A review by allingoodtime
Girls Before Earls by Anna Bennett

hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 First I was offered the second book in this series, next I saw the cover of that book and couldn’t turn it down, but then I realized I would far rather read the first in the series before starting the second book, so here we are. Another new-to-me author that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I couldn’t help but fall in love with both Hazel and Blade. Hazel is so scrappy and knows how to transform herself into whatever is needed in her surroundings. Prim and proper in “polite” society or stern with a trouble-maker student. She is kind and brilliant and caring, even if she holds back showing her emotions to everyone, they are all there inside of her right under the surface. Blade may come off as stand-offish and uncaring and first, but very quickly proves to be anything but. He may even believe he doesn’t have the emotional capacity needed to love and be loved, but to everyone around him, it is quite obvious that is not the case.

How Hazel gives in to her desires without shame was something I loved about her character. Having lost her parents at a young age, she knows you cannot live life for tomorrow, so she seizes the opportunity to satisfy her longing for Blade knowing it may never come again. And Blade, for all his posturing of being an uncaring rogue, holds back in unexpected ways, knowing that once a line is crossed with the pair, there will be no going back. It’s really touching and helped me connect with the character’s true personalities.

Things are higher stakes than they need to be due to several outside players. It was interesting to read how it all played out when I felt the characters were getting painted into a corner. Not only did the author get them out of their predicament, she even made it so it wasn’t totally outlandish.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I had a lot of fun with this one while also getting plenty of chemistry and butterflies along the way. 
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