Release Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Pages: 417
Series: Starcrossed #1
Review Source: Netgalley
Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
While performing the greatest love story of all time, they discovered one of their own...
Cassie Taylor was just another acting student with big dreams at her prestigious performing arts college, then she met Ethan Holt. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy on campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing on stage, Cassie and Ethan's epic romance seemed destined. Until it ended in tragedy when he shattered her heart.
Now they've made it to Broadway where they're reunited as romantic leads once again, and their passionate scenes force them to confront the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their intense college affair. For Ethan, losing Cassie was his biggest regret, and he's determined to redeem himself. But for Cassie, even though Ethan was her first and only great love, he hurt her too much to ever be trusted again. The trouble is, working with him reminds her that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks. And when it comes to love, sometimes it's the things that aren't good for us that are the most irresistible.
Don't miss the intoxicating romance beloved by over two million fans online--a story that will captivate you and hold you breathless until the final page.
My first impression of the book: I saw the cover and thought WOW!! My second impression of the book: it sounds interesting, but perhaps a bit cliche, so maybe I’ll wait and read some reviews. My third impression of the book: okay, but look at all those amazing blurbs from authors that I freaking adore. Decision: okay, I definitely have to read this now!!! And oh my GOSH I am so glad I read this one. It was only poor decision making because now I have to wait even longer for the second book.
Bad Romeo tells a story we may have read before, at least on the surface. It features a broken boy with emotional issues who has MAJORLY screwed up (we’re not completely sure how), but now he’s reformed (supposedly) and he wants another chance. It’s the girl-loves-emotionally-unavailable-boy story. Our main character, Cassie, hasn't been able to replace said boy (Ethan) in her bed or in her heart, but she’s understandably leery to trust him again.
This book features two incredible main characters. Cassie from then and Cassie from now are so deliciously the same character and yet so deliciously not. I'm not sure I've ever read a better instance of character growth, where you can see how life experiences and the hurt Cassie has been through has changed her inner monologue. Another thing I loved about Cassie is that college aged Cassie was a virgin who was also very sexual. I don't think we see this type of character enough. So often, even in romance novels (the books which should be celebrating all versions of female sexuality), you've got the simpering virgin with no experience OR the fully sexually empowered woman. There doesn't tend to be many characters in between. Cassie may be lacking in orgasms, but she freely talks about masturbation and watching porn. She's a virgin who (gasp!) has sexual urges and knows what she wants. Cassie is, in fact, the initiator in almost every sexual encounter with Ethan.
Ethan is also a character who changes and evolves. He's a real jerk at the beginning of the book, where in real life it would be like "see you later, jackass" but in the book he has enough charming vulnerability for you to say "get it, girl!". You cling to the good parts of the character and really want him to be the best version of himself, which definitely comes out in present Ethan. Ethan from now is charming and cocky and delicious, minus the crippling emotional issues of Ethan from then.
Basically, I loved (loved loved!) this book, and considering there's very little actual sex going on it's a surprisingly sexy and steamy read. I absolutely loved this story, but I am a bit disappointed that it ended on a cliffhanger. It felt like with another 30 to 50 pages we could have had the whole story, rather than drawing things out into a sequel. Of course since this book was so good in general I’m really hoping that the second book will give us a great full story rather than dragging out the will they/won’t they for another novel. Bad Romeo is an absolutely amazing read, and I can’t wait for more from this author.
The Cover:
Gorgeous!!
Rating:
[5/5]Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Ashley, thank you so much for this incredible review! I'm beyond honored. I hope you have a joyous holiday season. :)
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