REVIEW: Love and Candy by Elizabeth Famous

Source: Free copy from Author

Publish Date: June 21st 2013

Publisher: The Miri Group

ASIN/ISBN: 9780989379106

Format: ebook

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Pages: 238

Date Read: December 19, 2013

Description
Samantha Montclare is not who she thought she was. Straitlaced and academically minded, she's knocked to her knees by an unexpected infatuation with the star of her local soccer team just as she discovers that her biological father is not the loving dad who raised her but a forbidding Italian aristocrat.

Within the social hierarchy of a wealthy suburban high school, Delaney Troy is so superior to naive Samantha that she can't speak to him without provoking obscene taunts from his friends. Delaney is gorgeous, but much of Samantha's fascination stems from his brazen honesty and bristling wit. His air of confidence inspires so powerful an interest he draws her in without even looking at her.

But how could she possibly date a guy like Delaney who insists he only wants to hook up -- and doesn't believe in love?
Will the scandalous truth about the circumstances of her conception threaten her happy home life?
Must she find a place in her life for an alarming new "father" just as she’s becoming an independent young woman?

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Review
I have to admit that at the beginning I was worried about continuing this book. I was going to give it up because I didn't enjoy the last 3/4 review copies I read. Something made me continue and I'm glad I did.

I enjoyed this book. It's different from the usual boy meet girl, instant attraction, some drama, a lot of [un-steamy, overly-detailed] sex, a little more drama, more sex and they live happily ever after.
There was no insta-love and the book is very realistic. (Except for the whole openness with the parents thing.)

There's a happily ever after in this book (I hope) but it didn't follow the rest of the pattern.

Delaney & Samantha's "romance" (if you could call it that) is not the usual. There's a lot of uncertainty, feelings, arguments and so forth.

The author touches on and makes you think about bisexuality, open relationships, teenage romance, [statutory] rape and "unusuall" emotions/feelings that teenagers experience.
I like Delaney. He's a player but he's truthful. He's smart. He's a nice guy underneath his "hardcore" exterior.
He was always truthful with Samantha about their relationship and how he felt.

Samantha is difficult to like. She's a very complex character. She's mature in the sense that she doesn't allow herself to be bullied and she always speaks her mind. She's immature sometimes especially when it comes to her "relationship" with Delaney.

All in all, a good and enjoyable read. I expected fluff but this is good stuff.

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Author Links

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Rating
4 stars

Recommended
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes realistic NA/YA.