Breaking Lauren by Jordan Deen Review & Giveaway

Breaking Lauren by Jordan Deen-YA Contemporary Romance

Kindle format given by author for review/ARC

Seventeen-year-old Danny Cummings' life is far from a fairytale, but that's okay since he doesn't believe in happy endings. After spending a year in juvenile hall for maliciously beating his sister's boyfriend, Danny embraces his badass image. Spending most nights drinking, fighting and collecting gambling debts for his Uncle, Danny's life is out of control. His addiction to the bad boy lifestyle won't let him do anything about it, even with his family begging him to go straight. But, when fifteen-year-old Lauren McIntosh stumbles into one of his nightly escapades, the self-proclaimed anti-romantic can't concentrate on anything except Lauren and the fact that she's on the same path his sister was on. Danny knows true love happening for the villain is as common as gamblers paying their debt on time, but he's never backed away from a challenge before and he hates the idea that history will repeat itself.

Growing old with the man she loves—in the small town where she was born—is the only dream Lauren McIntosh has ever had; that is until her family is practically run out of town amidst rumors of arson and adultery. So, when she meets Danny at her new school and hears the rumors about his activities from her new friends, she wants nothing to do with him or the gossip that seems to follow Danny everywhere. After a dangerous and ill-fated attempt at sneaking out, she develops unwelcomed feelings for Danny that he seems to reciprocate. But, Danny’s unrelenting pursuit makes Lauren nervous, especially since he's the only one that wants to know the secrets surrounding her family’s move. Lauren can't tell if Danny's intentions are true or if he has other plans for their newfound and unlikely friendship. The only way to figure out is to let him in and that could destroy everything, including the popularity and social acceptance she desperately seeks.

My Take:

When I got the description of this book, I definitely thought it would be something that I would like. I'm a sucker for the misguided boy types. I guess I always want to think everyone has a chance to make their life better. 

I'll start with Danny. I liked Danny. Yes, he has a volatile personality, but I think he really wants to be a better person. I also believe his alcohol abuse contributed to his violent behavior. I did feel like there were a few pieces of the puzzle missing as far as his back story. I'm curious to know why he has these tendencies to begin with. Either way, I had hope for Danny, because I did believe he was a good guy. 

Lauren. Hmmm....what to say about her. Well, I'm trying to figure her out. She comes to town in the wake of a major family trauma. So, I understand that she is somewhat vulnerable. Not only that, but she has expectations about what her life should look like. I did relate to her in this way. Growing up, I certainly felt like I had an image to uphold. That pressure can be overwhelming. What I found a bit annoying was that I felt like she played mind games with Danny. At times, I felt like she really wanted to be with him, but then she pushed him away. I know she's young, so I tried to keep that in mind too. I would like to see Lauren start to make some decisions based on what she wants rather than what she thinks she should have. 

As for the story, I see where the author wanted to go with it. The beginning of the book captured my interest quickly, but, as the story developed, I felt like there were some gaps or missing pieces.   That said, I did have an ARC, so the final version may have some of these answers. The end of the book came back strong though and I'd really like to see what will happen next for Danny and Lauren. 

If you like angsty love stories, this is a good pick for you!

Amazon/BN

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