Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding, #1) in The Indie Bookshelf

Aug 23, 2012 Tarryn Fisher rated it really liked it

Do not read this book around other people

Do not read this book if you are abstaining from sex

Do not read this book if you are happy

Do not read this book if you are a goody-too-shoes

Do read this book if you are a bad boy lover, or a villain lover, or a drama addict.

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Jun 19, 2012 Brandi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This book is so full of gut wrenching emotional drama and angst, I loved it! Lexi and Jack's story is intense, and I had so many conflicting emotions throughout their story. I loved Lexi, she reminded me a lot of Olivia from The Opportunist, in that she was flawed but ultimately very likable, to me. Now Jack, I still do not know how I feel about him, I kept waiting for him to redeem himself and at times really struggled to understand him and his feelings for Lexi. I think maybe he was afraid to ...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Kathy rated it really liked it

I was fortunate enough to read this book before its release; I fell in love with this book then, and I’m still in love with it now! This book actually made me question my judgment of character – real life has made me do that, but never a book. I found myself really loving … would you believe, Jack of all people??!! What is wrong with me? He is the bad guy, for Pete’s sake! That is the sign of a good storyteller, and K.A. Linde managed to create a character that I love to hate and can’t get enoug I was fortunate enough to read this book before its release; I fell in love with this book then, and I’m still in love with it now! This book actually made me question my judgment of character – real life has made me do that, but never a book. I found myself really loving … would you believe, Jack of all people??!! What is wrong with me? He is the bad guy, for Pete’s sake! That is the sign of a good storyteller, and K.A. Linde managed to create a character that I love to hate and can’t get enough of. This is not your typical romance story, although it is classified as such. This story includes such deceit, manipulation, exploitation, infidelity, and seduction; I started to scrutinize my own past relationships. How did that happen?

I was mesmerized from the beginning to the end of this book. I loved how the author took us on a chronological journey of Lexi and Jack’s flawed relationship, but through a very different avenue. The chapters were almost diary-like in their headings. Don’t think you can just stop reading after one chapter and take a break; that will not happen. Ms. Linde teased me and built my anxiety over the events by moving me from present to past and back to present, virtually every other chapter. Just when I would get to a cliffhanger, she managed to transport me to another time, inspiring me to keep reading (she’s such a tease). Well played, Ms. Linde.

The characters in Avoiding Commitment are not your typical novel characters, but then again, this is not your typical novel. Each character has their own imperfections, lending to their credence as “real” individuals.

*Jack – the handsome and charming hero I love to hate.
*Lexi – the beautiful heroine I want to shake, slap, and just yell, “Wake up and smell the lies!”
*Chyna (one of my favorites) - the perfect friend and party girl.
*Clark – the trusting and adorable friend, who I can’t help but want to hug and say, “It will all be okay.”

The events of the story kept me glued to the pages. The characters are those I will keep with me long after finishing the book. I jumped. I screamed. I feared. I was sucker-punched in the face with so many lies; I just knew I was bruised from forehead to chin. The drama that transpires in this novel invokes such a multitude of emotions; you can’t NOT feel the passion of Lexi and Jack in your chest. Yes, there is romance…of a very different, but very real, variety.

This is an edge-of-your seat read that will have you so invested, you will think you have gone to another dimension. You love Jack...you pull for Jack...you pity Jack...you hate Jack...you LOVE to HATE Jack!! I just wanted to haul over the coals some of these characters....they were that engaging. You will definitely SQUEE! I give 4.5 stars to Avoiding Commitment.
...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Daisy Sloan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: emotional-omg

wow....just....omg....where do I start?

I just finished this book and I'm just floored! I don't even know where to begin with this one. It was such a roller coaster of a ride. I was up, I was down, I was yelling at them both!

After reading Taryn's review of this book, it jumped up to the top of my TBR list. I started and finished it one day and I feel like I'm an emotional wreck after reading it!

Lexi and Jack are just so TOXIC to each other. And don't get me started on Bekah.....She's gives us sou ...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Madison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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This book gave me a damn ulcer. I don't even know what to think right now, except I'm super bummed that Avoiding Responsibility isn't released in eBook yet because I just want to keep going.

Gut reaction is this: I don't know what to make of Ramsey, Jack is an ass and Bekah is a bitch. She and Jack deserve each other. I must say, though, for more than half of the book, although I was so annoyed with Lexi's stupidity, I could see where she was ...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Brandi Aquino rated it really liked it

Well, where to begin...

I'm not going to bother rehashing the plot so I'll just jump right in. This is one of those books that you can fall right into the character's lives and feel like it could easily be your own. You empathize with their struggles, and sometimes you can really see it from all sides. I spent much of my time torn between what I thought Lexi SHOULD do and what I would ACTUALLY do in her position. Their relationship was a double edge sword.

On the one hand, you really feel what Le Well, where to begin...

I'm not going to bother rehashing the plot so I'll just jump right in. This is one of those books that you can fall right into the character's lives and feel like it could easily be your own. You empathize with their struggles, and sometimes you can really see it from all sides. I spent much of my time torn between what I thought Lexi SHOULD do and what I would ACTUALLY do in her position. Their relationship was a double edge sword.

On the one hand, you really feel what Lexi feels for Jack. He is sweet and loving, attentive, seductive, charming, suave... the list goes on. The clincher? He can turn it on and shut it off at will. Imagine it like this: The hottest guy you have ever laid eyes on has spent the last several months sweeping you off your feet and everything you have been building up to has come down to this singular moment and you just know, this is it. This is the guy. Then, as he carries you to his bedroom spouting off all kinds of promises that leaves your heart fluttering in your chest, he slams your head into the door frame, drops you on the floor, and then says, well damn, sorry about that. But honestly, what did you expect? Understandably, you might forgive him this one offense (and his attitude), but then he continues to perform this exact same butterfingers routine and you stupidly continue to allow him to carry you to the bedroom expecting different results each and every time? That is exactly how this book reads for...six...long....years.

Now, I love long books. I don't ever want my stories to end. I want to live in them! Okay, not really. I would much rather be a voyeur because, honestly, these people give me a headache, and a heartache, and so many aches that I feel like I just got jumped in a desolate alley after having eaten the most satisfying ice cream cone I have ever had. *Do you see what I did there just now?* This story is nothing short of a roller coaster ride from hell. I got on thinking this thing was the most amazing ride ever, even though I hate roller coasters with a passion. It was lulling me into a false sense of security. I was grinning, enjoying the breeze in my hair, on my face, and then it jumped the track. Magically, it jumped right back on, much to my relief, but then it just kept happening. Needless to say, by the end, I was exhausted, numb from the constant turmoil.

My feelings on these characters?
Lexi needs to get a backbone. She is possibly the weakest woman I have ever read in a book. She just never really finds herself and for all the times she does manage to speak up, she backs down a moment later from a simple kiss.

Jack is handsome, charming and a freaking jerk. You want him. You want to hate him. You want to see him happy. You want to punch him in the face and curse the day he was born. I have a hard time believing that his parents' divorce ruined him as a human being to this degree. It seems it's a fundamental flaw.

Chyna is a doll. She is promiscuous, yes, but she is fun loving and in your face. Lexi needs this girl in her life. If only she had the brains to listen!

Ramsey is a nice addition to the bunch and I honestly liked him. I didn't see anything sleazy or slimy in his character, though I did pick up that he may be hiding something. He is definitely the safer bet!

Bekah, well, I will let you make your own assumptions about her.

Overall, this story captured me, so it earned a higher rating for that. It does have some problems with spelling, grammatical errors, missing words and the occasional odd or backward phrase where you know the author means one thing but it got twisted around to mean the opposite. But I was largely able to overlook these things. It's a decent read with a promising future. I see that it has a sequel, but I am on the fence on whether or not I will continue after reading that it is just more of the same behaviors. Granted, I probably will check it out, because I have invested time and emotion into this, so I might as well see it through...Yeah, I probably will. Okay, fine. I'm picking it up right now.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes a solid emotional roller coaster ride :) ...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorites, series, romance, top-favs

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 29, 2012 Daphne rated it really liked it

Shelves: is-it-hot-in-here-or-is-it-just-a-h, found-myself-with-a-tear-in-my-eye, gritty, new-adult

Great book! Really great first book by K.A.! It was real and messy and sad and funny and really really painful at times to watch these two people continue to wreck each other.
I imagine it won't be long before this book takes off like "Beautiful Disaster" and "Thoughtless".
My only criticism is the length; at times it was daunting and I feel that a little bit of it could be cut to make it a 5 star read!
I am looking forward to the next book! ...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Bernadette rated it really liked it

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. I'm too curious so I kept reading. I felt anxious most of the time and if I bite my nails it will be to the quick.

Now all I can say is....
Jack deserved that slap. It's a long time coming. He is having his cake and eating it too.
Lexi...goodness! You are soooo blind! I wish you had more snarky comments for beckah.

Beckah..That woman drank too much crazy juice but well played on manipulating Lexi and jack. Still evil though.

On to the next book.... ...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Doralinda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nook, twisted-emotion, infidelity

One sentence sums this book up, "How can I let him go, if he won't let me?"

We've all been there, which I think, is what makes this books so heartbreaking. ...more

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