NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Shatter (True Believers #4)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Shatter (True Believers #4), by Erin McCarthy
Published September 2, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance/Intermix
Format: paperback, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Kylie Warner prides herself on being optimistic, but after finding her best friend in bed with her boyfriend and flunking chemistry, her upbeat attitude has taken a dive. Even an impromptu hook-up with her sexy new chemistry tutor only brightens her mood slightly. After all, it’s not like she’ll ever see the tattooed scholar again…

While he’s a whiz at complex equations, Jonathon Kadisch has trouble when it comes to figuring out women. So when Kylie tells him that she’s pregnant after their night of passion, he’s at a complete loss. He’s prepared to be a good father—unlike his own deadbeat dad—but he’s less prepared to fall for the genuine and alluring blonde bearing his child.

With emotions running high, Kylie wonders if Jonathon’s devotion is out of growing love or looming obligation. And when heartbreak threatens to tear them apart, Jonathon will have to fight for the only girl who’s ever made him feel whole…

Kylie's story in Shatter is the last of the four college BFFs' to tell, and it feels like her story has been a long time coming. We had the impression from book one that her relationship with her boyfriend wasn't everything it should be. He seemed like a total douchebag, and after book three in the series, that was confirmed. It's a shame that it had to happy to Kylie - the "happy" one of the group. I really, really wanted her to get her HEA just like the other three girls had. And, she found it in Jonathon. 

Kylie wasn't quite as skilled at the academics, especially when it came to the sciences. Add to that the fact that her chem prof is super slimy, and Kylie realizes she will need extra help to pass the class. Enter tatted tutor Jonathon. One study session together leads to one amazing night together, which leads to a lifelong attachment when Kylie finds out she's pregnant. 

Jonathon was absolutely incredible. It takes a special kind of man to step up and accept responsibility for a child he makes, especially when he barely knows the mother. Although Jonathon and Kylie don't promise each other anything from the beginning beyond being responsible for the life they created together, I liked that Jonathon opened himself up to the possibility, after his initial freak out. 

And, yeah. He might be pretty near perfect, but when Kylie breaks the news to him, he doesn't respond well. I was actually glad about that. It was a very real, organic response, and it made him just this side of perfect. 

For Kylie's part, she accepts responsibility immediately and starts adjusting her plans to accommodate a child. She tells Jonathon about her pregnancy immediately - major props for that. I can't tell you what a huge pet peeve it is of mine when characters in books find out they're pregnant and then delay telling the father, or even contemplate keeping it from him. I loved that she broke the news to Jonathon immediately, and she didn't let him walk all over her and get emotional when he freaked out. 

Poor Kylie. I mean, she's still trying to come to grips with the fact that one of her best friends slept with her boyfriend when this happens. Jonathon ended up being a very good friend to her first and foremost. He protected her, he listened to her, and he became committed to taking care of her. Unfortunately, Kylie gets a little too hung up on whether Jonathon was being that way with her because he truly cared about her or because he felt like he owed it to her to hang out with her and take care of her because of the baby. And, I get why. Especially after she falls in love with him. 

As if this wasn't enough drama for these two, Kylie and Jonathon are both dealing with exes, Kylie still has to fix her grades, she has to deal with Jonathon's horrible father, and then something awful happens to just confuse and complicate matters even more. Shatter was a very emotional book. Although Kylie and Jonathon have a very easy, comfortable relationship, the subject matter was pretty intense, and halfway through the book when you're hit with the "big, bad event," the whole story takes a different turn. It made me so sad and I just wanted everything to work out quickly so that everyone could be happy again. 

One of the best parts of Shatter was the epilogue. Since this is the final True Believers book, the epilogue gives us one final glimpse at all four couples before we have to say goodbye. They all come together for Jessica and Riley's wedding, and that takes place many months after the end of Jonathon's and Kylie's story. I love that final look at all the couples and that Erin McCarthy gave readers a chance to say goodbye to them. 

I nearly binge read the whole series at once. I enjoyed all the books so much, and am sad that it's finally come to an end. I'm looking forward to the next awesome new adult read from Erin McCarthy.