New Adult Contemporary Romance.
Tori Albert is eighteen, her confidence level is zero. Her life experience…also zero. She’s a girl lost in the shuffle, hiding in the shadows, craving attention. If only someone, anyone, would notice her, maybe life would improve.
Grant Donovan can’t stop noticing Tori, but she is young, inexperienced and naïve. She is also his best friend’s younger sister. Grant knows the best thing he can do is just walk away. So why the hell isn’t he walking away?
When a late night knock lands across her bedroom door, Tori knows what stands behind it could end in disaster…but how many time does opportunity come knocking?
Just when she thinks her luck is finally changing, the assurance Tori believes she has finally found is taken away. With new assets and a new goal in sight, Tori will soon learn her new found confidence isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Unfortunately, some things you just have to learn the hard way.
*Contains Mature Content*
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About The Author
Ryan Ringbloom is a YA/NA author who lives for anything Romance. The passion, love, angst, awkwardness… she loves all of it. When Ryan needs a break from reality she sneaks off to read a romantic story or write one of her own. Drinking coffee, reading Tweets and hugs from her five year old are the best part of her day.
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3.5 Stars
Fake Boobs, told in dual POV's, takes us on a journey of self-hate, with eighteen year old Tori Albert. Naturally, Tori has the build of a slender boy. She is also lacking one prominent aspect of being female, boobs! She is flat chested and because of Tori's boyish looks; her feelings of loneliness, peer pressure, and lack of parental support. Further compounded by listening to her brother's friends, and all their commentary about women's looks. She firmly believes, that to be noticed by the opposite sex, Tori must fall into the stereotypical 'bombshell' category. With this impression branded and deeply seated within her, Tori's insecurities and her lack of life experience, has brought her to the brink of trouble on a few occasions.
Her saving grace comes in the form of Grant. Her brother's best friend. Grant is the good guy. The All American sweetheart. After saving Tori from some unsavory situations, Grants starts to spend time with Tori, before they both head out to college. Spending time together, Tori and Grant's friendliness soon turns into attraction. One that Grant is reluctant to start, because of Tori being his best bud's sister. Apparently, there is some unspoken code, against falling for your friend's sister.
Fast forward a couple months. Both Grant and Tori are now returning home for the Christmas break. Their farewell was bittersweet, and even if Grant doesn't want to admit it, he has feelings for Tori and can't wait to see her. This is where I applaud Tori, I was so surprised that she challenged Grant. More so, for herself, and her feelings, rather than what was expected or the 'norm.' She has become so obsessed with being 'ugly' and what other people think. So of course I was shocked.
It was finally happening. I was being kissed, and not by just anyone, but by Grant. Someone I had genuine feelings for. I never wanted the moment to end. His kiss melted away all the bad feelings I had about myself. It was as if every bad moment I'd ever experienced was in order to make this moment so perfect.
We didn't even come up for air. I didn't need air. Grant was my air.
Now, my heart really broke at this point. As the Christmas break is spent with family and loved ones. Grant and Tori take their friendship to the next level. Grant becomes Tori's first sexual encounter and first love. But as the holidays progress, and so does Tori and Grant's 'relationship', it soon becomes clear, that something 'BIG' is about to happen. Something, life changing.
Grant suddenly breaks it off with Tori. Claiming she is too young, and lacking life experience. Firmly believing that if they both were older, things would or could be different. Shattered! Distraught! Angry! Tori recedes into her former self. The one pre-Grant. Firmly believing that she was unwanted and unlovable, because of her looks.
As the story progresses, Tori decides to get the attraction she believes she wants. Physically, she became what she thinks every guy wants. Blond, blue-eyed bombshell with a D rack, and some serious back pains to prove it. But soon Tori realizes that the attention she once sort after, isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Throughout the years, Tori has always remembered Grant. His tender touches, the way his words made her feel appreciated and unique. The confidence she gained when she was with him Yet, it wasn't enough. Keeping a memento of Grant, a silver charm bracelet with a single cluster of pink hearts charm. A reminder not to ever be vulnerable again.
Tori always imagined meeting Grant again. But this time, she wanted him to fall head over heels for her and her new look. But when they finally met up, she felt rejected again. Twice by the same guy. This new Tori, was just a mask. She wasn't the Tori he knew and fell in love with.
This is where we're given some insight into Grant's thoughts and his reasons for breaking it off with Tori. Grant really proved to be such a selfless sweetheart. His reasons were admirable. It wasn't executed properly, but then, we wouldn't have any drama.
A serious theme within the confines of Fake Boobs. The author tried to make the story lighter by focusing on only the boobs aspect. I felt that Tori herself, was mostly unhappy She seemed to have reached a point in her life, where she thought, her experience would have been significant, especially as she was heading off to college. Mostly, it was the stigma, that affected her, I believe. Not so much peer pressure, or hearing men.. boys talk. She didn't know how to be girly. And without a doubt, she had no role models and no one to draw strength from.
Throughout the years, Tori has always remembered Grant. His tender touches, the way his words made her feel appreciated and unique. The confidence she gained when she was with him Yet, it wasn't enough. Keeping a memento of Grant, a silver charm bracelet with a single cluster of pink hearts charm. A reminder not to ever be vulnerable again.
Tori always imagined meeting Grant again. But this time, she wanted him to fall head over heels for her and her new look. But when they finally met up, she felt rejected again. Twice by the same guy. This new Tori, was just a mask. She wasn't the Tori he knew and fell in love with.
This is where we're given some insight into Grant's thoughts and his reasons for breaking it off with Tori. Grant really proved to be such a selfless sweetheart. His reasons were admirable. It wasn't executed properly, but then, we wouldn't have any drama.
A serious theme within the confines of Fake Boobs. The author tried to make the story lighter by focusing on only the boobs aspect. I felt that Tori herself, was mostly unhappy She seemed to have reached a point in her life, where she thought, her experience would have been significant, especially as she was heading off to college. Mostly, it was the stigma, that affected her, I believe. Not so much peer pressure, or hearing men.. boys talk. She didn't know how to be girly. And without a doubt, she had no role models and no one to draw strength from.
"Nothing in my life has ever felt right until you."
*ARC provided by the author for an honest review via NetGalley* Thanks!
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