A series of chance encounters leads to a sizzling new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series.
Synopsis
When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb's orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he's stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart's in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she's made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn't quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her....
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon US – https://amzn.to/2Jf7NVm
Kobo US – http://bit.ly/2IzrKXE
iBooks US – https://apple.co/2EVxppE
Nook – http://bit.ly/2CaFPX7
Google Play – http://bit.ly/2HMQquM
BooksAMillion – http://bit.ly/2ElvARC
Kobo UK – http://bit.ly/2ps44M7
Amazon UK – http://amzn.to/2HMVAqG
iBooks UK – https://apple.co/2DFj26G
REVIEW
Fight or Flight by Samantha YoungMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Release date: October 9, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
Publisher: Berkley
I had such high hopes for this book, and I genuinely thought I was going to love it when I started. Sadly, I left the book feeling nothing but angry and disappointed. There were so many things that didn't work for me, and the first one being where it all started: their one-night stand. Let's think about this a minute. If you encounter a man on a flight who is unbearably rude to you and makes you furious...how then do you go from that to that same night wanting to sleep with him?
I tried to remember how only a few hours ago I didn't even like this guy. But that was hard to remember when he was so yummy and Scottish and talking to me in that accent.
They were both snapping and insulting each other on the flight and not a fun bantering sort of way. From their first interaction, their hate was mutual and fierce. If it was just a misunderstanding or a bad first impression, that's one thing. But no...he's consistently ill-mannered and selfish throughout the book. Her initial reaction towards him is understandable because she had just come from a very emotionally and physically draining funeral. Her patience was at an all-time low. What was his excuse? She dresses in high end clothes and she's well put together, so clearly she's a carbon copy of his despicable ex-fiancé. He continues with this unfair judgement of her during their short term affair while he's in town.
“You’re not my type. Your hair, your makeup, your clothes, your attitude. You’re too beautiful and you know it. And yet I’m desperate to have you again.” I glowered, hating him and hating that my body was still hot and flushed and needy for him even after he’d said that to me. “I hate you.” His jaw clenched, fire flashed in his eyes, and he growled, “Good.”
Honestly I was keeping an open mind throughout this, but as they really got into their casual sex arrangement, it became glaringly clear that she was putting herself in a really unhealthy situation for herself. As her past is revealed about the total lack of love from her parents, and the way her ex betrayed her, I was sad for Ava. All of the important people in her life (with the exception of her current best friend) have caused her to believe that she is nothing but a beautiful, empty shell. Pretty to look at, but nothing of substance on the inside. And here she is with this man who only reinforces that belief by wanting nothing from her beyond her body.
When I looked back on it, he never complimented me on anything but my face and body. He never told me I was smart or funny or kind. He’d always just whispered in my ear about how beautiful and sexy I was, how he loved my eyes, my smile, my legs, my ass. You get the picture. I’d just been so eager for the affection that I’d never noticed his preoccupation with my appearance.
He's a coward. To the extent that he had to retreat at the first sign of any warm feelings towards each other because she might get ideas about what it meant. He only reluctantly agreed to add friends into their benefits after she tried to tell him she was done with him, knowing it was unhealthy. They can be friends, as long as she understood that it didn't mean anything. This is a theme through the book: it doesn't mean anything.
That brings up one of the scenes I hated most. After the constant we are just sex mantra, he goes back home. They were never exclusive. He never contacted her while he was gone, and six weeks later when he suddenly reappears, he expects to pick up where they left off. Imagine his distaste when he finds out that she can't see him for sex the next night because she has a date. He treats her coldly and blows up, asking if she's had sex with the other guy. This, coming from the man who doesn't want her. BUT NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE HER! She needs to pine away and wait for him to return. Pining in a sexual haze, not an emotional one, because that would be bad and scary. Of course, addicted to his talents in bed, she rushes to his place to tell him that she wants to now be exclusive friends with benefits. After being gratified she didn't go on the date, he immediately bends her over the couch for sex, and makes her feel so worthless that she starts crying. At this point, I was so extremely frustrated and mad!! Why? Why is she giving this person so much of herself, fighting so hard to hold onto someone who doesn't have the courage to face his feelings or show her that SHE MATTERS? I love angst as much as the next person, this angst is created from her getting hurt over and over by him.
After she finally gets him to open up to her about his past, he can't deal with that so he:
1) Ghosts her like the total coward he is, which makes her run to him in needy desperation to tell him that she loves him.
2) Protects himself rather than treating her with care. He hurt her in the cruelest way possible, saying exactly what will break her the most. All that mattered is making her go away.
I was holding out on judgement until his past was revealed, which to be honest, it took quite a long time because he didn't want to share anything of himself with her. After learning what it was, I was left very confused as to why this was supposed to excuse how he treated her from beginning to end.
The one thing that I loved and adored was Ava and Harper's beautiful friendship. It was an emotional bond between the two of them that really hit me right in the feels. Their complete and utter support for one another, their understanding and unconditional love made me tear up on more than one occasion. I wish I could have felt that for Ava and Caleb, but some books are not for you, and this is clearly one of them.
When it comes down to it, I just don't find this type of hero appealing, and he pushed every single button I have that turns me off. I know many people go for hate sex, douchebags, and friends with benefits, but there wasn't anything about this story I found to be romantic or loving. Many things made me uncomfortable about their non-relationship, including the underlying message in her acceptance of his behavior. That we can accept rude, offensive, hurtful behavior if they're hot and good in bed. Even at the very end after his epic mistreatment of her, she never made him work for her to get her back. This didn't sit right with me at all.
Some books of Samantha Young's have been an enthusiastic five stars for me, and others were just the opposite. There seems to be no in between with me for this author. Unfortunately, this one was a miss. I do seem to be in the minority for the most part, so take this for what it's worth. Simply one small fish's opinion in a big ocean of reviewers.
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