Thursday, April 24, 2014

Review: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles, #1)Foreplay by Sophie Jordan
Steph's Rating: 4 stars
Overall Rating: 4 stars

Format: Paperback
Publisher: William Morrow 
Publication Date: November 5th, 2013
Pages: 320

Goodreads Synopsis:

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…

Steph's Review: *small spoilers*

This will be a short and sweet review, just like this book. Foreplay is my first novel from Sophie Jordan, and I really enjoyed it! It is a contemporary romance. Not exactly my most favorite of genre's. While this book was full of cheesiness and cliche from the start, it still does have some really smoldering content here that exemplifies NA contemporary romance. I can tell from this that Sophie Jordan isn't some newbie with these hot stories :).

Pepper grew up with...family problems. Her only escape from them were at her best friends house, where she fell hopelessly in love with her friend's older brother: Hunter. Hunter screams stability and security. Toss in a good face? He's perfect for her. Problem is, Hunter hasn't ever really looked at her, no thanks to Peppers wonderful social skills. Everything that comes out of her mouth sounds like awkward chatter whenever she attempts to "flirt". As a last resort, Pepper's roommates think it's time for a Pepper-makeover. Her makeup artist target is Reece: a quite and stoic bartender who her roommates think can teach Pepper a thing or two about foreplay.

I guess I liked this book mostly because Pepper isn't a total loony idiot. Sure she's awkward, but that makes the book funny and cute to read first of all. The approach to the romance, while completely unrealistic and staged, was at least written well considering the circumstances. She doesn't just automatically fall in love with Reece even with uhh, their "relationship". It takes a little time to realize that her using Reece to become some seductive harlot to Hunter isn't really the reason she keeps going back.

I praise the lords that there are no utter douches in this book either; I would just like to toss that out. It is BEYOND hackneyed when the plot twist is when our heroine realizes what a douche Prince Charming always was, and thankfully that is not here. 

So yes, Foreplay is full of cheesy lines and scenes, but even cheesy can be endearing sometimes. I mean, there's a reason they get overused so much in the first place right? Foreplay is one of those novels in that book comfort zone--quick, easy, and sure to please! I recently found out to my delight that Tease, book 2 of The Ivy Chronicles, is going to be out at the end of May and follow the story of one of Pepper's besties, Shaw. I definitely will be reading that one, and I hope it lives up to Foreplay!

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