Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Literary Meanderings 
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 Easy is the story of Jacqueline and Lucas. Jacqueline is a college student who has just been dumped by her boyfriend of three years. Devastated, Jacqueline doesn't show up for her economy class for two weeks, thus earning herself a failing grade. We meet Jacqueline in this heartbroken, worn down state right off the bat. She's making her way to her vehicle after leaving a frat party when she is assaulted by a drunken classmate. Right when the unthinkable is about to happen, Luke shows up like a knight in shining armor. 
 After convincing Lucas she isn't in need of medical attention and refusing to go to the police, Jacqueline lets Lucas drive her back to her dorm. Her mind remains on him after this point. 
 Upon entering economics after her two-week absence, Jacqueline notices that Lucas is a student in her class. Everything about him screams bad boy. It also screams sexy. Tattoos, lip ring, intense stares, etc. For the first time since her break-up with Kennedy, Jacqueline feels something flutter within her. 
 "'The night we met--I'm not like that guy.' His jaw was rigid. 
 'I know tha--' He placed a finger over my lips, his expression softening. 
 'So I don't want you to feel pressured. Or overpowered. But I do, absolutely, want to kiss you right now. Badly.'" 
 But Lucas has secrets, and just when Jacqueline thinks he's letting her in, he pushes her right back out. 
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 Well, where to begin? 
 Romance. Hot mama! This book was steamy. I had to fan myself with a newspaper a few times. ;) And that's impressive considering this book doesn't fit into the erotica category. It's that good ol' New Adult sexual tension deal. Gotta love it. Tammara Webber did a really fantastic job of developing these characters and their relationship dynamics. Jacqueline and Lucas have a connection from page one. You can see that they're going to be a savior, of sorts, to one another. They had to travel a rocky road to get to that point. For one thing, the rules are completely against them. The motions Jacqueline is going through cause some turmoil. Dishonesty has to be forgiven on both sides. Anger. Heartbreak. Indecision. A whole lot goes on in just the short span of 310 pages. 
 Not only is the relationship between Jacqueline and Lucas impressively written--the same is true for other character relationships. For example, that between our protag and her BFF, Erin. Erin is the epitome of what a loyal friend should be. She is packed with personality and has Jacqueline's back from day one. Not only that, but she gives Jacqueline a nice dose of reality when needed, and a playful banter-y good time when that is needed. 
 Buck; the "bad guy". His interactions with Jacqueline were teetering the line between realistic and overly done. I decided that it was just right. Dramatic enough to be jaw-dropping, but not unbelievable altogether. I think Webber handled the subject of rape/sexual assault very well. I feel that Jacqueline's reaction to the situation was also believable. The aftermath... fear, rumors, indecision; the question of whether or not to report it, of whether or not to tell someone close to you, whether or not to see a doctor or counselor. This author paid attention to details. There was great insight within this book, and as someone who has dealt with an issue similar to this, the realism was something I could truly appreciate. 
 This book is about many issues, but Webber laid them all out at a great pace and it never left me feeling like my brain was being overloaded with info and/or pointless things that didn't relate to the plot. This book isn't just about romance or sexual assault. It's about moving on from tragedy or traumatic experiences. It's about learning to trust and learning to forgive. It's about being there for the people you care about. It's about dealing with bullies and dealing with insecurities. It's about making mistakes and knowing it when you do, then having the good grace to admit so and rectify it. It's a romance at it's center, but all round that center lie life lessons that will be relatable for many readers. 
 Overall, this book is a winner. It had a truly emotional impact on me. It's beautiful and tragic. The writing is superb and the plot is realistic. The book deals with heavy issues, but that heaviness is lightened with romance and humor. Webber writes about the issue of rape in a way that is respectable to me; a non-victim blaming way. The characters are very engaging and multidimensional. I was highly impressed with Webber's ability to create a story that covers so much ground within the span of 300-ish pages. This story went from being about a college girl who was dumped, to one on sexual assault, to navigating college life, to romance, to sisterhood and solidarity, to planning a future, etc., etc. It could've been messy if not done well. This is a book I definitely recommend to YA/NA lovers. A MUST READ! 
 *Contains violence, sexual subject matter, & adult language.* 
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 Book source: Personal collection 
 Publisher: Berkley Books/Penguin Group USA