From Goodreads:
"Now Emmaline Carson is a sharp, settled graphic designer who loves painting, cooking and girls’ night out with her older sister Layla. But then – in the years before she went to art school in Paris – she was a shy, awkward teenager with frizzy hair, a flat chest and a massive crush on the boy across the street, Cole Marlowe. Too bad her incredibly hot neighbor only had eyes for Layla.
Cole is now a confident, laid-back attorney who’s even hotter than he used to be. He’s planning to stay single while working his way up the corporate ladder – until he’s knocked off course by a chance run-in with Emma.
Everything is different between Cole and Emma now. He finally sees her in a way she only dreamed of, and their hot chemistry is fueled by a growing friendship. But Emma’s deception of her sister – who wants Cole for herself – and the secret Cole’s been keeping for more than a decade threaten to tear apart what’s only just begun. Because sometimes the only thing standing in the way of now is then."
My Thoughts:
What do you do when you randomly run into your childhood crush (read: slight obsession), who you could never have, because he was older.. oh.. and your older sister dated him for a while? Freak the eff out! And then.. try to stay away?! Well, that's what you do when your older sister is.. um.. a bitch.
"A bitch is a bitch. I think that's inscribed in hieroglyphics on some pyramid somewhere. And hotness does not make up for it."
Emma has always had a thing for Cole, since he moved across the street when she was 12 years old. But when you're young, a 2-3 year age difference is huge, so Cole never saw Emma that way. However, he did notice her older sister Layla, who was his age. But now they have all grown up, Emma has settled into her life, and finally has the close relationship with Layla they lacked when they were younger. However, when Cole and Emma randomly run into each other, old feelings come back full force.. for Emma, and for Layla.
"Cole Marlowe hadn't crossed her mind for a while. But just one look into those blue-gray eyes and she was weak in the knees again."
Cole immediately notices Emma in a way that he couldn't when he was younger, and tries to hold back because of the drama it would cause with the families. It doesn't help that her parents, and his parents, are all best friends, and have always rooted for Layla and Cole to be together. As it turns out, it is impossible for him to ignore what he is feeling about Emma, and he starts spending more and more time with her.
" 'Hi' she said, flashing a smile she probably didn't realize was sexy.
Fuck me. I'm in trouble, he thought as he looked at her."
When Emma finally realizes Cole now wants her the way she has always wanted him, she forces herself to take a step back and think about Layla. Layla is intent on chasing Cole down, and making him hers again. But, Cole only has eyes for Emma, putting Emma in an awkward spot while she watches her sister throw herself at Cole. Emma opts to stay quiet about the time she is spending with Cole, to avoid conflict with her sister.
"Why ruin my relationship with Layla and destroy her trust in me just for something that might end in a month anyway?"
When time proves that Emma and Cole cannot deny their feelings towards each other, and old secrets come to light, they have to make a choice about the direction they are willing to let their relationship go.
"How can I ever be without this?"
This book was definitely refreshing! Ordinary people, ordinary lives, ordinary problems. Close families, sibling rivalry, childhood love (which, by the way, is a weakness of mine). I enjoyed it quite a lot!! It is #1 in a series, and I cannot wait for the rest of the series to come out. Don't worry, this is NOT a cliffhanger. I'm speculating, but I think each book in the series may be about different characters, somehow intertwined? I'm not sure yet, and there is no blurb for book #2 currently. More on book #2 once I know :)
Favorite Quote:
"Maybe I'm not apologizing to the woman standing in front of me today, but to the girl I disappointed. I'll never disappoint you again, Em, I promise."
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