…no matter what happens, no matter how things end, no matter how impossible or dark or hopeless life seems, true love always shines through. It’s always the victor. It’s always the driving force. It’s always the answer.
In L.M Augustine’s second novel (and his first foray into the NA genre), we are introduced to Cali and Logan. Childhood friends, they were torn apart over a shared tragedy, and are now sworn enemies, engaged in the most epic prank war since Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
I was lucky enough to get an eARC of this book a few weeks back. Despite the fact that I was in the middle of another book at the time, I just wanted a little peek at Two Roads, just a little taste. Fast forward to me being held hostage by this book! I put off going to work and I’m pretty sure we ate Froot Loops for dinner that night. I didn’t stop reading until the wee hours of the night, when I was smiling through my tears.
First, let’s talk a minute about Cali. Feeling pressured and rejected by her parents, she’s put up walls around her, refusing to let people in. Instead she adopts this “mean girl” persona to hide her pain. It seems like nobody in her life knows the real her. Nobody knows the Cali that loves poetry, the Cali who actually holds in disdain the people she forces herself to fit in with. She’s forcing down all of her emotions regarding her past, and the only things she feels passionate about are her poetry and her rivalry with Logan. In a twisted way, her “relationship” with Logan is the closest one she has.
And Logan…what can we say about Logan? Cute nerd boy with great hair, funny geek-themed t-shirts and obnoxiously long lashes…how can Cali possibly hate him? As someone who has been married to a cute nerd boy (for more years than I’ll admit here), Logan instantly stole my heart. Please, meet my Logan…
Right??!?!? RIGHT?!?!?! Now I know that the Crown Prince of hot nerds is probably Matt Watkins from Flat Out Love. As much as I enjoyed that book, I never got the hot nerd vibe from Matt. Logan, however? Oh, yeah. He exudes nerdy hotness. It emanates from the page! Logan inspired me to add a “geek love” shelf on Goodreads, and the sexy nerd is now a top-tier book boyfriend. (OK…simmer down, Mo…let’s discuss the book a bit, shall we?)
Where was I?? Oh yeah…Logan. Not only is Logan a smart guy, he’s got a creative streak as well. And he holds his own against mean girl Cali, he gives it as good as he gets! I really enjoyed reading the scenes where he and Cali let loose on each other. Epic insults flying left and right, it was really entertaining! (And I filed some away for future conversations with my brothers)
But I felt some kind of way when he and Cali argued. All that hate they were spewing?? Yeah, it sure didn’t feel like hate to me!! **wink**wink**nudge**nudge** After their parents set them up on a blind date, (CLASSIC!!!!) Logan and Cali come to realize that they’re not so different after all, and their relationship shifts, just a tad.
I’m not going to reveal too much about the book to you, I want you to take this journey on your own! It’s a funny, sweet, emotional ride. The pranks? Inspired. (I took copious notes). The poetry? Surprisingly enjoyable, and it flowed well with the story, it wasn’t just filler. And once again, L.M. is enhancing my vocabulary. I regularly refer to my own “adorability” now, and “nerdhole” (© L.M. Augustine) has become a top-10 favorite word. (Much to the husband’s chagrin)
Five “I love to hate you” stars go to Two Roads, and I’ll never look at a crepe the same way again.
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