In Ruins by Danielle Pearl Pages: 400
Published by Forever on October 4, 2016
Series: Something More #1
Genres: New Adult, contemporary, Romance
Source: Paperback ARC from Publisher
She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . .
Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.
It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .
In Ruins is the first in a new, new adult contemporary romance series by Danielle Pearl. The series is called the Something More series. I really enjoyed this one. It is told in dual narrative and jumps back and forth between multiple different time lines, so sometimes it was a little hard to keep track of the stories, but it was nice that we got to see the couples relationship throughout childhood, high school and then college.
In Ruins in told in dual narrative between Tucker and Carleigh. It is really a second chance romance story, but this one packs a real punch. I think most of that is due to the fact that their first chance romance is in the not so distant future. They broke up the summer before they started college for a big mysterious lie (this lie had me so capitvated and fascinated. I could not for the life of me figure out what it was going to be for most of the book!) and the book takes place during their freshman year. So the breakup is very fresh. And still very much an open wound. Which makes In Ruins a very emotional read. I loved that.
There is a lot of jumping back and forth between different phases in Tucker and Carl’s life. (and can I just say I don’t love the nickname Carl for a girl…) I was much more interested in the present day timeline, but the backstory timelines were very important for character and story development, but I would be lying if I said that I didn’t try and read those chapters just a little bit faster. I tried to savor the present day chapters more. I felt the emotion on every single page of In Ruins. I was so rooting for Carl and Tucker. I loved Carl, which made the whole she is a lying dirtbag tirade Tucker was on very weird to me. I just couldn’t imagine what Carl could have done that was so bad, because she is such a sweetheart. (Nope, I am not telling you a thing!) And Tucker is so great. I just wanted them to get together every page of the story. Danielle Pearl does an excellent job captivating the reader. I so easily could put myself in both of the characters shoes. I felt like I was right there with them, at every college party, through every fight, and that is the magic of In Ruins. It is why I am super excited to continue on with this story. I can’t wait to see what In Pieces is going to bring because Danielle Pearl is so great at writing romances full of emotion, a bit of angst and drama but so full of heart. This book will tug on your heartstrings. Because sometimes there is a lot of junk and heartbreak that goes along with a breakup and sometimes a second chance is really hard to give.
In Ruins will have you wondering just what happened between Carl and Tucker and it will really have you rooting for them. I loved this book. I would recommend it to everyone who like a well written emotional romance.
Books in the Something More Series:
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About Danielle Pearl
Danielle Pearl is the bestselling author of the Something More series. She lives in New Jersey with her three delicious children and ever-supportive husband, who—luckily—doesn’t mind sharing her with an array of fictional men. She did a brief stint at Boston University and worked in marketing before publishing her debut novel, Normal. She writes mature Young Adult and New Adult contemporary romance. Danielle enjoys coffee, wine, and cupcakes, and not in moderation.
Thanks for sharing your review, I’ve added this one to my TBR 🙂
Carl is a weird name. It’s not like her name is that long. I’ve been in the mood for contemp ya/na romances. I will have to add this one to my list. I’m kind of curious to see what she did to cause such a bad reaction from Tucker.
This sounds like a great read. I am intrigued already. Thanks for the review.