REVIEW: True by Erin McCarthy

True by Erin McCarthy
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Source: Netgalley eARC* 222 pages
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon / B&N / Kobo

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

My Review

I seriously love this book to death and beyond! I’ve read a couple of New Adult books and I can definitely say that this one takes a very special place in my heart and stands out among the rest. Erin McCarthy is freaking brilliant, crafting a novel that is highly relatable, easily connectable, and moving in its own way. 

First thing I loved about this book from the very start was the main character, Rory. She was so different from any character I have read about for many reasons that are completely good in every way. She was a normal college student who was highly intelligent and got excellent grades. What I loved most about Rory was her realness. She was direct and honest, genuine in every sense and her voice was completely authentic. Her inner dialogue never failed to make me laugh. Although she was weird, she was also adorable too and she didn’t have a problem with telling a few jokes to get out some laughs. The more I read her story, the further I wanted to get to know her. Really, the best thing about Rory is that she isn’t fake; she was awkward, struggled with interpersonal relationships and communication and was still trying to fit in. 

This book wasn’t the typical pretty girl falling in love with the bad boy. It was the awkward girl snagging a really good guy with a rough home life. The dynamic that Rory and Tyler had going on throughout this book was super cute. It was silly how both thought they weren’t good enough for each other. It was even better when they put aside all their doubts and just let each other in. Their relationship was hard because of their families and while they had set backs here and there, Rory and Tyler did their best to communicate with each other. They liked and cared for one another because each had a quality that made them different. Tyler and Rory just had a mutual understanding, one that even I can’t explain thoroughly. 

True was about struggling to fin in school, seeing past what people show on the outside, defying parental units for something and someone you believe in and loving someone who loves you back just the same. True was basically a book that showed imperfection in love and life. It was mainly a book about trying to get past your own discomfort and insecurities; things that college students could possibly be facing today as they continue to grow up and explore. McCarthy really created this book for others to relate to while also sharing a story one can enjoy and cherish all at the same time.

Overall, McCarthy made me fall in love with True not because it was perfect, but because of the real emotions that came out of it and how easily I could have placed myself in Rory’s shoes. 

*eARC provided by publisher for review purposes