Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein
Publication date: December 9, 2013 
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Source: eARC from Publisher
Summary:
All I ever wanted was to make a name for myself as Candice Salinas, creative writing grad student at the University of Miami. Of course, secretly I already have made a name for myself: as Candy Sloane, self-published erotic romance writer. Though thrilled that my books are selling and I have actual fans, if anyone at UM found out, I could lose my scholarship…and the respect of my faculty advisor, grade-A-asshole Professor Dylan.
Enter James Walker, super-hot local barista and—surprise!—my student. Even though I know a relationship is totally off-limits, I can’t stop myself from sneaking around with James, taking a few cues from my own erotic writing…if you catch my drift. Candy’s showing her stripes for the first time in my real life, and I’ve never had so much fun. But when the sugar high fades, can my secrets stay under wraps?
This was the first book of Lisa Burstein’s that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I freakin’ loved it. Candice is one of my favorite female leads that I have read in a long time. She is strong and savvy, but she isn’t perfect. She is still hesitant in many ways with herself. Sneaking Candy was about her becoming comfortable with being Candice AND Candy. And I loved the journey that she went on.
I’m from South Florida so I liked that the book took place at the University of Miami (even though I’m not a huge hurricane fan, it was still nice to know the setting of the book.) Candice is a graduate student so she was taking classes as well as teaching classes. This girl seemed busy! But she still has time for a rockin’ romance. As soon as I met Candice’s professor I thought he was an arrogant jerk. He may have been hot but he was awful. I was really worried that there was going to be some sort of love triangle going on in Sneaking Candy, but I am super happy to report that there was no love triangle. Sneaking Candy was much more about Candice’s personal growth and her romantic endeavors included only one, very awesome guy.
Candice was so hesitant about James at first, but I liked him right off the bat. He was cute and more importantly he seemed to be a guy of substance and he just seemed so sweet. I liked how much he seemed to genuinely care about Candice, but that didn’t mean he would blindly just do whatever she told him too. He wanted something real and I really respected that. The romance isn’t rushed or forced, it takes some time to develop and more than one curve ball is thrown their way but I loved reading about the two of them.
Lisa Burstein has such a gift with words. The writing in Sneaking Candy was wonderful. More than once I thought, “that would be an awesome quote to blurb somewhere.” And I don’t normally think that with books. Sneaking Candy is a fun and sexy read, but don’t let that fool you. It isn’t just frivolous fun, it has so much substance too. I kind of saw it as a second coming of age story for Candice. She had to learn to accept her “other half” as well. I am addicted to Sneaking Candy.
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University. She is the author of Pretty Amy, The Next Forever and Dear Cassie. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats.
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For some reason I thought this was YA and kind of dismissed it, I am so glad I read your review, this one is going on my list!
I have read both of Lisa’s YA books and they are heavy on drama and angst but memorable. I think I would like to try something lighter and funnier by her!
I love Burstein’s YA books and I have no doubt that I will love Sneaking Candy. Great review!
I read one of her YA books and didn’t care for it that much, which is why I haven’t really paid much attention to this one. But you kind of make me want to take a second look!