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Review
4 stars!
Anti-stepbrother by Tijan is a fun, flirty, sweet story. Even though there are a lot of college romances out there and stories can become repetitive, this one was unique. Not only does it have a sweet romance, it also focuses on trust and tackling the past head on. I loved how things were presented and enjoyed this book from the first page to the last.
Summer is starting her freshman at college. She is in love with Kevin who happens to be her stepbrother. Once upon a time she thought there was a chance for them to be together when they shared one night together. But in reality it was just that – one night. They are now at same college and Summer has high hopes that it’s her chance to be with him. She quickly discovers he’s nothing like she thought.
Caden is well-known on campus – everyone loves him and either wants to be his friend or wants to be with him. He is Kevin’s fraternity brother and not his biggest fan. Kevin is a cheating slime ball and when Summer is dragged into his drama, she meets Caden. Immediately there is something about him that intrigues her but they get off on the wrong foot.
“What are you doing?”
“I do this when I feel like I’m saying stuff I shouldn’t, and I’m only doing that because I am nervous.” I blink a few times at him. “You make me nervous. Though that’s better than being enraged.”
“I enrage you?”
I nodded, then though about it, and my head bobbed down as my shoulder jerked up. “You did earlier, but I don’t know why. I think it’s just you. I call you Asshole in my head.”
“You what?” We stopped at a stoplight, and he looked fully at me. “I didn’t do anything to you.”
Summer and Caden are put in situations that have them spending time together and a slowly an unlikely friendship forms. Summer starts to feel things for Caden which only confuse her as she struggles to let go of the feelings she’s held onto for so long.
I was really afraid of letting those feelings go, though at the same time I desperately wanted to. I couldn’t explain any of it. But there was a different something else going on with Caden and me, something underneath the layer of words and moments of honesty between us. I didn’t know what that was either, but it held me suspended.
I really enjoyed Anti-Stepbrother. I loved watching Summer and Caden’s friendship form and their feelings grow. The story is mostly written in Summer’s POV but we did get to read some of what was going on in Caden’s head and I loved it.
I loved Caden. He had a gentle spot in his heart for Summer from almost the beginning and I loved how thoughtful, caring and sweet he was.
“I want more than that. I want it all. You. Your laugh.” He pressed a kiss to the side of my mouth. “Your random idiocy that I find hilarious.” A kiss to the other side. “Your kindness.” He moved down to my throat. “Your strength.” The other side of my throat.
…
“Your love, even when it’s not deserved,” he added, He lifted his head, his eyes finding mine. “I want you.” His eyes grew serious as he hovered above me. “I love you, completely and wholeheartedly. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
*sigh*
I loved that he knew what Summer needed. He was a bit mysterious and carried a lot on his shoulders. I loved how Summer was able to released his stress and help him relax and enjoy moments together. The drama with his family made my heart ache and the dynamics between the brothers were both heartbreaking and beautiful.
I really liked Summer. She knew she shouldn’t like her stepbrother in a romantic way and I could see her fighting her feelings. I loved that could be herself around Caden and he liked her for who she was as a person. She wasn’t fake or trying to be popular. Her awkwardness was hilarious and the stuff that came out of her mouth had me laughing out loud. She was a fun, sweet, witty girl who was also naive, and I loved that she was feisty when she spoke her mind.
I came to college to be with my stepbrother, but I fell in love with the anti-stepbrother instead. Kevin was an ideal, a Band-Aid over a wound, but not Caden. He was the good, the bad, and the stuff in between. He’d make me feel all of it. He was everything. He was my everything.
The book took some turns I did not see coming and I liked how things played out. Overall this was a great read and I am so glad I was finally able to jump into it!