[Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] The Natural History of Us by Rachel Harris

 
Title: The Natural History of Us
Author: Rachel Harris
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: eARC for review
Release Date: April 5, 2016

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One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.

Rachel's one of the first YA authors I got to interact online with - I adored both My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century and The Fine Art of Pretending, and when I saw that Rachel has another YA set to be released this year, I knew that I had to get my hands on it!

The Natural History of Us is the companion book of The Fine Art of Pretending, and its male MC, Justin, had a pretty big role in the aforementioned book. While you can read The Natural History of Us as a stand-alone, I would recommend that you read The Fine Art of Pretending first. It will allow you to familiarize yourself with the world of these characters, and at the same time, it will give you the chance to know Justin better. Justin was one my favorite characters from The Fine Art of Pretending, and finding out that we would get to read his story made me thrilled beyond belief! Also, a second chance romance? SOLD.

Justin was introduced in The Fine Art of Pretending as your quintessential bigger-than-life jock - he's cool and confident, and he couldn't be bothered with serious relationships with girls. He does end up getting knocked down a peg or two when things don't exactly go his way with a girl, and that, I believe, sets up The Natural History of Us perfectly. Graduation is around the corner, and when Justin is partnered with Peyton - the only girl he has ever had a serious relationship with, and also the exact same girl whose heart he has irrevocably broken - he grabs the chance to set things right, and to try again with the one girl he has never forgotten.

Peyton, meanwhile, has steered cleared of Justin for the past three years. To say that she is not pleased at being partnered with Justin for this final assignment is an understatement. A lot has changed in Peyton since she and Justin broke up, and Justin quickly realizes that he needs gets to know her once more, just like he did during their freshman year. Through flashbacks of the times Peyton and Justin were together, we find out that Peyton previously suffered from a rare illness, and this is what makes her willing to always take life by the horns. Some time after Peyton and Justin's break up, however, Peyton suffers from a riding accident, and as a result, she's a bit more apprehensive, and even a little scared. She now lets fear dictate what she should do, as opposed to who she was before. Justin gets to know this new Peyton, and at the same time, he does what he can to support her.

I'm not saying that the way Justin treated Peyton in the past was not horrible and callous, because it was. However, I have seen that Justin has matured and changed for the better. As I mentioned earlier, this was spurred in part by what happened between him and Aly in The Fine Art of Pretending, and I can't blame him for wanting Peyton back again in his life. Also, it is so apparent from the beginning that Justin and Peyton bring out the best in each other - when the people in Peyton's life hold her back, Justin believes in her and her capabilities. Peyton also never sees Justin just as some cocky jock, she knows and realized that there is more to him that meets the eye. Their interactions never failed to make me smile while reading the book, and I was rooting for them to work through their issues - which they did - and to give what they clearly still have between them another shot.

All in all, The Natural History of Us was just the light read I was looking for. While it was a sweet and fun read, it also had just the right amount of angst and depth to keep me on the edge of my seat. The book was also told in dual timelines and dual POVs to flesh out the story more, and while I would agree that these aspects made the book it was, the were still moments wherein I had trouble keeping track of what timeline I was in. Nevertheless, what I learned about Peyton and Justin I loved, and I finished The Natural History of Us with one big smile on my face.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

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My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

Title: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Author: Rachel Harris
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Published By: Entangled Teen

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother-to-be and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

THOUGHTS:

I've been avoiding this book for the past month or so now, because one, I generally don't read historical fiction, and two, the cover didn't do anything for me. Anyway, the other day, I was checking out book blurbs here and there, I chanced upon My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, and to say that its blurb caught my eye is a bit of an understatement. As a matter of fact, I was besotted (Ha, that's a word that's perfect for the sixteenth century!) from the blurb alone! So that's a lesson for me (and maybe for some of you as well) - never ever judge a book by its cover, or even the genre it falls under. I'm so glad that I gave this book a chance, because I loved it.

I loved it! Yes, I just had to say that twice. If you don't believe me, I read this book in one sitting. That was how much I enjoyed it!

First of all, I have to say that the premise is genius! As I have said before, I usually don't read historical fiction in general, but come on - who wouldn't want to read about a 21st century heroine who was magically transported to the sixteenth century? I also enjoyed the fact that the heroine basically had no idea why she was sent back in time, other than the fact that she was to learn important lessons for her adventure. Cryptic to say the least, huh?

The book's MC, Cat, is a character who I'm sure many will find relatable. She's fun, quirky, incredibly witty, and her passion for art is off the charts. She's at that stage in her life where she has a difficult time letting people in - much less actually developing relationships with other people - but I really can't blame her for acting aloof and being wary. Being the daughter of two Hollywood icons, she's been thrust into the spotlight against her wishes and is constantly judged for her parents' actions, and I know that can't be easy for a teenager. Cat is strong and determined, and I loved reading about her. Her character development throughout the book is amazing.

The first few chapters of the book was a fun, light read for sure. I found myself grimacing when Cat found herself in embarrassing situations one after the other; I couldn't help but grin whenever Cat talked in twenty-first century slang much to the confusion of those around her; and I loved how Cat developed strong relationships with the people she met from the sixteenth century. Alessandra, her cousin, is basically the friend Cat never had; Aunt Francesca showered Cat the unconditional love she never had the chance to receive from her mother; and Cat fell head-over-heels in love with Lorenzo, an aspiring artist who is just perfect. (Cat and I are definitely in agreement here!)

The first part of the book might have been fun and light, but let me tell you, the second half just about broke my heart. One particular scene in the end - Cat asking about a particular painting - made my heart thump painfully, and aspects of the ending made me want to wallow in misery. Fine, I may be exaggerating a bit here, but I myself was surprised at how strongly I reacted to the book's last few chapters. I didn't expect that I would feel so much for these characters - most especially Cat and Lorenzo - but next thing I know, I can't stop thinking about them! I will definitely never forget these two characters.

Overall, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is a remarkable read. Rachel Harris was excruciatingly detailed in writing about sixteenth century Florence that I truly felt like I was with walking along with Cat in every step of her adventure. This book will make you feel a myriad of emotions, and I will definitely be rereading this in the near future.

Rating: 5 Stars