Review: If Only by A.J. Pine

IF ONLY

Entangled Embrace Series #1

by A.J. Pine

Publisher: Entangled Publishing (March 2014)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Format: eBook (342 pages)
Source: Free book from blog tour for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 stars)

Summary
Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.

At A Glance
It started out so good, and then Noah happened and I wanted to throw up in my mouth...a lot.

The Good
I will admit, the first 25% was really good. I love new adult so everything felt perfect with this contemporary romance. And, come on, Jordan was going to Scotland. I love me a Scottish boy! Or two. I actually liked Griffin, the boy Jordan didn't want. He wasn't perfect but he was honest and kind. Hey, Jordan, I'll take him off your hands for ya! I also liked the side characters, like the best friends and guy friends. They felt genuine and fun.

The Bad
Then Noah happened and If Only became a dramafest with lots of moping and lots of a**hole-moves. So Jordan meets Noah on the train to Scotland, they kiss, she sees stars. They get to the University and she finds out he has a girlfriend. But, hey, she also met Griffin on the train and he actually wants her so no big deal, right? No! Jordan precedes to mope and moan and cry over the guy who doesn't want her through the whole damn book.
 
Some spoilers:
So Noah seems like he might like Jordan, so you think there is hope, that maybe he is not a total douchbag. And we almost get that happy moment. That one night of perfection where neither of them are attached and they can finally be together. Then Noah opens his mouth. He says the most horrible things to Jordan over a misunderstanding and also because he just has huge double standards and then walks out on her...into his ex's arms...on the same day. Yeah, did you just die a little by this guy's total asshatery? I did.

Then we get mopey Jordan but to the MAX! She is reckless and makes an ass out of herself because her 'dream guy' doesn't want her. GAG ME! Noah does more sh*t that made my blood boil and Jordan did more things that me lose respect for her.

So we get a book that could have been about adventure and love in Scotland and we get a dramafest for no real reason. It's all just stupid teenage crap. I ended up hating Jordan and Noah.

The Snuggly
Yeah, don't get me started. Gag again! We get like one sex scene I couldn't even enjoy because I hated the characters.

Final Thoughts
Just die already. That's how I felt at the end of this book, I just wanted it to end so bad. I only finished it because I was reading it for a blog tour. You just can't enjoy a book in which you hate the main characters. Not recommended.

Excerpt
Something shifts in his gaze, and Noah pulls the book from my hand, laying it on the floor between us. His hand returns to rest on my cheek, and before I have time to process what he's doing, his lips sweep against mine.

For a few seconds I rationalize that I imagine it because things like this don't happens to me. Boys don't ask me to inscribe my number on their hands, and they certainly don't kiss me minutes after we meet. But the train coasts smoothly on the tracks, s his palm on my face, drawing me to him, is no act of turbulence.

I freeze, unable to kiss him back yet not daring to pull away. Thoughts of Griffin, of a fairy-tale year, disintegrates into this moment. For the first time I believe it. Now is all that matters. And right now, Noah's lips cover mine again.

The first kiss was a question, but now he possesses a sureness betraying his initial reticence. And that scent, the reason I could have stayed buried in his chest on our first meeting, intoxicates me. My shock quickly melts, and so do I, falling against him in a kiss so gentle, so delicious.

 This kiss is the answer.