The Chase by Elle Kennedy

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Title: The Chase
Author: Elle Kennedy
Series: Briar U #1
Published by: Indie
Release Date: August 4, 2018
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 378
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge, Lenoreo's 2019 Diversity Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's COYER Winter 2018
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:

Blurb:

A sexy standalone novel from New York Times and international bestselling author Elle Kennedy

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.

And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.

My Review:

4 stars — I think one of things I loved the most about this book is that Ms. Kennedy took a few stereotypes and dove into them, turning them onto their heads and providing depth to those experiences.  In particular the “blonde party girl” and the “jock”.  I love that kind of thing.  I love when an author isn’t afraid to take a persona that is often made out to be the anti-hero, and turns it into a hero/heroine.  And she totally succeeds with Fitz and Summer.

I don’t think I had any preconceptions about Summer necessarily…it’s been awhile since I read about her in the Off-Campus series.  I mean, she seemed outgoing and sassy, so I was excited to get more of that.  And she was both of things as well as so much more.  Her vulnerabilities hit me hard.  Not because I can relate personally, but I’m pretty sure my bro has an undiagnosed learning disability, and it always hurt my heart that he was convinced he was stupid.  I’ve read a few books that finally get into some of those learning disabilities, and I thought Ms. Kennedy did a fantastic job showing us Summer’s experiences.  What I loved is that she has this remarkably supportive family, but that didn’t magically cure her insecurities.  It just made it real, and relatable.

Now, aside from all that, Summer was just a seriously cool chick.  Like, she honestly felt like a popular girl who wasn’t just a caricature, but someone real.  I LOVED the way she approached meeting new people, I loved how effervescent her personality was, I loved that she didn’t take shit from a lot of people (or at least she tried not to).  She was feisty, and sassy, and bold, and sweet and caring and loyal.  She was kinda da bomb dot com.

Fitz was a bit harder to fall in love with.  I mean, I did (mostly), but damn the boy had some mean moments when he was protecting himself.  But I understood it, you know?  I got why he was the way he was.  I was just sad, b/c while he was shielding himself, he was hurting Summer.  It’s weird to be so frustrated with someone while also still feeling for him.  I think it would have been worse if Summer didn’t have the backbone she did.  He really had a LOT of growing to do in this book, and it took him a long time to get there.  I really loved the dichotomy of jock and computer/artsy nerd though.  And aggressive hockey player with introvert who doesn’t like the spotlight.  It was intriguing, and it worked.

The two of them together gave me some anxiety, though I did love their chemistry.  Normally I am not a fan of couples who yell at each other…and while I’m still not super cool with it, it fit their personalities somehow.  That’s not something I ever thought I would say.  On the plus side, I ADORED their bantering and teasing.  Truly a highlight.

There were some interesting secondary storylines playing throughout this book, besides their romance, that I thought added to the story without becoming cluttered.  I really appreciated (from a “relevant in today’s society” way) Summer’s struggle with her professor…and her advisor as well to a certain degree.  It really showed how hard those situations can be, and how it’s not always black & white.  I also really appreciated Colin’s struggles with Mr. Jain.  He could be a bit over the top sometimes, but it was an interesting twist on bullies.

So yeah.  This one totally surprised me, in some of the best ways.  I think Summer is going on my book girl crush list, she was just endearing and fun.  Can’t wait to read about Brenna, and I sincerely hope Hollis and Hunter get their own books too!