Author: Rebecca Donovan
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Grand Central Publishing (September 16, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Book Description:
What if you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time?
Cal Logan is shocked to see Nicole Bentley sitting across from him at a coffee shop thousands of miles from their hometown. After all, no one has seen or heard from her since they graduated over a year ago.
Except this girl isn't Nicole.
She looks exactly like Cal's shy childhood crush, but her name is Nyelle Preston and she has no idea who he is. This girl is impulsive and daring, her passion for life infectious. The complete opposite of Nicole. Cal finds himself utterly fascinated-and falling hard. But Nyelle is also extremely secretive. And the closer he comes to finding out what she's hiding, the less he wants to know.
When the secrets from the past and present collide, one thing becomes clear: Nothing is what it seems.
The NA genre is a hard one for me. I use to love it and read every single thing released and then I think I got burned out on it and I found it harder and harder to really love what I was finding.
Very rarely (and sadly) do I pick one up anymore and expect to get a truly unique story and to be blown away by not only my love for the characters but the intricately woven plot line as well. Donovan managed to do just that. She blew me away. Not only was this well written by the mystery behind everything was so well played out. So well concealed until that final moment it was unveiled.
Take in to account that Cal, (A BOY! ) is the main narrator of this story and right there you have something original. Not only that, but the boy rocked. So darn sweet and swoon worthy. The flash backs from childhood memories to the now were so tender and emotional. I adored Nicole and Richelle and my heart went out to both of them. They were adorable and it was heartwarming to see them grow up through each other's eyes.
All of the characters were extremely fleshed out which is also quite rare these days. I felt like I truly knew each one and got to be in their head (of sorts) with each new thing revealed about them.
Even though I guessed early on what was happening and had happened it didn't matter. This was still such a great well written story that I was completely caught up in it until the very end.
This will not be my last Donovan book, not by a long shot.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
I think I got kind of a late start on the NA band wagon, so I'm still exploring. lol. Glad this one was a hit for you. I'll have to add it to my list, of course. :P
ReplyDeleteI think she is one author you would like.
DeleteI've never read a Rebecca Donovan book before!
ReplyDeleteLove books narrated by lads though :D they always give such an interesting perspective!
They really do, I agree.
DeleteThe mystery in this sounds really goood, and I can't resist book when it's done from the male perspective - thanks for putting this one on my radar, Ali! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Kim, I hope you do end up trying it at some point. :)
DeleteOoooh sounds intriguing. Will have to give it a try! Love a book with a boy narrator. <3
ReplyDeleteI really do too, especially this kind of read. It is a refreshing change of pace.
DeleteI agree that fleshed out characters are becoming scarce in fiction, so I am relieved to learn that Donovan went the extra mile in What If. That's too bad about the high predictability factor, but like you said, the great writing more than made up for it.
ReplyDeleteIt really did, which was nice.
DeleteYAY for being blown away Ali! I'm like you, I read a ton of NA for a while and then just got tired of the seeming repetitiveness of the storylines, so it's been a while since I've read anything in the genre. Definitely adding this to the list though, can't wait to meet Cal!
ReplyDeleteCal makes this so worth it to read. ;)
DeleteGreat review Kindlemom and the premise well it's got my rapt attention. Now I just need to find the time to read it LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie and I hope you do!
DeleteI'm thinking now and really I haven't seen any NA books with male POV and Cal seems to be so good as narrator. I'm so happy you enjoyed this story even though you, as me, don't like NA that much. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteI do have to be in the mood for them now but this being in the male POV definitely makes it worth it.
DeleteI don't read a lot of NA I confess but I like from time to time to have a good story, a different one and this one sounds good.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a good one.
DeleteI love male narration, this sounds fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI think this is one that you will really like Candace.
DeleteI loved this one too, Ali! I thought the male narration was written so well. I'm glad you liked it as much as I did. I wasn't too keen on the "mysterious" part of the book though. Still the characters were great.
ReplyDeleteLovely review! :)
I didn't know you read this one Nick, yay! Glad you liked it too. :)
DeleteI'm getting fed up of NA as well but I like good male POV'S. Great review ;)
ReplyDeleteI do have to be in the mood for them now for sure.
DeleteI like contemporaries, but I do have to be honest and say that I haven't read a lot of NA. I do want to start with a couple of books in the genre NA, but I'm a bit hesitant. I do like the sound of this one. Especially that the POV's a male. Very rare! :)
ReplyDeleteNina from J'adore Happy Endings
I do think this would be a great place to start in the genre since it is so unique.
DeleteThe same thing happened to me: I read SO many NA books the beginning of the last year. Any and everything I could get my hands on. Now I can't get into any of them, I am so burned out. This sounds good though, especially with the male POV, that's unique.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to do that with a genre you like sadly. I try not to but sometimes it happens.
DeleteSounds really good. I like male point of views as well. :)
ReplyDeleteSaw this on NG. Looks interesting, especially because the narrator is a guy...although I have usually trouble ''loving'' those books. Lovely review :)
ReplyDeleteIf you try this I would be curious to see what you thought about it. ;)
DeleteLike you I've been really burned out on NA recently so I'm thrilled to hear you were able to enjoy this one so much! I can't wait to meet Cal now :-)
ReplyDeleteCal was a nice change of pace from your usual in this genre for sure.
DeleteOh this sounds good, love the perspective and I want to swoon over Cal too!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. Like you, I've learned not to expect originality from new adult, but Donovan certainly seems to have achieved it. Perhaps it's time to give the genre another chance.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I too am reading Beware the Wild and loving it! I hope you are too.
I am! It is so strange but in a good way isn't it?
DeleteI know what you mean about the NA books. I saw this one, but I didn't take it for review. I just wasn't sure about it, but after reading your review, I am adding it to my list now.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are Ellen. :)
DeleteLove the sound of this one. Still waiting to see if I get accepted for this one or not, I really hope so!
ReplyDeleteOh yay for fab reads and surprises like that. So nice finding one that catches you like that. And how neat it's the boy! So rare to find that.
ReplyDeleteIt really is anymore. Thanks for stopping by Anna!
DeleteGreat review! I don't normally read NA, but I know some people enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good one and unlike some of the others I have read recently.
DeleteMy co-blogger loves R. Donovan so I decided to give her a chance with this one. I'm looking forward to starting it very soon. Glad you enjoyed it so much!! :)
ReplyDelete