Rowena’s review of Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1) by Sophie Jordan.
Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs.
Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.
Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…
In the past couple of months, I’ve read a lot of New Adult novels. Some, I’ve absolutely loved and some I just liked okay. Each time I pick up a book, I expect one thing and I get another but with this book, I got exactly what I thought I’d get and I was happy.
Pepper has been in love with her best friend’s brother Hunter for as long as she can remember. But he’s only ever seen her as a friend of the family. Never as anything more but when he finally breaks up with his longtime girlfriend, Pepper finally sees a chance to go over what she’s always wanted. But because she’s always liked Hunter, her sexual history is non-existent. In an effort to turn herself into the tigress in bed that she feels will hook Hunter, she goes on the hunt for someone to teach her the art of…seducing the pants off of college guys.
And that leads her to the sexy bartender, Reece. Reece is the perfect teacher, at least he seems like he’d be since he’s got quite the reputation. But when she meets him, things heat up quickly. She’s drawn to him because he’s a lot different than she thought he’d be and he’s drawn to her.
The more time she spends with Reece, the more she forgets the end game…and Hunter. Then Hunter starts showing interest in Pepper, in the exact same way that she’s always craved and Pepper can’t help but be drawn to him too. But when she’s with Hunter, she’s thinking of Reece. Which, duh.
This story was a great introduction into Sophie Jordan’s New Adult line of books. It was easy to follow, the characters were likable and relatable and the story was interesting. I liked getting to know both Pepper (though I wasn’t a fan of her name, I kept picturing her as a rapper) and Reece. Reece was a freaking swoonbucket and I adored getting to know him. I loved that he didn’t let Pepper play with his feelings and I loved that he owned his feelings from the very beginning. He was a genuine good guy and I was glad that he got his happy ending.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book. Sophie Jordan has definitely hooked me onto this new series. I’m definitely in.
Grade: 4 out of 5
This book is available from William Morrow. You can purchase it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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