Review: ‘Easy’ by Tammara Webber @TammaraWebber

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex's frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she's still the same intelligent girl she's always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There's just one problem--their only interactions are through email.

Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees--hoping for more.

Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they've hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

 

Seriously, this woman cannot write books fast enough for me.  I was so excited when I saw Tammara Webber had a new book out that I dropped the book I was in the middle of and read this one right away.  So glad I did!

Just as in her Between the Lines series, Webber’s ability to create chemistry between her characters is what makes Easy such a success.  I think a lot of young women can relate to Jacqueline and her decision to follow her high school boyfriend to college.  Many of us have based life decisions on our first love only to have something go wrong.  Fortunately for Jacqueline, she has a great friend in Erin, a protector in Lucas, a supportive tutor in Landon and an extremely understanding economics professor. 

Lucas is a very well-developed character.  Sexy bad-boy, hard worker, artistic, mysterious... LOVED HIM!  There is a lot more to him than he lets on, so that through the course of the novel his layers gradually fall away, leaving an incredible young man. 

One the other hand, there is Landon, Jacqueline’s economics tutor.  He’s intelligent, funny and kind.  I figured out the connection between him and Lucas pretty quickly, so thankfully, Webber didn’t let it go on too long before Jacqueline put two and two together.

Readers should be warned that this book is for mature young adults.  The characters are in college and behave accordingly.  The book opens with an attempted rape scene which is a bit frightening, but thankfully ends well.   

Lastly, I love what this book has to say about women finding their own strength.  Erin is a very strong female character, and she helps Jacqueline to gain power.  The book advocates women learning self-defense and standing up for each other, even when it’s not the popular thing to do.  Young women need to read this book.  Brava!

Overall, I give Easy...

Plot - 4 1/2 bookmarks

Character development - 5 bookmarks

Love story - 5 bookmarks

Dream cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Elizabeth Olson (Jacqueline), Diana Argon (Erin), Jake Abel (Kennedy), Kellan Lutz (Buck), Michael Travino (Lucas)