A Story of Now by Emily O’Beirne

Title: A Story of Now
Author: Emily O’Beirne
Series: A Story of Now #1
Genre: New Adult/ Contemporary Romance/ GLBT
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Publication Date: July 11th 2015
Format: ebook
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon US | Kobo | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Nineteen-year-old Claire Pearson knows she needs a life. And some new friends.

     But brittle, beautiful, and just a little bit too sassy for her own good sometimes, she no longer makes friends easily. And she has no clue where to start on the whole finding a life front, either. Not after a confidence-shattering year dogged by bad break-ups, friends who have become strangers, and her constant failure to meet her parents sky-high expectations.

     When Robbie and Mia walk into Claire’s work they seem the least likely people to help her find a life. But despite Claire’s initial attempts to alienate them, an unexpected new friendship develops.

And it’s the warm, brilliant Mia who seems to get Claire like no one has before. Soon, Claire begins to question her feelings for her new friend.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book. It was part coming of age and self discovery, along with some often funny dialog. 

This was a really beautiful love story. Mia and Claire were really adorable and sweet. This is my favorite way to tell a love story as well. People that start out as friends and it grows into something more. 

Claire was a really funny character, though she did complain about her controlling mother a little too often, but at the same time we see how hard her mother is on her at all times. 

Funny quote:

“’And what prompted this radical makeover, if I may ask?’ 

‘Well, Mia, I was running out of ways to disappoint my mother. And then it came to me.’”

While Claire was a little brash at times, you can tell it's a defense mechanism to hide that she is a pretty fragile person. When she lets her walls down for everyone, it's clear that underneath all the toughness she shows, she's this really soft kind-hearted person.

Mia was kind of a mystery for a while. It had a lot to do with the story being told from third person focusing entirely on Claire. Considering this book was more about Claire's self discovery more than Mia's it worked. Mia was supposed to be this kind of exotic mystery to us just as much as she was to Claire.

The intimacy they shared was done in the best possibly way. It was done to be more romantic and spontaneous after they shared their feelings for each other, more than just about them "being" together, and the description level was low enough that this book doesn't need an age requirement or a warning for those who are uncomfortable reading things like that.

I am really looking forward to the sequel. I love these characters, and I can't wait to read more about their relationship blooming.