Jeannine Allison's Reviews > Beautiful Broken Mess

*** 99c ***

4.5 Stars (Re-Read 8/1/2017)

5 Stars (First Read 11/21/2015)

I never ate an apple again.

This is such a random line and you won't understand until you read the scene, but it broke my freaking heart. I knew the second I read those words that I would love Audrey. I was already pretty sure. This was me when I'd discovered that she'd be getting her own book...



I am always intrigued when the character no one really liked in previous books gets their own, and I almost always end up loving them! And this was no exception. This quote right here sums up how I feel about these types of books...



It's so unbelievably true and I loved the way the author handled it. Here are a few of the other things that I LOVED...

- The setup -

I'm glad we got to see all the interactions between the MCs (first meeting, fallout, reconciliation, etc.) In second chance stories, I don't like it when how they met and how it went to shit is just relayed as a story from MC to random person... I want the FEELINGS! So yeah I was very pleased :)

- The secondary characters -

Particularly Jax and Jace's mom. I loved the way she treated and respected her sons, it was so nice to read about a parent who trusted their kid's decisions and stood by them!

And Lane! I loved seeing Audrey have a male best friend and there be no weirdness between them, because IT CAN HAPPEN! ;) He was also pretty funny...

[after Audrey walks out in just her underwear and bra]

"Doll, you know I'm not your gay best friend, right?"

- The epilogue -

It's so random, but I was really happy to see something in this epilogue that is almost always left out of others. (view spoiler)[The epilogue begins with Jace working extra hard and unintentionally neglecting Audrey. I liked how the author showed that problems still arise after the HEA, and it doesn't make it less happy. *There is still the typical happy stuff at the end! ;) (hide spoiler)]

- Jace -

He was a dope at times, but that's what pain does to a person. I did find myself slightly more frustrated with him this time around, not necessarily for the mistakes he made as a teen, but for something that happened later in the novel. This is where the 0.5 deduction, however stupid, came from. *Significant spoiler*

(view spoiler)[I think it was around 70%, Jax gets in an accident and they're all at the hospital when Jace snaps at Audrey to leave, that he wants to be with "family." I understand he was in pain and lashing out, but I didn't fully understand it. It didn't feel like him and it almost seemed forced for the sake of conflict. I also didn't love their reconciliation. Audrey goes down on him without getting an apology (she is drunk) and that's not something *I* can imagine doing. I'm far too petty, I guess, even understanding that Jace didn't mean it. I'd still want the words. They also get engaged right after making up and I'm never a fan of that either. But these are definitely personal preferences and they were pretty minor in comparison to how much I loved everything else. (hide spoiler)]

But before that I really loved Jace because even though he was hesitant, once he made a decision about Audrey, he stuck to it! He pursued her, admitted his mistakes, and genuinely cared for her (even before he knew everything). It was like he knew deep down that she wasn't the person everyone thought she was, even if he couldn't explain why. I just loved how he loved her.

You ruined me, and I never want to be put back together.

"The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy. I could never regret falling in love with you."

Audrey is my peace at the end of a hard day or my excitement at the end of a boring one.

- AUDREY -

This is last, but certainly not least, because man I freaking loved her. I might have more of a crush on her than I do on Jace (I do). This author really knows how to write amazing heroines. They are strong and confident but aren't afraid to admit their flaws and when they are feeling weak. Audrey's fears of how she might be received or perceived never stopped her from doing anything and I really admired that. She never tried to play the victim, even though clearly she was one on many occasions, she dealt with things and then got back up like it hadn't happened. She wasn't going to let anything ruin her life. I could go on and on because I love her and she was a great character, but I think this quote pretty much sums up why I love her...

If she wants a bouquet of roses, she's sure as hell not going to wait for me to give it to her. She'll go out and plant her own fucking garden.

Safety: (view spoiler)[Audrey slept with (and briefly married) Jace's brother, Jaxon. Jace and Jaxon are identical twins and the first time Audrey and Jaxon sleep together, she thinks it's Jace. It sounds convenient, but the author wrote it convincingly, it's just a very complicated situation. My feelings are similar to book one on this, there is OP drama, but it never felt like the MCs wanted to be with anyone else. (hide spoiler)]

Closure: (view spoiler)[There's an epilogue one year later, showing them getting married :) (hide spoiler)]