Hey Readers!
Im very excited to bring this review to you today. This is such a wonderful book. What is the title of this wonderful book you ask? On the chopping block today is Not Yet by Laura Ward! Before I give you my thoughts let's learn a little bit about the book.
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Publisher: Self- Published
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 273
Source: Author
Format: eARC
Emma Harris is learning that is just a series of lessons.
Lesson #1: Nothing goes the way you plan.
Lesson #2: You can't trust men. Especially not the pretty ones.
Lesson #3: Turns out, appearences are almost always decieving.
Emma thinks she has life all figure out, and what she knows isn't good. For years, she's put her big sister, who was born with down syndrome, first. Now Emma's ready to start her own life, but fate has other plans. To do the right thing for the sister she love, Emma's dreams will just have to wait.
She doesn't plan on meeting Landon- a rich, flirtatious, who never has to wait for anything. Not for attention, not for money,and certainly not for girls. Meeting Emma marks the first time in his life he's had to fight for something. And Landon doesn't know how to lose.
Emma has no interest in wasting her summer with a superficial guy like Landon. But very soon she realizes she is wrong about him. The question is, can she trust him? Or will he let her down like every other guy in her life? But most importantly, can Emma trust herself enough to live the life she's always dreamed of?
Life has a way of sneaking in the most important lessons when you aren't looking. And once the heart gets involved, that's when the real learning begins.
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Now that you know something about the book. Lets learn about the author.
LAURA WARD
Laura Ward lives in Maryland with her loud and very loving three children and husband. She married her college sweetheart and is endlessly grateful for the support he has given her through all their years together, and especially toward her goal of writing books. When not changing diapers, driving to lacrosse practice, or checking spelling homework, Laura is writing or reading romance novels.
Check Ms. Ward out on social media
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I don't even know where to begin in writing this review. This book is one of those books that will leave a mark on you, giving it a special place in your heart. At least that's what this book has done to me. I will not soon forget it.
This book is an NA romance through and through. The book starts off with you meeting the female MC Emma. She has just gotta a job at a country club for the summer. After graduating from college a year early. She has major trust issues, and manly with men. Do to the fact that she has never met her own father. She is the typical girl next door, feels that she can take care of everything herself, and that she doesn't need a man to complete her. Pretty much it's her against the world.
Then in walks Landon, our male MC. The flirtatious, charismatic, drop dead gorgeous, never had any problems, and thinks he owns the world football player. However, there are so many more layers to both Landon and Emma. That it is truly amazing to watch how their personalities unravel throughout the book. making you aware of the fact that first impressions are not everything. And that you truly do not know what a person has been through until you get to know them. The character evolution in this story is by far the best that I have read. Landon's character transformation is by far my favorite in this book.
I will warn, that an event happens within the book that makes this relationship go from a summer romance to a forbidden one. I can not really go into detail without getting to spoilerish. This topic is a very touchy subject. One that I was not sure once it was revealed in the book could be done in a respectable way or should I say, the right way. But after reading the book, I could not be more impressed. All the doubt that I may have had went right out the window.
One of my absolute favorite things about this story was that instead of chapters there were "life lessons." These added such a wonderful touch to this novel. I found some of them very amusing, funny, and overall great lessons to learn for life. Here are some of my favorite ones.
" Everyone deserves a second chance, Everyone."
" There are times in life when people cause you to think you have lost it all. That it will never get better. That you will never recover. These are the times when the only thing to do is to pick your head up, look those assholes right in the eye, and fucking finish strong."
" Be brave. Be strong. Preserver
" Sometimes it's the wait....the not yets of life that are the very best lessons of all to learn."
I look forward to hearing which ones were your favorites in the comments below!
I loved that the emotions and feelings of these characters were so raw and real. That these relationships between all of the characters did't feel forced or rushed. And especially in romance when it comes to the "romance" parts of the book. It can seem so fake and detached. I did not feel one ounce of that in this novel Ms. Ward took her time to develop each and every relationship through out the book. It was like you could feel what they were feeling. The best part was that even though it was a romance novel I found myself not reading it for the "romantic" scenes. I was reading it because I was completely fascinated by the characters. That by the time you get to the end you realize that OMG....there was hardly any sex in this book and it was AMAZING! Not that I don't enjoy those parts of books, I do. But Ms. Ward did such a great job with the story telling that those scenes were apart of the book, but not the focus. It was a romance novel but at its core it was teaching us lessons in life that were just so much more! I hope that I haven't lost you and you get what I'm trying to say. haha.
Another thing that makes Not Yet so distinct is the incorporation of characters with intellectual disabilities. Many of these characters have metal illnesses such as Down Syndrome and other forms of Autism. I don't know many people or have much experience with people who have intellectual disabilities , and after reading this book I'm sad to admit that. It seems that I've been missing out on some pretty wonder individuals. I have so much respect for those living with these disabilities. In this book Ward expertly weaves this story together so that you get the full picture. You get the ups, downs, and especially the little miracles that happen when there is a break through for these individuals and their families. As you read this story you are truly transported into the lives of these characters.
Her passion for those living with these disabilities jumps off the pages. Reading this book was truly a rewarding experience. I want to say Thank you to Ms. Ward for her courage in writing and sharing the story of these wonderful characters. This story not only includes the things that we love in a romance, but so much more. I am giving this story a 5 out 5, but if I am being honest there truly is no number that I could give that would expertly show the effect that this book has had one me. How wonderful that I feel it is, I can not say enough good things about it. I hope that after reading this you are encouraged as I was to go and pick up a copy.
I sincerely encourage all to go and pick up this book. You will finish this book knowing that you have read something that has, in my case changed you for the better. And that will make you look at the world just a little bit differently.
And guess what!!! Its on SALE NOW!!!
So go and grab your copy of the spectacular novel today!
and make sure to add it on goodreads!
Also make sure you check out Laura Wards
Facebook page. Have a chance to enter her givaway for a free signed copy of Not Yet.
again, a BIG thank you to Laura Ward for supplying me with a copy of Not Yet. And to Ethan of One Guys Guide To Good Reads for recommending me to read and review this novel.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Happy Reading!
Kait
