ARC review: The Natural History of Us

 

Title: The Natural History of Us
Author: Rachel Harris
Published: 5th April 2016
My Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes 
Synopsis:

One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.

I received this book free in an exchange for an honest review 

OHMYWORD!!!!!  GUYS! If haven't started this series then you need to you have no idea what your missing out on!


If I thought Brandon was swoon worthy in the first book, then OHMY! He has tough competition where Justin is compared! 
 

This book gives you the understanding of Justin, the back drop of it. Which is what I think Harris was intending to do, I enjoyed reading this book sooo much! In this book you have a better understanding of why Justin acts like a jerk, his personality, behaviour everything.

Justin is lonely, isolated from his so called family, living in a big empty house can be quite suffocating especially if its alone. Justin belongs to a family where his step mother despises him, his father has no time for his son and his younger brother is the only bright star in his otherwise lonely life. Peyton, is the complete opposite. Her family love her to bits, super supportive, caring and a tad bit over protective. What I didn't expect is her to be Coach's daughter. I did a double take when I read that, I made sure I read the text twice before I carried on. Not that it isn't interesting it is, I just wasn't expecting it and I was little bit concerned if the book would turn out like the other books.

As I was saying, Peyton is a fun loving, determined, fierce and very stubborn girl. I mean very stubborn but what I like most about her is determination to get back up again after every set back despite her injury, her illness she still held on. Being strong doesn't mean not showing emotions, its quite the opposite actually and this book is a perfect example of that. Although, I have to say when we finally find out the reason for the break up I thought she jumped to conclusions very quickly, like she didn't stop to consider it all to be a set up? Or there is more than meets the eye?

Faith and Cade are Peyton's rock through everything especially the break up, her illness and injury. You instantly fall in love with Faith and I liked how Harris added a little bit of modern YouTube stardom in to making it more relatable. She is the perfect friend you can ask for, supports you, is incredibly loyal but knows what is the best action to take for Peyton without turning her back on her. Cade, on the otherhand is a very good friend but you could clearly tell when Cade and Peyton are dating its clearly not working out, he kind of got on my nerves a bit especially when he would complain about Justin like a girl and I didn't like the way he would comment to suggest that Jusin is inferior or anything! AND OH MY GOSH! WHAT A CHEAPSKATE!! Seriously dude, do you not know how to impress a girl? If not, then may I suggest you take some lessons?????



The story line was good but I would consider this more of a backdrop story but I liked that we got to see Gabi, Carlos, Drew, Brandon and Aly in this. I did not like Lauren's role, does she always need to be like this? Seriously girl, you need a life!!!! Why does everything come down to her??? I am glad that she had less scenes in the book than the first ones, which made the story flow perfectly. The pace was a little slow in the middle but not for long as the pace picked up soon after.  
  
Have you read the book? If this book is your kind of book then please check it out! Let me know in the comments below!

Happy reading!