{Review} – Easy by Tammara Webber – Girl Power

Blurb (from Goodreads) ~

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.

Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.

Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)

Did I like it? I loved it.

Okay, I’m going to try and be objective here. Easy by Tammara Webber is… a great book. I heard about Tammara through the New Adult forum on Goodreads. I didn’t start with Easy but her YA trilogy Between The Lines. I devoured it in three days: one book a night. When I turned the last page of Good For You (book 3), I directly purchased her latest (stand-alone) novel, Easy that had just been released (lucky me!).

And began another sleepless night…

What needs to be said first about Tammara Webber is the strength of her writing. It might not win her the next Pulitzer prize, but who cares… In my opinion, it is impeccable: fluid, strong, clean. She has a distinctive voice, and every one of her heroes (whether Reed, Emma etc.. in BTL, or Jacqueline in Easy) sounds totally unique. That’s a sure sign of her competence as a writer.

I don’t usually like books that are trying too hard to deliver a “message.” Most of the time, it is heavy-handed and clumsy. Yes, Easy deals with rape, but not the ‘attacked in a dark alley’ story. It deals with this very fine line treaded by many, and those stupid words we often hear. “She was totally hammered.” “Did you see how she was dressed?” “She followed him into his bedroom, so what else can she expect?”. “She’s so EASY.”

Easy reminds us that: No is No, whatever the circumstances, whoever the girl.

Now, on a lighter note, I melted for Lucas. I usually don’t like tattoos. I’m not a fan of the ‘artsy’ look. I don’t fall for guys driving Harleys… But he’s a character I’ll keep in my heart for a long time. The relationship with Jacqueline unfolded in a realistic and sweet (and sexy) manner.

It is a New Adult / Upper-YA / Mature YA novel, not just for the topics it deals with, but also for the way the author handles them.

Easy is about empowerment and standing up straight for yourself by doing what is right.

Book Stats (from Goodreads) ~

Kindle Edition: 316 pages

Self-Published: May 25th 2012

ASIN: B0085ZHMA8