Title: Make it Count
Series: Bowler University #1
Author: Megan Erickson
Genre: New Adult
Blurb: Kat Caruso wishes her brain had a return policy, or at least a complaint hot-line. The defective organ is constantly distracted, terrible at statistics, and absolutely flooded with inappropriate thoughts about her boyfriend’s gorgeous best friend, Alec…who just so happens to be her brand new math tutor. Who knew nerd was so hot?
Kat usually goes through tutors like she does boyfriends—both always seem to bail when they realize how hopeless she is. It’s safer for her heart to keep everyone at arm’s reach. But Alec is always stepping just a little too close.
Alec Stone should not be fantasizing about Kat. She’s adorable, unbelievably witty, and completely off limits. He’d never stab his best friend in the back…
But when secrets are revealed, the lines of loyalty are blurred. To make it count, Alec must learn messy human emotions can’t be solved like a trigonometry function. And Kat has to trust Alec may be the first guy to want her for who she is, and not in spite of it.
Thoughts: This was a very cute story about the very pretty, but not too smart Kat and the nerdy, but hot Alec. Kat is actually Alec’s roommate’s girlfriend and he knows she is off limits, but he’s still drawn to her. He finds her interesting in ways that he knows his roommate doesn’t. He also knows that he would treat Kat so much different if she were his girlfriend. Kat dates a lot of guys, but never falls in loves with any of them. That would require for them to get to know the real Kat and she can’t let that happen. Kat is pretty, but very self-conscious about herself. Her brain just doesn’t work the same way everyone else’s does.
When she ends up with Alec for a tutor, she’s stunned to see that he isn’t just accepting the normal Kat mask she shows everybody else. When she explains to Alec what her brain really is like, he begins to figure out what really might be the cause of her issues. He looks into it more and Kat is mortified to learn what Alec has done. Can Kat accept what Alec has found? Can she forgive him? What will happen with Alec and his roommate when he tells him just how far his feelings have developed?
I am not generally a huge fan of the New Adult genre, but I really liked this one. It was a fun and easy read. Kat ended up being a likeable character and I don’t think that was easy for the author to pull off. Generally, I don’t think I would enjoy a story about the stupid pretty girl, but it was so much more than that. Alec was great. I personally love the hot nerdy guys, so this was right up my alley. As the first in the series, we were also introduced to several other characters at Bowler University that I am sure will play roles in future books. I can’t wait.
Grade: A-/B+
