Leaving behind her million-dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she becomes a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex.
Then she meets her soulmate. But he doesn’t want her.
When it comes to girls, twenty-five-year-old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about...until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference.
As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy…where sometimes, the best things in life are Very Bad Things.
This was a new experience for me in a couple aspects. I've never listened to an audiobook with two narrators and never read anything from Ilsa Madden Mills. Both new experiences were great! The narrators articulated feeling in their performance and spoke well. It was nice to have a man speaking for Leo's point of view. It somehow helped cement Leo's voice in my mind.
Nora is a smart, 18 year old, at a genius level. Tired of trying to keep up with the charade of a perfect life, she organizes this list of very bad things. Nora is sort of broken in the beginning but in her mind this list is her way to actually begin living. Her mother is a tyrant, her brother a disgusting piece of work, and her father is never around. The opening scene, Nora has a panic attack that causes an act of rebellion by telling the entire private school, faculty, and parents on orientation day to f@#k off! I actually laughed out loud at that point and Nora became someone that I wanted to know more about. On that same day she saw her sole mate for the first time while sitting in a car! Leo.
Leo Tate, 25 years old guardian of his little brother, and well off gym owner. He doesn't fit the part with his play boy ways and tattoos but he's sweet kind and endearing. He's not sure what he's seeing when his eyes meet Nora's but he can't look away. He feels absurd for checking out a high school girl and dismisses his attraction to her for the sake of decency. He has his own demons as well regarding love which makes his and Nora's journey a bit troublesome at times. What you want to do vs what you should do. Leo tried to remain the typical man whore but He can't get Nora out of his head. He doesn't want to love and he knows that's what she deserves.
Nora's next act of rebellion after a night of drinking lands her into trouble with Leo and that's where their angst filled story begins. Leo changes his rules that night for the sad girl that he found. This is when you begin to see Leo's sweet side. At every turn Leo tries to throw a wrench in the chain, but his pull to her is too strong. Nora is mature and had to grow up too soon, so the age difference doesn't really seem to be an issue except for Leo.
Nora's road to self discovery doesn't come without a price. She has some serious demons to rid, but she is smart and strong. I pull for her and Leo even when Leo had me so frustrated! You really want Nora to be happy! Leo's brother Sebastion plays a big part throughout the story and I love to read about him. He's so carefree, light hearted and fun! He is also a good friend to Nora.
Reading Nora's journey was addictive and I couldn't stop listening. This story was the whole package. Love, angst, humor and some suspense thrown in too! Loved it!
NARRATED BY: EMILY DURANTE AND SEAN CRISDEN
LENGTH: 8 HRS AND 18 MINS
SERIES: BRIARCREST ACADEMY, BOOK 1
RELEASE DATE: 4/14/2014
PUBLISHER: TANTOR AUDIO