For What It's Worth


Monday, July 7, 2014

{Speed Date} Review: Boomerang (Boomerang #1) by Noelle August



18869613The first book in a sensational New Adult trilogy from Noelle August>

Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up.

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

Goodreads | Author (Writing team Veronica Rossi & Lorin Oberweger) | Purchase | Read the first 19 chapters for free here

Source: ARC provided by Amazon Vine for review

Speed Date Review:

How we met: Ok - I admit it. I was shallow and only dated you for your looks. I mean come on! That book cover screams fun summer read!

First date: You are so much more than just your good looks! I know everyone says that… “I love you for more than your unbroken spine and crisp pages baby” but it's true. YOU ARE A STORY WITH SUBSTANCE. A FUN story with substance!!!

We're going steady now: Ok - so there's a lot of wackiness going on with how Mia and Ethan met and they're competitive work situation. After an anonymous, drunken one night stand they find themselves working as interns for the same dating company - competing for only one paid position at the end of the summer.

There's a no dating policy at work and now they also have to date other people to learn how Boomerang - a dating site promising no-commitment hookups -  works while still longing for each other.

Despite the kind of far fetched circumstances it's Mia and Ethan that make this book work so well. They are truly kind, open, thoughtful people.

Ethan loves kids and coaches a children's soccer league (sa-woon), while Mia is an aspiring filmmaker trying to document her grandmothers life as Alzheimer's takes her memories away. I LOVED both of them and their smoking hot chemistry!

I'm going to hug you, and squeeze you and keep you on my bookshelf forever: There are so few New Adult titles out there that are fun to read but Boomerang is one of them. I laughed almost non stop watching Mia and Ethan try to navigate their relationship on the down low and their hilarious attempts at on-line, hook-up dating. I thought I would hate that part (them dating other people) but it was so funny and sometimes very poignant.

There is also an emphasis on friends, family and going after your dreams. I loved how a potential romance didn't derail all thoughts of Mia and Ethan's future. Sex doesn’t solve all. They were refreshingly mature characters - even though they made a few mistakes along the way.

The afterglow: One more thing - this is New Adult - but it is NOT the non stop sex NA that we've been reading. I'm loving the new sexier rather than explicit books that have started entering this genre. All Lined Up by Cora Carmack & I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre are two other NA’s that I highly recommend. 

I think we might finally be pulling out of that “NA is just YA with porn” label phase.

This is the most fun I've had reading a book in a very long time. Great characters. Great story. I HIGHLY recommend Boomerang.

*Speed date reviews inspired by The Book Swarm

23 comments:

  1. "I think we might finally be pulling out of that “NA is just YA with porn” label phase." - I really hope so, because I am so over those sort of NA books that have no substance at all.

    This sounds like A LOT of fun, and I'm going to add your other 2 recs to my to-read list - thanks!

    Mands @ The Bookish Manicurist

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    1. They are all a blur to me at this point. I don't even know which ones I've read anymore.

      It makes me happy when I see that pubs are expanding the genre to encompass more than just angst and sex.

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  2. I should follow my hunches next time. I loved the sound of this and the cover art is gorgeous but the NA tag put me off. Thanks for the heads up about the sex, I never thought I'd say it but I'm sexed out! Book wise anyways LOL

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    1. I've been looking for something fun and sexy to read (of any genre) and thought I would give this a shot. So glad I did! It's sexy - but in a totally new way. It should be a great series too. I'm already dying for the next book.

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  3. Oh, YAY! A fun, funny NA!! I'm so happy to see that NA is moving past the YA w/ porn stage, too. There's just so much potential beyond the bad boy/good girl angst. Cheers to a great date!

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    1. This book didn't even feel like "New Adult" Other than the ages it was just a fun contemporary romance. I almost hate even categorizing it because it sets up those preconceived NA notions.

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  4. Loving the idea of more light-hearted YA rather than all the nonstop angst and drama! Great review :)
    Jen @ YA Romantics

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  5. Quote:
    "How we met: Ok - I admit it. I was shallow and only dated you for your looks."

    LOL. I do like your Speed Date Reviews. They're fun!

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    1. Thanks! It helps break up the monotony of review writing :-)

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  6. Yay! I shallowly one-clicked this a couple of weeks ago when it was on sale for like $2.99, but I'm VERY excited about it, b/c the only thing better than a fun summer read in the middle of the summer is a WACKY and fun summer read with substance. Fabulous review, Karen! I cannot wait!

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    1. I just saw that it was already available on Kindle. It's a bargain at that price!

      It's got the NA label but I think it's just a stand out, fun romance for the summer - at any age. It didn't have that NA vibe to it.

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  7. Lol I like this style of review. "I love you for more than your unbroken spine and crisp pages baby.” Best part haha.

    Can't wait to read THISSS! If I haven't read your tweet saying it was NA, I probably wouldn't have pay too much attention to this book, when I saw the cover I thought it was YA...a summer read. But now that you loved it I have to read it!!

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    1. I love these Speed Date reviews. I get to have a little fun and pull out of the blah review writing rut.

      It is a tad wacky but I do think you would like this one. I giggled a lot :-)

      P.S. I'm packing a box up for you. Just saying….

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  8. Love hearing about how the characters are open and thoughtful even if some of the setup isn't the most believable

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  9. I just started reading this one and it's so fun! Glad to know it worked out for you in the end :)

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  10. I wouldn't have thought it! Seriously I was thinking the typical NA w/o substance. Oh I do think I'll have to check this one out! How you doin'... :D

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  11. I LOVE this review! Karen, it was just so much fun and really adorable to see you so enthused! I am so stupid happy I took Boomerang for review!

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  12. I am sorry, they have to date? Ok...

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    1. To get a feel for how Boomerang dating works. It was actually very funny & I thought I wouldn't like that part.

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  13. What a fun review!! I like NA in terms of the age level of the characters, so it's nice to hear about some new releases that are less angsty.

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    1. I just want NA that isn't all sex all the time. There is so much going on at this age but so far it ends up being all about sex. This was a good one.

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  14. Oooh, I'm loving your speed dates! I'm glad this story is breaking the rut some NA suffers with angst and sex only. I love a good romance with lots of tension, but there has to be more. This sounds wonderful. So glad it was a great read for you, Karen :)

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  15. Love this review format!!

    I'm going to have to add this one to my list...or impulse buy it. Either way ;)

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