Title: The Emo and the Jock
Author: N. Phillip
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Pages: 202
Characters: Evan Harris, Cole Morgan
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4
Blurb:
Evan Harris and Cole Morgan couldn’t be more different. Evan is a lonely, abused Emo who longs for a better life, while Cole is the popular quarterback of his high school’s football team.
Unbeknownst to Evan, Cole is gay and has had crush on him for years. Evan wants nothing more than to graduate and leave his current life behind him. When he finds he is failing math, his teacher gives him a second chance in the form of a tutor, who just so happens to be Cole Morgan.
Cole and Evan quickly grow close, and before they know what hit them, they seem to be falling in love. Little do they know Charlie, Cole’s jealous ex-boyfriend, is spending his time scheming to break up the happy couple. Stalking and watching Cole’s every move; he wants nothing more than to have the jock become his again, whatever the price.
Review:
I’m a total sucker for books with the opposite attract theme. I knew by reading the blurb that I wanted to read this book, so when I received it to read and review, I quickly pushed everything aside and read it. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed watching the heroes, Evan and Cole’s relationship develop from friends to lovers as the book progressed.
Life isn’t easy for Evan. His father is both mentally and physically abusive toward him, so he avoids being home whenever he can. Unfortunately for Evan, High School also isn’t a picnic for him either. He doesn’t have many friends and is often poked fun out because of the way he dresses and his quiet disposition. To make matters even worse, Evan is failing math, and when his teacher suggests that he is tutored by a fellow classmate, or fail the class, he knows he has no choice but to follow his teacher’s suggestion.
Evan is shocked when his tutor ends up being the very popular jock, Cole, and he’s even more surprised to find out that Cole isn’t only a nice, likeable person…he’s gay AND attracted Evan too. As Cole starts to tutor Evan the two teenagers become close and they’re soon developing a strong friendship between them. Before they know it, they have fallen for each other and for the first time in years, Evan feels safe and wanted being with Cole. But, a stalker isn’t happy about their relationship and soon both of them are in danger of their very lives. Will they be able to survive the stalker and continue to build a solid foundation of love and friendship between them?
I really enjoyed this book. I thought both Evan and Cole were interesting characters and I liked them both immediately. I felt sorry for Evan’s home life and wanted to hug him because of his pain and lonely existence. I did admire Evan’s strength and determination to get through school and make a better life for himself. I also liked Cole’s character too. He’s stubborn, sexy and smart and once he sets his mind on something, he’s determined to have it. I liked his obvious perusal of Evan and I also appreciated how he stepped in and kept Evan safe. I thought Evan and Cole were a great couple together and I enjoyed the chemistry between them.
Even though I’ve read this type of storyline before I still really liked the story. I thought it was an interesting twist that it is the Jock that is the tutor and not the quiet guy. I also thought Evan’s dad was absolutely horrible and I wanted to pull him out of the written pages and smack him upside the head myself! Evan’s abuse was heartbreaking at times, and I thought it was pretty well-written. Because of this abuse, it surprised me he wasn’t as traumatized more than he was. I would have liked to see him and Cole work through the consequences of that abuse a little more, but I still really enjoyed the story.
This is the first book I’ve read by N. Phillips and it won’t be my last! I enjoyed the easy style of writing the author has and the loveable characters that N. Phillips created. I’m looking forward to reading more books written by this author in the future and recommend this book for those readers who enjoy good opposites attract story.
Reviewed By: Gabbi
