Mundie Moms

Sunday, October 5, 2014

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall, Book Review


By: Sandy Hall
Published by: Swoon Reads
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Source: Purchased
Purchase: IndieBound | Barnes and Noble | amazon | Book Depository
A Little Something Different

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - I reeeeeeally liked it!

Synopsis: The distinctive new crowdsourced publishing imprint Swoon Reads proudly presents its first published novel—an irresistibly sweet romance between two college students told from 14 different viewpoints.

The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.

But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are ment to be together….


I say this with all respect to the story - OMGTHECUTENESSOFITALL.

I usually cannot handle more than four points-of-view in a story. They all begin to blur, and you guys know this as well as I do, it becomes confusing.  Not in this case. Fourteen different voices and I wasn't confused, not one bit. In fact, it's what made me flip pages faster. I'm trying hard to not overuse the word adorable. It is ADORABLE.

Sandy wrote just the kind of push-pull romance plot I love. The kind where you are cheering on the couple from page one. And in this case, you are not the only one cheering them on. Pretty much anyone who encounters the two of them wants them to get together and yet, there are mishaps, misunderstandings and other misses that make for a perfect romance.

The thing that Sandy does well is she gives these characters back-stories that make them all the more believable. This is the key to any good romance -- the believability factor has to be there. Gabe's story is especially heartbreaking and as their relationship evolves, I found myself wanting to sit Lea down and just tell her the truth. Much like in real life, the truth does come out and the ending, oh the ending, is…okay, no spoilers.

When you're in the mood for a story with a  sweetness and a rightness to the romance, pick up A Little Something Different.


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