Casee‘s review of My Sweetest Escape (My Favorite Mistake #2) by Chelsea M. Cameron.
The past will always find you
Jos Archer was the girl with the perfect life—until the night it all came crashing down around her. Now, nine months later, she still hasn’t begun to pick up the pieces. Even transferring to a new college and living under the watchful eye of her older sister, Renee, isn’t enough to help her feel normal again.
And then she meets Dusty Sharp. For reasons Jos can’t begin to fathom, the newly reformed campus bad boy seems determined to draw her out of her shell. And if she’s not careful, his knowing green eyes and wicked smile will make her feel things she’s no longer sure she deserves.
But even as Dusty coaxes Jos to open up about the past, he’s hiding secrets of his own. Secrets about the night her old life fell apart. When the truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together—or tear them apart for good?
This is my first New Adult book. I’ve gotten over my aversion to 1st person so that didn’t bother me at all. I actually would have preferred less of the heroine’s point of view, because she was a bleeping bitch. I couldn’t stand her, don’t know what the hero found so great about her and didn’t understand how she cultivated a new friendship with the a great character. Well, I kind of understand the last part.
After Jos Archer started partying at her college, the University of New Hampshire, getting into general trouble and having her grades drop considerably, her mother and father decide to send her to Maine to live with her older sister. I didn’t understand this. Jos was an 18 year old (which I have a problem with that I will get into later) girl/woman/person. She was so against going to her sister Renee’s house, but she did it anyway. Why not strike out on her own? Why not take a stand against her parents? Throughout the whole book, I never did understand why.
Jos made to to Maine where she was met by Renee, her new Drill Instructor. There were a list of rules to be followed and if they weren’t, hellfire would rain down. Jos could never be alone unless she was in her room. She couldn’t go out, not even to take a walk. The only thing she could do was enroll at the University of Maine. That is the only time she got some breathing room. It was then she met Hannah. Hannah was the sweetest character of them all. She was in a fire when she was a kid and had burns over half her face and down one arm. That didn’t bother Jos because she liked Hannah. That was Jos’ only saving grace.
When Dusty enters the picture, she wants nothing to do with him. He goes out of his way to be nice to her, but she’s having none of it. She asks her why he’s at her house so much. She asks him why he won’t leave her alone. But he was like a knat that would not leave Jos alone. I couldn’t help feel bad for him. He was the sweetest to her. He knows that something happened to her in her past, but he can’t get her to open up to him.
Something did happen to Jos, I will give her that. It changed her. Something also happened to Dusty. What they both don’t know is what happened to both of them is twined. Their lives are twined without them even knowing. So when Jos decides to give him a chance, she finds out how her secret could ruin Dusty and she leaves him.
About the whole age thing, I could not connect with an 18 year old heroine. I suppose I should have excused her behavior, but I didn’t even consider it. She was just a spoiled brat. I don’t remember being 18, so I could not sympathize with her. I suppose that could have been part of the problem, not the book it self. Still, I wouldn’t recommend this book. I read it because I wanted to try New Adult.
2.5 out of 5.
This book is published by Harlequin. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
