Bookworm Blogger #YA: ARC Review: Since Forever Ago by Olivia Besse

Published May 13th 2014 by Wunderland Press

Rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

Fresh off the heels of a devastating breakup, Riley Benson is a mess. But with her ingenious plan to become a ball-busting heartbreaker herself, she’s pretty sure she’ll survive. After all, what better way is there to get revenge than to move on?

Riley’s determined to become the perfect bachelorette—she’s going to drink like a bro, belch like a beast and swear so much that she’ll make even the most seasoned sailors blush. After all, those are the qualities that every guy’s secretly looking for…. aren’t they?

Max Fletcher is in love with the girl who gave him chicken pox and his first broken leg. When his best friend seems to finally be out of the picture, he can’t help but want to keep Riley all to himself. And, after coaching her with the very best of the very worst love advice, it seems as if he might actually get what he's wanted after all those years. But just as the two come to the realization that they're actually kind of perfect for each other, along comes a secret that threatens to tear them apart.

Review:

Yesterday I finished reading two heavy, dramatic NA novels and had thrown a DNF out the window when Since Forever Ago landed in my lap (or on my kindle, so to speak). An interesting premise, two characters who know each other well, and what's not to like about a hidden love?!

I wasn't expecting what I read. Firstly, if you like really mature characters who act older and worldly-wiser than their 21-year old selves then this is NOT the book for you. If you're looking for a strong female who is so sure of herself she could be Wonder Woman, then this is not for you.

What Since Forever Ago IS is witty, quick, indecisive, messy and so lacking in self esteem it's cute and funny. And that's Riley Benson, the main character. She's so naive about boys I don't know how she got through a 6 year relationship. Actually I do. Her boyfriend, Noah, was a selfish, manipulative douche who told her what to wear and picked on her for all her failures. Somehow that's got to cloud your judgement when you think you're in love with someone and he's only making you into a better person, right? No, not right at all. Riley is a basket case. And then she finds out Noah cheated on her.

The story of a close-knit group of friends at college is very dialogue friendly. I loved the way it was written especially with Riley and Max. Max has been in love with Riley from a very young age but he's never told her. They're best friends and she relies on his input more once her break-up with Noah happens. Max feeds her lots of spiel about what guys Really like and Riley falls for it. It's all rubbish of course, because Max doesn't want Riley dating any one else. Time and again she proves that her innocence and lack of understanding where guys are concerned is her greatest downfall.

Riley makes a mess of things in a spectacular fashion. As the dominoes in Riley's life began to crash towards the end of the book I was hoping for a more dramatic ending. That's really my only quibble.

Take it for what it is. Read it and enjoy. Laugh at Riley's inadequacies for what they are. I liked this one :)

-CBx

You can find Olivia Besse here: