Blog Tour - Excerpt, Review & Giveaway: Perfect Couple (Superlatives #2) by Jennifer Echols

Perfect Couple
(Superlatives #2)

by Jennifer Echols

January 13, 2015

336 pages

Goodreads  Indigo

Goodreads Summary:

Perfect Couple is #2 in the Superlatives series about seniors at a Florida high school who are selected for their class's superlative categories in the yearbook, and how the labels change the way they view themselves and alter the course of their lives.

Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents' bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they've found themselves drawn together--first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they're very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?

Excerpt

“I can help you,” he said.

 

“I don’t want your help.” When his face fell, I said quickly, “It’s nothing against you. I prefer to work alone.”

“How do you know?”

He had me there.

“Ah-ha,” he said. “See? You don’t know. You think you prefer to work alone because you’ve never had a good-looking guy to carry all your camera equipment.”

 

“It’s a tripod and one small bag,” I said. “You just want to grovel to me all afternoon and talk me out of being mad.”

 

He lifted his chin. “I want to spend time with you,” he said self-righteously. “And I could help you. I could model for you.”

“No there’s an idea,” I admitted, mind suddenly racing. “I would pay you if I sold any of those shots, of course. But you wouldn’t have any control over who bought your picture and what it was used for. Your face could end up as an advertisement for a porn site.”

 

“That could make me very popular next year, in college.” When I just blinked at him, he hurried on, “No, I’m kidding. You’re right. You can’t use shots that show my face. My mom makes me keep my online accounts super private, even though my picture has been in all the newspapers. She thinks I’m going to get kidnapped.”

“If people tried to kidnap you, wouldn’t you just break their heads?”

“My mom still thinks I’m twelve,” he said, “but I try not to argue with her. My dad wasn’t very nice to her. My stepdad wasn’t either. Her new boyfriend is okay so far, but I don’t know. I feel bad for her. If I can, I do what she wants.” I was taken aback. I hadn’t realized Brody was this mature.

 

“I mean,” he went on, “for a case like this, where she’d find out.”

 

Never mind about the maturity.
 

“So we can’t use my face,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t use the rest of me. Have you seen this?”

Afraid of what he was about to show me, I glanced toward the door, sure Mom would choose that moment to appear. But he only pulled back the sleeve of his T-shirt to show me his biceps.
 

“That’s a great idea,” I said. “You can flex your arm with the ocean in the background. I’ll type ‘The View from Florida’ across the photo and have it printed as a postcard to sell in the gift shops around town. Every lady over sixty will want to mail one to her friends back home.”
 

“Only ladies over sixty?”

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written nine romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Simon & Schuster will debut her adult romance novels in 2013, with many more teen novels scheduled for the next few years. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.
 

Website  Author Goodreads

 

Review

I haven’t read the first book in the Superlatives series yet but I jumped at the chance to read this one. It sounded fun and I was right. I have to say the synopsis was a little bit misleading for where the story went however, I still really enjoyed Perfect Couple! The cheesy parts, the frustrating times and the cute moments were all done just right!

Harper's a good girl. She's usually quiet and keeps her thoughts and comments to herself. When her graduating class paired her up with the popular quarterback, Brody, for the Perfect Couple That Never Was title, she couldn't believe it. She's had such a crush on him for a long time and because of this title, they were brought closer together. Despite their differences, they weren't immune to each other~ The usually reserved Harper grew bolder as she captured Brody's attention. I was particularly surprised when she let him touch her. Those heated moments were quite positive though as Harper was in control at all times. She knew her limits and she voices it. I also really admire Harper's love for photography. She took her yearbook photographer duties very seriously. It was encouraging to see how passionate she was doing what she loves.

I was really hesitant to get on Brody's side because sometimes he acted just a little too casual for my taste. I was getting mixed signals from him. He shared his fears and private thoughts with Harper but then ends up doing something that hurt her. Did he want to be serious with her or not? He definitely had issues but I did positively love him when he let Harper know he wanted her but respects her wishes and will never pressure her into doing anything.

There is cheating in this story but I'm conflicted on how I feel about it. I felt like it was acceptable (please don't boo me). The line between dating and being in a relationship is blurry. Some people would argue that Brody was in a relationship with Grace whereas I would say I understand they were just doing casual dating. With Harper's situation, I hated the way Kennedy pushed her around. Such an unhealthy relationship if you can even call it one. I can't say I felt bad when Harper finally told him to hit the road. Brody was definitely the better choice.

I just want to point out that Harper's mom was weird. I understand she was insecure because of her rocky relationship with her husband but what kind of a mother discourages her daughter to go to college? Especially when her daughter's very talented?! So odd. I couldn't fathom that. Even Harper's grandfather had a good reason for his weird behaviour.

There was a brilliant twist at the end which I didn't see coming but I loved! It made perfect sense. The result to their category was wrong because an incorrect method was used to count the votes. Harper really needed to just go with it and not analyze everything. Feelings are hard to get rid of and when it's right, it's right. Don't let something as silly as a high school poll stand in the way of your happiness! Seriously, you find it, you keep it!

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way.

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