9 out of 10 Do I hear squeels? Yes I do because it's another WATTPAD review, and on an awesome book at that, the blurb; 'At 19 years of age, Drake Wilson has everything he ever dreamed of. With a house to himself, a lucrative job as a Personal Trainer, and parents that support his every whim, the last thing he expected was to find himself back in high school. Being short the prerequisites to enter University, Drake finds himself once again in high school – but this time around he is a changed man. Striving to focus on grades instead of female conquests, his walls slowly crumble when he meets Nicole – a shy yet affectionate beauty who slowly erodes Drake’s walls. |
Torn between his conscious and his need to protect her, Drake finds the last thing he expected to in high school: Love
Before I go on, let me give y'all some deets on this piece of romantic art;
- #2 in Romance on WATTPAD, considering the sheer number of romance on WATTPAD this is an amazing accomplishment
- Currently unfinished work, only up to chapter 68, and the author says it may go for 75-100 chapters if not more, however where it is currently I felt I could write a review to do it justice :)
- It is written by a guy personal trainer, giving it a really different aura and perspective that I just love and makes it that much more unique
This book goes way beyond typical, cliché highschool romance, of which I have read too much, and gives the idea of highschool love that much needed refresher. The fact that the main male character, Drake, is 19 and simply back at highschool to gain credits for university makes his character more mature and believable, whereas these highschool mature boys ? They are stuff of legends, making Drake and Nicole's romance much more real, believable and unique as we are introduced to an adult environment as well as a teenage atmosphere. I loved the fact that because he is that bit more mature, you can really see the change and comparisons between himself and the other surrounding male and female characters we are introduced to. The idea of an age gap in a relationship is also better, rather than a 15-16 year old partners, a relationship between a 17 and a 19 year old makes their romance and chemistry a bit more mature and believable. This way their love for one another is not simply a highschool crush that may fade, but two people who are already halfway into a mature, out-of-school relationship.
I quite enjoyed the negative dynamic of Nicole’s abusive past and the reason that we endure a really sexually-frustrating beginning between these two people who obviously want a relationship but have very real pasts that frighten them to proceed with their feelings. It is mainly Nicole’s reluctance as to her past, however it’s a mature fear and one that readers’ grow to love in a way because it makes her character really dynamic and not some flitty teenager. The problem itself also isn’t whiny as you’d expect, like a broken boyfriend or a hurtful rumour; it’s a really hurtful, frightening and almost demented past she is truly frightened of. This allowed a really gorgeous protective instinct in Drake to grow, which allowed a blossoming friendship as well as relationship.
Drake’s shadowed past also adds a really lovable dynamic angle to his character as we see character progression in a past tense, knowing he’s changed over the last few years, and now witnessing how it’s affected his actions and decision making. It also creates a sense of mystery throughout chapters 1-40 because as readers we know something is haunting him about his past that he refuses to relive, but we aren’t quite clued in as to what, making it so cool and cruel to read at the same time, because as book lovers we have to know everything at once right? J
The world this story is written in is a very believable atmosphere, where we are introduced into other problems of accompanying characters as well, alluding to the fact of reality as it’s not just the main characters as to how they develop and we see them. Such as Alyssa’s abusive ex-boyfriend and the issues one of Drake’s personal training clients has as well. Also the reality is spread to the parents, where they have past difficulties such as broken marriages and difficulties, but are still believable parents. I HATE books where parents of a 16 year old for example don’t question her being out for a week or skipping school, my parents would flip, so them being so non-chalant makes me really question the story. However, this novel has the parents disagreeing with decisions, or asking Nicole to text on her way home etc. making it that teensy bit more believable.
On that note, the fact that Drake has a job, his own house and car etc. makes it a bit more mature and therefore doesn’t solely focus on petulant teenage issues, giving it an older dynamic. Him having responsibilities like grocery shopping and work make it a much more dynamic and believable read as him being so much more mature and experienced is backed by his responsibilities and such.
On a more technical note, this book is astonishingly professionally written, from grammar down to the imagery to the vocabulary and sincerity of their thoughts and actions that make it believable and not some farfetched romance that would never happen in real life. I am a grammar and spelling Nazi and the fact that this is so well spit into chapters and proof read made it much easier to read :)
On all, I love this book, by far my favourite Wattpad book, and one of the highest ratings I've ever given a book since flipping to 'out of 10' !!! If you haven't ever used Wattpad before, don't fret, I have the link to this book below and you can also download the app on android and iPhone really easily for free. It's also online, so I read on my tablet and computer all the time, and is super easy to use ! Expand your library for free !
Well done Drakory,
You've got a fan for life, and I await your updates. The only thing that annoys me is now I have to wait for the next updates and can't read straight through :(
AHAHAH
Hayley xx