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Something More #3
In Ruins
She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . .
Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.
It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .
Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.
It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2016
100 people are currently reading
2602 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Pearl
12 books1,334 followersDanielle Pearl is the Amazon and iBooks best selling author of the Something More series. She lives in New Jersey with her three delicious children and ever-supportive husband, who--luckily--doesn't mind sharing her with an array of fictional men. She did a brief stint at Boston University and worked in marketing before publishing her debut novel, Normal. She writes mature Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary Romance. Danielle enjoys coffee, wine, and cupcakes, and not in moderation.
Danielle is represented by Erica Silverman @ Trident Media Group
Learn more at Daniellepearl.com
Like her Facebook page for updates -- Facebook.com/daniellepearlauthor
Follow her on twitter.com/danipearlauthor and Instagram.com/daniellepearlauthor
Danielle is represented by Erica Silverman @ Trident Media Group
Learn more at Daniellepearl.com
Like her Facebook page for updates -- Facebook.com/daniellepearlauthor
Follow her on twitter.com/danipearlauthor and Instagram.com/daniellepearlauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
October 10, 2016
I just have to say... In Ruins...is one of the best books I've ever read. Hands down. This book consumed me and left me craving more. I don't ever want Tuck and Carl's story to end. It's like I want weekly updates because I love them so much. And Tuck. OMG. He is now on my all time fav book boyfriend's list. He's perfection.
This story has EVERYTHING!!! In Ruins literally left me in ruins at times. I'm a sucker for those high school sweetheart romances that lead to college. College romances are one of my favorite genres. This story is filled with angst, jealousy, breakups, heartache, emotions, second chances, LOVE, and so much damn sexiness that at times it felt like these scenes just pulled me right into their moment.
Tucker and Carleigh/Carl, aka princess *melts* , are not your typical sweethearts. They are SO MUCH MORE!!! From childhood and through high school, these two have had a connection like no other. Their friendship is something that I want to bottle up and hand out to everyone. It's rare. And it just gave me all the feels!! Tuck and Carl haven't had the best childhoods. They have both suffered loss. In different forms, but still a loss. They have both kept secrets. Some more damaging than others. They have both made mistakes. And they both hurt. They lost their way because of devastating secrets and miscommunication. And now they both are starting college, searching for a fresh start. Some things are much easier said than done. Will these two passionate souls find their way back to each other?? You're going to have to read to find. I'm so afraid of giving anything away in this epic story. There are lots of shock n awe moments. Things that I myself never saw coming. Right up to the very end!!!! I COULD NOT SWIPE MY FINGER FAST ENOUGH!! For the first time ever, I wanted to peek at then ending cause I was so anxious!!! I JUST HAD TO KNOW! My adrenaline was flowing!!! So yes, I will not rob you of those emotions!!! Just trust me when I say, READ THIS BOOK!!
This was my first Danielle Pearl book. And will definitely not be my last. Her writing is unlike anything I've ever read. I was literally up until 4:30 a.m. last night reading this. I had to force myself to stop at 90%. Just so it wouldn't end. I wanted another day with Tuck and Carl. And now I just want MORE!!! These two are my new favorite couple and In Ruins is definitely on my Top Reads' list of 2016. I have not been this captivated by a story in a very long time. And this one is going to stay with me for a very long time!!
Do yourself a favor today, and GO 1-CLICK THIS RIGHT NOW!!! HURRY HURRY!!
This story has EVERYTHING!!! In Ruins literally left me in ruins at times. I'm a sucker for those high school sweetheart romances that lead to college. College romances are one of my favorite genres. This story is filled with angst, jealousy, breakups, heartache, emotions, second chances, LOVE, and so much damn sexiness that at times it felt like these scenes just pulled me right into their moment.
Tucker and Carleigh/Carl, aka princess *melts* , are not your typical sweethearts. They are SO MUCH MORE!!! From childhood and through high school, these two have had a connection like no other. Their friendship is something that I want to bottle up and hand out to everyone. It's rare. And it just gave me all the feels!! Tuck and Carl haven't had the best childhoods. They have both suffered loss. In different forms, but still a loss. They have both kept secrets. Some more damaging than others. They have both made mistakes. And they both hurt. They lost their way because of devastating secrets and miscommunication. And now they both are starting college, searching for a fresh start. Some things are much easier said than done. Will these two passionate souls find their way back to each other?? You're going to have to read to find. I'm so afraid of giving anything away in this epic story. There are lots of shock n awe moments. Things that I myself never saw coming. Right up to the very end!!!! I COULD NOT SWIPE MY FINGER FAST ENOUGH!! For the first time ever, I wanted to peek at then ending cause I was so anxious!!! I JUST HAD TO KNOW! My adrenaline was flowing!!! So yes, I will not rob you of those emotions!!! Just trust me when I say, READ THIS BOOK!!
This was my first Danielle Pearl book. And will definitely not be my last. Her writing is unlike anything I've ever read. I was literally up until 4:30 a.m. last night reading this. I had to force myself to stop at 90%. Just so it wouldn't end. I wanted another day with Tuck and Carl. And now I just want MORE!!! These two are my new favorite couple and In Ruins is definitely on my Top Reads' list of 2016. I have not been this captivated by a story in a very long time. And this one is going to stay with me for a very long time!!
Do yourself a favor today, and GO 1-CLICK THIS RIGHT NOW!!! HURRY HURRY!!
October 4, 2016
Danielle Pearls' debut novel, Normal was one of my top reads of 2015. I devoured every page into the early morning hours with blurry eyes and yawns. Highly anticipated would not even begin to cover how I felt waiting for In Ruins. I expected a lot going into this book, and it was delivered in spades. This is a fantastic romance with more steamy angst and emotion than I could have hoped for.
What should be an exciting time for any college freshman is anything but. Both Tucker and Carleigh need a fresh start; to leave behind the pain that first love brought them. This is almost impossible as they are thrown together at every turn. Carleigh “Carl” has a big secret. A secret that destroyed her relationship with Tuck. While Carl wants to forget her mistakes, Tuck just wants to forget her completely.
The story is told in dual POV’s with both past and present story lines. The chemistry and interaction between the characters in the past was sweet and playful. It’s easy to capture that sense of young love and the fears and excitement it brings. I loved the way they almost dared each other to take the next step. Carleigh is smart, sassy and bold. It’s a perfect balance to Tucker’s cocky flirtation. We get to see the transition from friends to lovers throughout the book which often times left me sad only because the couple was so broken in the present. This seamless flow leads up to the big blow up that was Carl and Tuck’s relationship, and what a ka-boom it was. The anger and betrayal that Tuck felt was palpable; however, it was Carl’s belief that she deserved Tuck’s anger that left me with an ache in my chest.
“I cry harder than I have since he ended us. Because I didn’t know then that he could do something worse than end us. That he could erase us.”
I can generally see a plot line coming a mile away. That was not the case with this here. There were multiple events that happened in the book that truly caught me by surprise. I kept guessing as to what could have separated the couple in such an epic way, and even as I read the scene that answers the question I said out loud “oh no.” With all the hurt and bitter feelings aside, this is truly a case of the heart wants what it wants. So can they forgive and move on with each other?
I honestly loved every aspect of this book. I don’t want to give too much away; but, this book truly had it all, lies, angst, sex, love and even some suspense thrown in as well. Five stars for this book. I cannot wait to see what Danielle has instore for her readers in the future.
What should be an exciting time for any college freshman is anything but. Both Tucker and Carleigh need a fresh start; to leave behind the pain that first love brought them. This is almost impossible as they are thrown together at every turn. Carleigh “Carl” has a big secret. A secret that destroyed her relationship with Tuck. While Carl wants to forget her mistakes, Tuck just wants to forget her completely.
The story is told in dual POV’s with both past and present story lines. The chemistry and interaction between the characters in the past was sweet and playful. It’s easy to capture that sense of young love and the fears and excitement it brings. I loved the way they almost dared each other to take the next step. Carleigh is smart, sassy and bold. It’s a perfect balance to Tucker’s cocky flirtation. We get to see the transition from friends to lovers throughout the book which often times left me sad only because the couple was so broken in the present. This seamless flow leads up to the big blow up that was Carl and Tuck’s relationship, and what a ka-boom it was. The anger and betrayal that Tuck felt was palpable; however, it was Carl’s belief that she deserved Tuck’s anger that left me with an ache in my chest.
“I cry harder than I have since he ended us. Because I didn’t know then that he could do something worse than end us. That he could erase us.”
I can generally see a plot line coming a mile away. That was not the case with this here. There were multiple events that happened in the book that truly caught me by surprise. I kept guessing as to what could have separated the couple in such an epic way, and even as I read the scene that answers the question I said out loud “oh no.” With all the hurt and bitter feelings aside, this is truly a case of the heart wants what it wants. So can they forgive and move on with each other?
I honestly loved every aspect of this book. I don’t want to give too much away; but, this book truly had it all, lies, angst, sex, love and even some suspense thrown in as well. Five stars for this book. I cannot wait to see what Danielle has instore for her readers in the future.
January 24, 2022
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*Amazon*Barnes & Noble*iBooks*
Starting over at college is hard enough, but doing it while trying to avoid your ex..impossible. Carleigh and Tucker were friends for many years before they became more, but once they crossed that line everything changed. They were each others worlds and loved one another fiercely. But when a secret came out about Carleigh, it ruined them and they went there separate ways. Well, until the summer was over and College time came around. Now both Carl and Tucker are just trying their best to keep the memories away so they can stop remembering how good they were together.
In Ruins wasn't your typical college romance, and I liked that about it. It took us on an emotional journey of two lovers that were torn apart because of their pasts. Which, honestly, has been written about many times. But what made this far from the norm was how the author wrote the emotions that these characters were going through. It was done in such a way that I felt like I was living what they were going through and it made it a very enjoyable book.
Tucker and Carl's past is obviously not forgotten, so of course it's something we, as readers, need to know about. The story jumps easily between that past and the present, and tell us how they started when they were younger, to how they're starting over now. I actually have mixed feelings about the jumps in time. In the beginning I was shocked how much I was enjoying getting the past story, since usually I hate time jumps. But it was going really well and all flowed together. Later in the book though, I started to get annoyed when we would go back to the past and I didn't want to get anymore of that story. I just felt like at a certain point it was time to be fully in the present, yet we weren't.
While in the present there was a deeper message that the author incorporated into the story and I really appreciated that. The characters start working on a project that leads to them talking about the campus rape culture, and it wasn't involved too much in the story but it was enough that it made you stop and think, and I liked that. It wasn't just a fluffy college romance, there were real life problem and emotions and it kept everything very realistic.
My three star rating mostly comes from the ending. Within the last few chapter there was a lot going on in Tucker and Carl's life. Which yes, happens in life, but I just felt that not everything fully fit the feeling the book had. And since there were a lot of things going on at once it kind of made me feel like it was rushed.
Despite the ending I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's a big recommend from me. The bottom line is that it was a good, sweet, emotion, and even sexy story that I think any fan of college romances will enjoy.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon*Barnes & Noble*iBooks*
Starting over at college is hard enough, but doing it while trying to avoid your ex..impossible. Carleigh and Tucker were friends for many years before they became more, but once they crossed that line everything changed. They were each others worlds and loved one another fiercely. But when a secret came out about Carleigh, it ruined them and they went there separate ways. Well, until the summer was over and College time came around. Now both Carl and Tucker are just trying their best to keep the memories away so they can stop remembering how good they were together.
In Ruins wasn't your typical college romance, and I liked that about it. It took us on an emotional journey of two lovers that were torn apart because of their pasts. Which, honestly, has been written about many times. But what made this far from the norm was how the author wrote the emotions that these characters were going through. It was done in such a way that I felt like I was living what they were going through and it made it a very enjoyable book.
Tucker and Carl's past is obviously not forgotten, so of course it's something we, as readers, need to know about. The story jumps easily between that past and the present, and tell us how they started when they were younger, to how they're starting over now. I actually have mixed feelings about the jumps in time. In the beginning I was shocked how much I was enjoying getting the past story, since usually I hate time jumps. But it was going really well and all flowed together. Later in the book though, I started to get annoyed when we would go back to the past and I didn't want to get anymore of that story. I just felt like at a certain point it was time to be fully in the present, yet we weren't.
While in the present there was a deeper message that the author incorporated into the story and I really appreciated that. The characters start working on a project that leads to them talking about the campus rape culture, and it wasn't involved too much in the story but it was enough that it made you stop and think, and I liked that. It wasn't just a fluffy college romance, there were real life problem and emotions and it kept everything very realistic.
My three star rating mostly comes from the ending. Within the last few chapter there was a lot going on in Tucker and Carl's life. Which yes, happens in life, but I just felt that not everything fully fit the feeling the book had. And since there were a lot of things going on at once it kind of made me feel like it was rushed.
Despite the ending I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's a big recommend from me. The bottom line is that it was a good, sweet, emotion, and even sexy story that I think any fan of college romances will enjoy.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2016
TITLE: In Ruins
SERIES: (Something More, #1)
AUTHOR: Danielle Pearl
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
CHAPTERS: Prologue | 32 | Epilogue
RELEASE DATE: October 4th, 2016
In Ruins Not sure what the significance was with the Prologue, because personally I don't think the book needs it as it doesn't really lead anywhere. It's written in alternate POV's and jumps from 'Past to Present' smoothly which gives us all the background goodness into their budding friendship to later on an all consuming undeniable first love, to their gut wrenching break-up.
She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . .
'Present Day' we're introduced to 'Carleigh' Carl to her close mates, her first night out partying at her new college sees her bumping into the last person she wanted to see 'Tucker' her ex, even though she knew it was inevitable since she knew he attends the same school as her.
She feels like she's treading on egg shells waiting for Tucker to reveal her secret, he's the only one that knows. And he hates her with all his being or so he keeps telling himself.
The secret she's harbouring destroyed so many families, a secret which demolished their relationship, which leaves a cluster fuck of destruction in its wake.
When you love someone more than your own life, you don't let them go for anything
She's lied to Tucker for years not out of malice but not wanting to lose him. Carl has had it instilled in her by her overbearing mother that she is not permitted to ever share their family's secret for fear of rejection from the public and those closer to her.
When you love a girl more than your own life, you don't let her go - not for anything, not even a motherfucking bullet.
And then we hit a plot twist, game changer, what the actual fuck did I just read!! Things just got interesting, never saw that coming at me at a speed that made my heart rate increase!!
She was never to blame for leaving us in ruins
MY THOUGHTS:The YA genre isn't one I would normally gravitate towards, but am I so glad I took the plunge with this book, the feels were real, I shed a tear or two, I sighed, I giggled, I swooned, my heart was in ruins over all things Tucker If you're wanting/craving a book that pulls out all the feels, the angst, the heartbreak, then definitely don't give it another thought, go one click this. So to wrap my review up if you're a sucker for A SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE this book is definitely up your alley.
*Teasers used in my review are off the authors FB page they are not made by me*
October 4, 2016
3.75 Stars
"I realize I don't want to escape him. I've never wanted to escape him."
In Ruins is an emotional, mature, complex storyline about high school lovers Tucker Green and Carleigh Stanger. The problems that ripped them apart and the journey back to each other. This was my first Danielle Pearl and as always with a new author I love seeing how they are able to weave the storytelling and make us feel something for the characters and this author did a great job at both.
Carleigh and Tucker loved each other in high school, they have a bond of that first love that is undeniable. Secrets, that are unraveled and revealed later in the book, tore their relationship apart and they both head to college hoping to start off with a clean slate. They try to stay away from each other but being in the same university and in the same class that becomes the hardest thing to do.
With self-obsessed parents, Carleigh does a lot of things for herself and her little brother Billy. She has no one she can really turn to and to make matters worse, the one person she is in love with wants nothing to do with her. It took awhile for me to warm up to Tucker Green. For most of the book he is mean and hateful towards Carleigh, but powerless around her as past feelings come alive within him.
Although this was NA, this was a very grown up story with very adult like issues. It's a book about lies, deceit, secrets, distrust, pain, selfishness and how quickly relationships can be in ruins because of it. Even though this one was a slow burn, I really liked the writing. There were a few lull moments and some of the characters took a bit for me to warm up to them, but in the end the story was wrapped up nicely.
In Ruins is a beautiful story about love's redemption. If you like mature NA, then I highly recommend this story.
"I realize I don't want to escape him. I've never wanted to escape him."
In Ruins is an emotional, mature, complex storyline about high school lovers Tucker Green and Carleigh Stanger. The problems that ripped them apart and the journey back to each other. This was my first Danielle Pearl and as always with a new author I love seeing how they are able to weave the storytelling and make us feel something for the characters and this author did a great job at both.
Carleigh and Tucker loved each other in high school, they have a bond of that first love that is undeniable. Secrets, that are unraveled and revealed later in the book, tore their relationship apart and they both head to college hoping to start off with a clean slate. They try to stay away from each other but being in the same university and in the same class that becomes the hardest thing to do.
With self-obsessed parents, Carleigh does a lot of things for herself and her little brother Billy. She has no one she can really turn to and to make matters worse, the one person she is in love with wants nothing to do with her. It took awhile for me to warm up to Tucker Green. For most of the book he is mean and hateful towards Carleigh, but powerless around her as past feelings come alive within him.
Although this was NA, this was a very grown up story with very adult like issues. It's a book about lies, deceit, secrets, distrust, pain, selfishness and how quickly relationships can be in ruins because of it. Even though this one was a slow burn, I really liked the writing. There were a few lull moments and some of the characters took a bit for me to warm up to them, but in the end the story was wrapped up nicely.
In Ruins is a beautiful story about love's redemption. If you like mature NA, then I highly recommend this story.
October 4, 2016
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl is a poignant, touching, and very raw emotional storyline of two former lovers getting back to that love and friendship that once tethered them together. Danielle Pearl beautifully and eloquently delivers a story that will pull reader’s heart to feel for her characters and in such allows readers like myself to see and understand both perspectives as secrets, truths, and lies are slowly unmasked and revealed. With her raw and visceral prose, Pearl will leave readers in ruins as hearts will break, be mended and slowly pieced back together again.
They say the truth will set you free but in this case the truth can be the biggest heartbreak, disappointment and leave you in ruins. In the case of Carleigh Stanger, college was meant to be a fresh start. A clean slate where she didn’t have to live with regrets, pain, disappointment and heartbreak. College was the mark of what should have been the new Carleigh Stranger but that was not the case when your past is your present. Or in this case, her past and present and the love of her life was Tucker Green.
“This is my girl. She gives as good as she gets, always, and I fucking love every single bit of her, inside and out. ”
Tucker and Carleigh were two best friends who shared a deep rooted friendship and chemistry that couldn’t be explained. Their love for each other was endless but with secrets hovering between them, it was inevitable for these two lovers to make their relationship work. But when Carleigh and Tucker are constantly running to each other on campus, it was only a matter of time till their hearts dictated the truth. This thing between them was something more. More than secrets. More than the hurt and disappointment. But will Carleigh ever reveal the truth to Tucker or will her truth leave him in ruins?
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl is a story that is built upon a catalyst of secrets, lies, and unforeseen circumstance. The truth in this particular story was the biggest factor to drive the angst factor as Tucker and Carleigh navigated their feelings for one another. But as these two young adults try to work out their complicated relationship, what happens when the truth is revealed and another twist of events occurs that could leave both Tucker and Carleigh in ruins? Can a shattered heart and secretive past be the catalyst to set their hearts and minds free? So if you are looking for a story that emotionally blends the past and present then this book is for you as forgiveness, letting go, and starting over is the key underlying factor in this tale. In Ruins is the first book that I had the pleasure reading from this author and after this book, Danielle Pearl will definitely be on my book radar.
Danielle Pearl
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl is a poignant, touching, and very raw emotional storyline of two former lovers getting back to that love and friendship that once tethered them together. Danielle Pearl beautifully and eloquently delivers a story that will pull reader’s heart to feel for her characters and in such allows readers like myself to see and understand both perspectives as secrets, truths, and lies are slowly unmasked and revealed. With her raw and visceral prose, Pearl will leave readers in ruins as hearts will break, be mended and slowly pieced back together again.
They say the truth will set you free but in this case the truth can be the biggest heartbreak, disappointment and leave you in ruins. In the case of Carleigh Stanger, college was meant to be a fresh start. A clean slate where she didn’t have to live with regrets, pain, disappointment and heartbreak. College was the mark of what should have been the new Carleigh Stranger but that was not the case when your past is your present. Or in this case, her past and present and the love of her life was Tucker Green.
“This is my girl. She gives as good as she gets, always, and I fucking love every single bit of her, inside and out. ”Tucker and Carleigh were two best friends who shared a deep rooted friendship and chemistry that couldn’t be explained. Their love for each other was endless but with secrets hovering between them, it was inevitable for these two lovers to make their relationship work. But when Carleigh and Tucker are constantly running to each other on campus, it was only a matter of time till their hearts dictated the truth. This thing between them was something more. More than secrets. More than the hurt and disappointment. But will Carleigh ever reveal the truth to Tucker or will her truth leave him in ruins?
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl is a story that is built upon a catalyst of secrets, lies, and unforeseen circumstance. The truth in this particular story was the biggest factor to drive the angst factor as Tucker and Carleigh navigated their feelings for one another. But as these two young adults try to work out their complicated relationship, what happens when the truth is revealed and another twist of events occurs that could leave both Tucker and Carleigh in ruins? Can a shattered heart and secretive past be the catalyst to set their hearts and minds free? So if you are looking for a story that emotionally blends the past and present then this book is for you as forgiveness, letting go, and starting over is the key underlying factor in this tale. In Ruins is the first book that I had the pleasure reading from this author and after this book, Danielle Pearl will definitely be on my book radar.
Danielle Pearl
February 9, 2018
4.25 stars!
October 3, 2016
ARC kindly provided by social butterfly PR VIA Netgalley.
In Ruins is my first book by Danielle Pearl and I mostly enjoyed her characters and writing.
Actually her writing style is great.
The thing was, even though I liked the characters, I had hard time connecting to them.
I'm a sucker for second chance romance, and redemption in love so I was really eager to read it.
The story starts off great, but I felt like it got a bit diluted towards the end.
I will definitely check out more from Danielle Pearl as I really like her writing.
In Ruins is my first book by Danielle Pearl and I mostly enjoyed her characters and writing.
Actually her writing style is great.
The thing was, even though I liked the characters, I had hard time connecting to them.
I'm a sucker for second chance romance, and redemption in love so I was really eager to read it.
The story starts off great, but I felt like it got a bit diluted towards the end.
I will definitely check out more from Danielle Pearl as I really like her writing.
October 7, 2016
Link to full review below!Angsty and delicious! If you loved Normal and Okay like I did, you will love In Ruins! See full review on The Book Disciple
September 30, 2016
I am a little bit torn about this one.
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl is the classical NA set in college, with a high dose of angst and over all a second chance romance. Story starts off with Carleigh and Tucker freshmen in college, stuck together in the same place and broken up for a few months. With alternating chapters between present and 1 year in the past, as well as MC-pov's, the reader learns how their relationship started and how it shattered them both when it finished.
But - big fat but coming - there's something that didn't quite work with me, and that is present-Tucker. Okay, so the reason why their relationship exploded into pieces is unknown for most of the book, but it's clear that it was Tucker the one to break things off and Carleigh the one in fault for it. The reader only knows that "she lied about something very important", something "unforgivable".
THE PROBLEM, and MAJOR NEGATIVE POINT, is that present-Tucker was a character full of hate. He was extremely mean, he had this resentment and bitterness going on and was rocking some big nastiness. Which COULD be acceptable depending on the reason behind that behaviour. But the guy was clearly not over Carleigh, and basically played with her while trying to convince himself he wasn't still in love. Tucker was definitely not over Carleigh, which is again acceptable, but the guy was extremeley possessive, majorly jealous and had NO RIGHT TO.
In my opinion, dude, someone might have hurt you deeply in the past, but once you break things off with that person, you NO LONGER HAVE A CLAIM. You have NO RIGHT to be POSSESSIVE, JEALOUS AND MEAN. A man that tries to protect you with hatred, it's not swoon worthy. That should turn on your "run away" alarm.
Plus the lie that made everything explode wasn't even Carleigh's fault. It was a lie, yes, serious but not a good reason enough for all that resentment and nastiness Tucker was rocking.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the way their relationship starts, in the flashback chapters, it's a slow brewed romance, from friends to lovers and super hot. Thumbs up for that. I also LOVED the past version of Tucker, now THAT was swoon worthy.
Finally, and another positive point, the writing style was superb. Super nicely written and the story flowed very easily. AND the plot twist at the end: unexpected and great!
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
In Ruins by Danielle Pearl is the classical NA set in college, with a high dose of angst and over all a second chance romance. Story starts off with Carleigh and Tucker freshmen in college, stuck together in the same place and broken up for a few months. With alternating chapters between present and 1 year in the past, as well as MC-pov's, the reader learns how their relationship started and how it shattered them both when it finished.
But - big fat but coming - there's something that didn't quite work with me, and that is present-Tucker. Okay, so the reason why their relationship exploded into pieces is unknown for most of the book, but it's clear that it was Tucker the one to break things off and Carleigh the one in fault for it. The reader only knows that "she lied about something very important", something "unforgivable".
THE PROBLEM, and MAJOR NEGATIVE POINT, is that present-Tucker was a character full of hate. He was extremely mean, he had this resentment and bitterness going on and was rocking some big nastiness. Which COULD be acceptable depending on the reason behind that behaviour. But the guy was clearly not over Carleigh, and basically played with her while trying to convince himself he wasn't still in love. Tucker was definitely not over Carleigh, which is again acceptable, but the guy was extremeley possessive, majorly jealous and had NO RIGHT TO.
In my opinion, dude, someone might have hurt you deeply in the past, but once you break things off with that person, you NO LONGER HAVE A CLAIM. You have NO RIGHT to be POSSESSIVE, JEALOUS AND MEAN. A man that tries to protect you with hatred, it's not swoon worthy. That should turn on your "run away" alarm.
Plus the lie that made everything explode wasn't even Carleigh's fault. It was a lie, yes, serious but not a good reason enough for all that resentment and nastiness Tucker was rocking.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the way their relationship starts, in the flashback chapters, it's a slow brewed romance, from friends to lovers and super hot. Thumbs up for that. I also LOVED the past version of Tucker, now THAT was swoon worthy.
Finally, and another positive point, the writing style was superb. Super nicely written and the story flowed very easily. AND the plot twist at the end: unexpected and great!
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
April 24, 2017
Sapete quei bei new adult che leggevamo all’inizio? Quelli che quando iniziavi a leggerli e non riuscivi a smettere fino a quando non eri arrivata alla fine? Ecco Ruin me è uno di quelli.
La storia ti coinvolge da subito Carleigh, detta Carl, è appena arrivata al college dove spera di ritrovare un po’ della serenità persa. In fondo il campus è enorme, non ci sono tante possibilità di incontrare Tucker, il suo ex fidanzato. Il destino, però, non è proprio gentile con lei e ci mette continuamente lo zampino.
Aggiungerei per mia grande gioia, perché quando i due si incontrano scoppiano litigi, baci appassionati, sguardi rubati. Carl ha nascosto qualcosa di molto importante a Tuck che non può proprio perdonarla. Quella bugia ha creato un solco tra loro due, così grande che lui riesce a stento a stare nella stanza con lei. Solo che è difficile per lui resistere ai suoi occhi dal color ambra, dal suo bisogno di proteggerla da tutti e qualche volta cede al suo istinto. Più di una volta assistiamo alla sua lotta interiore e ogni volta che succede accade la magia tra di loro. Preparatevi a fare spazio nel vostro cuore per Tucker perché ne avrete bisogno. È dolce, protettivo, amorevole. Ma quando si arrabbia tira fuori il suo lato alpha e io non ho potuto fare altro che lasciarmi conquistare da lui. Lei non è da meno, amo quando incontro delle protagoniste come Carl, fragile ma per niente lamentosa. Ha un bisogno viscerale di Tucker, lo sa benissimo ma cerca comunque di andare avanti con la sua vita.
Mi è piaciuto molto questo lato combattivo, il suo non arrendersi al fatto che l’amore della sua vita la odia. Perché non sono tutte così? Il romanzo in realtà è un misto tra young e new adult perché si è ambientato nel college ma ha anche dei flashback che ci raccontano com’ è nata la loro storia d’amore.
Ovviamente li ho amati tutti, è stata molto emozionante leggere delle loro battute, il lento avvicinamento di Tuck verso Carl. Ti aiutano a capirli meglio ma soprattutto accentuano la sofferenza nel vederli separati nel presente. Continua a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
Per acquistare il libro clicca qui
La storia ti coinvolge da subito Carleigh, detta Carl, è appena arrivata al college dove spera di ritrovare un po’ della serenità persa. In fondo il campus è enorme, non ci sono tante possibilità di incontrare Tucker, il suo ex fidanzato. Il destino, però, non è proprio gentile con lei e ci mette continuamente lo zampino.
Aggiungerei per mia grande gioia, perché quando i due si incontrano scoppiano litigi, baci appassionati, sguardi rubati. Carl ha nascosto qualcosa di molto importante a Tuck che non può proprio perdonarla. Quella bugia ha creato un solco tra loro due, così grande che lui riesce a stento a stare nella stanza con lei. Solo che è difficile per lui resistere ai suoi occhi dal color ambra, dal suo bisogno di proteggerla da tutti e qualche volta cede al suo istinto. Più di una volta assistiamo alla sua lotta interiore e ogni volta che succede accade la magia tra di loro. Preparatevi a fare spazio nel vostro cuore per Tucker perché ne avrete bisogno. È dolce, protettivo, amorevole. Ma quando si arrabbia tira fuori il suo lato alpha e io non ho potuto fare altro che lasciarmi conquistare da lui. Lei non è da meno, amo quando incontro delle protagoniste come Carl, fragile ma per niente lamentosa. Ha un bisogno viscerale di Tucker, lo sa benissimo ma cerca comunque di andare avanti con la sua vita.
Mi è piaciuto molto questo lato combattivo, il suo non arrendersi al fatto che l’amore della sua vita la odia. Perché non sono tutte così? Il romanzo in realtà è un misto tra young e new adult perché si è ambientato nel college ma ha anche dei flashback che ci raccontano com’ è nata la loro storia d’amore.
Ovviamente li ho amati tutti, è stata molto emozionante leggere delle loro battute, il lento avvicinamento di Tuck verso Carl. Ti aiutano a capirli meglio ma soprattutto accentuano la sofferenza nel vederli separati nel presente. Continua a leggere la recensione su: CrazyForRomance
Per acquistare il libro clicca qui
May 17, 2017
4 Stars!
Another new to me author that I loved.
This was really good. I thought the ending was a bit OTT but it still was a really good book.
I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers turned enemies to lovers. Haha!
Tucker was very sexy with his alpha growling self. Loved Carleigh too!! I haven't read the others in this series but I might one day soon:))
Another new to me author that I loved.
This was really good. I thought the ending was a bit OTT but it still was a really good book.
I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers turned enemies to lovers. Haha!
Tucker was very sexy with his alpha growling self. Loved Carleigh too!! I haven't read the others in this series but I might one day soon:))
March 26, 2018
Honestly, I didn't expect to be as invested as I was in Tuck and Carl's story. But I was totally into it from the start, and even though it got a touch dramatic for my tastes by the end, I still really enjoyed reading this one.
September 21, 2016
This is my first read by this author and I am anxiously waiting for book 2 from this series already. In Ruins was very well written and the dialogue and chemistry between these characters are all so very real to me. This is a YA and the author delivered the emotional aspect of it very well in my opinion. We have to all remember during that age we feel everything 1000 times more and the choices we make or our assumptions of situations would never align to generations before us as appropriate. What I loved even more is In Ruins showcased how even the adults can make terrible decisions and be just as selfish.
There were so many parts of it that I loved. I can’t even break it down the way I want because I don’t want to give anything away to take those first feels to readers, so I will try my best to express myself without what I feel could be close to a spoiler.
This book was written in alternate POVs and flip-flops from past (when their relationship started) to present day, which I felt was perfect because it gave me insights on why things were happening the way they were without misunderstanding the characters because I knew there was a lot more to their backstory to the one I currently knew.
The explosive chemistry between Carl and Tuck was a hazard that I found myself wanting to be burned by. They are both quick-tempered in the hottest way! These two definitely brings the heat in this story like no other. But the love they have for each other even when apart was incredible. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
In Ruins, also included a vital message that we all can learn from as teenagers to adulthood and this was presented through their class project. I loved how Danielle Pearl incorporated this message into this story and how it presented alternative ways to teach us on different approaches and instill this very important message within us all. In Ruins, also had a huge play in how death impacts the still grieving on different levels and trust can easily be broken through lies.
To keep it simple – In Ruins was jammed packed with GOODNESS! You know this book reminds me and gave me all the feels Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire did. For all you Travis Maddox lovers like me, you will love Tucker Green just as much. Also, if you remember how so much happened in BD, well In Ruins delivered just as much. Don’t get me wrong, the two stories/plots are completely different. However, the feels of it all are very much the same for me. I am super excited and a bit anxious to read In Pieces, book 2 of this series!Not to mention back-tracking to see if there are more by this author!
There were so many parts of it that I loved. I can’t even break it down the way I want because I don’t want to give anything away to take those first feels to readers, so I will try my best to express myself without what I feel could be close to a spoiler.
This book was written in alternate POVs and flip-flops from past (when their relationship started) to present day, which I felt was perfect because it gave me insights on why things were happening the way they were without misunderstanding the characters because I knew there was a lot more to their backstory to the one I currently knew.
The explosive chemistry between Carl and Tuck was a hazard that I found myself wanting to be burned by. They are both quick-tempered in the hottest way! These two definitely brings the heat in this story like no other. But the love they have for each other even when apart was incredible. I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
In Ruins, also included a vital message that we all can learn from as teenagers to adulthood and this was presented through their class project. I loved how Danielle Pearl incorporated this message into this story and how it presented alternative ways to teach us on different approaches and instill this very important message within us all. In Ruins, also had a huge play in how death impacts the still grieving on different levels and trust can easily be broken through lies.
To keep it simple – In Ruins was jammed packed with GOODNESS! You know this book reminds me and gave me all the feels Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire did. For all you Travis Maddox lovers like me, you will love Tucker Green just as much. Also, if you remember how so much happened in BD, well In Ruins delivered just as much. Don’t get me wrong, the two stories/plots are completely different. However, the feels of it all are very much the same for me. I am super excited and a bit anxious to read In Pieces, book 2 of this series!Not to mention back-tracking to see if there are more by this author!
May 18, 2017
Incuriosita dalla trama, ho iniziato questa lettura con una certa aspettativa.
Consiglio a me stessa: LEGGERE QUESTI TIPI DI NA SEMPRE SENZA NESSUNA ASPETTATIVA!
NO, NO, NO… CIOÈ NO E NO!
La storia prometteva bene, ma già dal secondo capitolo, ambientato nel passato tutto crolla.
Da quel capitolo si ripete il solito schema. Nei capitoli del presente lei si sente in colpa per come sono andate le cose con lui, lui invece si comporta da Ominide Geloso, in quelli del passato i due sono attratti l’uno dall’altra e quindi lo fanno in tutti i laghi in tutti i luoghi e in tutte le posizioni… anche in alcuni capitolo del presente lo fanno in tutte le posizioni ma sono solo amici perché parlare, spiegarsi trovare una soluzione è troppo difficile!
Tirando le somme: la diatriba tra i due innamorati era facilmente superabile grazie all’uso della parola e del confronto.
Il finale è un cliché enorme con il solito psicopatico che rapisce la donzella e il principe-Ominide che si sveglia dal sonno, capisce i suoi sentimenti, la perdona e la salva.
Troppe scene di sesso inutili utilizzate come cuscinetto per allungare il brodo.
Così non va bene, proprio no!
Consiglio a me stessa: LEGGERE QUESTI TIPI DI NA SEMPRE SENZA NESSUNA ASPETTATIVA!
NO, NO, NO… CIOÈ NO E NO!
La storia prometteva bene, ma già dal secondo capitolo, ambientato nel passato tutto crolla.
Da quel capitolo si ripete il solito schema. Nei capitoli del presente lei si sente in colpa per come sono andate le cose con lui, lui invece si comporta da Ominide Geloso, in quelli del passato i due sono attratti l’uno dall’altra e quindi lo fanno in tutti i laghi in tutti i luoghi e in tutte le posizioni… anche in alcuni capitolo del presente lo fanno in tutte le posizioni ma sono solo amici perché parlare, spiegarsi trovare una soluzione è troppo difficile!
Tirando le somme: la diatriba tra i due innamorati era facilmente superabile grazie all’uso della parola e del confronto.
Il finale è un cliché enorme con il solito psicopatico che rapisce la donzella e il principe-Ominide che si sveglia dal sonno, capisce i suoi sentimenti, la perdona e la salva.
Troppe scene di sesso inutili utilizzate come cuscinetto per allungare il brodo.
Così non va bene, proprio no!
April 3, 2017
Huh, I actually really liked this! Much better than the previous books Normal and Okay, apart maybe from the last part which was a bit out there. Still, this had the right amount of heartbreak, a tiny dose of angst and a lot of steam to make this really quite enjoyable.
June 11, 2020
Carleigh was everything to Tucker and vice versa until he discovered her lies now he fights the memories and more the connection and sex.
Carleigh hopes for a fresh start but with Tucker on campus and a big wig since he is a new lacrosse star. Everywhere she goes they seem to run into each other. They fight to stay apart but they loved each other. She understands why he broke it off, she agrees with his reasoning.
But what happens when the lies you thought you knew turn out to be different then the lies you know.
Will it be to late to save their friendship. Their love. Carleigh herself.
I like the connection between these two, also when you discover the reason and the mix up you understand it fully from both sides. Love this series
Carleigh hopes for a fresh start but with Tucker on campus and a big wig since he is a new lacrosse star. Everywhere she goes they seem to run into each other. They fight to stay apart but they loved each other. She understands why he broke it off, she agrees with his reasoning.
But what happens when the lies you thought you knew turn out to be different then the lies you know.
Will it be to late to save their friendship. Their love. Carleigh herself.
I like the connection between these two, also when you discover the reason and the mix up you understand it fully from both sides. Love this series
April 24, 2017
RECENSIONE COMPLETA SUL BLOG http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
“Ruin me ” è il primo capitolo della serie Something More di Danielle Pearl, un romanzo che non vedevo l’ora di leggere e che ho atteso con ansia e trepidazione e con infinita pazienza. E finalmente potrete leggerlo tutti perché arrivato proprio oggi in tutte le librerie e in offerta lancio su amazon a 0.99 centesimi.
Ho scoperto la pubblicazione del primo capitolo della duologia Something Moore sul Young Adult Reading Club di DeaPlaneta libri, quando la casa editrice ha fatto l’immenso regalo ai suoi lettori di pubblicare i primi capitoli, subito dopo averli letti sentivo il bruciante bisogno di saperne di più e desideravo ardentemente avere il romanzo completo tra le mani per poterlo leggere tutto d’un fiato, perché avevo la profonda convinzione che lo avrei adorato. Così appena la casa editrice mi ha contattata chiedendomi se fossi stata interessata ad una lettura in anteprima non potevo di certo tirarmi indietro.
Ammetto che le mie aspettative erano così alte che ero terrorizzata all’idea di restarne delusa, ma per fortuna il pericolo è stato scampato e l’ho amato follemente.
L’ho amato perché Danielle Pearl riesce a fondere in un solo romanzo due dei miei generi preferiti; lo young adult e il new adult. In che modo vi starete chiedendo? Molto semplice, narrandoci una dolce e tormentata storia d’amore che si snoda tra passato e presente. Tramite un sapiente intreccio tra ieri e oggi l’autrice ci presenta i due protagonisti Carleigh, Carl, Stanger e Tucker Green – e ci mostra in maniera completa la loro storia d’amore; com’è nata quando erano solo dei liceali con gli ormoni impazziti, com’è finita durante l’estate e come affrontano l’immenso disastro che è stata la fine della loro relazione ora che sono costretti a frequentare lo stesso college.
Carl e Tuck sono grandi amici da quando erano bambini. Quando erano piccoli si facevano mille dispetti, lui la prendeva in giro, le tirava le trecce bionde e la chiamava Principessa per farla arrabbiare. Solo crescendo, però, quel nomignolo detto per dispetto ha cambiato significato diventando un qualcosa di estremamente affettuoso, dolce e pieno d’amore.
Al liceo la loro amicizia è passata allo stadio successivo, trasformandosi da semplice amicizia a qualcosa di più, ad un sentimento più profondo. Tuck e Carl sono diventati una coppia super affiata e super innamorata. Erano inseparabili e il loro amore era epico, entrambi fermamente convinti che niente e nessuno avrebbe mai potuto separarli. Ma entrambi si sbagliavano di grosso perché il loro amore è rimasto schiacciato sotto il peso delle bugie raccontate da Carl.
CONTINUA SUL BLOG
“Ruin me ” è il primo capitolo della serie Something More di Danielle Pearl, un romanzo che non vedevo l’ora di leggere e che ho atteso con ansia e trepidazione e con infinita pazienza. E finalmente potrete leggerlo tutti perché arrivato proprio oggi in tutte le librerie e in offerta lancio su amazon a 0.99 centesimi.
Ho scoperto la pubblicazione del primo capitolo della duologia Something Moore sul Young Adult Reading Club di DeaPlaneta libri, quando la casa editrice ha fatto l’immenso regalo ai suoi lettori di pubblicare i primi capitoli, subito dopo averli letti sentivo il bruciante bisogno di saperne di più e desideravo ardentemente avere il romanzo completo tra le mani per poterlo leggere tutto d’un fiato, perché avevo la profonda convinzione che lo avrei adorato. Così appena la casa editrice mi ha contattata chiedendomi se fossi stata interessata ad una lettura in anteprima non potevo di certo tirarmi indietro.
Ammetto che le mie aspettative erano così alte che ero terrorizzata all’idea di restarne delusa, ma per fortuna il pericolo è stato scampato e l’ho amato follemente.
L’ho amato perché Danielle Pearl riesce a fondere in un solo romanzo due dei miei generi preferiti; lo young adult e il new adult. In che modo vi starete chiedendo? Molto semplice, narrandoci una dolce e tormentata storia d’amore che si snoda tra passato e presente. Tramite un sapiente intreccio tra ieri e oggi l’autrice ci presenta i due protagonisti Carleigh, Carl, Stanger e Tucker Green – e ci mostra in maniera completa la loro storia d’amore; com’è nata quando erano solo dei liceali con gli ormoni impazziti, com’è finita durante l’estate e come affrontano l’immenso disastro che è stata la fine della loro relazione ora che sono costretti a frequentare lo stesso college.
Carl e Tuck sono grandi amici da quando erano bambini. Quando erano piccoli si facevano mille dispetti, lui la prendeva in giro, le tirava le trecce bionde e la chiamava Principessa per farla arrabbiare. Solo crescendo, però, quel nomignolo detto per dispetto ha cambiato significato diventando un qualcosa di estremamente affettuoso, dolce e pieno d’amore.
Al liceo la loro amicizia è passata allo stadio successivo, trasformandosi da semplice amicizia a qualcosa di più, ad un sentimento più profondo. Tuck e Carl sono diventati una coppia super affiata e super innamorata. Erano inseparabili e il loro amore era epico, entrambi fermamente convinti che niente e nessuno avrebbe mai potuto separarli. Ma entrambi si sbagliavano di grosso perché il loro amore è rimasto schiacciato sotto il peso delle bugie raccontate da Carl.
Il nostro non era il solito amore adolescenziale. Certo, è stato tormentato per un certo periodo, finché non abbiamo ammesso i nostri sentimenti, ma poi… poi ho pensato che sarebbe durato per sempre.
E nemmeno la nostra rottura è stata normale. È stata una catastrofe.
Paragonabile a Chernobyl.
CONTINUA SUL BLOG
April 23, 2020
Come si fa a scrivere una recensione su un libro che stavi aspettando inconsciamente da un sacco di tempo? Sì, perché Ruin me rappresenta, per me, la storia che non sapevo di star aspettando.
Una cosa di cui non sai di averne il bisogno, difficile da trovare.
Mento da tanto di quel tempo che ormai
nemmeno io riesco a capire quando fingo.
Carl e Tucker , i protagonisti di questa meravigliosa storia, mi hanno conquistata con i loro litigi e i loro riavvicinamenti: Carl mi ha colpita subito per la sua forza e per il suo caratterino frizzante. E’ una ragazza che viene da una famiglia agiata ma ha delle grandi insicurezze caratteriali causate dal padre.
Perché un qualunque ragazzo dovrebbe amarla,
quando il suo stesso padre non ha avuto nessun problema ad abbandonarla?
Dalla trama e dal titolo si capisce subito che lui è un ragazzo che ci farà dannare e soffrire insieme alla protagonista. Però devo spezzare una lancia in suo favore: aveva tutte le ragioni per fare quello che ha fatto. Ma non è tutto oro quello che luccica e lo scopriremo nel corso del libro 😉 : insieme, Carl e Tucker, sono una forza.
TRASMETTONO FORZA.
Ma ci sono anche altri personaggi su cui mi voglio soffermare: Billy, il fratellino di Carl, e Cap, il migliore amico di Tucker. Il primo mi ha sbalordita con i suoi discorsi: ha dimostrato di aver notato e compreso tutto, nonostante la giovane età; il secondo mi ha fatto emozionare con la sua lealtà e il suo aiuto, dato proprio quando l’amico ne aveva più bisogno – certi amici sono come fratelli e lui lo ha dimostrato mettendo in pericolo la sua stessa vita.
È strano sentire la mancanza di qualcuno che è proprio accanto a te.
Forse, per un Young Adult, c’è troppo pepe – che ovviamente a me non è dispiaciuto per niente 😛 , anzi lo ha reso solo più interessante ai miei occhi! Mi è piaciuta la parte finale del libro. Tanto, tantissimo. L’ho trovato, nel complesso, completo come romanzo e l’adrenalina che mi ha trasmesso mi ha resa euforica, tanto da non riuscire a staccarmene per ore.
Ci sono perdite che non si superano mai.
Questa storia mi ha presa fin dalle prime pagine: è una storia che è stata capace di farmi sballare di emozioni. Quando non leggevo il pensiero era lì, fisso. Mi ha resa dipendente, non volevo che finisse. Questo è uno dei migliori libri che ho letto in questo 2017. ❤
VALUTAZIONE: 10/10 !
Una cosa di cui non sai di averne il bisogno, difficile da trovare.
Mento da tanto di quel tempo che ormai
nemmeno io riesco a capire quando fingo.
Carl e Tucker , i protagonisti di questa meravigliosa storia, mi hanno conquistata con i loro litigi e i loro riavvicinamenti: Carl mi ha colpita subito per la sua forza e per il suo caratterino frizzante. E’ una ragazza che viene da una famiglia agiata ma ha delle grandi insicurezze caratteriali causate dal padre.
Perché un qualunque ragazzo dovrebbe amarla,
quando il suo stesso padre non ha avuto nessun problema ad abbandonarla?
Dalla trama e dal titolo si capisce subito che lui è un ragazzo che ci farà dannare e soffrire insieme alla protagonista. Però devo spezzare una lancia in suo favore: aveva tutte le ragioni per fare quello che ha fatto. Ma non è tutto oro quello che luccica e lo scopriremo nel corso del libro 😉 : insieme, Carl e Tucker, sono una forza.
TRASMETTONO FORZA.
Ma ci sono anche altri personaggi su cui mi voglio soffermare: Billy, il fratellino di Carl, e Cap, il migliore amico di Tucker. Il primo mi ha sbalordita con i suoi discorsi: ha dimostrato di aver notato e compreso tutto, nonostante la giovane età; il secondo mi ha fatto emozionare con la sua lealtà e il suo aiuto, dato proprio quando l’amico ne aveva più bisogno – certi amici sono come fratelli e lui lo ha dimostrato mettendo in pericolo la sua stessa vita.
È strano sentire la mancanza di qualcuno che è proprio accanto a te.
Forse, per un Young Adult, c’è troppo pepe – che ovviamente a me non è dispiaciuto per niente 😛 , anzi lo ha reso solo più interessante ai miei occhi! Mi è piaciuta la parte finale del libro. Tanto, tantissimo. L’ho trovato, nel complesso, completo come romanzo e l’adrenalina che mi ha trasmesso mi ha resa euforica, tanto da non riuscire a staccarmene per ore.
Ci sono perdite che non si superano mai.
Questa storia mi ha presa fin dalle prime pagine: è una storia che è stata capace di farmi sballare di emozioni. Quando non leggevo il pensiero era lì, fisso. Mi ha resa dipendente, non volevo che finisse. Questo è uno dei migliori libri che ho letto in questo 2017. ❤
VALUTAZIONE: 10/10 !
August 22, 2016
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing*
October 3, 2016
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Carleigh (Carl) Stanger is looking for a new beginning. Freedom. That is what college will bring. She can start over. No longer carry the heavy baggage she once did in high school. This is until one night at a party she sets her eyes on the man who was once the love of her life, Tucker Green. He doesn’t look happy to see her. He looks disappointed. Disgusted. And all the pain and their past comes rushing back with what she did. But there’s also something in his eyes that she will never forget. The way they still spoke to her heart. Yet, Carl can’t believe she is looking into the eyes of the man who simply let her go.
“Because I didn’t know then that he could do something worse than end us. That he could erase us.”
Carl and Tucker find it impossible to ignore each other on campus. So they simply exist, at times ignoring each other even while in the same room. Their circumstances keep them apart. Can they ever go back to what they once were? Is friendship even an option? Their emotions are still so raw. There are battle wounds there that are not healed. Their deep connection? Now severed. There were words exchanged that cut each other deep. And the love for each other? In ruins. But their love still remains. It still stands. What will it take for that love to come to light?
“That’s what Tucker is. He is light in darkness.”
Tucker Green. His love protects. And you feel it the moment the first time he sees Carl since their devastating breakup. Despite the lies, the heartbreak, and the unspoken truths, their love is palpable. Your heart will ache for them. And the time they have lost. Their unwavering current of love is inspiring. Transcending. Consuming. Absolute. Their earth shattering love story will annihilate your heart yet slowly piece it back together.
The writing is absolutely flawless in its delivery and captivating in it’s execution. I was consumed from the very last page and did not put the book down until the very last. The author inherently and masterfully weaves a touching story about two people with an unequivocal and powerful connection that were ripped apart because of secrets and uncovered truths. With her unparalleled talent, Ms. Pearl has this innate ability to deliver riveting and vivid scenes. This was highlighted as she effortlessly placed readers between past and present with dual POVs.
In Ruins is a powerful and astoundingly moving story that simply defies everything you ever felt about getting a second chance at love. Carl and Tucker battle a lot of their own demons, but it is their love that will make your heart race. This is no cookie cutter love story. It will leave you speechless as you are placed within the pages. The courage to love again is compelling.
The perseverance of their love will inspire you. Their pure unadulterated love will make you weep, smile, and promise to never doubt what love can truly endure. The author is authentic in her approach to showing that love is more about loving someone through darkness rather than loving them in the light. She is skillful in how she tackles relevant themes in this book. Emotional, gripping, and brilliantly written, In Ruins easily holds a spot as one of my top reads this year.
Carleigh (Carl) Stanger is looking for a new beginning. Freedom. That is what college will bring. She can start over. No longer carry the heavy baggage she once did in high school. This is until one night at a party she sets her eyes on the man who was once the love of her life, Tucker Green. He doesn’t look happy to see her. He looks disappointed. Disgusted. And all the pain and their past comes rushing back with what she did. But there’s also something in his eyes that she will never forget. The way they still spoke to her heart. Yet, Carl can’t believe she is looking into the eyes of the man who simply let her go.
“Because I didn’t know then that he could do something worse than end us. That he could erase us.”
Carl and Tucker find it impossible to ignore each other on campus. So they simply exist, at times ignoring each other even while in the same room. Their circumstances keep them apart. Can they ever go back to what they once were? Is friendship even an option? Their emotions are still so raw. There are battle wounds there that are not healed. Their deep connection? Now severed. There were words exchanged that cut each other deep. And the love for each other? In ruins. But their love still remains. It still stands. What will it take for that love to come to light?
“That’s what Tucker is. He is light in darkness.”
Tucker Green. His love protects. And you feel it the moment the first time he sees Carl since their devastating breakup. Despite the lies, the heartbreak, and the unspoken truths, their love is palpable. Your heart will ache for them. And the time they have lost. Their unwavering current of love is inspiring. Transcending. Consuming. Absolute. Their earth shattering love story will annihilate your heart yet slowly piece it back together.
The writing is absolutely flawless in its delivery and captivating in it’s execution. I was consumed from the very last page and did not put the book down until the very last. The author inherently and masterfully weaves a touching story about two people with an unequivocal and powerful connection that were ripped apart because of secrets and uncovered truths. With her unparalleled talent, Ms. Pearl has this innate ability to deliver riveting and vivid scenes. This was highlighted as she effortlessly placed readers between past and present with dual POVs.
In Ruins is a powerful and astoundingly moving story that simply defies everything you ever felt about getting a second chance at love. Carl and Tucker battle a lot of their own demons, but it is their love that will make your heart race. This is no cookie cutter love story. It will leave you speechless as you are placed within the pages. The courage to love again is compelling.
The perseverance of their love will inspire you. Their pure unadulterated love will make you weep, smile, and promise to never doubt what love can truly endure. The author is authentic in her approach to showing that love is more about loving someone through darkness rather than loving them in the light. She is skillful in how she tackles relevant themes in this book. Emotional, gripping, and brilliantly written, In Ruins easily holds a spot as one of my top reads this year.
January 15, 2026
3⭐️ Absolutely ridiculous, yet I could not stop reading. Like I said in my previous review of “Normal”… I never learn 😂 but I needed to know how Tuck and Carleigh’s story unfolded.
Was it poorly written? Unfortunately, yes.🙂↕️
Was it over the top dramatic? Without a doubt.🙂↕️
Was it completely addictive? Sadly… also yes.🙂↕️
This was a bit better than the author’s duet “Normal & Okay”, at least for me it was, right up until the last 20%, which were laughably bad. Because of that, and because he did not grovel nearly enough, I settled on 3 stars. Let’s start from the beginning.
Plot: Our mmc Tucker and fmc Carleigh, or Carl for short, have been friends since childhood, with an underlying physical attraction that slowly turns into more during their high school years. The story jumps between past and present, showing how they went from friends to lovers and then to exes who clearly never stopped wanting each other.
Noooow, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for messy, dramatic relationships full of passion and jealousy. I eat that up with a spoon. The separation, the yearning, the pretending to hate each other while being wildly jealous… chef’s kiss. In books. Not real life. No, no, no my friends! Because if a man ever treated me the way Tucker treated Carl, based on his warped logic, I would kick him in the nuts, block him everywhere, and pretend he never existed. But again, books.
Why this stayed at 3 stars even though it was unputdownable:
1. The last 20% were absolutely unnecessary and completely ridiculous.That cartoonish kidnapping scene should have been cut entirely. The dialogue and over the top drama gave me second hand embarrassment I am still recovering from.
2. The breakup reasoning was weak and inconsistent. Long story short, Carl’s father caused something awful that led to Tucker’s father’s death. Tucker breaks up with her because she hid who her father was, but later realizes she did not actually know about his father’s situation only after a certain moment in time and had not lied for as long as he thought. The problem is, the book tries to soften his guilt by changing the rules midway. Either she lied and that is unforgivable, or she did not. You cannot have it both ways, and his behavior ends up feeling poorly justified.
3. I enjoy a mean, bully mmc, but only if the grovel matches the damage. Here, about 70% of the book is him hating her, 10% is filler school projects and a weak realization, and the final 20% is the kidnapping. Instead of real groveling, he takes a bullet for her, says “I love you,” and boom, all forgiven. Roll epilogue. Madam, absolutely not. That is lazy writing!
4. I liked the fmc, and she was not spineless, but she loved him way more than he loved her. She forgave far too much and accepted cruelty with zero self preservation. Even when she believed he was sleeping with someone else (no he didn’t actually cheat on her, he just made her believe he did) she still took whatever crumbs he gave her. Her loyalty was admirable, but he should have suffered far more for the pain he caused.
Final thoughts:
Do I regret reading this? No, because it kept me entertained. I just really hoped it would land closer to a 3.5 or 4 star read. This author has great premises and characters that hook you, but the weak writing choices and poorly thought out scenes consistently drag the story down from what could have been genuinely good.
I will not be continuing this series!
I start marching toward them but they don’t see me, and Zayne squeezes Carl’s arm and then just gets right back in his car and drives off. Carl walks with her head down and doesn’t see me until the last second.
“Tuck?”
“What the fuck was that?” I growl. I don’t mean to come off so accusatory. She looks stressed, and exhausted, and I don’t want to make it worse, but I’m fucking tired, too.
Carl responds to my tone the only way she knows how. She straightens her back and narrows her eyes, and I wonder if it’s just my tone that’s got her on the defense or if it’s guilt.
“What the fuck was what?” she snaps back.
What the fuck happened with your family, and where have you been, and what’s going on? “Did you fuck him?” And that.
Carl’s eyes widen indignantly. “Did you just ask me if I fucked our professor?!”
Well, you did just get out of his fucking premature-midlife-crisis-mobile in different clothes than you were wearing last night. I raise my eyebrows expectantly.
Her mouth gapes open incredulously before her eyes narrow again.
“Yes, Tucker. I did. You know, I was at your Halloween party and while you were busy with that skanky redhead I just thought to myself, Hey, I’ve only ever been with one guy in my life, what better idea than to have a one-night stand with my fucking teacher. Because I’m just such a fucking slut. And, you know, he was all for it. Because screwing some random student is totally worth losing your job, and—”
Goddamnit I can’t take another fucking sarcastic word out of her mouth. “Enough!”
“Oh it’s enough, is it?” she hisses.
Rationally I know it was a ridiculous thing to ask her. She may be a liar, but she’s also a good girl. I know that better than anyone. Because I know she’s only ever been with one guy. Me. Or at least I’d hoped that was still true. And fuck the damn wave of relief that surges through me at hearing it confirmed. Because I’m not supposed to care anymore, goddamnit!
“What happened, Carl? Why did you leave the party?” I try not to ask the final question, but I can’t stop myself. “Why were you with him?”
Carl sighs and her confidence deflates before my eyes. “Look, Tuck, I’ve barely slept. I’m exhausted, and…I just can’t do this right now.”
She can’t do this right now? I just spent the night on a goddamn bench outside her dorm imagining God only knows what and she shows up here first thing in the morning in new clothes with ouryoung-stud professor, and she can’t do this right now?
Well, fuck this.
“See you in class,” I spit, and then I turn to leave.
“Hope you had fun with your skank,” she mutters, and it’s all I can take.
“I did have fun with my skank,” I lie. “And I will continue to have fun with whoever the fuck I want. Have fun with our professor.”
You see? Dramatic, yet I loved every second of it!😏😂
Was it poorly written? Unfortunately, yes.🙂↕️
Was it over the top dramatic? Without a doubt.🙂↕️
Was it completely addictive? Sadly… also yes.🙂↕️
This was a bit better than the author’s duet “Normal & Okay”, at least for me it was, right up until the last 20%, which were laughably bad. Because of that, and because he did not grovel nearly enough, I settled on 3 stars. Let’s start from the beginning.
Plot: Our mmc Tucker and fmc Carleigh, or Carl for short, have been friends since childhood, with an underlying physical attraction that slowly turns into more during their high school years. The story jumps between past and present, showing how they went from friends to lovers and then to exes who clearly never stopped wanting each other.
Noooow, anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for messy, dramatic relationships full of passion and jealousy. I eat that up with a spoon. The separation, the yearning, the pretending to hate each other while being wildly jealous… chef’s kiss. In books. Not real life. No, no, no my friends! Because if a man ever treated me the way Tucker treated Carl, based on his warped logic, I would kick him in the nuts, block him everywhere, and pretend he never existed. But again, books.
Why this stayed at 3 stars even though it was unputdownable:
1. The last 20% were absolutely unnecessary and completely ridiculous.That cartoonish kidnapping scene should have been cut entirely. The dialogue and over the top drama gave me second hand embarrassment I am still recovering from.
2. The breakup reasoning was weak and inconsistent. Long story short, Carl’s father caused something awful that led to Tucker’s father’s death. Tucker breaks up with her because she hid who her father was, but later realizes she did not actually know about his father’s situation only after a certain moment in time and had not lied for as long as he thought. The problem is, the book tries to soften his guilt by changing the rules midway. Either she lied and that is unforgivable, or she did not. You cannot have it both ways, and his behavior ends up feeling poorly justified.
3. I enjoy a mean, bully mmc, but only if the grovel matches the damage. Here, about 70% of the book is him hating her, 10% is filler school projects and a weak realization, and the final 20% is the kidnapping. Instead of real groveling, he takes a bullet for her, says “I love you,” and boom, all forgiven. Roll epilogue. Madam, absolutely not. That is lazy writing!
4. I liked the fmc, and she was not spineless, but she loved him way more than he loved her. She forgave far too much and accepted cruelty with zero self preservation. Even when she believed he was sleeping with someone else (no he didn’t actually cheat on her, he just made her believe he did) she still took whatever crumbs he gave her. Her loyalty was admirable, but he should have suffered far more for the pain he caused.
Final thoughts:
Do I regret reading this? No, because it kept me entertained. I just really hoped it would land closer to a 3.5 or 4 star read. This author has great premises and characters that hook you, but the weak writing choices and poorly thought out scenes consistently drag the story down from what could have been genuinely good.
I will not be continuing this series!
I start marching toward them but they don’t see me, and Zayne squeezes Carl’s arm and then just gets right back in his car and drives off. Carl walks with her head down and doesn’t see me until the last second.
“Tuck?”
“What the fuck was that?” I growl. I don’t mean to come off so accusatory. She looks stressed, and exhausted, and I don’t want to make it worse, but I’m fucking tired, too.
Carl responds to my tone the only way she knows how. She straightens her back and narrows her eyes, and I wonder if it’s just my tone that’s got her on the defense or if it’s guilt.
“What the fuck was what?” she snaps back.
What the fuck happened with your family, and where have you been, and what’s going on? “Did you fuck him?” And that.
Carl’s eyes widen indignantly. “Did you just ask me if I fucked our professor?!”
Well, you did just get out of his fucking premature-midlife-crisis-mobile in different clothes than you were wearing last night. I raise my eyebrows expectantly.
Her mouth gapes open incredulously before her eyes narrow again.
“Yes, Tucker. I did. You know, I was at your Halloween party and while you were busy with that skanky redhead I just thought to myself, Hey, I’ve only ever been with one guy in my life, what better idea than to have a one-night stand with my fucking teacher. Because I’m just such a fucking slut. And, you know, he was all for it. Because screwing some random student is totally worth losing your job, and—”
Goddamnit I can’t take another fucking sarcastic word out of her mouth. “Enough!”
“Oh it’s enough, is it?” she hisses.
Rationally I know it was a ridiculous thing to ask her. She may be a liar, but she’s also a good girl. I know that better than anyone. Because I know she’s only ever been with one guy. Me. Or at least I’d hoped that was still true. And fuck the damn wave of relief that surges through me at hearing it confirmed. Because I’m not supposed to care anymore, goddamnit!
“What happened, Carl? Why did you leave the party?” I try not to ask the final question, but I can’t stop myself. “Why were you with him?”
Carl sighs and her confidence deflates before my eyes. “Look, Tuck, I’ve barely slept. I’m exhausted, and…I just can’t do this right now.”
She can’t do this right now? I just spent the night on a goddamn bench outside her dorm imagining God only knows what and she shows up here first thing in the morning in new clothes with ouryoung-stud professor, and she can’t do this right now?
Well, fuck this.
“See you in class,” I spit, and then I turn to leave.
“Hope you had fun with your skank,” she mutters, and it’s all I can take.
“I did have fun with my skank,” I lie. “And I will continue to have fun with whoever the fuck I want. Have fun with our professor.”
You see? Dramatic, yet I loved every second of it!😏😂
June 16, 2021
Carleigh (Carl) and Tucker have been friends since they’ve been kids. Then they fell in love. Now they’re barely speaking. This is the narrative of Danielle Pearl’s New Adult (but we’ll talk about that later) novel In Ruins. Told in the voices of both Carl and Tuck, the novel unravels scenes from the pair’s childhood, their tentative relationship, and their love story, but it leaves the details of their breakup – something big, something Carl feels she’ll never be forgiven for – until near the end.
The story begins when Carl starts her first year of college. Carl is feeling unsettled about being at school, mostly because Tuck is also there (on a lacrosse scholarship – I guess lacrosse is cool in the States) and their relationship had “implode[d] before summer was out.” Now, when she should be excited about her classes, and the parties and being away from her mother, Carl is walking “on eggshells, because Tucker knows my secret. He hates me for it, and he should.”
Tucker, for his part, is
angry that she’s here. I’m angry that she’s not who I thought she was. I’m angry that she’s beautiful, and that my teammates have already noticed her. I’m angry that she ran out of that bar alone last night when she should fucking know better. I’m angry that she still affects me – that my dick doesn’t seem to care whether or not she’s a conniving little liar.
Carl and Tuck are hoping to avoid each other, but they end up in the same Marketing class and before you can say “of course they do” they end up working on a group project. Their feelings are complicated and try as they might to bury them deep, it’s just not possible. But that’s how these stories work, right? And I think, overall, Pearl does a good job of stringing us along, even though we know the “will they won’t they” will ultimately be “of course they will”. There’s lots of other stuff happening here, too: family drama, absent parents, and even some fast-paced intrigue near the end. Overall, I did enjoy reading In Ruins and found it to be well-written and, on the Scoville scale of hotness, it’s about Trinidad Scorpion Butch T hot. I might have rated it higher except….I didn’t believe any of the sex scenes.
I was eighteen about a million years ago – but eighteen-year-old boys like Tucker did NOT exist. I teach high school. There are zero Tucks. There are zero Carleighs, for that matter. Tuck is a gigolo-grade eighteen year old. He’s physically perfect (although I could have done with a little less of his army green eyes), but we sort of expect an idealized version of our main characters in this kind of story. The things I couldn’t get past were the dirty talk and just Tuck’s general skill, which is porn star amazing. I suppose this book counts as NA because of the age of the characters and the fact that it is set in college, but I wouldn’t put it in my classroom library, mostly because I don’t want to give teenage girls unrealistic expectations about what sex is like. There is also so much swearing. It’s irksome. I like a well-placed F bomb, too, but geesh.
Neverthless, if I was going to suggest a quick, decently written, smutty book to read In Ruins would probably fit the bill. It’s far better (by a country mile) than Corrupt.
Really 2.5 stars.
The story begins when Carl starts her first year of college. Carl is feeling unsettled about being at school, mostly because Tuck is also there (on a lacrosse scholarship – I guess lacrosse is cool in the States) and their relationship had “implode[d] before summer was out.” Now, when she should be excited about her classes, and the parties and being away from her mother, Carl is walking “on eggshells, because Tucker knows my secret. He hates me for it, and he should.”
Tucker, for his part, is
angry that she’s here. I’m angry that she’s not who I thought she was. I’m angry that she’s beautiful, and that my teammates have already noticed her. I’m angry that she ran out of that bar alone last night when she should fucking know better. I’m angry that she still affects me – that my dick doesn’t seem to care whether or not she’s a conniving little liar.
Carl and Tuck are hoping to avoid each other, but they end up in the same Marketing class and before you can say “of course they do” they end up working on a group project. Their feelings are complicated and try as they might to bury them deep, it’s just not possible. But that’s how these stories work, right? And I think, overall, Pearl does a good job of stringing us along, even though we know the “will they won’t they” will ultimately be “of course they will”. There’s lots of other stuff happening here, too: family drama, absent parents, and even some fast-paced intrigue near the end. Overall, I did enjoy reading In Ruins and found it to be well-written and, on the Scoville scale of hotness, it’s about Trinidad Scorpion Butch T hot. I might have rated it higher except….I didn’t believe any of the sex scenes.
I was eighteen about a million years ago – but eighteen-year-old boys like Tucker did NOT exist. I teach high school. There are zero Tucks. There are zero Carleighs, for that matter. Tuck is a gigolo-grade eighteen year old. He’s physically perfect (although I could have done with a little less of his army green eyes), but we sort of expect an idealized version of our main characters in this kind of story. The things I couldn’t get past were the dirty talk and just Tuck’s general skill, which is porn star amazing. I suppose this book counts as NA because of the age of the characters and the fact that it is set in college, but I wouldn’t put it in my classroom library, mostly because I don’t want to give teenage girls unrealistic expectations about what sex is like. There is also so much swearing. It’s irksome. I like a well-placed F bomb, too, but geesh.
Neverthless, if I was going to suggest a quick, decently written, smutty book to read In Ruins would probably fit the bill. It’s far better (by a country mile) than Corrupt.
Really 2.5 stars.
February 5, 2017
Meh... I wanted to read Carl and Tuck's story, so I'm fine that I read it. I guess. However, it wasn't anything remarkable, or even close to it. I'd give it a 1.5 star rating, because I didn't hate it, but I also don't think it was really all that okay of a book. Yet the more I think about it, the more I want to give it only one star.
The Plot: We are reintroduced to Carl and Tuck in their freshman year of college. Despite the happy ending they had in the book Okay, things have fallen apart in the short time span between books. Carl is heartbroken at Tucker breaking up with her, and Tuck is so angry at her, he practically spits venom at her anytime she's around. Carleigh was caught in a lie that was unforgivable in Tuck's eyes. By trying to avoid each other in classes they originally scheduled together, they both unwittingly switch to the same alternative class, getting stuck with each other anyhow. They also keep running into each other at parties, and through mutual friends. As you might predict, they get stuck in a group project for their shared class, and must learn to deal with each other in a professional manner...though that doesn't really work out either.
What I Didn't Like: Okay, here's a complaint that leads to my biggest complaint in the next paragraph. It's the whole hate-sex, friends-with-benefits sex, not-really-hating-you-but-still-hating-you sex... Basically every time there could be even a remote chance of sex between Carl and Tuck, there was a sex scene. Fine, sex...whatever. I don't care if there's sex scenes in a book. But, it didn't make sense with everything the characters were saying to each other, saying in their heads, saying to anyone, really. I know they used to "hook-up" in high school before they dated. I realize they had a relationship in high school. I even might see one hate-sex thing even though it was weird and degrading for the female, and I don't understand or agree with anything like that personally. But, those hook-ups just kept going on. It was silly. Basically, this book felt like it solely existed for the sexploits of Carl and Tucker, and the plot surrounding it was just filler.
Okay, so probably my most anger-inducing complaint, which stems from that first paragraph, is the facade that Carl is some kind of strong, independent female. It says it in the book, it eludes to the fact that she might be, but it never really proves it. Just because you say it in the book doesn't make it so. The actions don't live up to the words. She's stubborn...but that's not really the same thing. All I see is a girl that pretends to be self-sufficient and strong, but continuously pines over a slightly asshole-ish player that she drops her pants for as often as possible because he can get her off. How is any of that a healthy dose of Feminism and self-respect?
And all of that is really a kick in the head for the Something More series...it went from the author being very pro-strong woman in the Normal and Okay book, and having a female character gain independence from her fear and the past, to this book that has the veneer of a strong female character that is really just a weakling and a push-over. It puts off the wrong vibes of what a strong, independent female character should be. Allowing herself to have hate-sex with her ex? Continuously allowing herself to fall back into bed with her ex because she's not able to resist the sexual temptation he possesses over her, or some BS like that? Letting him say such hateful things to her (even if he didn't really mean them in the end, it's no excuse), and to do such things to her? No. That's not a strong female role model whatsoever. Not even in the least. And to have an asshole male character like that. In the Normal and Okay books, the main characters, Sam and Cam, are huge proponents and champions for female rights, and the respectful way women should be treated. And then she writes this book and we're given the new attitude of Tuck? No.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I almost hate that I read this book because I lost almost any sort of respect I had for the main characters in this book, and I don't like Tucker as much now as the character he seemed to be in the Normal series.
My lesser complaints are as follows: The aimlessness. That a large part of the beginning of the book felt like it couldn't get a grasp on where it wanted the story to go. It would seem to lead toward one direction the plot might follow, somewhat abandon that plot line, and then switch to another.
The complete predictability of the book. Don't get me wrong...I've read a lot of predictable books. Yet, many of those books do it in such a way that the writing was amazing and overshadowed the predictability, or the author spun it to made it their own. This book lacked both of those redeeming qualities. It just felt like a book thrown together for the sake of having a spin-off book about Carl and Tuck. Which, in reality, that's exactly what it was. Before it was ever said, you knew already what the "secret lie" was that Carl had been keeping from Tuck. It was not a surprise at all, or even kept you guessing at all. Even the "twist" at the end was foreseeable.
The so-called twist at the end. It went from being one type of book to a completely different type, wanting to be a thriller all-of-a-sudden, at the last 20%...probably less. It wasn't even done well or thought out all that great. It left big holes and some of the characters' explanations for the scheme was also flawed. All of that last 20% felt overly forced and melodramatic. Very eye-roll worthy.
What I Did Like: After I've finished venting my dislikes, and having each complaint roll easily from a simmer into a complete boiling-over of anger, almost any "likes" I had have now been overshadowed.
Despite this, and maybe surprisingly, I still plan on reading In Pieces, which is Bits and Dave's book. Hopefully I don't regret it.
The Plot: We are reintroduced to Carl and Tuck in their freshman year of college. Despite the happy ending they had in the book Okay, things have fallen apart in the short time span between books. Carl is heartbroken at Tucker breaking up with her, and Tuck is so angry at her, he practically spits venom at her anytime she's around. Carleigh was caught in a lie that was unforgivable in Tuck's eyes. By trying to avoid each other in classes they originally scheduled together, they both unwittingly switch to the same alternative class, getting stuck with each other anyhow. They also keep running into each other at parties, and through mutual friends. As you might predict, they get stuck in a group project for their shared class, and must learn to deal with each other in a professional manner...though that doesn't really work out either.
What I Didn't Like: Okay, here's a complaint that leads to my biggest complaint in the next paragraph. It's the whole hate-sex, friends-with-benefits sex, not-really-hating-you-but-still-hating-you sex... Basically every time there could be even a remote chance of sex between Carl and Tuck, there was a sex scene. Fine, sex...whatever. I don't care if there's sex scenes in a book. But, it didn't make sense with everything the characters were saying to each other, saying in their heads, saying to anyone, really. I know they used to "hook-up" in high school before they dated. I realize they had a relationship in high school. I even might see one hate-sex thing even though it was weird and degrading for the female, and I don't understand or agree with anything like that personally. But, those hook-ups just kept going on. It was silly. Basically, this book felt like it solely existed for the sexploits of Carl and Tucker, and the plot surrounding it was just filler.
Okay, so probably my most anger-inducing complaint, which stems from that first paragraph, is the facade that Carl is some kind of strong, independent female. It says it in the book, it eludes to the fact that she might be, but it never really proves it. Just because you say it in the book doesn't make it so. The actions don't live up to the words. She's stubborn...but that's not really the same thing. All I see is a girl that pretends to be self-sufficient and strong, but continuously pines over a slightly asshole-ish player that she drops her pants for as often as possible because he can get her off. How is any of that a healthy dose of Feminism and self-respect?
And all of that is really a kick in the head for the Something More series...it went from the author being very pro-strong woman in the Normal and Okay book, and having a female character gain independence from her fear and the past, to this book that has the veneer of a strong female character that is really just a weakling and a push-over. It puts off the wrong vibes of what a strong, independent female character should be. Allowing herself to have hate-sex with her ex? Continuously allowing herself to fall back into bed with her ex because she's not able to resist the sexual temptation he possesses over her, or some BS like that? Letting him say such hateful things to her (even if he didn't really mean them in the end, it's no excuse), and to do such things to her? No. That's not a strong female role model whatsoever. Not even in the least. And to have an asshole male character like that. In the Normal and Okay books, the main characters, Sam and Cam, are huge proponents and champions for female rights, and the respectful way women should be treated. And then she writes this book and we're given the new attitude of Tuck? No.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I almost hate that I read this book because I lost almost any sort of respect I had for the main characters in this book, and I don't like Tucker as much now as the character he seemed to be in the Normal series.
My lesser complaints are as follows: The aimlessness. That a large part of the beginning of the book felt like it couldn't get a grasp on where it wanted the story to go. It would seem to lead toward one direction the plot might follow, somewhat abandon that plot line, and then switch to another.
The complete predictability of the book. Don't get me wrong...I've read a lot of predictable books. Yet, many of those books do it in such a way that the writing was amazing and overshadowed the predictability, or the author spun it to made it their own. This book lacked both of those redeeming qualities. It just felt like a book thrown together for the sake of having a spin-off book about Carl and Tuck. Which, in reality, that's exactly what it was. Before it was ever said, you knew already what the "secret lie" was that Carl had been keeping from Tuck. It was not a surprise at all, or even kept you guessing at all. Even the "twist" at the end was foreseeable.
The so-called twist at the end. It went from being one type of book to a completely different type, wanting to be a thriller all-of-a-sudden, at the last 20%...probably less. It wasn't even done well or thought out all that great. It left big holes and some of the characters' explanations for the scheme was also flawed. All of that last 20% felt overly forced and melodramatic. Very eye-roll worthy.
What I Did Like: After I've finished venting my dislikes, and having each complaint roll easily from a simmer into a complete boiling-over of anger, almost any "likes" I had have now been overshadowed.
Despite this, and maybe surprisingly, I still plan on reading In Pieces, which is Bits and Dave's book. Hopefully I don't regret it.
June 20, 2017
3,5 STARS
Carleight e Tucker in passato hanno avuto una storia, che a distanza di tempo non riescono ancora a dimenticare.
Lui è quello che combatte più rabbiosamente contro quel sentimento, cerca di respingerlo in tutti i modi, ma quando si ritrova davanti a Carl, cede quasi sempre per poi sputarle addosso il suo veleno.
Questa contrapposizione costante di ciò che lui vuole e che non dovrebbe volere, è stato il fattore che mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine. Volevo scoprire il perché Tuck si comportasse in quel modo, perché si auto infliggeva la sofferenza e, cosa ancora più importante, perché faceva soffrire così tanto Carl.
Tra alternanza di passato e presente la storia si dipana e... pian piano si sgonfia. Le motivazioni che spingono Tucker a essere crudele sono sì importanti, ma sotto un altro punto di vista, davvero tanto deboli.
In più punti avrei voluto prendere a sberle Carl e urlarle di mandarlo a quel paese, che non è giusto che una ragazza subisca così tanto per amore o anche solo per senso di colpa.
Sarà che ho un lato femminista in me che ogni tanto dà di matto, o soltanto perché gli schemi di questo libro li ho già visti in più e più libri, ma alla fine il mio entusiasmo è svanito. Peccato perché l'inizio è davvero tanto bello ed emozionante.
Carleight e Tucker in passato hanno avuto una storia, che a distanza di tempo non riescono ancora a dimenticare.
Lui è quello che combatte più rabbiosamente contro quel sentimento, cerca di respingerlo in tutti i modi, ma quando si ritrova davanti a Carl, cede quasi sempre per poi sputarle addosso il suo veleno.
Questa contrapposizione costante di ciò che lui vuole e che non dovrebbe volere, è stato il fattore che mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine. Volevo scoprire il perché Tuck si comportasse in quel modo, perché si auto infliggeva la sofferenza e, cosa ancora più importante, perché faceva soffrire così tanto Carl.
Tra alternanza di passato e presente la storia si dipana e... pian piano si sgonfia. Le motivazioni che spingono Tucker a essere crudele sono sì importanti, ma sotto un altro punto di vista, davvero tanto deboli.
In più punti avrei voluto prendere a sberle Carl e urlarle di mandarlo a quel paese, che non è giusto che una ragazza subisca così tanto per amore o anche solo per senso di colpa.
Sarà che ho un lato femminista in me che ogni tanto dà di matto, o soltanto perché gli schemi di questo libro li ho già visti in più e più libri, ma alla fine il mio entusiasmo è svanito. Peccato perché l'inizio è davvero tanto bello ed emozionante.
May 30, 2017
4 stelle e mezzo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 26, 2017
4,5 stars
October 6, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
In Ruins is the first in a new, new adult contemporary romance series by Danielle Pearl. The series is called the Something More series. I really enjoyed this one. It is told in dual narrative and jumps back and forth between multiple different time lines, so sometimes it was a little hard to keep track of the stories, but it was nice that we got to see the couples relationship throughout childhood, high school and then college.
In Ruins in told in dual narrative between Tucker and Carleigh. It is really a second chance romance story, but this one packs a real punch. I think most of that is due to the fact that their first chance romance is in the not so distant future. They broke up the summer before they started college for a big mysterious lie (this lie had me so capitvated and fascinated. I could not for the life of me figure out what it was going to be for most of the book!) and the book takes place during their freshman year. So the breakup is very fresh. And still very much an open wound. Which makes In Ruins a very emotional read. I loved that.
There is a lot of jumping back and forth between different phases in Tucker and Carl's life. (and can I just say I don't love the nickname Carl for a girl...) I was much more interested in the present day timeline, but the backstory timelines were very important for character and story development, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't try and read those chapters just a little bit faster. I tried to savor the present day chapters more. I felt the emotion on every single page of In Ruins. I was so rooting for Carl and Tucker. I loved Carl, which made the whole she is a lying dirtbag tirade Tucker was on very weird to me. I just couldn't imagine what Carl could have done that was so bad, because she is such a sweetheart. (Nope, I am not telling you a thing!) And Tucker is so great. I just wanted them to get together every page of the story. Danielle Pearl does an excellent job captivating the reader. I so easily could put myself in both of the characters shoes. I felt like I was right there with them, at every college party, through every fight, and that is the magic of In Ruins. It is why I am super excited to continue on with this story. I can't wait to see what In Pieces is going to bring because Danielle Pearl is so great at writing romances full of emotion, a bit of angst and drama but so full of heart. This book will tug on your heartstrings. Because sometimes there is a lot of junk and heartbreak that goes along with a breakup and sometimes a second chance is really hard to give.
In Ruins will have you wondering just what happened between Carl and Tucker and it will really have you rooting for them. I loved this book. I would recommend it to everyone who like a well written emotional romance.
Books in the Something More Series:
In Ruins is the first in a new, new adult contemporary romance series by Danielle Pearl. The series is called the Something More series. I really enjoyed this one. It is told in dual narrative and jumps back and forth between multiple different time lines, so sometimes it was a little hard to keep track of the stories, but it was nice that we got to see the couples relationship throughout childhood, high school and then college.
In Ruins in told in dual narrative between Tucker and Carleigh. It is really a second chance romance story, but this one packs a real punch. I think most of that is due to the fact that their first chance romance is in the not so distant future. They broke up the summer before they started college for a big mysterious lie (this lie had me so capitvated and fascinated. I could not for the life of me figure out what it was going to be for most of the book!) and the book takes place during their freshman year. So the breakup is very fresh. And still very much an open wound. Which makes In Ruins a very emotional read. I loved that.
There is a lot of jumping back and forth between different phases in Tucker and Carl's life. (and can I just say I don't love the nickname Carl for a girl...) I was much more interested in the present day timeline, but the backstory timelines were very important for character and story development, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't try and read those chapters just a little bit faster. I tried to savor the present day chapters more. I felt the emotion on every single page of In Ruins. I was so rooting for Carl and Tucker. I loved Carl, which made the whole she is a lying dirtbag tirade Tucker was on very weird to me. I just couldn't imagine what Carl could have done that was so bad, because she is such a sweetheart. (Nope, I am not telling you a thing!) And Tucker is so great. I just wanted them to get together every page of the story. Danielle Pearl does an excellent job captivating the reader. I so easily could put myself in both of the characters shoes. I felt like I was right there with them, at every college party, through every fight, and that is the magic of In Ruins. It is why I am super excited to continue on with this story. I can't wait to see what In Pieces is going to bring because Danielle Pearl is so great at writing romances full of emotion, a bit of angst and drama but so full of heart. This book will tug on your heartstrings. Because sometimes there is a lot of junk and heartbreak that goes along with a breakup and sometimes a second chance is really hard to give.
In Ruins will have you wondering just what happened between Carl and Tucker and it will really have you rooting for them. I loved this book. I would recommend it to everyone who like a well written emotional romance.
Books in the Something More Series:
Series Page on Goodreads
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
April 28, 2017
Sarebbe un tre e mezzo, ma arrotondiamo per eccesso.
Recensione in arrivo tra oggi e domani,
Recensione in arrivo tra oggi e domani,
September 12, 2017
This book may have just left me In Ruins, I loved it!
I’m not sure what initially drew me to this book. The cover is simply beautiful and understated. The story is an NA one, and another positive. The synopsis is suitably vague and made me wonder just what secrets lay inside this book. So, needless to say, my curiosity won out and I decided to give the book and Danielle Pearl a go.
What I found inside was a story with a complexity to rival the best of writers. From lost innocence to damaged futures, we are taken on a journey across Carleigh Stanger’s life from her perfect young childhood to her difficult teens, thanks to her father. From a child, Carl was drawn to Tucker Green but as with all children he teased her and taunted her until they both became aware of their true feelings for each other. Tucker Green is hurting and it’s thanks to Carl and her family. In a short time, Tucker has gone from being friends with Carl, to lovers and now to hating her, or does he?
Although the story spans Carl’s young life, it focuses its attention on the last 12 months. From the year before when Carl and Tucker are happily enjoying developing a relationship with each other to the collapse of their connection and the pain and suffering experienced afterwards. One year later, both Carl and Tucker find themselves attending the same College. Tucker still clearly resents Carl, and yet he is drawn to protect her. Carl is determined to avoid Tucker but yet finds him at every party or gathering watching her from a distance. When they even end up in the same class and project group, Carl begins to wonder if her punishment will ever end.
With her father now out of her life, and her mother living the high life, Carl is left with the responsibility of caring for her 13 year old brother and sadly everything doesn’t go to plan. Billy is struggling to grow without the watchful eyes of loving and caring parents and it’s left to Carl to deal with the many problems he faces as a result.
Also helping Carl through her present life crisis, unexpectedly, is her Professor. Zayne Stevens is a good looking yet challenging tutor and Carl is immediately drawn to his kindness but Carl struggles to understand why Zayne wants to help her. Despite her reservations, Carl finds that he is the only person she can turn to and trust. Tucker, ever watchful of Carl tries to steer her away from unknown dangers but even he doesn’t foresee or expect what happens to her as the story progresses.
I really loved the bond Tucker and Carl shared throughout this story. Despite his anger towards Carl, Tucker is always protective of her and despite his determination to hate her, he finds that he just can’t. Tucker was the perfect person for Carl to have in her life and despite his misgivings, he is always at hand to rescue her from danger. As the story progresses it is clear that Carl’s story isn’t what Tucker expected it to be but can he ever put their past behind him in order for them to find their HEA?
This really was an amazing story and definitely an author that I will seek out again.
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I’m not sure what initially drew me to this book. The cover is simply beautiful and understated. The story is an NA one, and another positive. The synopsis is suitably vague and made me wonder just what secrets lay inside this book. So, needless to say, my curiosity won out and I decided to give the book and Danielle Pearl a go.
What I found inside was a story with a complexity to rival the best of writers. From lost innocence to damaged futures, we are taken on a journey across Carleigh Stanger’s life from her perfect young childhood to her difficult teens, thanks to her father. From a child, Carl was drawn to Tucker Green but as with all children he teased her and taunted her until they both became aware of their true feelings for each other. Tucker Green is hurting and it’s thanks to Carl and her family. In a short time, Tucker has gone from being friends with Carl, to lovers and now to hating her, or does he?
Although the story spans Carl’s young life, it focuses its attention on the last 12 months. From the year before when Carl and Tucker are happily enjoying developing a relationship with each other to the collapse of their connection and the pain and suffering experienced afterwards. One year later, both Carl and Tucker find themselves attending the same College. Tucker still clearly resents Carl, and yet he is drawn to protect her. Carl is determined to avoid Tucker but yet finds him at every party or gathering watching her from a distance. When they even end up in the same class and project group, Carl begins to wonder if her punishment will ever end.
With her father now out of her life, and her mother living the high life, Carl is left with the responsibility of caring for her 13 year old brother and sadly everything doesn’t go to plan. Billy is struggling to grow without the watchful eyes of loving and caring parents and it’s left to Carl to deal with the many problems he faces as a result.
Also helping Carl through her present life crisis, unexpectedly, is her Professor. Zayne Stevens is a good looking yet challenging tutor and Carl is immediately drawn to his kindness but Carl struggles to understand why Zayne wants to help her. Despite her reservations, Carl finds that he is the only person she can turn to and trust. Tucker, ever watchful of Carl tries to steer her away from unknown dangers but even he doesn’t foresee or expect what happens to her as the story progresses.
I really loved the bond Tucker and Carl shared throughout this story. Despite his anger towards Carl, Tucker is always protective of her and despite his determination to hate her, he finds that he just can’t. Tucker was the perfect person for Carl to have in her life and despite his misgivings, he is always at hand to rescue her from danger. As the story progresses it is clear that Carl’s story isn’t what Tucker expected it to be but can he ever put their past behind him in order for them to find their HEA?
This really was an amazing story and definitely an author that I will seek out again.
We are proud to provide honest and unbiased reviews written from the heart.
Email: jezabellgirlandfriends@gmail.com
Web: http://jezabellgirlandfriends.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jezabellgirlandfr...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Jezabell_girl
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/jezabellg...
Google+: http://google.com/+JezabellGirl
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/JezabellGirl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jezabell_girl
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