Abigail Strom

Caleb is a handsome cowboy and Sam's best friend, Sam is the sassy and energetic adventurer, and Jane, Jane is Sam's little sister and resident Plain Jane book owner. Jane has accepted her role, accepted that she's different than her sister, and accepted that her life is most exciting when she's living in a book. She's found a certain kind of happiness, a happiness that works for her, but it's shaken up by Caleb's visit and request. She's adamant about not joining them on a hike, not even show more for Sam's birthday, but when an unexpected accident occurs Jane finds that the most she can do is just get by. Caleb makes it his mission to bring the old Jane back and spark some of Sam's energy inside of her while he's at it. He joins her on a trip that's as crazy as they come, but together they find out that saying goodbye could also help them start anew.

"'Now, if you were going to imagine the perfeact man for yourself, what would he be like?'
The perfect man."

Talk about a book to get you over your reading slump! I have read so many great books this year and I've tried a lot of new authors, but I've been getting discouraged by what is out there. The stories are all the same and so predictable, so I sort of put off reading Tell Me by Abigail Strom for quite a while. I've filled my time with suspense books and other various activities, but something about this cover, this blurb, sucked me in. It turns out, this was just the right book for me. It's romantic, it's sweet, it's got quite a bit of angst, and it breathes life into the sibling's best friend trope that was growing so old.

"Feeling and sesnation swept through her. Her whole body felt like a frozen limb coming back to life, the blood tingling and smarting as it returned."

I really enjoyed Jane, she's my sort of bookworm. Caleb, on the other hand, is your greatest cowboy fantasy wrapped in a boy. They shouldn't make sense, in fact they really don't make sense, but they work. They each have flaws and great losses to work through, something that only friends who trust one another can work through together. I loved that most of the book focused on their friendship and how Sam is the glue that really holds them together. I really appreciate the focus on sibling jealousy, the natural rivalry that comes with it, and the love that really overpowers it all. It's a unique story and it feels like a true story and not just a bit of fiction. I found myself laughing at them, crying at other times, and really hoping they get the happy ending each so deserves. It's heart wrenching and emotional, but wrapped in a sweet, romantic bow that any sweet romance fan will love. The weight of this novel is the only downside, I really hadn't expected to cry, but ended up appreciating the direction Abigail Strom took the story in. Plus, these two have so much chemistry that it's obvious from the start that they are meant to be.

"His heart squeezed in his chest. You are different. You are special."

Tell Me may feature a simple storyline, but Abigail Strom effectively brings it to life like a movie. The characters are well developed, the book features a really great tie-in of Anne of Green Gables (only my favorite book as a child), and the characters share dynamic interactions and fantastic dialogue. If you're a fan of friends-to-lovers and sibling's best friend romances, Tell Me is a book to check out. show less

I was a little worried that this book wouldn't have enough time to deal with the pretty weighty issues that it promised to contain--the grief of losing a loved one, the guilt associated with often resenting that same loved one, and two people who really do seem to be pretty opposite finding a way to work things out together--because 1) it wasn't that long and 2) the losing of the loved one doesn't happen until about 1/3 of the way in. How could everything that needs to be done realistically show more get done in just a few hours of reading?

The answer is by skipping ahead in time, which the author does a few times. Don't worry--though it is a bit disconcerting, ultimately actually ends up working fairly well. Unless my extreme fondness for Anne of Green Gables stepped in, blinding me to all other issues (confession here: I have an Anne hat hanging on my wall at home, with attached red braids and all...and yes, I've worn it--for crazy hat day at school, but still...)

This is entirely possible, I'll be the first to admit.

Still, this was a very sweet book that had me tearing up more than once (sad tears a few times, OMG happy ones at the end) with lovable characters from a new-to-me author that I will absolutely be reading more from in the future.

Rating: 4 stars / B

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. show less

If you haven't read Rikki, get on it! While the books are standalone, you don't want to miss any book in this series. My review can be found Here.

ARC provided by Abigail Strom in exchange for an honest review.

College is this huge time in your life where you're making new friends, figuring out things on your own, making future plans, and probably doing all the cool college things you've always wanted to do. There's parties, sports, new guys, new girls, and no parental supervision. But there's show more also huge unknowns, like who do you do after your first big breakup or how do you decide who to be after your dreams are crushed? Claire, the second book in the Hart University series, tackles those big moments and daunting questions with a cast of incredible characters, humor, and a bit of drama.

"And then something happened. As I spoke those words, I realized I actually meant them. Claire was an awesome person, and she deserved a chance to realize it."

I loved Claire, I liked Will, and I was so happy to be spending time with the characters of Hart University again. I am always going on and on about female NA characters being so whiny and mopey, but you won't find that here. Claire is so strong and smart for 19 years old, she's stubborn, kind, and in a band too! Reading from her POV was a breathe of fresh air, I loved her approach to her sophomore year of college and the challenge of finding oneself when you're caught up in the draw of boys. Will was exactly like most guys I met in college, so I'm a little biased when I say it took me a while to get into him. However, his character development throughout the book is steady and it made him a really well rounded character. The drama between these two is total friends-to-lovers, but different than you'd expect. Their friendship is nice, I could read a whole book about their friendship, but the hope of their relationship is nicer and I wanted so much for them. They're just plain cute and I loved them. Mix in the college scene and I was one happy reader. I really enjoy that Abigail Strom writes the characters into the college, that school isn't an afterthought. The setting is easy to picture, the scenes happening before your eyes, which makes this book even better.

Abigail Strom has done it again with Claire and you definitely need to add the Hart University books to your TBR shelf right away. I enjoyed Rikki, but I totally immersed myself in Claire and didn't look up until my kindle hit 100%. show less

Rikki and Sam have been at odds since junior high, fighting for the valedictorian position. They may have had one moment during a game of seven minutes in heaven, but now they hate each other. Except, Rikki doesn't really hate anyone and when they end up at college together, their hatred slowly changes. From enemies they grow into friends, friends that help each other out when they need it. From late night talks to posing for Sam's art project, Rikki slowly finds her feelings becoming a bit show more confusing. She goes for the jock she's had her eyes on and tried being anyone but herself, but in the end, their arguments may be more than just arguments.

This book definitely makes its mark in the NA genre. The characters are freshman at college, probably the coolest college I've ever heard of, and they are a mixed bag. They're nerdy, artistic, athletic, and all a little bit strange. I really enjoyed Rikki as a character, she reminded me a lot of my friends, and so did the many other characters. The setting was realistic and so were the characters. I enjoyed reading her inner turmoil and the conversations she have with Sam just show you how nerdy they are. While it is hard to keep up with their confusing push and pull relationship, I rooted for them from start to finish. The feelings this book gave me reminded me of my high school and first years at college, trying to figure it out on my own, leaning on friends for support, and being an adult just a bit too early. There is the natural teenage awkwardness, something I think a lot of authors leave out, but Strom did so well. The emotions are overwhelming, described with great detail and as a reader, I felt like I was sitting right in the dorm room with Rikki and Sam. I loved reading this book, at times seeing the characters shatter apart, and how Strom put it all together. It's an easy read, with a good mix of growth, fun, and smut scenes. I highly recommend this one, particularly to readers coming out of high school and those in college. I feel like this book has a great message that it is okay to be yourself, even if you're 18 and a virgin or if you doubting the risk of a random roommate or if you've never taken the chance on the boy you loved forever. It's a perfect story for all those feelings and many more. show less