ARC Review: Want by Stephanie Lawton

by Carmen Shaw 8:22 PM 2 comments

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche.

Julianne can’t understand why Isaac suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it before she inherits her mother’s madness. Isaac knows he must resist his attraction to a student ten years his junior, but loneliness and jealousy threaten his resolve.

Their indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.
Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her?

Overall Thoughts: 
There were a few things I got a little annoyed at, but overall, I liked this book!

Want is about a 17 year old girl named Julianne Casquette, who has been practicing playing the piano all her life to get accepted into New England Conservatory after she graduates high school. When her mentor and close personal friend, Mr. Cline, becomes ill, he sends in his nephew. Thus, enters 27 year old Isaac Laroche. In the beginning, he's guarded and stoic and not very likable, but Juli is persistent, and the two become secretly involved.

This story is set in Mobile, Tennessee so it has a southern feel to it; Meaning: Even though them getting together is technically legal (in Tennessee), it's still extremely inappropriate. So what happens when their secret is out and everyone turns away from Juli just when she needs them the most, all except for Dave Gaston, Isaac's best friend?

What I liked about this book:
Yes, there is a love triangle, which I don't mind just as long as it's believable, and this one was! Isaac was the brooding lover, whereas, Dave was the supportive, lovable best friend. And I know what you're thinking, "Ugh, another Twilight-esque love triangle..." Well, you're wrong! I don't want to give it away, but I will say that Jacob would've been proud!

Although this has a lot of romance in it, it also covers some of real life issues. One being, abuse and depression. I found those to be the most interesting parts of this story because it was so emotional, vivid, and addictive!

What I disliked about this book:
Isaac was annoying. He was so fickle with Juli. One minute he'd be all up on her and the next he'd be denying her. That was a huge turn off for both Juli and for myself.

Verdict:
This was a very enjoyable read from the very beginning. It had a few glitches, but nothing too big.

3 TARGETS!