Foreplay by Sophie Jordan (The Ivy Chronicles #1)
Released: November 5, 2013
New Adult
William Morrow
Reviewed by Mandi
So confession time: I received this book for review unsolicited in the mail. When I flipped the book over and read the blurb, I wasn’t that excited. The heroine is named Pepper and it’s a new adult. I’m picky about New Adult because in my experience most that I’ve read have annoying heroines, with their immature friends and they make me feel old when I read them. I usually wait for a strong recommendation. But, this book looked kind of short (it’s about 280 pages) so I thought I’d try it just to see. So glad I did!
Pepper is nineteen at Dartmouth and has been in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter forever. But he sees her more as a little sister than a love interest, and she wants to change that. So with the encouragement of her best friends and roommates, she decides to drag her butt to a bar (the bar scene isn’t really her thing) and try to get some experience kissing or making out with a guy. This should give her more confidence before she attempts to seduce Hunter.
It is known at this bar that one of the bartenders is a total man-ho and will kiss just about anyone, so Pepper goes for him (stick with me!) But she gets confused and thinks this other bartender is the guy she is suppose to go for. This guy, Reece is super sexy, and had recently stopped to help her when her car broke down. He recognizes her and they start up a somewhat awkward conversation.
Let me just fast forward and say, she ends up kissing him and then Reece discovers that she thought he was his brother aka the man-ho. But you know what I loved and what put this book on the right path? Pepper apologizes and tells him her entire plan – that she wanted to make out with a guy just to get Hunter. And Reece, in his cool, self-assured, sexy self says – ok cool. Come upstairs and let’s practice your foreplay.
So Pepper actually communicates with Reece! There is no forced conflict. Let me just cheer for a minute. Granted, Pepper starts to get very conflicted feelings – she has had a crush on Hunter for years and years, but these new feelings for Reece she is developing are strong. I felt these were real feelings, especially for a nineteen year old. She acted like her age, and yet wasn’t annoying. And as I mentioned earlier, her friends are more outrageous than her, but very supportive and fun too. I really hope they all get books because I like the whole group.
This book is all in Pepper’s point of view, so we don’t get to know Reece as well as I would have liked, but he is mature and solid. I never felt like he was taking advantage of Pepper and because Pepper came clean with her plan, I never felt she used Reece. There are mutual, and very sexy make-out sessions.
I think the end could have played out a little longer, but otherwise this is a solid new adult romantic book. I like this author’s voice a lot.
Rating: B
Recent Reviews:
Wondrous Reads – 8/10
Dark Faerie Tales
Goodreads l Author Website l Series Guide
Nice review, I do like the sound of this a lot. I have never read her adult books, but perhaps this one is a good place to start
Sometimes we find ( or receive) a book that really takes us by surprise and i glad this one did it for you so we get to discover it…. i must admit i was hesiatat at first too but as soon as you told us she became clean on her plan i was interested…. i appreciate honesty a lot and too often it’s not what author encourage us to do… i admit her idea isn’t to my linkling but then looks like she is a good and honest girl so i could give this a try
thanks!
I haven’t read many new adult books, but this sounds good!
Nice review Mandi. How fun it is when you take a chance and are surprised!!! For the heck of it, I checked GR and this author has a long in her back list!