenager while on vacation at her family's lake house. Laynee, being burnt before, approaches this friendship with trepidation but Cal breaks down all her walls and becomes a best friend and a crush throughout the years.
But it doesn't stay all yellow and cheerful.
While I'm completely happy reading and getting sucked in to Cal and Laynee's story as they grow through their teenage years, Hazel Grace (being typical Hazel Grace) pulls that fuzzy, comfortable rug out from under me and I'm just stunned!
Be prepared to freaking FEEL with this one. The highs, the lows, the angst, the steam - it's all there! Get ready to swoon, fall in love, get mad, everything, it's ALL there!
This second chance, enemies to lovers story took my breath away and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone! Hazel Grace knows how to expertly lure me in, then take my heart, break it a little, or a lot depending on the story, and then stitch it back together.
(I apologize if I'm all over the place. The more I love a book, the harder it is to write down how I feel.)
This book got to me on so many levels!
1. The nostalgia this book created is incredible!
2. The soundtrack is unbelievable!
3. The story itself, while not a typical Hazel Grace story, still had those perfect punches that just made me want to scream at the author for making me feel this much!
Laynee Reese meets Cal Harper as a teenager while on vacation at her family's lake house. Laynee, being burnt before, approaches this friendship with trepidation but Cal breaks down all her walls and becomes a best friend and a crush throughout the years.
But it doesn't stay all yellow and cheerful.
While I'm completely happy reading and getting sucked in to Cal and Laynee's story as they grow through their teenage years, Hazel Grace (being typical Hazel Grace) pulls that fuzzy, comfortable rug out from under me and I'm just stunned!
Be prepared to freaking FEEL with this one. The highs, the lows, the angst, the steam - it's all there! Get ready to swoon, fall in love, get mad, everything, it's ALL there!
This second chance, enemies to lovers story took my breath away and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone! Hazel Grace knows how to expertly lure me in, then take my heart, break it a little, or a lot depending on the story, and then stitch it back together.
(I apologize if I'm all over the place. The more I love a book, the harder it is to write down how I feel.)
January 28, 2022
There are not enough words to describe how much I love this story. Not only did Hazel go rogue from her usual darker romances but she owned her take on a contemporary romance. I’m not one to typically read a friends to lovers/second chance romance but holy crap she made me a fan with this one. Laynee and Cal meet one summer at their lake cabins and develop an unexpected friendship. Through their high school years they spend every summer at the lake then devoted pen pals while apart. But once senior year ends Cal breaks Laynee’s heart and she’s left to pick up the pieces he shattered. Ugh the angst is top notch not to mention the drama and chemistry between these two. I absolutely loved seeing both of these characters growth while apart and how they found their ways back to each other through all the crap that kept them apart. If there’s any book I would recommend repeatedly from this author this book is it. This is a couple that I constantly think about months after I’ve met them.
February 9, 2022
5 MAGNIFICENT STARS!! I wish I had more stars to give. Laynee and Cal will take you on an emotional, fun banter, struggles and beautiful ride, so buckle up and enjoy. This is my first book by this author and I can't wait to read more.
February 11, 2022
"I'm coming back to you," I assure her over her lips. "I will always come back for you."
Hazel delivered us a change of pace with this book, her stories are usually on the darker side so I was excited to read this one and it didn't disappoint.
The story follows Cal and Laynee from early teens until well over a decade later so you see how their friendship/relationship progresses from an early age. I loved seeing all the interactions from early on, from their holidays every summer at the lake to the letters sent when they were apart.
Here comes the curveball and they get separated, I wont go into it too much because spoilers but it does span over roughly 15 years through time jumps... the build up and tension of how and why they were apart for so long had me feeling that I may not survive when it all gets brought into the open when they reunite.
Unfortunately, that part is where it fell flat for me. It was the only part in the story that I didn't like. With all the build up I was expecting something bigger and I didn't see the reasoning as to why Cal stayed away for as long as he did (the time jump felt way too big for what it was) to be that big a drama. It felt like he just wasted so many years staying away and being so secretive and she accepted it, when they finally discussed it, without too much of a thought and they moved on.
Overall this was a great read. A mix of angst, funny moments, frustrations and all the highs and lows to have your emotions in a spin. I would love to read more stories like this from this author.
Hazel delivered us a change of pace with this book, her stories are usually on the darker side so I was excited to read this one and it didn't disappoint.
The story follows Cal and Laynee from early teens until well over a decade later so you see how their friendship/relationship progresses from an early age. I loved seeing all the interactions from early on, from their holidays every summer at the lake to the letters sent when they were apart.
Here comes the curveball and they get separated, I wont go into it too much because spoilers but it does span over roughly 15 years through time jumps... the build up and tension of how and why they were apart for so long had me feeling that I may not survive when it all gets brought into the open when they reunite.
Unfortunately, that part is where it fell flat for me. It was the only part in the story that I didn't like. With all the build up I was expecting something bigger and I didn't see the reasoning as to why Cal stayed away for as long as he did (the time jump felt way too big for what it was) to be that big a drama. It felt like he just wasted so many years staying away and being so secretive and she accepted it, when they finally discussed it, without too much of a thought and they moved on.
Overall this was a great read. A mix of angst, funny moments, frustrations and all the highs and lows to have your emotions in a spin. I would love to read more stories like this from this author.
February 8, 2022
For my first read by this author I've got to say I'm a fan. This emotional read had my heart breaking every time they came back into each other's orbit. It was frustrating to see as months passed by, then years and they never could find a way to be together.
For a hot minute there I was certain that maybe they were better off apart. Both of them were stubborn and set in their ways and when they FINALLY came to a point where the past could be put to rest and they could start living their life as it was meant to be all along TOGETHER I was over the moon for them.
I cried, I laughed but most of all I smiled when love they shared won over all the bad things so they could live HEA!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
For a hot minute there I was certain that maybe they were better off apart. Both of them were stubborn and set in their ways and when they FINALLY came to a point where the past could be put to rest and they could start living their life as it was meant to be all along TOGETHER I was over the moon for them.
I cried, I laughed but most of all I smiled when love they shared won over all the bad things so they could live HEA!!
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
June 17, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up! Possessive hero and so much angst!
February 11, 2022
Annoying.
Oh, just sit down and have a conversation, for goodness sake. The story was trundling along nicely and then BOOM. My pet peeve; lack of communication. Years of it. Ruined a great romance by dragging out that inability to communicate for years.
Oh, just sit down and have a conversation, for goodness sake. The story was trundling along nicely and then BOOM. My pet peeve; lack of communication. Years of it. Ruined a great romance by dragging out that inability to communicate for years.
February 8, 2022
3.25
This was a highly emotional and angsty best friends-to-lovers romance. I laughed, I cried, and my heart shattered. It was a beautiful summer romance about a shy, awkward girl and a popular, athletic boy. There were so many emotions. It started out as a friendship and eventually morphed into a long-distance friendship where they were writing funny, quirky letters back and forth, and then there was an undeniable, secret attraction. Neither one was aware that they were attracted to each other. They didn't want to act on their attraction for fear of losing the friendship they valued so greatly, so years passed and neither acted on it. There were also outside factors and people that kept them apart. There were so many heartbreaking moments. I felt so bad for Laynee but they each had issues and fate had other plans.
This book captured my heart from the start. It was a very slow burn but once they came together, it was explosive. I was completely wrapped up in Cal and Laynee's love story from the start. The problem for me was as it progressed (about 3/4 in), there was a huge lapse (too big if I'm being honest). I felt that it dragged on too long. I felt that Cal was not kind to Laynee at times and could be inconsiderate of her feelings. Although, there were times when he was sweet and caring. I also felt that Laynee allowed Cal to walk all over her sometimes. She does eventually find her backbone though. This has 5-star potential but the issues I mentioned prevented me from rating it that high. Overall, it is a good read. I recommend you read it and form your own opinion.
This was a highly emotional and angsty best friends-to-lovers romance. I laughed, I cried, and my heart shattered. It was a beautiful summer romance about a shy, awkward girl and a popular, athletic boy. There were so many emotions. It started out as a friendship and eventually morphed into a long-distance friendship where they were writing funny, quirky letters back and forth, and then there was an undeniable, secret attraction. Neither one was aware that they were attracted to each other. They didn't want to act on their attraction for fear of losing the friendship they valued so greatly, so years passed and neither acted on it. There were also outside factors and people that kept them apart. There were so many heartbreaking moments. I felt so bad for Laynee but they each had issues and fate had other plans.
This book captured my heart from the start. It was a very slow burn but once they came together, it was explosive. I was completely wrapped up in Cal and Laynee's love story from the start. The problem for me was as it progressed (about 3/4 in), there was a huge lapse (too big if I'm being honest). I felt that it dragged on too long. I felt that Cal was not kind to Laynee at times and could be inconsiderate of her feelings. Although, there were times when he was sweet and caring. I also felt that Laynee allowed Cal to walk all over her sometimes. She does eventually find her backbone though. This has 5-star potential but the issues I mentioned prevented me from rating it that high. Overall, it is a good read. I recommend you read it and form your own opinion.
February 7, 2022
‘𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞. 𝐀 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡. 𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲.‘
HG, you did not have to come for me as hard as you did.
One half of my brain wants to leave an eloquent review, filled with heaps of praise, just to try and convey the depth of how each and every star was well earned. The other half of me wants to beat my head across the keyboard and leave things like ‘dsnhsnbjsnjshbsgbshnajamknhdnhrndnxchdbv’, just so everyone will understand how I got sucker punched by this book and the beautiful love story within.
So, I’m going to meet halfway in the middle and tell you that this was beautiful. An immersive experience. I’ll tell you how I have a set time every night to stop reading and that I refused to heed my self imposed curfew, even knowing that I was going to have an early zombie-like morning, all because I refused to set this one down and walk away.
I’ll tell you how I rooted for Laynee, and how my heart broke for Cal. How I wanted terrible inconveniences to befall some of the side characters.
But mostly, I’ll tell you that I loved this story, and am adamantly screaming that everyone should read this book.
HG, you did not have to come for me as hard as you did.
One half of my brain wants to leave an eloquent review, filled with heaps of praise, just to try and convey the depth of how each and every star was well earned. The other half of me wants to beat my head across the keyboard and leave things like ‘dsnhsnbjsnjshbsgbshnajamknhdnhrndnxchdbv’, just so everyone will understand how I got sucker punched by this book and the beautiful love story within.
So, I’m going to meet halfway in the middle and tell you that this was beautiful. An immersive experience. I’ll tell you how I have a set time every night to stop reading and that I refused to heed my self imposed curfew, even knowing that I was going to have an early zombie-like morning, all because I refused to set this one down and walk away.
I’ll tell you how I rooted for Laynee, and how my heart broke for Cal. How I wanted terrible inconveniences to befall some of the side characters.
But mostly, I’ll tell you that I loved this story, and am adamantly screaming that everyone should read this book.
August 14, 2022
I have always enjoyed hazel grace books but this one was bad . I ended up DNF . I enjoyed the first 25% and I was thinking this was gearing up to be a great romance . Then the dumb separation and the reason was just lame. It didn’t make any sense . And if he loves her so much, find her and grovel. But, no . He ended up having kids a fiancé and some lame ass excuse of why he proposed and the plot twist at the grave . It was all ridiculous and made the story just unreadable to me . I didn’t even think this was a HG book because this was the most unromantic second chance romance I ever read . It was Hazel so I went 2 stars, but this was really 1, if that .
November 9, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book. It really frustrates me when authors include a dead fiancé/wife and child. It’s even worse when he supposedly loves the heroine so much yet he still gets engaged to another women AND gets her pregnant. I abhor that so much. If he truly loved the heroine, that would have never happened. I get wanting to add angst, but can we keep our heroes from getting another woman pregnant, please? I don’t want to read about a love story between the hero and heroine when he has a freaking child with another woman (or in this case, would have).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
The first 50% of the book is about Cal and Laynee in their teenage years. And then after 50% they lose touch because his father enlisted him into the Marine and he didn’t want to tell her…… WHY?!?!
After that: ten years later they meet again. He is suddenly some kind of alpha male wanting her back. But he was engaged and had a child a year before?
Sorry. I didn’t find it believable.
After that: ten years later they meet again. He is suddenly some kind of alpha male wanting her back. But he was engaged and had a child a year before?
Sorry. I didn’t find it believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
I’m obsessed with these characters! This was an emotional, angsty, story of two friends turned enemies turned lovers and I could not get enought of them! I loved everything about this book and the grovelling was *chef’s kiss*. I also really like Hazel Grace’s writing and can’t wait to read more!
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 6, 2022
Ugh. I really wanted to like this book. I DID really like this book. Until about halfway through. Then it went all downhill for me. This book starts out as such a cute romance. Then (without giving any spoilers) it starts getting unrealistic and long winded. I almost didn’t finish it.
June 20, 2022
I enjoyed the first 20 to 30% of this book. The whole summer besties thing was so cute!!
But the reasoning behind the separation was so dumb and didn't need to be 10 years, that makes it so unrealistic
But the reasoning behind the separation was so dumb and didn't need to be 10 years, that makes it so unrealistic
February 13, 2022
So I really liked this book and here's why; it's an easy read that tells you what you are getting into. It's a second-chance romance. It is what it is. It's not hard to go through, it's not hard to read, and you get the feels you are expecting. Knowing what you are getting into, you expect a split, and I won't lie that I stayed up way too late reading past the main conflict and wishing for them to be reunited.
*SPOILERS*
*
*
The main premise of this book is that a boy (Cal) and a girl (Laynee) meet and become friends over a summer and develop their friendship from there even though they live across the country from each other. They become so close that they want to go to college together but then something happens, and we don't even know what it is until after we read pages and pages of text messages that are not responded to and you feel the hung-up devastation of not knowing right along with Laynee. I really liked how the author did this.
The reason why Cal doesn't tell the Laynee what is going on (He was illegally and horribly signed up for the Marines by his father) is devastating and annoying, but...I can understand it. He was young, still coping with the fact that he was being shipped overseas without his consent, and didn't want her to wait around knowing he might die. And even though I know that ignorance is not bliss, it did give her the chance to move on without him and helped her to understand, in the end, that he was the only one for her. I only wish he had thought of the damage he had done by not telling her and then popping in and out of her life anyway. What could he do? He loved her- buuuuut...with his decision to commit to not telling her where he was....he should have (realistically) really committed. It totally f*cked up her life, not knowing what happened, but still knowing he was out there.
When they finally got together in the end, I only feel like there should have been more communication about what Laynee went through when Cal was gone and the abandonment and hopelessness he wreaked on her life by his in-and-out text messages; I felt like the communication was very one-sided and that bugged me a little. I also got INCREDIBLY mad when I found out that Cal at one point had a fiancé and an unborn daughter. I thought it was COMPLETELY out of left field for his character and that once he got his head right, he would have gone through the process of trying again for Laynee. The conflict therewithin his deceased fiancé's relationship (how she was cheating on him and with him for his money) I thought was a plot point that was not needed.
Otherwise, the ending was good, and as I said, you already know the ending since the cover spoils it. A "second chance romance" already promises a HEA and I enjoyed it for what it was.
*SPOILERS*
*
*
The main premise of this book is that a boy (Cal) and a girl (Laynee) meet and become friends over a summer and develop their friendship from there even though they live across the country from each other. They become so close that they want to go to college together but then something happens, and we don't even know what it is until after we read pages and pages of text messages that are not responded to and you feel the hung-up devastation of not knowing right along with Laynee. I really liked how the author did this.
The reason why Cal doesn't tell the Laynee what is going on (He was illegally and horribly signed up for the Marines by his father) is devastating and annoying, but...I can understand it. He was young, still coping with the fact that he was being shipped overseas without his consent, and didn't want her to wait around knowing he might die. And even though I know that ignorance is not bliss, it did give her the chance to move on without him and helped her to understand, in the end, that he was the only one for her. I only wish he had thought of the damage he had done by not telling her and then popping in and out of her life anyway. What could he do? He loved her- buuuuut...with his decision to commit to not telling her where he was....he should have (realistically) really committed. It totally f*cked up her life, not knowing what happened, but still knowing he was out there.
When they finally got together in the end, I only feel like there should have been more communication about what Laynee went through when Cal was gone and the abandonment and hopelessness he wreaked on her life by his in-and-out text messages; I felt like the communication was very one-sided and that bugged me a little. I also got INCREDIBLY mad when I found out that Cal at one point had a fiancé and an unborn daughter. I thought it was COMPLETELY out of left field for his character and that once he got his head right, he would have gone through the process of trying again for Laynee. The conflict therewithin his deceased fiancé's relationship (how she was cheating on him and with him for his money) I thought was a plot point that was not needed.
Otherwise, the ending was good, and as I said, you already know the ending since the cover spoils it. A "second chance romance" already promises a HEA and I enjoyed it for what it was.
June 22, 2024
Cal & Laynee
The first 30% of this book was great! The friendship between Cal and Laynee was so real and palpable and it was so clear that those 2 were meant to be together forever. And it was impossible not to like the characters. And even though that first part is only told thru Laynee's POV, it didn't matter, because the story was that interesting!
But then shit hits the fan! Cal breaks a promise to Laynee and just disappears.
⚠️⚠️⚠️
My next comments might contain minor spoilers, so read at your own discretion.
- I don't think the reader should've known up front what happened to Cal. His reasoning made no sense and instead of being sympathetic to him for having to leave like that, I just thought he was plain stupid and heartless.
- What's with the texting from unknown numbers? And during the whole time they were apart? You either disappear, and drive the person you left behind crazy, or you don't! But the whole mysterious and random texting was just cruel! It's like giving some hope and than taking it all away by it not going anywhere. And as the book goes on, we learn that it lasted pretty much the whole time they were apart, from either one or the other! Wtf?!?
- The Cal that shows back up in Laynee's life is so different from the Cal I expected from early in the book. He is just too much sometimes and has a way to show his love that borders on ick. Is it love or is it just plain lust?
- Cal and Laynee's dialogue is sometimes confusing, but I think this has more to do with the author's style than the characters. Sometimes I had to go back and re-read whole passages just to be clear or who said what. As the book progresses, this seems to get worse.
End of spoilers
⚠️⚠️⚠️
The book is so full of typos and duplicate unnecessary words that I gave up on marking them on my Kindle! You have no idea how much that bothers me in a book! It creates an image of lack of commitment to ones work.
Finally, in the end Cal and Laynee do get their HEA, and it is a cute one to picture.
The first 30% of this book was great! The friendship between Cal and Laynee was so real and palpable and it was so clear that those 2 were meant to be together forever. And it was impossible not to like the characters. And even though that first part is only told thru Laynee's POV, it didn't matter, because the story was that interesting!
But then shit hits the fan! Cal breaks a promise to Laynee and just disappears.
⚠️⚠️⚠️
My next comments might contain minor spoilers, so read at your own discretion.
- I don't think the reader should've known up front what happened to Cal. His reasoning made no sense and instead of being sympathetic to him for having to leave like that, I just thought he was plain stupid and heartless.
- What's with the texting from unknown numbers? And during the whole time they were apart? You either disappear, and drive the person you left behind crazy, or you don't! But the whole mysterious and random texting was just cruel! It's like giving some hope and than taking it all away by it not going anywhere. And as the book goes on, we learn that it lasted pretty much the whole time they were apart, from either one or the other! Wtf?!?
- The Cal that shows back up in Laynee's life is so different from the Cal I expected from early in the book. He is just too much sometimes and has a way to show his love that borders on ick. Is it love or is it just plain lust?
- Cal and Laynee's dialogue is sometimes confusing, but I think this has more to do with the author's style than the characters. Sometimes I had to go back and re-read whole passages just to be clear or who said what. As the book progresses, this seems to get worse.
End of spoilers
⚠️⚠️⚠️
The book is so full of typos and duplicate unnecessary words that I gave up on marking them on my Kindle! You have no idea how much that bothers me in a book! It creates an image of lack of commitment to ones work.
Finally, in the end Cal and Laynee do get their HEA, and it is a cute one to picture.
August 23, 2025
Crazy For This Girl is an uber emotional, contemporary romance of two best friends, Cal, and Laynee. Cal and Laynee meet at her cabin’s lake house one summer and the rest is history. Through letters, calls, and visits to the lake, their friendship continues to grow and it’s a beautiful one until it isn’t. Here is where Hazel’s tortuous mind takes over and she has found a new way to torment us, with a different repertoire of words, evoking a new skill set of emotions, and feelings.
While there were MANY times throughout this book that I found myself cursing at these characters (both primary and secondary), felt like pounding my head against a wall, or downright facepalming, I also fell in love.
Cal is a beautiful soul, who has bravely withstood a lot. He has burrowed his way deep inside, forever leaving me with a piece of him. He is an understanding and sweet soul who has metamorphosed into the biggest a-hole with a chip on each of his shoulders. Despite all this, I fell in love with Cal.
Laynee is this vessel full of love, freely giving it away to anyone that she holds near and dear. Are things easy for this sailor swearing, bullheaded, and quick-witted girl? Nope, not even close, but this is Laynee, she’s tough when she needs to be and feisty.
CTFG is chock full of amazing characters with a prodigious storyline and plotline. Be prepared to swoon, laugh, cry, and get mad.
While there were MANY times throughout this book that I found myself cursing at these characters (both primary and secondary), felt like pounding my head against a wall, or downright facepalming, I also fell in love.
Cal is a beautiful soul, who has bravely withstood a lot. He has burrowed his way deep inside, forever leaving me with a piece of him. He is an understanding and sweet soul who has metamorphosed into the biggest a-hole with a chip on each of his shoulders. Despite all this, I fell in love with Cal.
Laynee is this vessel full of love, freely giving it away to anyone that she holds near and dear. Are things easy for this sailor swearing, bullheaded, and quick-witted girl? Nope, not even close, but this is Laynee, she’s tough when she needs to be and feisty.
CTFG is chock full of amazing characters with a prodigious storyline and plotline. Be prepared to swoon, laugh, cry, and get mad.
December 6, 2023
I really liked the first half. Teenage innocent crush, their letters, how excited they were to meet each other.
But then the second half i just went through so that i could finish the book. I get why she was struggling with every relationship she was in. she had no choice as he left her without explanation. However, i was surprised that he kept saying he loved her but he was almost married to someone else! He almost had a family of his own! I mean H had all planned up to live a happy life when he kept telling h, He would go back to her. Wtf!
As a reader i was waiting for the climax where she would ask for answers and there would be consequences of his deeds, there was none! I had high hopes from h, that she wouldn’t be another doormat…she disappointed. H did exactly as expected. He actually moved on without her. So now that his fiancée died, h wasn’t a bad option for another marriage plan.
Let’s think for a moment, that the fiancé didn’t die and after 2years H meet h as his assistant when H was already a father and a husband, then what would happen? h was still struggling with relationships, didn’t figure out her future plans, was still broken from her first love. And H was living his life with his family lavishly. Now thats a story i wanna read!
But then the second half i just went through so that i could finish the book. I get why she was struggling with every relationship she was in. she had no choice as he left her without explanation. However, i was surprised that he kept saying he loved her but he was almost married to someone else! He almost had a family of his own! I mean H had all planned up to live a happy life when he kept telling h, He would go back to her. Wtf!
As a reader i was waiting for the climax where she would ask for answers and there would be consequences of his deeds, there was none! I had high hopes from h, that she wouldn’t be another doormat…she disappointed. H did exactly as expected. He actually moved on without her. So now that his fiancée died, h wasn’t a bad option for another marriage plan.
Let’s think for a moment, that the fiancé didn’t die and after 2years H meet h as his assistant when H was already a father and a husband, then what would happen? h was still struggling with relationships, didn’t figure out her future plans, was still broken from her first love. And H was living his life with his family lavishly. Now thats a story i wanna read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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