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Sloan Brothers #1
Every Which Way
Severine
I made a pact with my best friend that when we went to college neither one of us would fall in love. We were going to enjoy ourselves and this new adventure. She didn’t keep her side of the pact, but I was determined to.
Then I met Macsen Sloan.
He was quiet and kept to himself. He was nothing like his cocky, basketball star brother, Thayer.
Macsen
Severine Blake was like every beautiful girl — she crooked her finger, expecting every guy within a mile to come crawling. Not only that, but she was sarcastic, opinionated and sometimes a complete bitch.
We were polar opposites. I knew that, she knew that. But what gave me a second glance at her was that my brother was watching from afar.
He wanted this girl.
Yet she wanted me first.
Thayer
I saw her first.
She was at a party, dancing with some guy, completely oblivious that I was staring.
I knew nothing about her, yet I wanted to because I could see that her snark was just a front. She was hiding her true self.
I just never anticipated her falling for my brother.
New Adult
I made a pact with my best friend that when we went to college neither one of us would fall in love. We were going to enjoy ourselves and this new adventure. She didn’t keep her side of the pact, but I was determined to.
Then I met Macsen Sloan.
He was quiet and kept to himself. He was nothing like his cocky, basketball star brother, Thayer.
Macsen
Severine Blake was like every beautiful girl — she crooked her finger, expecting every guy within a mile to come crawling. Not only that, but she was sarcastic, opinionated and sometimes a complete bitch.
We were polar opposites. I knew that, she knew that. But what gave me a second glance at her was that my brother was watching from afar.
He wanted this girl.
Yet she wanted me first.
Thayer
I saw her first.
She was at a party, dancing with some guy, completely oblivious that I was staring.
I knew nothing about her, yet I wanted to because I could see that her snark was just a front. She was hiding her true self.
I just never anticipated her falling for my brother.
New Adult
390 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2012
133 people are currently reading
7294 people want to read
About the author
Calia Read
20 books2,924 followersCalia Read is the author of the Belgrave Dynasty, The Surviving Time Series, and several other works. She lives in the Midwest and is hard at work on the fourth book in the Belgrave Dynasty.
You can find her constantly on Facebook and Instagram:
http://www.facebook.com/CaliaRead
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ailacread/
You can find her constantly on Facebook and Instagram:
http://www.facebook.com/CaliaRead
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ailacread/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 387 reviews
December 4, 2013
O_O
My first foray into the New Adult genre has been disastrous. Needless to say this one is eligible for negative stars and owes me a lobotomy.
Beware: plenty of snark and explicit language ahead. There are no spoilers, but loads of gifs, because words alone are just not doing it for this one.
Let's begin with first impressions. That title is shit. I have no idea what it wants to convey and frankly, I have one that fits the story much better. Welcome to The Slut-shamer's Guide to Humanity!
The basic set-up is a college I don't want to go to, because the people are awful and the few classes they offer last for about two minutes, which gives the students enough time to freely create drama, hate on their peers and not take notes because who the fuck goes to class to learn anyway. I don't. That's what my parents love about me. We are privileged to experience this charming life through the eyes of the adorable slut-shamer of service, Severine Blake, who keeps such a bad hold on her hormones that she goes to the library to have some hand-sex with one brother while sharing passionate glares with the other. Said brothers, Thayer "the quiet player" and Macsen "the nerdy sweetheart" Sloan, were torn apart by their parents's traumatising divorce - the mother is to blame, of course - and can't stand each other, even though they live, go for coffee and party together because convenience and vicinity and opportunity to have the MC torn between some of the worst love interests in the history of the literary word.
Fun fact: the Western literary word is generally traced back to Homer, a.k.a. the 8th century BC.
Moving on. You thought this was problematic behaviour:
You thought this was misogynist as fuck:
Well, you're in luck.
Meet Severine. She's the nicest girl you'll ever meet on campus, though she prefers to hang out in coffeeshops and the like and just let her single mother pay for a higher education she's not that keen on paying any attention to. To be honest, who would when you've got two violent and aggressive asshole dudes chasing your Exceptional Girl tail? We first get to know her when she and her best friend Lily are having coffee and the Sloan brothers and their thoroughly developed sidekick walk in. Lily confides that she tried to get with Thayer (the oldest brother) but failed and then just hooked up with the sidekick out of spite. As the extremely supportive best friend that she is, Severine immediately starts having mental sex and eye contact with said brother, and she can tell from a glance that he's a total player and will get her hot and bothered and then crush her so she shouldn't bother with him in the first place.
WOW. I want me some people skills like that. She is a very classy lady, and to prove that, I will now directly quote some of her thoughts and philosophies, with some editorial commentary.
One book in the head of Severine Blake
Depend-a-ho is a female that sits around, waiting for a dude. She often scours the room, adjusts her dress constantly, and stutters around a guy because she thinks it's cute.
Note that this is exactly how the MC herself behaves whenever one of the brothers is around a.k.a. 98% of the book. There is even a scene when she goes home to her family for Thanksgiving, but the only things we get to see is her talking to her mother and grandmother about the brothers and them saying who she should choose. That's it.
There should be a shirt for all girls like them. Not even that ... maybe a club. Their slogan: Destroying the impression of girls everywhere since the word 'tramp stamp' was invented.
Good going bro. You just destroyed my sympathy.
"So what do we have here?" Tim asked Thayer. His arm was still around Lily, but he smirked at whore one and whore two.
We're on page 27. As with every other "female" in this book, the whores in question are two girls that hang around the guy the MC desperately wants. Attention, one of the guys. Because two girls around one guy is just sluttiness incarnate, but one girl depend-a-hoeing it for two brothers is an act of bravery I'm supposed to root for. I'm looking at your standards and they have crossed double about 27 pages ago.
But wait! Christmas has come early this year, because we get characterisation of whore 1 and whore 2. Lucky!
One of the perky redheads answered for the two of them. "Oh, I'm Farrah," she pointed toward her twin, "and this is Faith."
"A few of my brain cells just fizzled out," Anne muttered into Severine's ear before she broke their circle and shouted out "I'm getting a drink!"
I know, right. I just HATE when people tell me their names. It's, like, hello do you want me to get dumber by adding extra information? But props to you, Anne, because while you're in a club with atrociously loud music, you can mutter and your favourite Exceptional Girl will still receive your misogyny loud and clear. That takes skill.
Wait for it. We're not done with the twins' character development.
So much for the buddy system. Severine didn't blame her, though. You could have fun without your crotch hanging out. Obviously, Farrah and Faith didn't receive the memo.
O_O
That is anatomically impossible.
And you thought that was the last of it?
"Wow, this is just awesome. Two future Playboy bunnies in the making, standing right in front of me!" The two dummies in front of her smiled, clearly not catching onto Severine's sarcasm. Thayer grinned and she wanted to punch that deprecating look of his face.
WAIT! Severine! Waaaaaaaait! You missed one!
Phew. We've successfully demolished those whores. Now what about the rest of the female population?
Let me show you some of their superfine deduction skills:
"That girl." Her finger could barely stay straight as she pointed in front of them. "I've never met her."
"I know," Lily agreed. "She's a bitch."
She looked behind him and saw the petite blonde that had been laughing earlier. She was the size of a Polly Pocket. With her bright blue eyes and pouty mouth, she could technically be labelled as pretty.
(Also: Society rejoice! We have a working definition of "pretty". This is good news.)
Severine looked back at her boldly. She didn't want to deal with this girl right now, but it didn't mean that she was going to back away and crumble in a corner. She faced the fake brunette full on.
How much do you want to bet she is in fact a *gasp* blonde? I mean, she obviously belongs to the genetic pool of sluts, so she has to be a natural blond, no?
Let me just say that Severine is absolutely right in saying that's she's "not like other girls" or that she doesn't want to be "that girl". I like girls and women, I think they are fun people to be around and I know for a fact that I wouldn't want to live in a world that didn't have any other specimens of the female race besides me in it. So when Thayer says that Severine is a special one of a kind unique snowflake wonder, I completely agree and am very happy at the same time. This, in itself, is proof miracles still exist.
But you know, this one is a genius:
The minute she was allowed to date, she created a system with Lily. Call 'em and leave 'em.
Yesss. This tactic is as ingenious and rare as Severine's character in the field of New Adult.
"You're a complexity, Blake," expressed deeply. "Because my DVR isn't filled with the Kardashians like the bitches you bring home?"
Behold the definition of complexity.
She loved Severine fiercely. It'd be the biggest thing they'd always had in common.
Narcissists. NARCISSISTS EVERYWHERE.
Also, she's talking about her grandmother. You'd think blood would be the number one on that list? Oops, I forgot which genre we are in.
Make up only illuminated her European features.
Okay, so I know this might be a bit difficult to tell for a college student but "Europe" is not a fucking race in itself. "Europe" is not a country and there is not something as "European features". Because you know what Severine - French-named because it sounds exotic and rare and like loads of sex-on-a-stick-because-French - "Europe" features all kinds of facial shapes, body types, hair colours, eye colours, skin tones, eyebrow shapes etc. and the reason your mum looks "European" is probably because you mean "white", which doesn't surprise me at all, because why have diversity when the getting together of a couple (okay, technically a threesome) of despicably lame and boring white kids is so much more story-worthy.
Now that we as a whole have some idea as to what goes on in that head of hers, let's take a look at level of logic and the quality of language.
Daily actions of Severine Blake:
Severine squirmed in her seat awkwardly.
That is indeed what squirming means.
Severine repeated back.
That is called a tautology. You're smart, Sev, you know the word.
The closer Severine came closer, she saw the brilliant smile on her mom's face.
This girl's got some motion skills.
"Ah well, seriously?" Severine paused and looked over at him. "I want to be a dermatologist."
Yet the only classes she explicitly takes are literature and psychology. But you know, who needs an education when you can pursue a double major in slut-shaming and assholes. And it's not like a dermatologist ever needs to help attractive girls - which Severine seems to be allergic to - with any skin problems. Oh no, that's just not how health care and the human body work.
Or that you chucked your computer - a Mac, no less - at the wall? "You know, I don't appreciate the word 'chucked'. It sounds so hostile.
Slut, whore and bitch au contraire. Don't worry about the laptop, though. Money will inexplicably be provided.
It seemed wrong to Severine that another girl would go so out of her way to cut her down. All over a guy. Severine leaned back in the booth. Her smirk was dark when she took in Haley. "Okay, now I'm pissed off. Bitch mode is officially on."
O_O
It was ever off?
And don't get me started on the irony of that first sentence.
Her smile was attractive - a smile that could slay a guy - and walked away.
I don't think I'd find a murderous smile attractive, but according to the rules of punctuation her smile can walk, so that's definitely a plus. Interesting. So, English isn't my first language, but I'm still pretty sure that this sentence doesn't even make sense in some obscure metaphorical sense.
One thing was different - Mathias's pain rolled off him in waves. He was a damaged soul.
Another fine display of her people skills. These brothers have such a deep connection to the MC that she can pin-point the third brother the minute she sees him, no matter what mood he is in.
Severine's bitch-o-meter wasn't flying through the roof, and that was a good sign. Time was always the best thing when it came to getting to know other females.
Eeeeeeeeeh WRONG. My experience has taught me that your tongue and kindness will do the trick just fine. Minor spoiler: the generous sentiment towards these "females" won't last. Before the book ends on something that I think was supposed to be a cliff hanger
she will dislike one of the "females" on account of her - wait for it - looks. Admit it, you couldn't have guessed that all by yourself.
Severine flung her hand towards the cheerleaders. "It's like slut-a-palooza over there."
I see your fine knowledge of the female sex, Miss MC, and I'll raise you with a personal anecdote that will provide all the statistics necessary. I know a cheerleader. Yes, they are not that extremely common around here, but lo and behold, I found one. She is a good dancer, funny, smart, pretty, and kind. So 100% of the actual living, breathing, cheering cheerleaders does not partake in a slut-a-palooza, capiche.
But internally, her blood rushed from the intense workout.
If your blood is pumping externally you are in trouble. Doesn't mean I wouldn't have loved to see that plot event happen. This actually gave me hope the opposite was possible.
Both brothers are despicable, and all too eager to beat each other up because they are crushing on the same speshul snowflake and obviously no other girl can compare. There is even one sex scene - more of a given than a spoiler in NA - between Severine and a brother where he's slamming her head against the wall with all his sexual power while constantly demanding from her "who is in control now" and saying that she can't escape and some other shit that very much sounds like rape to me. She eventually has to admit that he's stronger and that her power can't possibly match his and all of it makes her sound more like a victim than a girl who has just received the hottest sex of her life.
I should be glad that these two found each other, so that they can start inbreeding their assholeness, leave the rest of humanity alone and diminish the risk of contaminating people actually worthy of a storyline.
Last thing. There was a fucking epilogue.
Why does this kind of shit need an epilogue? Anyway, in it we get the promise that a new girl, who was introduced halfway through The Slut-shamer's Guide and then never spoken of again, is in town and out for blood. This is the premise of the sequel and actually sounds interesting, which is the reason I read this one in the first place. Well, her name is Emilia, she has a burn list and all of them are on it. While I know she'll never go through with the plan because overpowered by the raw sexual dominance of the brother Severine doesn't end up with, I want her TO BURN THEM ALL. And burn them real good and crispy, because after I read that fail at ridding humanity of the lowest life-form imaginable, I would very much like that lobotomy I asked for earlier.
My first foray into the New Adult genre has been disastrous. Needless to say this one is eligible for negative stars and owes me a lobotomy.
Beware: plenty of snark and explicit language ahead. There are no spoilers, but loads of gifs, because words alone are just not doing it for this one.
Let's begin with first impressions. That title is shit. I have no idea what it wants to convey and frankly, I have one that fits the story much better. Welcome to The Slut-shamer's Guide to Humanity!
The basic set-up is a college I don't want to go to, because the people are awful and the few classes they offer last for about two minutes, which gives the students enough time to freely create drama, hate on their peers and not take notes because who the fuck goes to class to learn anyway. I don't. That's what my parents love about me. We are privileged to experience this charming life through the eyes of the adorable slut-shamer of service, Severine Blake, who keeps such a bad hold on her hormones that she goes to the library to have some hand-sex with one brother while sharing passionate glares with the other. Said brothers, Thayer "the quiet player" and Macsen "the nerdy sweetheart" Sloan, were torn apart by their parents's traumatising divorce - the mother is to blame, of course - and can't stand each other, even though they live, go for coffee and party together because convenience and vicinity and opportunity to have the MC torn between some of the worst love interests in the history of the literary word.
Fun fact: the Western literary word is generally traced back to Homer, a.k.a. the 8th century BC.
Moving on. You thought this was problematic behaviour:
You thought this was misogynist as fuck:
Well, you're in luck.
Meet Severine. She's the nicest girl you'll ever meet on campus, though she prefers to hang out in coffeeshops and the like and just let her single mother pay for a higher education she's not that keen on paying any attention to. To be honest, who would when you've got two violent and aggressive asshole dudes chasing your Exceptional Girl tail? We first get to know her when she and her best friend Lily are having coffee and the Sloan brothers and their thoroughly developed sidekick walk in. Lily confides that she tried to get with Thayer (the oldest brother) but failed and then just hooked up with the sidekick out of spite. As the extremely supportive best friend that she is, Severine immediately starts having mental sex and eye contact with said brother, and she can tell from a glance that he's a total player and will get her hot and bothered and then crush her so she shouldn't bother with him in the first place.
WOW. I want me some people skills like that. She is a very classy lady, and to prove that, I will now directly quote some of her thoughts and philosophies, with some editorial commentary.
One book in the head of Severine Blake
Depend-a-ho is a female that sits around, waiting for a dude. She often scours the room, adjusts her dress constantly, and stutters around a guy because she thinks it's cute.
Note that this is exactly how the MC herself behaves whenever one of the brothers is around a.k.a. 98% of the book. There is even a scene when she goes home to her family for Thanksgiving, but the only things we get to see is her talking to her mother and grandmother about the brothers and them saying who she should choose. That's it.
There should be a shirt for all girls like them. Not even that ... maybe a club. Their slogan: Destroying the impression of girls everywhere since the word 'tramp stamp' was invented.
Good going bro. You just destroyed my sympathy.
"So what do we have here?" Tim asked Thayer. His arm was still around Lily, but he smirked at whore one and whore two.
New Oxford American Dictionary
whore, noun, derogatory: a prostitute; a promiscuous woman
also to whore, verb: to debase oneself by doing something for unworthy motives, typically to make money.
We're on page 27. As with every other "female" in this book, the whores in question are two girls that hang around the guy the MC desperately wants. Attention, one of the guys. Because two girls around one guy is just sluttiness incarnate, but one girl depend-a-hoeing it for two brothers is an act of bravery I'm supposed to root for. I'm looking at your standards and they have crossed double about 27 pages ago.
But wait! Christmas has come early this year, because we get characterisation of whore 1 and whore 2. Lucky!
One of the perky redheads answered for the two of them. "Oh, I'm Farrah," she pointed toward her twin, "and this is Faith."
"A few of my brain cells just fizzled out," Anne muttered into Severine's ear before she broke their circle and shouted out "I'm getting a drink!"
I know, right. I just HATE when people tell me their names. It's, like, hello do you want me to get dumber by adding extra information? But props to you, Anne, because while you're in a club with atrociously loud music, you can mutter and your favourite Exceptional Girl will still receive your misogyny loud and clear. That takes skill.
Wait for it. We're not done with the twins' character development.
So much for the buddy system. Severine didn't blame her, though. You could have fun without your crotch hanging out. Obviously, Farrah and Faith didn't receive the memo.
O_O
That is anatomically impossible.
And you thought that was the last of it?
"Wow, this is just awesome. Two future Playboy bunnies in the making, standing right in front of me!" The two dummies in front of her smiled, clearly not catching onto Severine's sarcasm. Thayer grinned and she wanted to punch that deprecating look of his face.
WAIT! Severine! Waaaaaaaait! You missed one!
Phew. We've successfully demolished those whores. Now what about the rest of the female population?
Let me show you some of their superfine deduction skills:
"That girl." Her finger could barely stay straight as she pointed in front of them. "I've never met her."
"I know," Lily agreed. "She's a bitch."
She looked behind him and saw the petite blonde that had been laughing earlier. She was the size of a Polly Pocket. With her bright blue eyes and pouty mouth, she could technically be labelled as pretty.
(Also: Society rejoice! We have a working definition of "pretty". This is good news.)
Severine looked back at her boldly. She didn't want to deal with this girl right now, but it didn't mean that she was going to back away and crumble in a corner. She faced the fake brunette full on.
How much do you want to bet she is in fact a *gasp* blonde? I mean, she obviously belongs to the genetic pool of sluts, so she has to be a natural blond, no?
Let me just say that Severine is absolutely right in saying that's she's "not like other girls" or that she doesn't want to be "that girl". I like girls and women, I think they are fun people to be around and I know for a fact that I wouldn't want to live in a world that didn't have any other specimens of the female race besides me in it. So when Thayer says that Severine is a special one of a kind unique snowflake wonder, I completely agree and am very happy at the same time. This, in itself, is proof miracles still exist.
But you know, this one is a genius:
The minute she was allowed to date, she created a system with Lily. Call 'em and leave 'em.
Yesss. This tactic is as ingenious and rare as Severine's character in the field of New Adult.
"You're a complexity, Blake," expressed deeply. "Because my DVR isn't filled with the Kardashians like the bitches you bring home?"
Behold the definition of complexity.
She loved Severine fiercely. It'd be the biggest thing they'd always had in common.
Narcissists. NARCISSISTS EVERYWHERE.
Also, she's talking about her grandmother. You'd think blood would be the number one on that list? Oops, I forgot which genre we are in.
Make up only illuminated her European features.
Okay, so I know this might be a bit difficult to tell for a college student but "Europe" is not a fucking race in itself. "Europe" is not a country and there is not something as "European features". Because you know what Severine - French-named because it sounds exotic and rare and like loads of sex-on-a-stick-because-French - "Europe" features all kinds of facial shapes, body types, hair colours, eye colours, skin tones, eyebrow shapes etc. and the reason your mum looks "European" is probably because you mean "white", which doesn't surprise me at all, because why have diversity when the getting together of a couple (okay, technically a threesome) of despicably lame and boring white kids is so much more story-worthy.
Now that we as a whole have some idea as to what goes on in that head of hers, let's take a look at level of logic and the quality of language.
Daily actions of Severine Blake:
Severine squirmed in her seat awkwardly.
That is indeed what squirming means.
Severine repeated back.
That is called a tautology. You're smart, Sev, you know the word.
The closer Severine came closer, she saw the brilliant smile on her mom's face.
This girl's got some motion skills.
"Ah well, seriously?" Severine paused and looked over at him. "I want to be a dermatologist."
Yet the only classes she explicitly takes are literature and psychology. But you know, who needs an education when you can pursue a double major in slut-shaming and assholes. And it's not like a dermatologist ever needs to help attractive girls - which Severine seems to be allergic to - with any skin problems. Oh no, that's just not how health care and the human body work.
Or that you chucked your computer - a Mac, no less - at the wall? "You know, I don't appreciate the word 'chucked'. It sounds so hostile.
Slut, whore and bitch au contraire. Don't worry about the laptop, though. Money will inexplicably be provided.
It seemed wrong to Severine that another girl would go so out of her way to cut her down. All over a guy. Severine leaned back in the booth. Her smirk was dark when she took in Haley. "Okay, now I'm pissed off. Bitch mode is officially on."
O_O
It was ever off?
And don't get me started on the irony of that first sentence.
Her smile was attractive - a smile that could slay a guy - and walked away.
I don't think I'd find a murderous smile attractive, but according to the rules of punctuation her smile can walk, so that's definitely a plus. Interesting. So, English isn't my first language, but I'm still pretty sure that this sentence doesn't even make sense in some obscure metaphorical sense.
One thing was different - Mathias's pain rolled off him in waves. He was a damaged soul.
Another fine display of her people skills. These brothers have such a deep connection to the MC that she can pin-point the third brother the minute she sees him, no matter what mood he is in.
Severine's bitch-o-meter wasn't flying through the roof, and that was a good sign. Time was always the best thing when it came to getting to know other females.
Eeeeeeeeeh WRONG. My experience has taught me that your tongue and kindness will do the trick just fine. Minor spoiler: the generous sentiment towards these "females" won't last. Before the book ends on something that I think was supposed to be a cliff hanger
she will dislike one of the "females" on account of her - wait for it - looks. Admit it, you couldn't have guessed that all by yourself.
Severine flung her hand towards the cheerleaders. "It's like slut-a-palooza over there."
I see your fine knowledge of the female sex, Miss MC, and I'll raise you with a personal anecdote that will provide all the statistics necessary. I know a cheerleader. Yes, they are not that extremely common around here, but lo and behold, I found one. She is a good dancer, funny, smart, pretty, and kind. So 100% of the actual living, breathing, cheering cheerleaders does not partake in a slut-a-palooza, capiche.
But internally, her blood rushed from the intense workout.
If your blood is pumping externally you are in trouble. Doesn't mean I wouldn't have loved to see that plot event happen. This actually gave me hope the opposite was possible.
Both brothers are despicable, and all too eager to beat each other up because they are crushing on the same speshul snowflake and obviously no other girl can compare. There is even one sex scene - more of a given than a spoiler in NA - between Severine and a brother where he's slamming her head against the wall with all his sexual power while constantly demanding from her "who is in control now" and saying that she can't escape and some other shit that very much sounds like rape to me. She eventually has to admit that he's stronger and that her power can't possibly match his and all of it makes her sound more like a victim than a girl who has just received the hottest sex of her life.
I should be glad that these two found each other, so that they can start inbreeding their assholeness, leave the rest of humanity alone and diminish the risk of contaminating people actually worthy of a storyline.
Last thing. There was a fucking epilogue.
Why does this kind of shit need an epilogue? Anyway, in it we get the promise that a new girl, who was introduced halfway through The Slut-shamer's Guide and then never spoken of again, is in town and out for blood. This is the premise of the sequel and actually sounds interesting, which is the reason I read this one in the first place. Well, her name is Emilia, she has a burn list and all of them are on it. While I know she'll never go through with the plan because overpowered by the raw sexual dominance of the brother Severine doesn't end up with, I want her TO BURN THEM ALL. And burn them real good and crispy, because after I read that fail at ridding humanity of the lowest life-form imaginable, I would very much like that lobotomy I asked for earlier.
December 4, 2013
I wrote this. So I'm a little biased.
November 18, 2012
One for the Three Star Hall of Fame so read this review dammit...
I'm conflicted with loving a book, but not really caring for the writing style. I enjoyed the story...a lot, but my issues are purely with execution. The first half was a struggle for me; mainly the dialogue. It didn't feel like natural conversation and every now and then someone would say something that didn't seem to fit with the conversation at hand. The author had some beautiful things to say and is obviously very intelligent. However, it sometimes came across as her trying too hard to sound like a writer instead of just letting herself be a writer. Sometimes it's better to let a story speak for itself instead of trying to dress it up too much. I think these things will come with experience.
No matter what I felt about the execution though, this new author has earned my respect. There is only one reason I'll get down on my knees, but now there's two. It's to bow down to Calia Read for doing something that only one other author, in the history of all of time, has ever been able to do. YOU MADE ME SWITCH TEAMS! No, not that team...I am still very much pro penis, but she caused me to jump from one stick to the next.
I was instantly drawn to Macsen from the start. However, I could totally tell that Severine was drawn to Thayer and I felt like that was the direction the author was going too. I don't do love triangles and I don't switch teams! I was setting myself up to be violated with disappointment, but then Thayer happened...he happened all over me. If you would have told me that I'd end up Team Thayer, I would have bullshit sneezed my skepticism all over your face. But here I am, riding the Thayer train.
I also loved how the ending wasn't a cliffhanger either. It gave us closure for this story, but at the same time it teased us with something more...making us want more. If I was just rating the second half of the book it would be 4 stars easy, maybe more. Calia Read brought something new and unique to the table and when deciding whether or not to grab this book, you need to ask yourself one very important question, "Do I want to sleep with Macsen or Thayer...or both?"
No seriously, if you can look past the packaging (and I don't mean the kickass cover) and see what lies inside then yes...you'll very much enjoy this book and me personally, I'll be reaching for the sequel. For sure!!! READ ON!
I'm conflicted with loving a book, but not really caring for the writing style. I enjoyed the story...a lot, but my issues are purely with execution. The first half was a struggle for me; mainly the dialogue. It didn't feel like natural conversation and every now and then someone would say something that didn't seem to fit with the conversation at hand. The author had some beautiful things to say and is obviously very intelligent. However, it sometimes came across as her trying too hard to sound like a writer instead of just letting herself be a writer. Sometimes it's better to let a story speak for itself instead of trying to dress it up too much. I think these things will come with experience.
No matter what I felt about the execution though, this new author has earned my respect. There is only one reason I'll get down on my knees, but now there's two. It's to bow down to Calia Read for doing something that only one other author, in the history of all of time, has ever been able to do. YOU MADE ME SWITCH TEAMS! No, not that team...I am still very much pro penis, but she caused me to jump from one stick to the next.
I was instantly drawn to Macsen from the start. However, I could totally tell that Severine was drawn to Thayer and I felt like that was the direction the author was going too. I don't do love triangles and I don't switch teams! I was setting myself up to be violated with disappointment, but then Thayer happened...he happened all over me. If you would have told me that I'd end up Team Thayer, I would have bullshit sneezed my skepticism all over your face. But here I am, riding the Thayer train.
I also loved how the ending wasn't a cliffhanger either. It gave us closure for this story, but at the same time it teased us with something more...making us want more. If I was just rating the second half of the book it would be 4 stars easy, maybe more. Calia Read brought something new and unique to the table and when deciding whether or not to grab this book, you need to ask yourself one very important question, "Do I want to sleep with Macsen or Thayer...or both?"
No seriously, if you can look past the packaging (and I don't mean the kickass cover) and see what lies inside then yes...you'll very much enjoy this book and me personally, I'll be reaching for the sequel. For sure!!! READ ON!
May 23, 2017
This book & its protagonist.
I don't get it, dating a guy when you're obviously more attracted to his brother?
Because... who have the time for reasons right?
Too much condescension toward other women. MC was such a hateful person.
Almost everything felt forced: the situations, the dialogue, at times even the humor felt stilted. Forced.
I believe if this book had less drama, less Macsen-shenanigans and waaayyy less girl-on-girl hate, it would be more enjoyable. But then it would also be an entirely different book. *gasp* Does that book exist? What is the name of that book? Maybe I should have read that book instead? It sounds definitely better than this book I did read.
For this book, the sexy time with Thayer was hot. Like a lot hotter than with Macsen. Unfortunately, we gave large chunk of the book to Macsen. That pairing was never convincing to me. So instead of the intended angst it was more like the worst kind of angst: the exasperated, annoying, pointless angst.
Next book in the series?
I don't get it, dating a guy when you're obviously more attracted to his brother?
Because... who have the time for reasons right?
Too much condescension toward other women. MC was such a hateful person.
Almost everything felt forced: the situations, the dialogue, at times even the humor felt stilted. Forced.
I believe if this book had less drama, less Macsen-shenanigans and waaayyy less girl-on-girl hate, it would be more enjoyable. But then it would also be an entirely different book. *gasp* Does that book exist? What is the name of that book? Maybe I should have read that book instead? It sounds definitely better than this book I did read.
For this book, the sexy time with Thayer was hot. Like a lot hotter than with Macsen. Unfortunately, we gave large chunk of the book to Macsen. That pairing was never convincing to me. So instead of the intended angst it was more like the worst kind of angst: the exasperated, annoying, pointless angst.
Next book in the series?
November 20, 2012
“I saw you first,” he rasped out deeply. “Remember that. I saw you first.”
One of my favourite things about reading so many books is finding new authors with a fresh voice, a different idea in mind, an original story to share. Nothing about Every Which Way is what you would expect a story with a love triangle to be. This is a book about the ultimate question we all ask ourselves when our heart is in danger of being broken – is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
Our heroine is Severine, a girl with an unusual name and a quirky personality to match. Let me start this by saying that I have waited a very long time to find a female character that I would love and identify with on so many dysfunctional levels. Severine is sassy, confident, outspoken, brusque, a tease, but she is all those things without pretending to be someone else. She is flawed and completely self-aware of all her flaws. Always open about how little she invests of herself in her short-lived relationships, she consciously steers away from situations that could compromise her control over her emotions.
Severine grew up watching her mother being discarded by her father too many times to count and learned pretty early on in life that nothing can destroy a person like a crumbled and disillusioned heart.
“You should never show your emotions. Someone will steal them away, and you’ll be left with nothing, Severine... You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces...”
She was programmed to believe that loving a man meant giving him control over her heart. These fears were instilled in her young mind as she watched her mother’s pain and her only male role model being a man who walked in and out of their life, breaking her mother’s heart time after time, never returning her love and devotion. It comes as no surprise that Severine unconsciously became a version of her father rather than her mother, as she always attributed control to him rather than to her mum.
The Sloan brothers enter Severine’s life suddenly and unexpectedly. As opposite as they could be, Thayer and Macsen represent danger and safety respectively. Thayer is the cocky player, her male counterpart in the commitment-free dating game and the moment their eyes meet they recognize that in each other. They are drawn to one another because they speak the same language without even uttering a word, they see each other as a challenge, someone to beat, someone to triumph over. Severine is instantly aware of the effect that Thayer has on her and of the potential danger her heart would be in if she got involved with someone like him. For the first time in her life, she is losing control over her own feelings.
“The ego on the two of you is enough to make the windows shatter. So you’re in Severine-land, and he’s chilling in all his hot dude glory. You are like two magnets repelling each other. The magnetic field is too much.”
Macsen is Severine’s opposite and her reaction to him is also the opposite of the chaos that his brother stirs in her. He intrigues her, he makes her heart feel safe and she lowers her guard when she is around him. He might not cause thunderbirds in her stomach but he offers her a safe haven to pursue an attraction that is mutual, comfortable and one that allows her to have the upper hand.
“Severine knew he was the safer route. He made her laugh. Being around Macsen gave her a calmness that normally never stuck. It made sense. For once, Severine needed to follow her logic and gut.”
But things are rarely what they seem and Severine soon learns that there is no safe zone when it comes to matters of the heart. Your heart can be torn even when you decide to give away only a small piece of it. This story might be based on a love triangle but the focus is more on Severine’s emotional growth and less on who she eventually ends up with. For me it was never a question of whom she would choose in the end - this book for me represented a young woman’s struggle to come to terms with her aching desire to love and to be loved, and all the ingrained fears that she carries inside her. Her inner battle is heartbreaking as Severine has such a huge capacity to love but won’t allow herself to love.
“Severine didn’t want to be crumbled into nothing. But she wanted to have that feeling. Severine wanted to know if she was really missing out - was there something to relationships that she just wasn’t seeing? Was it truly worth it?”
While I enjoyed the character development of the heroine, I felt somewhat let down by the way the male characters were portrayed. I am not confident that I understood them completely or the reasons behind their actions. Macsen remained a complete mystery to me. I believe that this is also due to the partly abstract writing style in this book. Ms Read writes beautifully from a narrative point of view but when her characters’ inner voices are concerned, I felt at times like I was presented with a puzzle that I could not solve regardless of how hard I tried. I walked away with my own interpretation of it but never quite sure whether I really got it. However, I believe this is something that will change as the author gets a few more notches under her belt. As much as I could not put this book down, the ending was anticlimactic for me as I was expecting a much more passionate and dramatic finale, but it will undoubtedly satisfy any HEA addict.
~ N ♥
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November 17, 2012
A love triangle... with two hot brothers... whats not to love?!? I really enjoyed this book! A solid 4 star/4.5 star read! It was angsty, snarky and very funny at times.
You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces...
This was advice given to Severine by her mother, which explains a lot of her actions to me. While at a coffee shop with her best friend Lily, she first notices the Sloan brothers. Her life will never be the same. Though very different, she is drawn to the both of them. Macsen and Thayer... Macsen is a little more standoffish, and Thayer is about the male equivalent of her, which scares her to death. Oh- one more thing, these brothers have a very difficult and complicated relationship. One will betray her. One will make her fall in love...
I think my favorite character of the book was Lily. She was serioulsly a great friend, and so funny! 'For a good church girl, you're really aggressive.' 'Severine, I have a Christian heart, but sometimes I still wanna cut a bitch...' She gave me some laughs. Anne was great too. Thayer and Mac's friend Chris also had some funny moments, along with Severine.
This was a really great debut novel, and the ending left me really wanting to read the next book to see what would happen next!
You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces...
This was advice given to Severine by her mother, which explains a lot of her actions to me. While at a coffee shop with her best friend Lily, she first notices the Sloan brothers. Her life will never be the same. Though very different, she is drawn to the both of them. Macsen and Thayer... Macsen is a little more standoffish, and Thayer is about the male equivalent of her, which scares her to death. Oh- one more thing, these brothers have a very difficult and complicated relationship. One will betray her. One will make her fall in love...
I think my favorite character of the book was Lily. She was serioulsly a great friend, and so funny! 'For a good church girl, you're really aggressive.' 'Severine, I have a Christian heart, but sometimes I still wanna cut a bitch...' She gave me some laughs. Anne was great too. Thayer and Mac's friend Chris also had some funny moments, along with Severine.
This was a really great debut novel, and the ending left me really wanting to read the next book to see what would happen next!
January 30, 2013
4 stars.
And a massive
Thayer won me over wayyyyy before he won Severine over.
Macson was hard not to like….
TO START WITH
Then he turned into an ass
The family dynamics between Macson, Thayer and the rest of them seemed a bit extreme, until all was revealed.
Then it was understandable.
The ending was interesting and now I am intrigued as to where the next one is going after reading the synopsis…
And a massive
Thayer won me over wayyyyy before he won Severine over.
Macson was hard not to like….
TO START WITH
Then he turned into an ass
The family dynamics between Macson, Thayer and the rest of them seemed a bit extreme, until all was revealed.
Then it was understandable.
The ending was interesting and now I am intrigued as to where the next one is going after reading the synopsis…
November 27, 2012
You know those books, the ones that tie you up in knots? Yeah, well...this was one of those types of books for me. This book made me laugh, pull my hair out, and even had me begging my friend to give me hints! I know, I know...bad Autumn. Despite my angst, I really, really liked this book.
I'll admit that it took me a while to warm up to Severine. I can't pinpoint what it was initially that I didn't connect with, but by the end of the book I "got" her. She does have a good sense of humor, which I definitely understood. She's confident, but not in a bitchy way. Severine is a bit guarded with her emotions in some ways, but that's understandable. She has some unresolved issues with her father. I think that made her more vulnerable to the messy situation she found herself in with Macsen and Thayer.
Now, on to the boys. I'll start with Macsen first. There is a small part of me that liked him, even at the end. Not that I thought he was the right one for Severine, but I think I just felt kind of bad for him. I didn't feel bad for him because of the result, I felt for him because I just don't think he knew of any other way to "be". He's a lost soul, but he caused so much hurt within his family. It's hard to recover from something like that. It'll be interesting to see what happens with him in the next book.
THAYER! I have to say that even early on...when you aren't really supposed to like Thayer, I liked him. He was the one I wanted Severine with from the get go. BUT, we wouldn't have gotten the full story if it had turned out that way! Thayer comes off as this player, but he's really not. He's a star basketball player at the college and he's hot, so naturally he gets a lot of female attention. Does he indulge? Of course he does, but once he sees Severine...let's just say that she's all he sees. *lesigh* I had respect for him and appreciated that he never interfered in Severine and Macsen's relationship. I also liked that he gave Severine time to figure things out for herself without pressure or influence. He really is dreamy.
There are some steamy parts in the story. Thayer and Severine have some serious chemistry. While I enjoyed those moments, I will say that I would have liked to have seen more. I'm not saying I necessarily needed to see more sexy, but maybe a little more romance.
Overall, Every Which Way had me enthralled from the start. I was thrilled to learn that this will be a series, especially after the bombshell ending. I definitely want to see much more Thayer. It's hard to believe that this was a debut novel. If you are looking for a fresh New Adult romance with substance, check this one out.
I'll admit that it took me a while to warm up to Severine. I can't pinpoint what it was initially that I didn't connect with, but by the end of the book I "got" her. She does have a good sense of humor, which I definitely understood. She's confident, but not in a bitchy way. Severine is a bit guarded with her emotions in some ways, but that's understandable. She has some unresolved issues with her father. I think that made her more vulnerable to the messy situation she found herself in with Macsen and Thayer.
Now, on to the boys. I'll start with Macsen first. There is a small part of me that liked him, even at the end. Not that I thought he was the right one for Severine, but I think I just felt kind of bad for him. I didn't feel bad for him because of the result, I felt for him because I just don't think he knew of any other way to "be". He's a lost soul, but he caused so much hurt within his family. It's hard to recover from something like that. It'll be interesting to see what happens with him in the next book.
THAYER! I have to say that even early on...when you aren't really supposed to like Thayer, I liked him. He was the one I wanted Severine with from the get go. BUT, we wouldn't have gotten the full story if it had turned out that way! Thayer comes off as this player, but he's really not. He's a star basketball player at the college and he's hot, so naturally he gets a lot of female attention. Does he indulge? Of course he does, but once he sees Severine...let's just say that she's all he sees. *lesigh* I had respect for him and appreciated that he never interfered in Severine and Macsen's relationship. I also liked that he gave Severine time to figure things out for herself without pressure or influence. He really is dreamy.
There are some steamy parts in the story. Thayer and Severine have some serious chemistry. While I enjoyed those moments, I will say that I would have liked to have seen more. I'm not saying I necessarily needed to see more sexy, but maybe a little more romance.
Overall, Every Which Way had me enthralled from the start. I was thrilled to learn that this will be a series, especially after the bombshell ending. I definitely want to see much more Thayer. It's hard to believe that this was a debut novel. If you are looking for a fresh New Adult romance with substance, check this one out.
August 13, 2016
Five Sloan Brothers Stars
Isn't It truly amazing when you think that you've read several great books? That you're basically a veteran when it comes to this whole romance binge reading stuff? But then a book like "Every Which Way" comes around from 2012 at that and knocks you off your know it all high horse. That's where I'm at right now, this book has ruined me.
The story of Severine and the Sloan brothers felt like it was being told through a magnifying glass the whole time. I mean that in a good way, like the reader was almost being told the story in secret. It made "Every Which Way" that much more alluring. On top of that the writing is fantastic, I haven't highlighted throughout a story this much since 2013.
"You should never show your emotions. Someone will steal them away, and you’ll be left with nothing, Severine...”
Severine is one of the most interesting Heroine's I've ever read about. You think that she has evil intentions, that she is one of the best man eaters to have played the game... but her true intentions are so much more pure than they seem. She's an intelligent, guarded, and beautiful soul all rolled into one.
"You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces..."
Thayer is the male version of her walking this earth but they both fight the connect that is blazingly obvious to both of them. I fell in love with Thayer. I wanted to understand him and for him to have Severine and because of that I strongly disliked Macsen even before I found out that he had such a strong hand in tearing apart his family and Severine.
“I wanted to say good-bye to you.” “Why?” Severine laughed out "Because...” he stopped talking. Severine strained to hear what he had to say. “You make tears look exquisite, but... they’re not meant for you.”
“When you leave here, I want everything to be obvious. If these walls around us are going to speak, they’re going to shout out that you’re mine.”
Do not be misled by my loving review though... This is most definitely a love triangle between two brothers and one woman. I suggest to anyone that hates love triangles to read this, it changed my mind and showed me how well a love triangle can be written.
Isn't It truly amazing when you think that you've read several great books? That you're basically a veteran when it comes to this whole romance binge reading stuff? But then a book like "Every Which Way" comes around from 2012 at that and knocks you off your know it all high horse. That's where I'm at right now, this book has ruined me.
The story of Severine and the Sloan brothers felt like it was being told through a magnifying glass the whole time. I mean that in a good way, like the reader was almost being told the story in secret. It made "Every Which Way" that much more alluring. On top of that the writing is fantastic, I haven't highlighted throughout a story this much since 2013.
"You should never show your emotions. Someone will steal them away, and you’ll be left with nothing, Severine...”
Severine is one of the most interesting Heroine's I've ever read about. You think that she has evil intentions, that she is one of the best man eaters to have played the game... but her true intentions are so much more pure than they seem. She's an intelligent, guarded, and beautiful soul all rolled into one.
"You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces..."
Thayer is the male version of her walking this earth but they both fight the connect that is blazingly obvious to both of them. I fell in love with Thayer. I wanted to understand him and for him to have Severine and because of that I strongly disliked Macsen even before I found out that he had such a strong hand in tearing apart his family and Severine.
“I wanted to say good-bye to you.” “Why?” Severine laughed out "Because...” he stopped talking. Severine strained to hear what he had to say. “You make tears look exquisite, but... they’re not meant for you.”
“When you leave here, I want everything to be obvious. If these walls around us are going to speak, they’re going to shout out that you’re mine.”
Do not be misled by my loving review though... This is most definitely a love triangle between two brothers and one woman. I suggest to anyone that hates love triangles to read this, it changed my mind and showed me how well a love triangle can be written.
April 15, 2013
4 dreamy torn between two brothers stars !!!!
I was so wishy-washy. I definitely switched up throughout the WHOLE book !!!!!!!!
Thayer/Macsen/Thayer/Macsen
It wasn't toooo hard. A deal-breaker was thrown in so it made the decision easier :)
I stayed up all night for Team Thayer ❤❤❤❤ so now I'm off to book 2
Immediately
With
The
Quickness
I must fall back in love with Macsen ❤
I was so wishy-washy. I definitely switched up throughout the WHOLE book !!!!!!!!
Thayer/Macsen/Thayer/Macsen
It wasn't toooo hard. A deal-breaker was thrown in so it made the decision easier :)
I stayed up all night for Team Thayer ❤❤❤❤ so now I'm off to book 2
Immediately
With
The
Quickness
I must fall back in love with Macsen ❤
November 19, 2012
Calia Read is an amazing author to keep your eye out for! I absolutely loved and devoured this book in one sitting.
November 23, 2012
It's been a very long time since I've been completely confused and at a total loss of what to actually say in my review.
And today is one of those days and Every Which Way by Calia Read is the cause for my absent thoughts.
Let me break it down in a simpler manner and then maybe through that I might actually get a review going here.
The beginning of this book was good. I liked Severine. She was introduced to me in a great way with her quick wit and her ability to carry across sarcastic comments with ease and brilliance.
The same goes for the Sloan brothers, Thayer and Macsen. They had me intrigued and I was very interested to find out what secrets they held.
Needless-to-say... the fact that I liked the characters, made knowing what the hell was actually going on in the first half of the book irrelevant. I was utterly confused and I had to go back and read the blurb to get the just of whats suppose to be happening.
It really didn't paint a clear picture for me. I actually had to sit down and try to figure out what was happening. At one point I thought, maybe the Sloan brother's were actually the same person with split personalities. That's honestly one of the theories I came up with. It was so strange to be reading something and to like what you think is happening but have absolutely no freaking clue whats actually going on.
Then I realized they were not in fact the same guy with split personalities and were indeed two separate individuals... and then I thought ok maybe my copy is missing some lines because one moment I was standing at the starting line and the next I was halfway through the track making my way to the finish. It was honestly such a strange first half. I began to think I'm going to have to go to Google and type in the search box "hidden meaning of the book Every Which Way"... I was feeling as if I was to dumb to understand the complexity of the story and that it was some weird artsy novel that's suppose to have a deeper meaning to it.
Anyhoo... midway through it became clear to me and I could make out what was actually happening in the book. At that point it was awesome and my heart-rate was at a constant flutter.
The second half of the book is a definite 5 star... but the first half... not so much. The sarcasm was very well put and I have sarcastic sense of humor so I laughed often throughout the book.
“You make tears look exquisite, but they're not meant for you.”
I wasn't a big fan of Macsen, the more I got to know him. I could see straight through him and he was not my favorite choice. Thayer was amazing and the fact that he too was fun and witty made him even more desirable to me.
I'm going to help those of you who read the book to understand what actually went on in the beginning without giving away to much, so don't stress about reading further. Severine meets both brothers basically at the same time whiles she's hanging out with her friend at the local coffee shop.
Both brother's catch her attention and she grabs the attention of both brothers. Macsen comes across as calm and sweet while Thayer is the complete opposite. He's basically an exact clone of Severine, except obviously in male form.
So Severine get's to know them both (or so she thinks) and she makes, in her opinion, the right choice when choosing between the two. Macsen makes her feel protected and relaxed. Thayer brings out the fire in her. When she sees Thayer, the are definite sparks and there's no denying it. When she see's Macsen, she sees hope for a future.
Okay so that's what happens in the beginning. The just of it. There's more, but I can't really say since I don't want to give it away. The journey to the part where the books becomes un-put-downable is a rocky one and there were moments where I was just going to scrap it and give up. Dont! It's really a great book once it all starts getting clearer. I think it's kind of just the writing style that's unusual and it takes some getting used to before you absorbed everything fully.
BTW it didn't end up being an artsy book so my theory was wrong again.
Give it a go. It has a lot of buzz surrounding it and I swear it's a great book eventually. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book, since the ending brings up a serious concern in Severine's life... so I believe it's going to be another good read from Calia Read.
Read more reviews on my blog
And today is one of those days and Every Which Way by Calia Read is the cause for my absent thoughts.
Let me break it down in a simpler manner and then maybe through that I might actually get a review going here.
The beginning of this book was good. I liked Severine. She was introduced to me in a great way with her quick wit and her ability to carry across sarcastic comments with ease and brilliance.
The same goes for the Sloan brothers, Thayer and Macsen. They had me intrigued and I was very interested to find out what secrets they held.
Needless-to-say... the fact that I liked the characters, made knowing what the hell was actually going on in the first half of the book irrelevant. I was utterly confused and I had to go back and read the blurb to get the just of whats suppose to be happening.
It really didn't paint a clear picture for me. I actually had to sit down and try to figure out what was happening. At one point I thought, maybe the Sloan brother's were actually the same person with split personalities. That's honestly one of the theories I came up with. It was so strange to be reading something and to like what you think is happening but have absolutely no freaking clue whats actually going on.
Then I realized they were not in fact the same guy with split personalities and were indeed two separate individuals... and then I thought ok maybe my copy is missing some lines because one moment I was standing at the starting line and the next I was halfway through the track making my way to the finish. It was honestly such a strange first half. I began to think I'm going to have to go to Google and type in the search box "hidden meaning of the book Every Which Way"... I was feeling as if I was to dumb to understand the complexity of the story and that it was some weird artsy novel that's suppose to have a deeper meaning to it.
Anyhoo... midway through it became clear to me and I could make out what was actually happening in the book. At that point it was awesome and my heart-rate was at a constant flutter.
The second half of the book is a definite 5 star... but the first half... not so much. The sarcasm was very well put and I have sarcastic sense of humor so I laughed often throughout the book.
“You make tears look exquisite, but they're not meant for you.”
I wasn't a big fan of Macsen, the more I got to know him. I could see straight through him and he was not my favorite choice. Thayer was amazing and the fact that he too was fun and witty made him even more desirable to me.
I'm going to help those of you who read the book to understand what actually went on in the beginning without giving away to much, so don't stress about reading further. Severine meets both brothers basically at the same time whiles she's hanging out with her friend at the local coffee shop.
Both brother's catch her attention and she grabs the attention of both brothers. Macsen comes across as calm and sweet while Thayer is the complete opposite. He's basically an exact clone of Severine, except obviously in male form.
So Severine get's to know them both (or so she thinks) and she makes, in her opinion, the right choice when choosing between the two. Macsen makes her feel protected and relaxed. Thayer brings out the fire in her. When she sees Thayer, the are definite sparks and there's no denying it. When she see's Macsen, she sees hope for a future.
Okay so that's what happens in the beginning. The just of it. There's more, but I can't really say since I don't want to give it away. The journey to the part where the books becomes un-put-downable is a rocky one and there were moments where I was just going to scrap it and give up. Dont! It's really a great book once it all starts getting clearer. I think it's kind of just the writing style that's unusual and it takes some getting used to before you absorbed everything fully.
BTW it didn't end up being an artsy book so my theory was wrong again.
Give it a go. It has a lot of buzz surrounding it and I swear it's a great book eventually. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book, since the ending brings up a serious concern in Severine's life... so I believe it's going to be another good read from Calia Read.
Read more reviews on my blog
December 18, 2012
**may contain spoilers***
This is 4.5 stars
**may contain spoilers***
I finished this book two days ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it. In a very good way. I honestly loved the book. This book tells the story of Sev and the Sloan brothers. Sev first notices Thayer Sloan at the coffee shop with her best friend. Thayer is the star basketball player at their college and Sev seems to be the only girl who doesn't know who he is. She knows his type, player. And the kind of guy she should stay away from. Then she sees his brother Macsen, he is the quiet shy type and the guy who is safe in Sev's mind. Thayer and Mac may be brothers but there is a lot of tension and a past between them. They don't like each other.
I will admit the beginning of this book was a little frustrating for me and maybe it's because I didn't see the chemistry between Sev and Mac which could be because I wanted her with Thayer. Selfish of me I know. But I saw more of a connection with her and Thayer.
There was a lot of tension between Sev and Thayer and it could be sexual tension but they also challenged each other. Mac was the safe choice for her and the guy she thought was right for her. While I think Thayer wanted to be with Sev and truly loved her, he backed off and was there in the shadows if things went wrong. She chose Mac and he would have to accept it. of course until certain events take place, and Thayer is there to help her pick up the pieces. (oh how I love Thayer)
Thayer and Mac are two very complicated characters and Sev has managed has managed to fall for both of them. I loved the relationship between Thayer and Sev, They were hot, cute, sweet and adorable together. there was one moment when she went to watch him play basketball that was just the sweetest thing and while it was a simple action it made my heart melt for the two of them. I am not going to tell you what it was, you will have to read.
This book is about a love triangle involving two brothers. But this book was also about first impressions and perceptions that you have of people. They aren't always what you think. And the choices people make based on those perceptions aren't always the right choices. In the end she made her choice and in my opinion she made the right one. The end left doors open for the next book which I cannot wait to read. Calia Read did and awesome job with this book and I cannot wait for Macsen's story.
This is 4.5 stars
**may contain spoilers***
I finished this book two days ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it. In a very good way. I honestly loved the book. This book tells the story of Sev and the Sloan brothers. Sev first notices Thayer Sloan at the coffee shop with her best friend. Thayer is the star basketball player at their college and Sev seems to be the only girl who doesn't know who he is. She knows his type, player. And the kind of guy she should stay away from. Then she sees his brother Macsen, he is the quiet shy type and the guy who is safe in Sev's mind. Thayer and Mac may be brothers but there is a lot of tension and a past between them. They don't like each other.
I will admit the beginning of this book was a little frustrating for me and maybe it's because I didn't see the chemistry between Sev and Mac which could be because I wanted her with Thayer. Selfish of me I know. But I saw more of a connection with her and Thayer.
There was a lot of tension between Sev and Thayer and it could be sexual tension but they also challenged each other. Mac was the safe choice for her and the guy she thought was right for her. While I think Thayer wanted to be with Sev and truly loved her, he backed off and was there in the shadows if things went wrong. She chose Mac and he would have to accept it. of course until certain events take place, and Thayer is there to help her pick up the pieces. (oh how I love Thayer)
Thayer and Mac are two very complicated characters and Sev has managed has managed to fall for both of them. I loved the relationship between Thayer and Sev, They were hot, cute, sweet and adorable together. there was one moment when she went to watch him play basketball that was just the sweetest thing and while it was a simple action it made my heart melt for the two of them. I am not going to tell you what it was, you will have to read.
This book is about a love triangle involving two brothers. But this book was also about first impressions and perceptions that you have of people. They aren't always what you think. And the choices people make based on those perceptions aren't always the right choices. In the end she made her choice and in my opinion she made the right one. The end left doors open for the next book which I cannot wait to read. Calia Read did and awesome job with this book and I cannot wait for Macsen's story.
November 27, 2012
The author nailed it.
I was so impressed with the story, the characters, the love triangle, and most of all, Severine. It was extremely difficult to filter my emotions, because I saw so much of myself in her. And the situations she gets herself in, her fears, insecurities, and general attitude towards boys reminded me so much of myself. Also, the dialogue completely won me over; it was witty, sarcastic, genuinely funny, natural, easy, and realistic.
And I loved how the characters were so unpredictable. They didn't represent just one kind of stereotype, and just when you think you got them figured out, they surprise you. They don't fit into a category, and you can't label them because they were just real. Real people: friends, lovers, crushes, just normal college students, like myself.
Maybe it's because I'm in college. Or because Thayer was so perfect in his own way. Or because Mac reminded me of my ex, and Sev's thoughts so closely mirrored my own. Maybe it was because Anne reminded me of one of my best friends. Whatever it was, I loved it.
My only gripe was the fact that Thayer and Mac were brothers. That just felt so wrong on so many levels, taking the term, 'dysfunctional family' to another level. It could have been just as good if they were cousins or even best friends... I'm also really hoping that there will be no SEV-THAYER-EMILIA love triangle. And, I hope to see more of Sev's older brother (and him interacting with Lily)!
When is the next book coming out!?!?
I was so impressed with the story, the characters, the love triangle, and most of all, Severine. It was extremely difficult to filter my emotions, because I saw so much of myself in her. And the situations she gets herself in, her fears, insecurities, and general attitude towards boys reminded me so much of myself. Also, the dialogue completely won me over; it was witty, sarcastic, genuinely funny, natural, easy, and realistic.
And I loved how the characters were so unpredictable. They didn't represent just one kind of stereotype, and just when you think you got them figured out, they surprise you. They don't fit into a category, and you can't label them because they were just real. Real people: friends, lovers, crushes, just normal college students, like myself.
Maybe it's because I'm in college. Or because Thayer was so perfect in his own way. Or because Mac reminded me of my ex, and Sev's thoughts so closely mirrored my own. Maybe it was because Anne reminded me of one of my best friends. Whatever it was, I loved it.
My only gripe was the fact that Thayer and Mac were brothers. That just felt so wrong on so many levels, taking the term, 'dysfunctional family' to another level. It could have been just as good if they were cousins or even best friends... I'm also really hoping that there will be no SEV-THAYER-EMILIA love triangle. And, I hope to see more of Sev's older brother (and him interacting with Lily)!
When is the next book coming out!?!?
January 14, 2015
One girl. Two brothers. These types of stories never go well, but as I got further into the story the more I could sympathize with Severine over her struggle. She didn't mean to have feelings for both brother, and she's drawn to each one for different reasons. And she struggles. Over what she feels for Macsen and Thayer. The potential fallout for having any kind of relationship with either one. And is she can really handle the types of feelings the Sloan brothers drag out of her.
Severine is easy to identify with. She hides behind a wall of sarcasm in an effort to protect herself. Her detached relationship with her father and some somewhat jaded advice from her mother have caused Severine to fear her emotions. Her deflection is something I think many of us can relate to. She isn't quick to trust others feelings or her own.
The Sloan brothers are complete opposites. Macsen is quiet and reserved, where Thayer is the star of the college basketball team and campus player. One the opposite of Severine, one quite like her. When she sees them, each of them spark an interest in her. Thayer, an intense reaction but one she immediately distrusts because she assumes his player reputation is justified and will walk away. He pushes her. And always has to have the last word...which usually leaves her questioning everything. Macsen, is a curiosity. He's quiet. Doesn't fall for her charms right way. He's opposite of her in just about every way, but he feels safe.
Severine has a tough road with the Sloan brothers. The "threesome" causes her to question everything, break down some of her walls and face some of the fears she was trying to avoid. Her heart gets broken and she has to learn how to live with the choices to made, but I think in the end Severine discovered that sometimes the heart is a whole lot smarter than the brain.
Calia Read has a very interesting voice and I loved how this story flowed. The characters, especially Severine, Lily and to some extent, Anne, had some of the best and wittiest dialogue. I look forward to reading more of the Sloan brothers and just how this dysfunctional group of men is going to pan out.
Severine is easy to identify with. She hides behind a wall of sarcasm in an effort to protect herself. Her detached relationship with her father and some somewhat jaded advice from her mother have caused Severine to fear her emotions. Her deflection is something I think many of us can relate to. She isn't quick to trust others feelings or her own.
The Sloan brothers are complete opposites. Macsen is quiet and reserved, where Thayer is the star of the college basketball team and campus player. One the opposite of Severine, one quite like her. When she sees them, each of them spark an interest in her. Thayer, an intense reaction but one she immediately distrusts because she assumes his player reputation is justified and will walk away. He pushes her. And always has to have the last word...which usually leaves her questioning everything. Macsen, is a curiosity. He's quiet. Doesn't fall for her charms right way. He's opposite of her in just about every way, but he feels safe.
Severine has a tough road with the Sloan brothers. The "threesome" causes her to question everything, break down some of her walls and face some of the fears she was trying to avoid. Her heart gets broken and she has to learn how to live with the choices to made, but I think in the end Severine discovered that sometimes the heart is a whole lot smarter than the brain.
Calia Read has a very interesting voice and I loved how this story flowed. The characters, especially Severine, Lily and to some extent, Anne, had some of the best and wittiest dialogue. I look forward to reading more of the Sloan brothers and just how this dysfunctional group of men is going to pan out.
March 19, 2013
Okay, that's it.... I'm giving up on this one at 42%.
After reading the synopsis I thought this would be right up my street but I'm just so damn confused!!!!
I'm not sure if it's the authors style of writing or The lack of editing but I just felt that the whole story didn't flow and was sloppy. I didn't feel any chemistry with the characters, the heroine Severine, is suppose to have a strong connection with these 2 brothers who don't get along. She starts dating Mac because he's meant to be what she needs... but it's Thayer who she wants but can't have.... why, I have no idea?! (Was that even explained? by 40% you would of thought so) So, she's been dating Mac for 5 weeks and "Straight, white teeth came into view, and Severine discovered the small dimple on his left cheek" - What, so he never smiled or laughed in the last 5 weeks you've been together? Never? The couple then start having problems because Macsen is getting jealous of Thayer, I don't know why... I think it had something to do with Thayer seeing her first & wanting her? So at some point she needs to get away to clear her head & she goes home for thanksgiving where her mum smells like cookies & the author proceeds to tell me that "She was her mum, and she was the same". WTF?
The huge amount of typos made me lose interest quickly. It was only the love triangle brother plotline that made me hang on in there., but I can't seem to understand what's going on. I have no idea whether she likes Thayer because she constantly states that she is scared of him (I think its to do with the feelings he illicit's from her) Thayer is a constant douche bag, he goads her & is rude & argumentative & then Macsen is just there in the background... I understand what the author wanted to happen and she had some great banter dialogue between Thay & Sev ("I've thought about many things to say, unfortunately, all of them start with Fuck. And end with you.") However, I just didn't get it :(
After reading the synopsis I thought this would be right up my street but I'm just so damn confused!!!!
I'm not sure if it's the authors style of writing or The lack of editing but I just felt that the whole story didn't flow and was sloppy. I didn't feel any chemistry with the characters, the heroine Severine, is suppose to have a strong connection with these 2 brothers who don't get along. She starts dating Mac because he's meant to be what she needs... but it's Thayer who she wants but can't have.... why, I have no idea?! (Was that even explained? by 40% you would of thought so) So, she's been dating Mac for 5 weeks and "Straight, white teeth came into view, and Severine discovered the small dimple on his left cheek" - What, so he never smiled or laughed in the last 5 weeks you've been together? Never? The couple then start having problems because Macsen is getting jealous of Thayer, I don't know why... I think it had something to do with Thayer seeing her first & wanting her? So at some point she needs to get away to clear her head & she goes home for thanksgiving where her mum smells like cookies & the author proceeds to tell me that "She was her mum, and she was the same". WTF?
The huge amount of typos made me lose interest quickly. It was only the love triangle brother plotline that made me hang on in there., but I can't seem to understand what's going on. I have no idea whether she likes Thayer because she constantly states that she is scared of him (I think its to do with the feelings he illicit's from her) Thayer is a constant douche bag, he goads her & is rude & argumentative & then Macsen is just there in the background... I understand what the author wanted to happen and she had some great banter dialogue between Thay & Sev ("I've thought about many things to say, unfortunately, all of them start with Fuck. And end with you.") However, I just didn't get it :(
December 15, 2012
I looked at the GR ratings and it says that 1 star means I did not like the book. Well there it is and I normally crave these stories.
The writing did not flow. The story could have been so good if the writing was better. The characters conversations did not flow. At times, I went to re-read a page because I thought I missed something. It was as if sentences and paragraphs were eliminated/skipped. Some of the exchanges that happened between the characters just felt weird.
I love these stories, but the writing left me disconnected from the characters and the story itself.
The love triangle in this book felt awkward. The steam felt forced. Not sure if it even was steam.
The writing did not flow. The story could have been so good if the writing was better. The characters conversations did not flow. At times, I went to re-read a page because I thought I missed something. It was as if sentences and paragraphs were eliminated/skipped. Some of the exchanges that happened between the characters just felt weird.
I love these stories, but the writing left me disconnected from the characters and the story itself.
The love triangle in this book felt awkward. The steam felt forced. Not sure if it even was steam.
November 17, 2012
Smart and sexy, sophisticated and intriguing, Calia Read brings us into the world of Severine Blake and the fascinating Sloan Brothers. One minute, I'm under Macsen's spell, the next I'm finding myself rooting for Thayer, and then back to Macsen once again. Calia has such a fresh and distinct literary voice and has created some of the most original characters I've read so far this year! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series~
December 26, 2012
I like the name SEVERINE!!! Haha
In the story, Severine is kindof feisty, determined and good looking. When she first saw the
sloan brothers when she was in a coffee shop with her friend,Lily, she knew they'd be bad news. There's just something in them that made her drawn to them. With Thayer, the older Sloan, there was an instant intense connection between them. He looks cocky and arrogant and usually girls come up to him. The lighter one,Macsen is the opposite of Thayer. He's quiet, nerdy and a little mysterious. Severine's both attracted to them but she found herself became closer to the younger. Sloan,Macsen. With him, she felt safe and comfortable. She doesn't get intimidated with him like how she felt with Thayer. Problem is-- sevreine and thayer can't deny the intensity of attraction that sparks whenever they're near each other. Worse problem--- both Sloan
Brothers hate each other. Why? That's something you must find out! :) That and how everything is messed up with the three of them, who fucked up, who ends up with who and a lot more. This story is light in the beginning and you may have questions but the andwers would eventually be revealed as you go along.
The romance also is not that hot and intense but i think it's just fine. :)
In the start, i liked Macsen. He's the 'good' one and i like good. However, just like they say, it's the good ones that are really fucked up. He had reasons! I actually felt sad for him. If only he did not overthink things.
On the latter part, I find myself liking Thayer a whole lot more! He's tall, an amazing basketball player, sweet and just amazing! :) There were parts in the story when I wanted Severine to just shut up and stop thinking overly.
Just.be.with.him! :))
I'll probably read the 2nd book. There's so much moree to find out especially about Macsen. :)) i think it'll get more interesting with the addition of a new character, Emilia. :)
In the story, Severine is kindof feisty, determined and good looking. When she first saw the
sloan brothers when she was in a coffee shop with her friend,Lily, she knew they'd be bad news. There's just something in them that made her drawn to them. With Thayer, the older Sloan, there was an instant intense connection between them. He looks cocky and arrogant and usually girls come up to him. The lighter one,Macsen is the opposite of Thayer. He's quiet, nerdy and a little mysterious. Severine's both attracted to them but she found herself became closer to the younger. Sloan,Macsen. With him, she felt safe and comfortable. She doesn't get intimidated with him like how she felt with Thayer. Problem is-- sevreine and thayer can't deny the intensity of attraction that sparks whenever they're near each other. Worse problem--- both Sloan
Brothers hate each other. Why? That's something you must find out! :) That and how everything is messed up with the three of them, who fucked up, who ends up with who and a lot more. This story is light in the beginning and you may have questions but the andwers would eventually be revealed as you go along.
The romance also is not that hot and intense but i think it's just fine. :)
In the start, i liked Macsen. He's the 'good' one and i like good. However, just like they say, it's the good ones that are really fucked up. He had reasons! I actually felt sad for him. If only he did not overthink things.
On the latter part, I find myself liking Thayer a whole lot more! He's tall, an amazing basketball player, sweet and just amazing! :) There were parts in the story when I wanted Severine to just shut up and stop thinking overly.
Just.be.with.him! :))
I'll probably read the 2nd book. There's so much moree to find out especially about Macsen. :)) i think it'll get more interesting with the addition of a new character, Emilia. :)
November 18, 2012
Simply phenomenal! Every Which Way was a breathtaking journey of love, heartbreak, and torment. Calia wrote with such poetic verse. The story flowed beautifully and I found myself constantly rereading passages and shaking my head, overwhelmed with how thoughtfully and carefully each word and phrase were delivered. I love a romance filled with angst, one where I go back and forth and my feelings towards characters are constantly changing. I loved Macsen, then hated him, then felt sorry for him. Thayer was a bad boy that was instantly attractive. His bad attitude quickly dissolved and I was swooning. Severine, what can I say? First of all she has a beautiful name, and I grew to love her beautiful spirit. The characters were very real and their struggles were heartbreaking. I was set for my happy ending and wondering where the story would continue in the next book when, BAM! Calia threw me for a huge loop and left me panting for more. I’m reeling over the twist and dying to know how it will play out with the Sloan brothers! This was a dynamic debut novel and it has five brilliant and glowing stars on my list of favorites!
November 16, 2012
Okay normally when I read a book I love I try to drag it out as long as possible so it never ends. This book I couldn't do that with. No because I didn't love it (because trust me I did a lot) but because I was to captivated to put it down! Even word entranced me. I never wanted it to end. This book could have been 1000 pages and that wouldn't have been enough!
I loved Severine! She is an excellent main character. From the minute she saw the Sloan brothers Macsen and Thayer I knew she and I were both screwed. I had the same exact thought she did and thought she picked the right brother but as time went on everything made since and I felt like I was seeing things change as she was. I love a book that you can't see what is going to happen next it just happens and you are experiencing it with the character. Excellent writing.
Toward the middle and again at the end a new character is introduced and I want to learn more about this b. I don't think I like her lol. But I can't wait to see what happens next! I LOVE this book and highly recommend!!!!
I loved Severine! She is an excellent main character. From the minute she saw the Sloan brothers Macsen and Thayer I knew she and I were both screwed. I had the same exact thought she did and thought she picked the right brother but as time went on everything made since and I felt like I was seeing things change as she was. I love a book that you can't see what is going to happen next it just happens and you are experiencing it with the character. Excellent writing.
Toward the middle and again at the end a new character is introduced and I want to learn more about this b. I don't think I like her lol. But I can't wait to see what happens next! I LOVE this book and highly recommend!!!!
December 3, 2012
I'm kind of on the fence with this one. I think I'm going to have to go with 3.5 Stars. It was good, don't get me wrong. But this book was 85% drama and angst and about 15% sunshine and roses. And quite honestly it exhausted me. I was always Team Thayer from the get-go but sweet baby Jesus it took Severine a long time to get there. Which really made no sense to me because my impression was that she was only with Mascen because he was the "safe" choice even though her immediate attraction was to Thayer. And then once she finally got over the Mascen drama and fully committed herself to Thayer the book was over so you don't ever get to see where their relationship goes. I know there are two more books in the series about the other two brothers so hopefully we'll get to hear more about Thayer and Severine. Bottom line I would recommend and I plan to read the other two books in the series.
March 26, 2013
Wow....Hot Brothers Alert. Thayer and his brother, Macsen are totally dysfunctional college roommates. They spy Severine at a coffee shop one day and Wham Bam....oh which one to choose? Severine is a smart ass, confident, sassy gal. As it happens, Thayer is the male version of her. Macsen is quiet, angry, sullen, sexy. yep. She goes for sullen because believe it or it she thinks he is a safer choice than Thayer. Much fireworks ensues. Is Macsen an asshole or just had a messed up childhood? Thayer is yummy, tall and who know if he really like Severine or just wants to take her from his brother.
The story was really good but the style was hard to get used to. The dialogue especially as the beginning was hard to follow. It seemed choppy or something. Or maybe I just need more rambling inter-dialogue.
The story was really good but the style was hard to get used to. The dialogue especially as the beginning was hard to follow. It seemed choppy or something. Or maybe I just need more rambling inter-dialogue.
April 13, 2013
Sloan brothers are hot! I couldn't put it down.... it's funny, it's heartbreaking, it makes you feel for all characters... I love the bonds of friendship... I love it all.... not loving the end part cause it left so many questions, but looking forward to reading the next one that might answer them... hoping to see more of Thayer and Severine... though I see synopsis of the next one is about Emilia.. so I am a bit hesitant to continue... but because I want answers I will....
December 24, 2012
Love this love-triangle story! Very similar feel to Beautiful Disaster. It ended in a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next one!!!
May 16, 2018
After finishing THE SURVIVING TRACE, all I did was immerse myself in all things Calia Read. I stalked her social media sites and then immediately started this book. I love finding a new to me author. Don’t you?
EVERY WHICH WAY had my mind and heart going every which way. Just when I thought I loved one Sloan brother more than the other something would happen and get me all mixed up and turned around. I am not lying when I say I had a hard time picking a team and sticking to it. Well until the last half of the book. Soon it became obvious.
But I loved, LOVED Severine. That girl is hella funny and her banter is on point. She definitely keeps all those that love her on their toes at all times. While she does have commitment issues, the Sloan boys seem to find a way to whittle down her defenses. Her problem now is how to determine which brother she wants. Her mind tells her one brother, her heart tells her the other.
EVERY WHICH WAY was a bit all over the place with the emotions, but in the end it was such a good story. I look forward to reading the next one and seeing what the heck is up with Emilia. 4 Stars.
EVERY WHICH WAY had my mind and heart going every which way. Just when I thought I loved one Sloan brother more than the other something would happen and get me all mixed up and turned around. I am not lying when I say I had a hard time picking a team and sticking to it. Well until the last half of the book. Soon it became obvious.
But I loved, LOVED Severine. That girl is hella funny and her banter is on point. She definitely keeps all those that love her on their toes at all times. While she does have commitment issues, the Sloan boys seem to find a way to whittle down her defenses. Her problem now is how to determine which brother she wants. Her mind tells her one brother, her heart tells her the other.
EVERY WHICH WAY was a bit all over the place with the emotions, but in the end it was such a good story. I look forward to reading the next one and seeing what the heck is up with Emilia. 4 Stars.
December 28, 2017
I loved this story! But that writing...jinkies.
Severine meets brothers Macsen and Thayer at the same time. She’s drawn to both of them - one because he challenges her and the other because it’s so easy. Severine makes her choice - and there’s a fallout. The drama was really enjoyable and silly. I couldn’t put this book down.
That said - the writing sometimes felt like a teenager was running rampant with a thesaurus. Some of those words just plain old do not mean what they’re supposed to mean in this book. Some of the sentences didn’t make sense. It took a 4.5 Star book down to 3 stars because it was distracting. Bummer.
Severine meets brothers Macsen and Thayer at the same time. She’s drawn to both of them - one because he challenges her and the other because it’s so easy. Severine makes her choice - and there’s a fallout. The drama was really enjoyable and silly. I couldn’t put this book down.
That said - the writing sometimes felt like a teenager was running rampant with a thesaurus. Some of those words just plain old do not mean what they’re supposed to mean in this book. Some of the sentences didn’t make sense. It took a 4.5 Star book down to 3 stars because it was distracting. Bummer.
October 25, 2014
“I saw you first,” he rasped out deeply. "Remember that. I saw you first."
Can't decide if it's two or three stars... Thayer deserves all five. Lily, Anne, Chris and Ben help him achieve it. Macsen takes it down to one. So does the overdose of drama. Severine makes it very hard to decide.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm a masochist. Because really, I knew this book would represent everything I dislike in contemporary fiction even before I started reading it. Yet I decided to read it anyway. And I was right. It has (1) a love triangle, which I detest in general, and it's not exactly a good one, but not a bad one either; (2) way too much drama surrounding slightly stereotypical characters with not nearly enough depth; and (3) the plot changing from something light into a huge clusterfuck towards the end, making it feel like you're reading two different books. Why do I keep doing this to myself?
So the story takes place in college, where one flirty girl catches the attention of two brothers, who hate each other anyway. One, Macsen, is a nerd, his nose always in a book, eyes hidden by a baseball cap. He looks shy and nice. The other, Thayer, is a typical player, spending his days playing basketball and partying with his friends and "future Playboy bunnies". He looks extremely drool worthy and dangerous (insert Thayer fangirling here). When both brothers go after Severine, she surprises everyone by choosing the nice one over the hot one. She's insane, I think... because really, no one in their right minds could reject Thayer (I know I wouldn't). But she thinks she needs someone stable. Someone nice. Someone who is worth risking her heart. Thayer is too much like her. Together they will be like a calamity. Too intense. And it scares her. And she already fears relationships and broken hearts. Because you see, our girl has some serious issues because of her daddy, who broke her mommy's heart. But maybe, just maybe, Macsen is worth it all. So she thinks she needs it. It is a completely different question which one of the brothers she actually wants...
And so Severine spends the first part of the book being blind, in delusion and lying to herself. She's good at it. Sometimes. I liked it. This makes this whole book about her development as a character. Really, it's all about Severine realizing things. But that's also where my first issue comes forward - we know what triggers the change, but we don't really know why she had problems in the first place, what makes her so afraid of commitment and why the fuck she thought Macsen was a perfect person to make her forget all of her rules. Sure, we learn about her dad and her mum, but it's just not enough. I need more material to grasp her character, to root for her and be eager to see her development.
The second part of the book is about Severine crying her eyes out and being emo about pretty much everything. That's where my biggest issue lies. Because this book starts as a light chick-flickish college drama, but then suddenly morphs into mess where everyone is hurt, everyone is messing up and everyone just sucks. It all begins to revolve around the love triangle, about the brothers having serious issues with each other and Severine caught in the mess. And because we don't see any of Severine's awesome friends anymore, it all starts to revolve around Severine being a crying, hurting, indecisive mess. There is nothing left of the flirty, funny, witty, sarcastic, confident Severine we see in the first chapters. Not fun. At all.
Then there are also characters and sub-plots that make no sense and only make the story longer than necessary, some very bad editing, and a huge, unnecessary cliffhanger (or more like a game changer, I guess?) that erases the satisfaction of seeing one very lovely couple finally together.
Still, despite these major issues, I managed to enjoy this book. Probably because I love Thayer so much. He's the sole reason I actually gave this book a try. Funny, charming college non-pro basketball player? Sold. Immediately. He didn't disappoint. This book also has amazing friendships, which is always a win. And undoubtedly, there were some really nice and downright adorable scenes. All in all, an entertaining, albeit frustrating, read. Not sure if I'm gonna read the sequels.
Can't decide if it's two or three stars... Thayer deserves all five. Lily, Anne, Chris and Ben help him achieve it. Macsen takes it down to one. So does the overdose of drama. Severine makes it very hard to decide.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm a masochist. Because really, I knew this book would represent everything I dislike in contemporary fiction even before I started reading it. Yet I decided to read it anyway. And I was right. It has (1) a love triangle, which I detest in general, and it's not exactly a good one, but not a bad one either; (2) way too much drama surrounding slightly stereotypical characters with not nearly enough depth; and (3) the plot changing from something light into a huge clusterfuck towards the end, making it feel like you're reading two different books. Why do I keep doing this to myself?
So the story takes place in college, where one flirty girl catches the attention of two brothers, who hate each other anyway. One, Macsen, is a nerd, his nose always in a book, eyes hidden by a baseball cap. He looks shy and nice. The other, Thayer, is a typical player, spending his days playing basketball and partying with his friends and "future Playboy bunnies". He looks extremely drool worthy and dangerous (insert Thayer fangirling here). When both brothers go after Severine, she surprises everyone by choosing the nice one over the hot one. She's insane, I think... because really, no one in their right minds could reject Thayer (I know I wouldn't). But she thinks she needs someone stable. Someone nice. Someone who is worth risking her heart. Thayer is too much like her. Together they will be like a calamity. Too intense. And it scares her. And she already fears relationships and broken hearts. Because you see, our girl has some serious issues because of her daddy, who broke her mommy's heart. But maybe, just maybe, Macsen is worth it all. So she thinks she needs it. It is a completely different question which one of the brothers she actually wants...
And so Severine spends the first part of the book being blind, in delusion and lying to herself. She's good at it. Sometimes. I liked it. This makes this whole book about her development as a character. Really, it's all about Severine realizing things. But that's also where my first issue comes forward - we know what triggers the change, but we don't really know why she had problems in the first place, what makes her so afraid of commitment and why the fuck she thought Macsen was a perfect person to make her forget all of her rules. Sure, we learn about her dad and her mum, but it's just not enough. I need more material to grasp her character, to root for her and be eager to see her development.
The second part of the book is about Severine crying her eyes out and being emo about pretty much everything. That's where my biggest issue lies. Because this book starts as a light chick-flickish college drama, but then suddenly morphs into mess where everyone is hurt, everyone is messing up and everyone just sucks. It all begins to revolve around the love triangle, about the brothers having serious issues with each other and Severine caught in the mess. And because we don't see any of Severine's awesome friends anymore, it all starts to revolve around Severine being a crying, hurting, indecisive mess. There is nothing left of the flirty, funny, witty, sarcastic, confident Severine we see in the first chapters. Not fun. At all.
Then there are also characters and sub-plots that make no sense and only make the story longer than necessary, some very bad editing, and a huge, unnecessary cliffhanger (or more like a game changer, I guess?) that erases the satisfaction of seeing one very lovely couple finally together.
Still, despite these major issues, I managed to enjoy this book. Probably because I love Thayer so much. He's the sole reason I actually gave this book a try. Funny, charming college non-pro basketball player? Sold. Immediately. He didn't disappoint. This book also has amazing friendships, which is always a win. And undoubtedly, there were some really nice and downright adorable scenes. All in all, an entertaining, albeit frustrating, read. Not sure if I'm gonna read the sequels.
November 29, 2012
Love triangle? Check. Angst? Check. Boys that made me swoon? Check. Every Which Way was a solid read for those who like the New Adult Genre. It is a story about the power of love, what running from it can do to the soul and what letting it in can do to the heart. Love is a very powerful emotion which most of us experience at some point in our lives; when it is good, it is good, when it goes bad, it can be really bad! This book explores the choices one girl will make in matters of the heart and how it affects two brothers, who are very different. Will she pick the brother who becomes her soft pillow or the one who is so much like her?
Severine Blake is a very unique character in that she is so confidant in most things but so unsure of love. She has bubble wrapped her heart to avoid any emotional attachment and pain it may cause. Severine has some unresolved daddy issues that I would say are the root cause of her guarded heart syndrome. She had some great qualities as well; she is also smart, confident, witty, flirty and the girl goes after what she wants.
"You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces..."
Is a lonely heart better than a broken one? Severine would have two brothers with which to explore than theory... Thayer and Macsen may be brothers but they couldn't be more different. Thayer is a confident, arrogant, outgoing basketball star while Macsen is reserved, quiet and a bit of a mystery. Thayer and Macsen also had a rough childhood and I think from that standpoint, they both relate to Severine or Severine relates to them. There is a mutual bond in feeling someone else's pain first hand.
Thayer could ruin her; he is the type of guy that has an air around him that screams "run as fast as you can and don't look back". Thayer is really the male version of Severine in that he likes to have short-term relationships that don't mean anything. Their likeness causes a special connection which is hard to deny.
“Sometimes I think together we are the worst kind of calamity." Thayer grinned back. Severine's lips burned. "Then I've never wanted to be destroyed so bad.”
Macsen is her security blanket; she can let her guard down around him and isn't afraid to explore their attraction. He is the quiet boy in the baseball cap who holds secrets and hurts of his own. What I found interesting was how Macsen's childhood pain caused him to treat his heart in much the same way as Severine. When things get good for him, he finds a way to break them. For him, love is also scary and it is easier to run than it is to feel.
Severine's journey is an emotional one and it will forever change her and the two brothers. There were some hot moments in this one as well as some that almost had me in tears. Severine will have to decide if love is worth potential pain. Can she trust someone enough to let them in? Can she love someone and not run away? I liked both brothers and didn't pick my favorite until toward the end but Severine had an obvious strong connection with one brother over the other, in my opinion. I wish this would have played out with a little more mystery and surprise; I love when a character seems completely torn until the end and I have no feeling on how it will end. The other thing that would have improved my overall connection to the story, and Severine in particular, would have been writing it in first person from Severine's POV. I think it would have helped with connection and flow of dialogue; there were a few times I have problems following who was speaking.
Overall, I found it to be a strong debut by Calia Read and can't wait to read her next release!
Severine Blake is a very unique character in that she is so confidant in most things but so unsure of love. She has bubble wrapped her heart to avoid any emotional attachment and pain it may cause. Severine has some unresolved daddy issues that I would say are the root cause of her guarded heart syndrome. She had some great qualities as well; she is also smart, confident, witty, flirty and the girl goes after what she wants.
"You need to remember, Severine, that a lonely heart is better than a heart left in pieces..."
Is a lonely heart better than a broken one? Severine would have two brothers with which to explore than theory... Thayer and Macsen may be brothers but they couldn't be more different. Thayer is a confident, arrogant, outgoing basketball star while Macsen is reserved, quiet and a bit of a mystery. Thayer and Macsen also had a rough childhood and I think from that standpoint, they both relate to Severine or Severine relates to them. There is a mutual bond in feeling someone else's pain first hand.
Thayer could ruin her; he is the type of guy that has an air around him that screams "run as fast as you can and don't look back". Thayer is really the male version of Severine in that he likes to have short-term relationships that don't mean anything. Their likeness causes a special connection which is hard to deny.
“Sometimes I think together we are the worst kind of calamity." Thayer grinned back. Severine's lips burned. "Then I've never wanted to be destroyed so bad.”
Macsen is her security blanket; she can let her guard down around him and isn't afraid to explore their attraction. He is the quiet boy in the baseball cap who holds secrets and hurts of his own. What I found interesting was how Macsen's childhood pain caused him to treat his heart in much the same way as Severine. When things get good for him, he finds a way to break them. For him, love is also scary and it is easier to run than it is to feel.
Severine's journey is an emotional one and it will forever change her and the two brothers. There were some hot moments in this one as well as some that almost had me in tears. Severine will have to decide if love is worth potential pain. Can she trust someone enough to let them in? Can she love someone and not run away? I liked both brothers and didn't pick my favorite until toward the end but Severine had an obvious strong connection with one brother over the other, in my opinion. I wish this would have played out with a little more mystery and surprise; I love when a character seems completely torn until the end and I have no feeling on how it will end. The other thing that would have improved my overall connection to the story, and Severine in particular, would have been writing it in first person from Severine's POV. I think it would have helped with connection and flow of dialogue; there were a few times I have problems following who was speaking.
Overall, I found it to be a strong debut by Calia Read and can't wait to read her next release!
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