When Katherine “Kate” leaves for her freshmen year at college, a grounded and stable piece of her is missing. She pushes away the ghosts of her past, determined to start her college life single, carefree and distracted.
Throughout high school Kate was reserved and shy, with little experience. Now, on her own, with little holding her back, Kate is ready to branch out. She bonds with a tight knit group of friends and even starts casually dating. What starts out as innocent flirting on the tennis courts slowly turns into a friendship and eventually something more complex. Reed comes into her life giving her the distraction she craves more than anything; but is she ready to give her heart away so easily?
Things get complicated when Kate’s ex-boyfriend and first love continues to pursue her. Kyle deeply regrets breaking her heart when he left for college the year before and is now on a mission to reclaim her. Kyle’s persistence and relentlessness is nothing short of obsessive. He will stop at nothing to win her back and prove his love.
Kate finds herself torn between her past and the unknown of the future. Her determination to stay distracted may just be her downfall or the beginning of something new and wonderful.
***For Mature Readers 18+**
“You can breathe Kate; I’m not going to kiss you…yet."
Let me start off with I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Melissa gave us a story that we can all relate to in one way or an other. She gave us characters that you can relate to. There is at least 1 or 2 characters that will either remind you of yourself or one of your friends!!
We start off with Kate (Katherine) going off to college. She's leaving behind Kyle. The guy she dated in high school. You know the 1st love. The guy you swear you're going to marry. Yup, that's Kyle. But, a year ago he dumps her to go to college single. Then, realizes he's an asshole & wants her back. She says No.. Good thing too. Kate's also leaving her Dad & little brother at the hardest time of all their lives. Kate's mom leaves them for reasons I won't tell you. So, lets just say she's going away to school with a lot of crap on her plate!!
Kate only has 1 friend Maggie. They met at the tour during the summer. She meets her roommate Quinn. Who at 1st I thought was annoying. But, she really did grow on me. Kate is definitely the quiet & shy one out of all her friends. You know the one goody-goody in the group. That night the girls go out to dinner with some other new friends they meet at the dorms. While there they all decide to go to a house party a few blocks away.
While at the party Kate has a bunch of guys hanging all over her. Unfortunately for them the one guy Kate notices is the sexy one with the steel blue eyes. Who she finds out from her friends is Reed. From there on out Kate does casual dating. Basically bc she's too nice to say no.
Kate who's an avid tennis player goes to the rec center Saturday mornings to play. Kate runs into Reed. They decide to play a few rounds. Kate can not believe 2 things. 1-she's actually played tennis with the sexy Reed. 2-they didn't speak once.
"You're so beautiful. Perfect. It kills me and infuriates me to hear someone has been mean to you or hurt you. I hate to see you cry."
After that first Saturday Kate & Reed play tennis every Saturday morning faithfully. It's obvious Reed can tell Kate's shy so he doesn't push her too fast. Instead, he starts a game with her. You've all heard of it "this or that". As they play tennis they start flirting & asking each other stuff like "sweet or sour". The feelings that these have for each other are there and it's getting harder and harder for these 2 to keep it to themselves.
"Beautiful... You have no idea. Seeing you like this, this is something I've wanted for so long."
Reed is perfect. He knows exactly what to say to Katherine. Every time they're around each other he lets her know how & what he's feeling. If she's feeling unsure about herself. He lets her know just how he feels. Reed never pushes Katherine into doing or saying anything she doesn't want to.
Just as you think you'll get what you want. Reed & Kate (Katherine, to Reed). Kate goes home on break. After avoiding Kyle for months while she was at school. Kate runs into Kyle while on break. After a lot of begging on Kyle's part, Kate takes him back. It took everything in me to not throw my kindle up against a wall. I have had such a bad feeling about him from the very beginning!! When Kate is around Kyle she is not herself by any means. Kate becomes someone who doesn't have a voice of her own. Kyle doesn't let her have her own opinion. It's what I like to call "The Kyle Show". For some reason Kate plays along.
"Now that I've had a taste of you, Kate, I don't know if I can get enough. I just want to be close to you."
After a little while Kate gets her voice back. She get's rid of Kyle.Now that she's free of Kyle. She follows her heart back to Reed. They continue to get to know each other. While hanging out with their friends. Kate really, really does have a great bunch of friends. Between school, her friends & Reed she's having a great time. It's also doing a fantastic job from distracting her from everything that is going on at home with her mom. It's also distracting her from Kyle. That guy just doesn't get the hint. I mean if someone doesn't answer my calls/texts & emails. I'd get it. Not Kyle. Trust me you will hate him as much as I do.
"You. Are. So. Beautiful. Gorgeous. I've never felt this about anyone ever before."
Reed & Kate start to fall into a really nice routine. Reed is just too damn sexy. He is so not like the guy everyone thinks he is. There's a lot of different layers to both Reed & Katherine.
One night everybody goes to a party. Everybody is really enjoying themselves. Then, Kyle shows up!! That was the beginning of the end. Just when you thought you knew what was next, Melissa throws a wrench in it.
This is a story about Katherine (Kate) having to grow up. Having to start living for herself and not for everyone else. Kate has to learn to do things for herself and not to do something just to make other people happy. Reed wants one thing.. Katherine.. He'll do anything to have her. And, not just for sex. He wants more. Like he's never wanted before. Katherine & Reed both knew it wasn't going to be easy. They never thought it would end like this.
The title 'The Perfect Distraction' is the perfect name for this story. It is about distraction. I can not believe this is Melissa's debut novel. You would think she's been writing for years. I am in love with everything about this book. The characters, the story line. Everything. Katherine is somebody we can all relate to. She either reminds you of yourself. Or you know somebody just like her. You will not be disappointed when you read this!!
"We will keep this moment and I want to keep creating new ones with you. I'm glad you think I've been amazing, you deserve that and much more. All I care about is making you happy."
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