I know...I know...you've read it all before. Bad boy...good girl...attraction...love...blah, blah,blah. But wait...hear me out...please?!?! 
 This one is done right! The plot is not a new idea, not unusual or hugely creative. But that's what's so incredible about this book. How the author can take a well-worn concept and turn it into a beautiful, sweet, unforgettable and addictive read is a wonderful surprise! 
 How many times has your life thrown you a curve ball? How many times has the day begun just like any other and ended in a totally unexpected way? This is exactly what happens to Jaden. She's late for class and her life in forever altered. 
 I love the character of Jaden and could relate to her in many ways. She's a perfectionist, completely sure about her world and her place in it. She's going to graduate at the top of her class, go to Harvard, get into Medical school and along the way she'll save the world. Every minute of her day is scheduled and defined in order to meet those goals...even though she can't quite explain why they're her goals. Teachers love her, her friends support her and she has a great boyfriend! But she's stressed and maybe even a little unhappy...and the weird thing is that she doesn't even know it! 
 Enter Parker. He's the guy with a mysterious past. The one everyone talks about but no one talks to. He's quiet, intelligent...and, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that he's hot! He's an outsider and an observer and he's not afraid to voice his opinions. All of this, of course, makes him very intriguing. These characters are smart and charming. Their chemistry is undeniable and their journey will leave you smiling like a fool one moment and teary-eyed the next. I appreciate the fact that they have intelligent conversations, they banter and they argue. In other words, they're real in many ways. 
 I always look to the secondary characters as a way to decide how I feel about a book. Any author who puts care into those characters is showing me that they want to build a well-rounded experience. In this case, the secondary characters are very vivid and well written. I really enjoyed the dynamics of Jaden's family - especially her overprotective brothers. Even the story of her house - pretty on the outside, broken on the inside - tied in nicely with the lives of the characters who lived within it. The story has a nice pace and good flow. And the ending...well, it's unexpected and different, a twist you won't see coming. 
 Ultimately this is a story of self discovery, of taking a leap of faith and of being brave enough to deal with what life throws at you. It's about how difficult it is to hear that what you believe to be true may, in fact, not be the best thing for you. It's about opening yourself up to the possibilities regardless of the amount of risk involved. It's about reaching out and grabbing what you want...or at least meeting it half way! 
 So, go read it. You won't be sorry...cross my heart!