Review: Most Likely to Succeed by Jennifer Echols

Most Likely to Succeed
(Superlatives #3)
by Jennifer Echols
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Publication Date: August 4th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781442474512
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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In this sexy conclusion to The Superlatives trilogy from Endless Summer author Jennifer Echols, Sawyer and Kaye might just be perfect for each other—if only they could admit it.

As vice president of Student Council, Kaye knows the importance of keeping order. Not only in school, but in her personal life. Which is why she and her boyfriend, Aidan, already have their lives mapped out: attend Columbia University together, pursue banking careers, and eventually get married. Everything Kaye has accomplished in high school—student government, cheerleading, stellar grades—has been in preparation for that future.

To his entire class, Sawyer is an irreverent bad boy. His antics on the field as school mascot and his love of partying have earned him total slacker status. But while he and Kaye appear to be opposites on every level, fate—and their friends—keep conspiring to throw them together. Perhaps the seniors see the simmering attraction Kaye and Sawyer are unwilling to acknowledge to themselves…

As the year unfolds, Kaye begins to realize her ideal life is not what she thought. And Sawyer decides it’s finally time to let down the facade and show everyone who he really is. Is a relationship between them most likely to succeed—or will it be their favorite mistake?  (Goodreads)

Most Likely to Succeed is the third and final book in the Superlatives series by Jennifer Echols. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books in the series, with Perfect Couple being my favorite, and I couldn’t wait to see how Most Likely to Succeed would compare. It was definitely a fun read!

I was super excited to read Sawyer and Kaye’s story. I’ve really loved Sawyer since the first book, and I really wanted to know more about him. While he’s always been a fun guy in the previous books, we discover in Most Likely to Succeed that things aren’t exactly perfect in his life. Actually, they are so far from perfect, you couldn’t help but empathize for him for the situation that he was in. In the story we get to see so many different sides of Sawyer, parts of him that we really didn’t get to see in the previous books. I really enjoyed getting to know him better, and after reading his story, I love him even more.

Kaye was a bit of a harder for me to connect with. I like her, but I really just wanted her to stand up for herself more, and to be more confident. For being a cheerleader and vice president of student council, you’d think that she would be more confident, but thanks to her boyfriend, she really wasn’t. She did grow more confident throughout the story, however, and it was great to see that from her.

The relationship between Sawyer and Kaye got off to a bit of a rocky start, and there were lots of drama throughout, but there were also some really sweet moments as well. Also, there were more than a few steamy moments as well, ones that were definitely swoon-worthy.

The book followed the same storyline for the previous books, and all the character we’ve already met previously were in this book as well. I love that each book in the series is about a different couple, but the secondary characters still play a really big part throughout each other’s stories. I love so many of these characters, and it’s going to be really hard to let them go now that the series is over!

Overall; Most Likely to Succeed was a really great ending for the Superlatives series. I really enjoyed Sawyer and Kaye’s story, and getting to spend some time with the characters in the series again. I can’t wait to see what Echols' as in store for us next!!

Review: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols

Perfect Couple
(Superlatives #2)
by Jennifer Echols
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Publication Date: January 13th 2015
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781442474482
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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Perfect Couple is #2 in the Superlatives series about seniors at a Florida high school who are selected for their class's superlative categories in the yearbook, and how the labels change the way they view themselves and alter the course of their lives.

Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all? (Goodreads)

I have to admit, I was pretty curious to start Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols. I read Biggest Flirt last year, and enjoyed the book, despite some issues that I had with the main character. I was eager to see what was going to happen with the next couple, Harper and Brody.

Perfect Couple picks up just a few days after Biggest Flirt leaves off, but it’s a whole new set of characters this time around. Harper is a senior, and photographer for the high school yearbook. Brody is the star quarterback of the high school football team, who Harper has had a crush on for forever. When they are paired as ‘The Perfect Couple that Never Was’ for the high school yearbook, and at the insistence of her best friends, Harper decides to find out if the school is right about their choices.

I found Harper to be a relatable character because she was a self-proclaimed introvert, much like me, who needed her quiet time away from people every so often. Also, she loves photography and that’s another of my most favorite hobbies. I felt a connection to her because of this. There were a few things in the novel that she did that kind of drove me crazy, but otherwise she was a likeable character. I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the novel, and to go after what she wanted in life. And to go after Brody, who is the love interest in the novel. Brody is oh-so-swoonworthy, but not without issues of his own. While they didn’t get off to the best start, it was interesting to watch their relationship grow. I really liked Brody. Ms. Echols’ has a knack for writing really adorable male characters.

The storyline for the book followed along the same line as the previous book. The story was a super quick and fun to read, but it also dealt with a lot of the issues that teens face today, like sex and peer pressure.  I liked that the book had different main characters, but we also get to see the characters from the previous book as well. I enjoyed seeing them all again. Also, I loved the photography aspects in the book, it helped me to connect with the story even more.

Overall; Perfect Couple was another charming addition to The Superlatives series. I’m super curious to see what’s going to happen in the next book between Kaye and Sawyer!

Review: Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Biggest Flirts
(Superlatives #1)
by Jennifer Echols
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Publication Date: May 20th 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781442474468
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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Tia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated… (Goodreads)

Tia is the life of the party, always the fun girl to be around. Her plans for senior year include hanging with her friends, hooking up with boys and never getting serious. That’s until new boy Will shows up in town and everything changes, especially when the two are voted ‘Biggest Flirt’s’ in the school yearbook.

Tia was a very unusual character. She was super smart, but didn’t really want to apply herself or to be taken seriously. She aimed to be a slacker, even though she wasn’t really fooling anyone. Why? Fear of responsibility and commitment, which was understandable considering some things that had happened in her life. As a result, Tia aims to be a slacker, does drugs and drinks, and would rather have casual sex than to be in a committed relationship.  She was a really funny character, but I wasn’t able to really connect with her all that well.

When Tia meets Will, she slowly starts to change the way she thinks about things. While she doesn’t want to be in a committed relationship, she didn’t really want Will to see anyone either.  Will, on the other hand, was dead set on having a girlfriend, even after being in town for just a short while. I didn’t really understand the need for this, or if he just really wanted to be with Tia. It was kind of confusing at times, these being so cute and flirty together, but not being together. I did find that I was able to relate to Will because he is an introvert, and I am the same way. ;)

There were some parts of the book that were really fun, and some that made me want to grab the characters and shake some common sense into them. I liked the setting of the book, and that the main characters were in the marching band. There were a couple of issues that I felt were left unresolved. I don’t know if we will see any of these issues resolved in the rest of the series, but I’m thinking we won’t as the next story will be with a new set of main characters.

Overall; I did think that this was a fun, cute read. I’m curious to see what happens in the next two books in the series.