It was really the cover of CROSSING that initially intrigued me most, I think. I mean, it's PINK and it's beautiful -- and although I know better than to judge a book by its cover, I can't deny that it can be a deciding factor in sorting through my massive pile of books! 
 As far as I can tell, CROSSING is a "New Adult" category, which is still a bit unfamiliar to me as a genre. From what I understand, "New Adult" bridges the gap between YA and adult fiction, primarily focusing upon characters around college age, exploring issues like sexuality, career, and education. I admit that I'm having a lot of fun with the genre so far, mostly because I really love the way that YA fiction focuses on emotional issues that interest me, but I have a tendency to feel so OLD reading about high schoolers. New Adult fiction feels a little more relatable, I think, without compromising the charm and passion of the YA genre as a whole. 
 In CROSSING, we have the opportunity to meet Dani, a witty, sarcastic 20 year old with horrible body image and pretty bad self-esteem. Determined to carve a path for herself in theatre, Dani begins an acting class in this novel, where she meets a gorgeous, intriguing man named Liam, who ends up being her partner in class. When Liam begins to pay special attention to Dani, she finds herself nervous and confused -- Dani has always been the chubby girl that guys choose for a one night stand, but she's never been a girl to be part of a relationship (especially with such an overtly sexy man). What are Liam's real intentions for flirting with a girl like Dani, she wonders? 
 As things get deeper and more heated, Dani learns a tremendous secret about her new crush was ultimately the deal-breaker that destroyed his last major relationship. Although Dani sees herself as an open-minded and accepting woman, is she really ready for a man like Liam? Or, will Liam's real intentions end up setting Dani up for a tragically broken heart? 
 My opinions wavered tremendously throughout the novel, I noticed, which left me feeling a bit conflicted when it came time for the review. I did enjoy Benefiel's writing style, for sure, and I think she did a nice job keeping both the characters and the plotline compulsively readable. While I did find Dani's sarcastic humor a bit too self-loathing at times, I can see how her voice could feel realistic to patient readers who readily identity with the every girl next door -- insecurities and all. At the same time, I just wanted Dani to tone down the negativity a bit and find a greater degree of self-confidence with respect to more than just her relationship with men! Her flaws are understandable, without a doubt, but at times her biting humor got a teeny bit old. 
 And then the reveal of Liam's deepest, darkest secret? Really, now? I mean, don't get me wrong -- I do enjoy seeing something a little more unique and unexpected than the comfortable conflicts of love that have become so frequent in YA fiction -- but I'm not 100% sure that I can buy Liam's "secret" as something realistic to his personality. Despite my hesitancy, I think the author's skill with sensitively dealing with a serious topic worked to overshadow an otherwise (potentially) unusual plot point. 
 For anyone curious about New Adult fiction -- especially those who are patient with negative characters and open to unusual, quirky storylines, I would certainly recommend CROSSING. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this novel for the purpose of providing an honest review.