She knows Descartes and Kant.
She knows academia and Oxford.
She knows that the people who love you leave you.
She knows how to be alone.
But when Molly leaves England's grey skies behind to start a new life at the University of Alabama, she finds that she has a lot to learn — she didn't know a summer could be so hot, she didn't know students could be so intimidating, and she certainly didn't know just how much the folks of Alabama love their football.
When a chance encounter with notorious star quarterback, Romeo Prince, leaves her unable to think of anything but his chocolate-brown eyes, dirty-blond hair and perfect physique, Molly soon realizes that her quiet, solitary life is about to dramatically change forever...
“For never was a truer story of love conquering woe than this of Molly Juliet and her Romeo.”
Despite what some say about college romances, sorry but I don't think I can ever get enough. Born in the UK with a chance to lecture in the US Molly Shakespeare enters a whole new collegiate world, thinking she can forget about her past and focus on her studies Molly has no idea the storm that's heading her way. A really hot and wicked as sin storm. Molly was one of those infrequent heroines we meet who carry a mind of their own, a sharp wit and someone we just connect with from the beginning. I adored the British references throughout the book, sometimes authors go just a little OTT and I find myself rolling my eyes, because all I'm thinking is 'we do not sound like that'. But Tillie surprisingly finds the perfect balance between the British and the American, and it made all the more engrossing. Molly was a geek through and through, wonderfully British, outspoken and completely unaware of the effects she had on the opposite sex. I know what you're thinking 'not another really hot girl who has low self esteem', chill minions there's more to it than that I mean there always is and it was no different for Molly. Her background and the hardships she's endured make you love her all the more, and there's really no other word for it but she really is cute character. Her romance with Rome was so incredibly sweet, and we get to see her character blossom right before us. So what turns her American college experience on its head? Romeo Prince.
“I don’t remember Romeo being this pushy with Juliet!” He arched his eyebrows meaningfully. “And look at how that worked out for them. My way is better—less death, more orgasms.”
“Mmm…” I mused.
“What, baby?” he asked, stroking my hair.
“Just how amazing it sounds to hear another heartbeat besides my own.”
“Mol…”
“Shhh… just… let me listen. It makes me incredibly… complete.”
“Then I’m the first, because I want you without anything in return. Why does any human want anyone? My body recognizes you as something that’s good for me. My mind recognizes you as someone who’s right for me, and my soul recognizes you as someone who is meant for me.”
Like I said about the typical college romance stories, obviously the character descriptions sound similar too. But before you go casting assumptions I want to point out every author has a different take on this angle, and there's always something extra there to make it either phenomenal, good or not so good. Tillie is one such author who's take is simply fantastic, she draws you in with the heart wrenching pasts of her characters, the incredible romance that touches you in all the right ways and a story line you become engrossed with from start to finish. There was never any cheesiness or cliche moments with Molly and Rome, it all felt right, natural and flowed effortlessly. A lot of times things moves to fast and we find ourselves rolling out eyes all 'are you for real?', but it progressed at a pace that we as the reader find realistic. It was like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle come together as both characters are actually quiet complex, you know like they say look beneath the surface well we see that but you gotta go under a bit more to get to the heart of Molly and Rome. Despite everything appearing like it's going to work out with a few minor bumps in the road, you just know it's the tip of the iceberg and shits about to get real.
“It only took Romeo one look at Juliet and his fate was sealed. Maybe I’m just like my namesake, and maybe you’re just like yours.”
“Are they all there?”
I frowned. “What?”
“My ribs. Is there one missin’?”
My hand smoothed up and down his sides. “Okay, I think you’ve lost it. You think you’re missing a rib?”
He exhaled a quiet laugh. “Just thought God took one of mine when he made you.”
“Not at all, Shakespeare, but hear this. I’m gonna fuck you, but I’m also gonna make love to you. I’m gonna own every goddamn piece of your soul, and I’m never gonna let you go. You’re gonna scream my name over and over until it’s permanently lodged in your friggin’ throat. You’re not gonna be just a fuck to me, Mol—you’re gonna be my fuckin’ salvation!”
My rating therefore stands at 5 sensational stars, because it really was. I was grinning from ear to ear through most of the book, I couldn't put it down and I felt really forlorn when it ended. Sequel Tillie? *Raises eyebrow* The background characters were just as fabulous as the main, I adored them and hey maybe they can get a little novella or something...just saying. The friendships were illustrated beautifully, and for someone surrounded by loss you could feel how much these relationships meant to the main characters. The writing style was effortless, and will have you swooning, sighing, screaming, plotting murder, cheering, dancing and simply melting. Maybe a teeny toothache from all the sweetness of Rome. My only regret is ignoring it for so long, forgive me Tillie? I want to say I've learnt my lesson, but we know what I'm like so I won't bother but I will say I'll pay more attention next time round, because there most definitely will be a next time. You really need to get your copy now minions, seriously if you don't I might have to hurt you.