Review: Until Alex by J. Nathan

Summary:

On the outside, Hayden is every girl's fantasy, brooding and devastatingly gorgeous. He spends his nights losing himself in alcohol and faceless girls, but it's all just a facade. An elaborate cover for the emotionless shell of a man he is. One who harbors too many secrets and destroys lives the way his was destroyed. It’s the reason he avoids relationships and keeps everyone at arm's length…

Until Alex

Alex’s life just shattered into a million pieces, leaving her with more grief than she knows what to do with and guilt so deep it’s destroyed the carefree girl she once was. Now she’s hundreds of miles from home, living with an aunt she doesn't know, finishing senior year at a college she’s never been to, and trying desperately to get through a single day without breaking down. She's never felt more alone in her life...

Until Hayden

The trouble with Hayden is who he wants to be and who he is are in constant flux. And though he’d die before letting Alex learn the truth about him, he can’t be sure he's strong enough to let her in…or push her away. She’s the one person who just might see the real him.

Publication Date: July 17, 2014

This book was so intense! I really loved the characters and the author made me empathize with how much tragedy they had already experienced in their young lives. I was glad to read a standalone, but I definitely want to check out more books from the author.

The standout in the book was Hayden. He was such a complex character and when the author revealed his secret, I really understood his hot and cold attitude toward Alex. Alex was likable for the most part, but I did wish she didn’t forgive Hayden so easily each time he tried to push her away.

The pacing was good, but I wanted more romantic development earlier on. Just a twinge more steamy scenes and I would’ve been a happy girl. However, the romance was sweet and I could feel how much the characters deeply cared for one another. I loved that the author chose to tell the story in dual points of view.

Highly recommend to fans of contemporary New Adult romances.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!