Synopsis: Some things are worth waiting for…
Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.
Some things are worth experiencing…
Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.
Some things should never be kept quiet…
But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…
**I keep jumping between a rating of either 3.75 or a solid 4.5. One moment i love it, the next moment I hate it.**
I finished this book 2 days ago so I have had quite a bit of time to get my ducks in a row. This book is extremely hard for me to write a review for because I have so many mixed feelings towards it and the author. I just want to start off my saying that I really love Jennifer L Armentrout's fantasy books, specifically her Lux Series. This was the first romance novel of hers that I have read and to be honest, Im slightly disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I really loved the characters (especially Cam... *cue googly eyes*) and the romance was SOOO swoon worthy. It was funny, well written and I actually managed to enjoy reading from Avery's point of view. Typically, I always ending up hating the female character in New Adult books because they are so predictable. Avery was tolerable. My problem with this novel is that there was simply nothing that set it apart from any other romance book, and that the actions and decisions made by the love interest are just always so unbelievable.
Its so obvious that these new adult books are written by women. Somehow the guy knows exactly what to say when the girl is crying over something super personal? Omg he's always there to defend her and beat up any guy who tries to touch her? He is 100% completely devoted to her (even once they break up) and turns down the girls who throw themselves at him (EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING A PLAYER). He is always respectful and never tries to take advantage of her? Im sorry but this is not realistic in someone who is known to have slept with anything that walks.
My next point is that all the plots in these books are the same. Let us take a look at Wait for you:
-girl meets boy by clumsily tripping and just so happens to be caught by the hottest guy in the entire college.
-They then proceed to hold each other for 5 awkward pages while his eye color is described
-boy is super popular and every girl wants him. He also sleeps with everyone
-girl is the nerdy book worm who just so happens to be an innocent virgin
-boy has a reputation of getting in fights
-bad boy turns into a good boy for the girl
-good girl turns reckless and sexy somewhere along the way
Im sorry but I have read WAY to many books like this and its disappointing that authors seem to almost rewrite each others books. Maybe they get lazy? Or do they all get together and have sleepovers where they write one novel, put a variety of couples names in a hat and then they each choose one and publish it with those names? I really don't understand it.
I do have one huge piece of evidence that is driving me crazy though so I have to get it off my chest. For those of you who are still reading this, which Im guessing a lot of you aren't, thank you for sticking around but I must say goodbye if you have not read both Wait for me or Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. I need to point out a few similarities between the two.
The following will contain spoilers for both so read at your own risk.
The moment Avery started getting emails and phone calls calling her a whore and stuff, I knew she had been raped. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, just like I found it very obvious in Hopeless. SIMILARITY #1. Then as we continue to read on, we find out that Cam has a reputation of getting into fights and almost went to jail. To me, that sounds ALOT LIKE Dean Holder. SIMILARITY #2. Then we find out that the reason Cam beat someone up was because the dude was hurting his sister. Wow, if I remember correctly, Holder beat up this kid cuz he was trash talking his sisters suicide. SIMILARITY #3. SISTERS. Then, the first time Cam and Avery try to have sex, Avery loses it because the memories of her rape start coming back and it all feels to familiar. Same happened with Sky and Holder (this is to be expected though with someone who has experienced sexual assault. im just pointing out that its similar). SIMILARITY #4. Then at the end of Hopeless, Sky decides she needs to go visit her dad (who used to physically assault her if you don't remember). Just like Avery feels like she needs to talk to her parents about what happened to her. So, both Sky and Holder, as well as Avery and Cam get in the car to go confront the girls past. SIMILARITY #5. Then, after the confrontation, (which I must admit each turned out very differently) they head back to the hotel and have sex for the first time and its this really romantic and incredible experience and everything turns out okay and all the stars align blah blah blah. SIMILARITY #6. Oh, I also just remembered, both main female main characters have gay best friends. Sky has Beckett and Avery has Jacob. SIMILARITY #7. LIKE IM SORRY BUT THOSE BOOKS ARE PRETTY FREAKING SIMILAR. Btw, Hopeless was published in 2012 and Wait For You was published in 2013 so I am in no way throwing shade at Colleen. She is queen. My problem is with Armentrout.
While the romance was totally amazing and Im kind of hoping I find my own Cam, this book had little to no individuality which left me kind of disappointed. I don't plan on continuing on with this series. Thanks for letting me rant guys. xoxoxo
Happy reading nerds and sound off in the comments with your opinions and perspectives on this book!