She Reads Too Much

So this book was...not good. I seem to be the lone dissenting voice in a sea of 4 and 5 star reviews.

Ben - hero number one - is a 23-year old college student that has a past that, according to the storyline, made him way mature for his age. His father turned to alcohol and drugs and Ben ended up in foster care. He worked for something like 2 or 3 years to save for college. And because of this he was all grown- up. Which was total bull because he was an immature child. Selfish, short sighted, impatient and ignorant. I wanted to smack his freeking face off.

Peter - hero number two - is a 30-something college professor. His past, according to the storyline, made him reserved and ultra distrustful of college kids. And damn did he have the right. But...the author totally dropped the ball. Supposedly Peter was accused of sexual misconduct by a student and while he was exonerated he did leave the college he taught at and go somewhere else. At his current college no one knows he is gay. He doesn't even make eye contact with students while lecturing.

Yet Ben is irresistible and he ends up having sex with him. IN HIS OFFICE!!! Dude, I'm totally down with suspending disbelief and all that. But in his office? After being so reserved, paranoid, and distrustful he doesn't look at his students while lecturing!! Just. Just. No.

Before this there is some weird sex party where Ben sees Peter getting it on with some young guy while Ben himself is getting blown by some married military man home on leave. And then there is Ben's roommate Dominick who is actually in love with Ben and is just waiting for him to come around.

The story also tries to flirt with power exchange but totally falls flat. It's inconsistent.

There is an awkward and very contrived feeling square thing where the guy that Peter did at the sex party ends up hooking up with Dominick and Ben is upset by that but then on the night of Ben's graduation there is another party at the sex guy's house and Ben flips his ever loving shit because Peter and butt-sekx guy are in a compromising position. And there are tears. And what is, I think, supposed to be very powerful make up smex but no. Just no.

And Peter never tells Ben about the sex scandal. And there is a proposal six months into the relationship and just....GAH!

My finger hurts because I am pounding this out one handed on my iPhone and this whole book is just a big WTF for me.

Ugh!

Ben behaves badly at every turn.

Run away.