Review. In Ruins by Danielle Pearl

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not and will not accept monetary compensation for reviews. These are my original thoughts and opinions.

She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . .

Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green.

It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .

My Review:
5 Stars

This story hit really close to home. I lived in a small town all my life. In those types of circumstances you are always judged by what your family does. It doesn't matter that you had nothing to do with whatever went down, you are automatically thrown into the same boat as the person who committed it. 

You can tell that Carleigh is nothing like the people who "raised" her. Not only is she attending college, but she's also looking after her younger brother while her mother jet sets around the globe with her girlfriends. The one wrinkle in her life is Tucker, her ex. 

Being at the same college as your ex is one thing, but an ex who absolutely hates you is a whole nother mess in and of itself. While Carleigh tires to have at least a little college experience, she can't help but to continuously run into Tucker. 

These two navigate the past and future, learning truths and deceptions along the way. Leaving you to wonder if they were meant to be together or if they were just tow entities passing.