Review: Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Foreplay

(The Ivy Chronicles #1)

Author: Sophie Jordan

Publisher: William Morrow

Publication Date: November 5, 2013

Genre: New Adult

Source: Purchased

~Synopsis~

Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs. 

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…

~Review~

This book! Oh my gosh, I totally devoured it. I was instantly hooked from the moment I started reading it and I could not put it down. I was instantly connected with the characters and the plot was so much fun. While the whole “losing virginity” thing isn’t really unique, this book definitely put its own spin on it.

Pepper has been in love with Hunter for as long as she can remember. He is her best friend’s older brother and he represents everything that she wants in a future that she never had as a child. When she finds out that he has broken up with his longtime girlfriend, she sees this as her opportunity but she doesn’t have a lot of experience with guys since she has been holding out for Hunter. Her roommates convince her to get some experience with the hot bartender, Reece. What she doesn’t expect is how she feels about Reece.

I liked Pepper even though sometimes I wanted to slap her in the face to wake her up and SEE Reece. She has this idea of the perfect life and she would do anything to have it. Considering her childhood, I can totally understand why she wants that normalcy so bad. She thinks the key to that life is Hunter and as much as I know that she thinks she loves him, I truly believe it is the idea of him more than Hunter himself. I don’t think she really knows Hunter, even though they grew up together, because she has always idolized him from afar. That’s why meeting and spending time with Reece confuses her so much.

Reece has definitely been added to my book boyfriend list for the year. He is an amazing guy and even though he has a “reputation,” the way he is with Pepper is incredible. Despite the fact that she is trying to gain experience for another guy, he is still willing to help her. I think he had feelings for her from the beginning and he used this as an opportunity to get close to her and try and make her fall for him. He has a difficult home life as well and I fell even harder for him when I learned the details of what he’s been through. There is definitely more to Reece than he lets people see and he is so much more than the “hot” bartender.

The sexy times between Pepper and Reece were steamy and hot and I liked how sweet Reece was with her. He never made Pepper feel awkward or uncomfortable and he really knew how to teach her “foreplay.” I liked that how well rounded Reece is. He really has it all and Pepper gets the opportunity to see some of those sides that no one else really does. I think this definitely confused Pepper when it came to her feelings. I could see her falling for Reece but she lived hard core in the land of denial and refused to see it because she is so stuck on the idea of Hunter and the life he could provide.

My heart broke for Reece when he poured his heart out to Pepper and she still chose Hunter. I thought Hunter was a good guy but he never really SAW her until she started spending time with Reece and it was obvious to me that they weren’t right together. She just fits with Reece and even though she thinks Hunter is the safe choice, Reece points out that it doesn’t get safer than him.

“You can’t even see it. I’m the safest thing you’ll ever find.”

She shared things with Reece that no one else knew which showed how much she trusted him but she struggled to let go of that “security” she thought Hunter would provide for her. When she finally got out of her head and let herself FEEL, she realized Reece was the one and I was so glad that he was the one to be there for her when she needed someone the most because she was finally able to realize that he was always the one all along.

I haven’t read any of Sophie Jordan’s other books but I’m definitely ready to check them out after Foreplay. When a book snags my attention and keeps me raptured to the very end the way this one did I just don’t want to let go and I was sad when the ending came all too soon. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Reece.

~IPOD Picks~

“All That I’m Asking For” by Lifehouse

“Last Kiss” by Boyce Avenue

“Why” by Second Hand Serenade

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE