Book Review – Collide by Gail McHugh

Collide: Book One in the Collide Series
I asked for something that would make me fall in love, and boy was it delivered…

Jodi: Collide about did me in the other day. I was sick with the flu and stayed in bed all day to read it.

Joy: Maryse….definitely listen to Shelly and check out Collide. It was so good. Started it in the evening and stayed up until 1:50 am and finished.

Megan: I read Collide this week and fell in love!

Maryse: 48% into Collide and I just got that awesome deeeeeep stomach dip. I’m reeeeally liking the tension in this.

I think I’ve officially found my newest long lasting book love. GAVIN was OMG-help-me-NOW-I-can’t-think-straight awesome. AWE-SOME. In fact I had big stomach dips while reading his scenes, all of the fluttery belly-butterflies, and sure enough… I’m happily in that love haze and have been for 2 days now.

Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m in love y’all!!! Er… you know. Fictional character-style love. 😉

Celine: Oh yeah, that’s me, every day, with a different character! Lol! Who’s on today’s menu??

Maryse: GAVIN is one of my biggest weekend LOVES. I MISSSSSSSS him sooooo much people!!!!! I will be writing about him tomorrow. I need to bask in my crush of him for tonight… I ABSOLUTELY LOVED and I fell in love too!! I think he’s gonna stick with me for the whole year!

Anjanette: Gavin is to die for Collide was amazing

Angel: this is my favorite of 2013 so far….loved this book!!!

Carrie: I just read Collide:) I am so happy a second book is coming!!! Love!! Gavin might be my new Kellan, and I didn’t think that could happen!!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: I am deeeeeply into Gavin. DEEPLY. Could a character be any more intense? I know of a few, and he is another. LOVE!!

Angela: Does Collide have a major cliffhanger? Is book one wrapped up nicely or does gift leaving aching to know what happens next?

Juana: Maryse I’m glad to hear you met Gavin, gosh are we going to be able to hold out until the summer, Gail needs to hurry up and get us the second book!

Tracie: Angela, yes Collide has a big cliffhanger. Burned me up too.

Although, yes, now I’m moping ’cause this was one that I didn’t want to end. That’s the sign of a favorite book (for me). To have to wait for #2 is killing me, but reading this one, cliffhanger and all was SO worth it. Cliffhanger? YES! But one of those cliffhangers that… well… I was good with. Made me want more, right away, (and you’ll see why) but the writing and personal character’s personalities are enough to hold me over. I just have to think back to one of his uber-intense, heart-felt, super angsty scenes and I am right back there with them. HIM.

“You need to kill whatever the f&*k is going on between you two.”

“I don’t think I can.” Hesitating, he drew in a lungful of air, his voice dropping a notch. “She’s supposed to be with me.”

Their private moments, thoughts, elations and devastations are detailed just right. Just enough that I internalized it and broke when she (or he) broke, and grinned like a fool with every stolen moment. Ohhhhh the stolen moments lit up this book. Absolutely MADE this book.

Their sentiments and their sudden insecurities and worries were timed in a way that even I was worrying about those same things just as they were being brought up. Every fleeting thought, every deep thought, was mine.

And while every once in awhile I found the dialogue just a bit much in the beginning (1 or 2 instances, actually, where I wondered if a guy would be that wordy) the overall effect and rhythm of the character’s progression together developed at the perfect pace for me. Believable. And Gavin’s personality truly came to life. The author “found” him along the way and oh yes… what he said, how he said it and the attitude behind it all, had the perfect imperfect “guy” feel.

“You f&*king unravel me when you do that,” he groaned, his voice harsh…

He was distinguished and wealthy, but he still “lost it” with the best of ’em.

So what’s it about?

Emily is dating stockbroker Dillon (handsome, successful and so supportive). In fact, he helped her through her mother’s illness and death and took care of pretty much.. everything. And when she moves to NY to be near him (and rooms with his friend’s sister), Dillon’s personality changes. She’s now on his turf. And while they are still going strong, Emily realizes that her long distance relationship with him is very different from this new one.

At first, their differences didn’t seem so big to her because their relationship grew and blossomed in her world. Now that she was coexisting in his, there was a lot she needed to accept.

And Emily’s world takes a spin when, during work, she meets a gorgeous stranger (Gavin) who… eventually insists on not being strangers anymore.

“… I don’t see a ring on your finger, and while there’s not a ring on your finger, there still may be hope for me.”

He’s one of NY’s hottest eligible bachelors, and his “player” reputation precedes him.

“… the whole player thing’s a misconception. I just haven’t found the right woman yet.”

*swooooon* That would be enough for me! But er… I think they like the woman a bit more “hard to get” as evidenced by his pursuit of Emily. 😉

Instant attraction that can’t be denied, and while she resists, circumstances arise that make things very difficult for her… and very fun (and torturous) for us!

I admit I was worried a bit when I started it. It was recommended as an awesome “What to Read After Thoughtless” option, and while I was elated by that fact (’cause, done right, I love that kind of story), I was worried that I’d be jaded by the similarities. And yes, there were quite a few, but I’m happy to say, to me, this story took on a life of it’s own, and I was able to “live it” more than compare it. Things are different in this one. Different reasoning, loyalties, personalities. Different reveals. You’ll be angry in this one too, but not necessarily in the same way.

Mind you, the heroine’s occasional over-the-top reactions made me roll my eyes and wonder if I was up for all of the mess that would take place while “they” refused to communicate (and there are a few “theys” in this one). I’d think… “Oh COME ON!!! This is sooooo obvious where this is going!!” or “Oh you’ve GOT to be kidding me, why did *spoiler* do that!!??” And yet the over-the-top angst didn’t ruin it. I’d find myself eye-rolling and heaving a sigh of exhaustion and then shortly thereafter, I’d raise an eyebrow and think… “okay, yeah, I can understand that.” It wasn’t perfect and I was screaming at them through my iPad to stop the madness and stop driving me crazy, but then again, it provided the tension and the angst that I love. Something in the writing, in the introspection, and certain relief scenes kept me from throwing the iPad. I wanted to, but the author always brought me back.

So while the story is kind of “obvious”… it still worked for me, you know?

After all, when we are insecure, or are in relationship-shock, we self-sabotage, and I’ve been known to drama-queen out a few times to prove a point as a youngin’. I’ve also been known to make decisions that seemed perfectly alright (and innocent) on the spot but looking back… what was I thinking!!?

So I thought to myself, “why can’t they make those stupid decisions, too?” And what did I do while reading this? That’s right. I went with it. 😉

“Sometimes bad choices bring us to the right people, Emily.”

A fantastic, dramatic, intense love story and I’ve found my first official 2013 book boyfriend. Gavin rocked my world. YAY ME!!! *glares at all of you Gavin lovers* Grrrrrrr!!! OFF! (*blush* Couldn’t help myself). Im just kidding. 😉 Sorta. 

“Give me all of it, Emily.”

*whoooooooo* he is INTENSE!!! Nothing I quote here can compare to you (the reader), actually taking it in, the way it was meant to be read. I’ve practically highlighted his every scene. I proclaim him… squeeworthy.

4.5 stars (and 5 stars PLUS for anything/everything GAVIN).

P.S. Here’s an exclusive and lengthy teaser for the upcoming sequel “PULSE”.