Review: The Glow Up by A.M. Johnson
SYNOPSIS:
Chris Delaney
I’ve promised myself that this was going to be the year to finally buckle down. I’m a junior, and I’ve settled on a major. I’ve got focus and determination. The one thing I haven’t figured out yet? How to deal with the massive crush I’ve been harboring on the guy in study carrel six.
I don’t know his name and some of my friends think it’s time for me to move on, but he has this whole sexy, broody, dark eyes and messy hair thing going for him. And yeah, he seems like he could be my polar opposite. The kind of unapproachable, serious type who doesn’t smile much, but I’d like to think he’s all rays of sunshine underneath his stormy expressions and disheveled demeanor. All that intense energy… I dig it.
I want to know him.
The rub?
I’ll have to find the courage to actually introduce myself.
Aiden Russo
The college experience is supposed to be parties, drinking, and fun with a few classes mixed in. It sounds pretty amazing, right? For me, it turned out to be endless lectures, avalanches of homework, and copious amounts of caffeine. The study carrel might as well be my dorm room. And that guitar under my bed? It’s got two years of dust growing on it. But this is the life I have to lead if I’m ever going to help my dad.
Pre-med isn’t for the weak.
The problem? Loneliness holds me hostage.
If only I could find someone willing to break through my ever-present cloud bank, and remind me what it’s like to have fun again.
REVIEW:
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
This story was so stinkin’ cute. It was a breath of fresh air and a world to escape to after a particularly rough work week. I loved how quickly I sunk right back into campus like at Franklin University and I positively adored Aiden and Chris, from Chris’ pining to Aiden’s wit, these two had me falling fast and sad to leave at the end.
There is just an effortless feel to reading A.M. Johnson, the words flow off the page and it’s so easy to immerse yourself in the world, and that was definitely the case here. I couldn’t get enough of Chris’ laid back, slightly stalker-ish vibes and Aiden’s isolation. And while on the surface, these two may seem like the definition of opposites attract, underneath they have so much in common it had my heart ready to burst.
I loved the lack of drama and for the most part, the characters worked through their issues together. It was just so sticky sweet and utterly charming. The relationship and pacing flowed naturally and I loved how both Chris and Aiden matured and found their own paths throughout the story. It’s the kind of story that leaves you with warm, fuzzy feelings in your heart and a smile on your face.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
