Title: Better When He’s Bad
Series: Welcome to the Point bk 1
Author: Jay Crownover
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult
Welcome to the Point
There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter.
Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.
Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced.
Bax terrifies her, but it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize that some boys are just better when they’re bad.
Thoughts: I’ve been a fan of Crownover’s ever since I read Rome. Her writing style is unique and fresh, and very refreshing. When I read the sneak peak of this book in the back of Nash’s book I new I wanted to read it. I was expecting a great read, I wasn’t expecting to be blown out of the water with this book.
Bax isn’t a good guy. He’s the first person to tell you that as well. He grew up in the Point and the only life he knows is one of crime. He makes no apologies for who he is either. He’s just gotten out of a five year stint in jail and he’s hunting for the answers as to what happened the night everything went down.
The last thing Dovie’s brother told her before he pulled a disappearing act is to trust Bax. He didn’t tell her that Bax was scary as shit, and that he would push all of her buttons and boundries. No matter how much he scares her, she is sticking to him like glue because he’s determined to find her brother.
What I loved about these two characters was that they shouldn’t have worked, and yet they do. Neither one has had an easy life, and yet they both see below the surface and all the walls the other has erected to protect themselves. They make no excuses for the way they feel, regardless of what is going on.
The Point and The Hill could be any major city in the US, and the fact that we have no clue where this book takes place is one of the aspects I love about it. In fact much like the author wants The Point is a character in this story. With every word that described it I could imagine it, much like I could Bax and Dovie.
There is a lot going on in this story with they mystery of where Race, Dovie’s brother is, and what really happened the night Bax got busted, with each new piece of the mystery revealed Bax has to re-evaluate his beliefs about his brother and his best friend.
At the end of the book I wished there was more and can’t wait to see what happens with Race and Dovie’s friend Bysen in the next book, but the character who’s book I really can’t wait for is Titus, Bax’s brother.
If you the grittyness of Sons of Anarchy but down with the whole MC thing then you will love this series.
With her gritty world and very real characters Crownover has shot to the top of my New Adult auto-buy list, and has cemented herself as one of my favorite authors.
Better when he’s bad is one, if not the best, new adult books I’ve read this year.
Grade A+
