My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: July 10th 2012 by MTV Books
Synopsis From Goodreads:
A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.
High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.
But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.
My Thoughts:
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I really love this book. Jennifer Echols has done it again with Such A Rush. It is so well written and is overflowing with drama and romance and features amazing characters that you can't help but love. Sorry if this is too gushy, but I am a huge fan of this book.
The protagonist, Leah, is smart and spunky and full of snark and humor despite her crappy home life. She has basically been on her own most of her life because her mother is a flake and is usually gone with her current boyfriend, leaving Leah to take care of herself. They move around a lot. They run from one town escaping old boyfriends and landlords, and follow the new boyfriend to a new town. And they always end up in the run down trailer parks that are inevitably next to the airport. Being so near the airport and airplanes really inspires Leah's dreams of escaping her miserable life and leaving everything behind by becoming a pilot. She gets an office job at the airport to help pay the rent so she has a place to live (so she can stay in one place long enough to matter). Then she gets up the nerve to approach Mr. Hall for flying lessons. He sees something in her that makes him want to give her a chance. I really loved Mr. Hall and the father/daughter type relationship he had with Leah. Of course, this close relationship doesn't please Mr. Hall's 3 sons. They live with their mother and only come to visit on holidays and summer break. They aren't close with their dad, but they don't want anyone else getting close to him either, especially not a girl that they assume is taking advantage. The boys are very antagonistic towards Leah when they come to visit. Despite this, Leah develops a crush on Grayson.
When Mr. Hall dies and his twin sons, Alec and Grayson, take over his banner flying business, Leah feels her dreams of escaping and her attempt at independence slipping away from her. She was supposed to continue flying for Mr. Hall while she went to community college and then on to a college with a flight school so she could get her airline pilot's license. She assumes the twins won't want her around anymore, but then Grayson surprises her by blackmailing her into working for them over spring break. Leah and Grayson spend a lot of time in each others company and get to know each other a lot better. Leah works her butt off to earn the brother's respect, which is very important to her.
Grayson really frustrated me. As a reader, I want to like the potential love interest, but Grayson made it so darn hard at first. One minute he's sweet and charming, and the next he's acting like an ass. He ran so hot and cold that I was confused about my feelings for him, much like Leah was. But once I got to know him better, I really did love him since he's a bit deeper than what he lets on. And the motivation behind him acting the way he does was really heartbreaking. He hides his emotions behind those damn aviator sunglasses, so it's difficult to get a read on him. It's one of my favorite things about Grayson. Well, that and his fist clenching. Those moments really got to me.
The chemistry between Leah and Grayson is just amazing. Their relationship was not all fluffy and light, and some of their confrontations are downright hot. And the sexual tension is off the charts. Leah and Grayson are both such complex and wonderful characters, and they have so much development in this story. It was truly fascinating watching them evolve.
I positively adored this book. It has tons of drama and angst, along with sexy, sweet (and yummy!) boys that will knock your socks off! I really loved all the airplane and flying scenes. I know Ms. Echols did a ton of research for this story and it really shows. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good contemporary with a really hot, yet sweet, romance. Such A Rush is definitely for older teens due to mature situations.
ARC provided by author - Thank you so much!!
View all my reviews
I'm really excited about finally reading this book this week so I'm glad you enjoyed it Sandra!(: I've loved Echols novels before, so I'm sure this will be just the same! :D Amazing review! =]
ReplyDelete~Keertana
Ivy Book Bindings
I'm looking forward to reading this book now!
ReplyDeleteAdded on my tbr list. :)
ReplyDeleteI love how the love triangle has a twist to it! All the characters seem so real and also flawed - easy to like:)
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I've never read this one- I've never even read a Jennifer Echols book! I have been unsure wether I would try it, but after reading so many fantastic reviews I'll definitely keep my eyes open for it! I'm thrilled you loved it so much!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounbds amazing and I love your review. Makes me wanna read it right now.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I'm looking forward to reading this book.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. A reader should want to love the love interest. Hot and cold. Makes me think of a guy I know who's just like that, though he's mostly an ass. :) Hot and cold. it also makes me think of Katy Perry's song. lol. :D
ReplyDeletegret review. :D
Ooooo... a love triangle. Does it end well? lol. I despise love triangles. But, you liked Grayson better it seems (so would I), and it seems like the end leaned more toawrd him? I like that. Not that the whole book was about the love triangle...right? I've never read anything by Jennifer Echols, so it seems like a good time to pick one up!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!!!
Alyssa Susanna
I have added to my tbr list =)
ReplyDeleteAs a Jennifer Echols fan this is something different for me. I mean its about flying, which I'm excited to read. Have you read any other Jennifer Echols books?
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I'm definitely going to read Such A Rush over the summer :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the review! I'm definitely looking forward to picking up Such a Rush (even though I am not a big YA contemporary fan) since seeing all the great things book bloggers have been saying about it. I've also seen it on quite a few "best of 2012 so far" post.
ReplyDeleteI love my books well-researched!
Lilian @ A Novel Toybox
Sometimes it is fun to have that love/hate relationship. It usually makes me love them more in the end because I am routing for them so much!
ReplyDeleteI am loving this cover too!
I love Jennifer Echols writting and loved many of her books. Can't wait to read this one. Thank you for the great review :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks SO good! Must get my hands on it!
ReplyDeleteGood review! I'm really looking forward to this book! >.<
ReplyDeleteI love the plot and and the review! Jeez! I can't wait to read it soon... :)
ReplyDelete-Riz Bulatao
Such a wonderful review makes me wanna read it more :)
ReplyDeleteI love endless summer by jennifer echols! for sure I will give this one a shot.
ReplyDeleteiam really exciting for reading this book,,,
ReplyDeletethanks for your riview,,you make me cant wait to readinh.
Loved the review. I always like a new Jennifer Echols book. Endless Summer was my favorite but I have read all of hers. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of Jennifer Echols books, but since your are gushing about this one, I will definitely have to give it a try! ;) Plus I haven't heard about any books where girls fly planes, should be interesting!
ReplyDeleteHmm, I love how the summary and the cover make me want to read the book, it sounds really good. Great review:D Wait, so is Alec ever a possible love interest for Leah, or is it just Grayson? I'm confused on that, basing on what I've heard..
ReplyDelete