Just Visiting - Dahlia Adler
Book Synopsis: Reagan Forrester wants out—out of her trailer park, out of reach of her freeloading mother, and out of the shadow of the relationship that made her the pariah of Charytan, Kansas.
Victoria Reyes wants in—in to a fashion design program, in to the arms of a cute guy who doesn’t go to Charytan High, and in to a city where she won’t stand out for being Mexican.
One thing the polar-opposite best friends do agree on is that wherever they go, they’re staying together. But when they set off on a series of college visits at the start of their senior year, they quickly see that the future doesn’t look quite like they expected. After two years of near-solitude following the betrayal of the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, Reagan falls hard and fast for a Battlestar Galactica-loving, brilliant smile-sporting pre-med prospective…only to learn she’s set herself up for heartbreak all over again. Meanwhile, Victoria runs full-speed toward all the things she thinks she wants…only to realize everything she’s looking for might be in the very place they’ve sworn to leave.
As both Reagan and Victoria struggle to learn who they are and what they want in the present, they discover just how much they don’t know about each other’s pasts. And when each learns what the other’s been hiding, they’ll have to decide whether their friendship has a future.
Just in case you didn't know, Reagan Forrester is the blonde girl on the left and Victoria Reyes is the brunette on the right.
Anyway, I didn't really expect to review this book, but here I am.
I can't believe that this book had a shoutout cameo moment from Emery Lord's book Open Road Summer. Lilah Montgomery's best friend is Reagan and I found it cute that it was a subtle nod to that novel.
Also, I noticed that Isabel Bandiera's book Bookishly Ever After had a silent nod too.
Seriously, having a main character named Dev? If I recall correctly, there was a Dev there too.
This is the first book that I've read by Dahlia Adler and I'm sorry to say that it will have to be my last time too. Not that this book wasn't good, it's just that the style and the story with the characters combined was not something I would look forward to reading again. It was vulgar at times and very unrealistic.
I don't think that the characters will stick with you and the story isn't so memorable and thought provoking. All in all, I would highly recommend skipping the book.
Unfortunately, this is a scenario where the cover is amazing and the story can't even match up to a great level and dust the surface of something worth reading.
Rating: ★★★☆☆