Review: Trying Not to Love You by Megan Smith

Synopsis

MacKenzie Cahill has dealt with overbearing and overprotective brothers her entire life, making it near impossible to enjoy her teenage years. Having a boyfriend was practically impossible until she met a guy that wasn't afraid to stand up to them - Dominic. He was sweet, thoughtful, and everything MacKenzie ever wanted in a man.

But when they go away to college at Old Dominion University, MacKenzie sees a whole new side of Dominic and begins to wonder if he really is different from every other guy.

Her world is turned upside down after a party, and her brothers' best friend Hunter is the one there to offer her a shoulder to cry on. The chemistry between them is electric, and feelings for each other that have been hidden for years are finally voiced.

Is Hunter willing to be disloyal to his best friends in order to be with the one girl he's always secretly wanted?


4 star review

This is a very sweet story of falling in love with the boy next door who also happens to be best friends with your older twin brothers.  Unfortunately the brothers are very protective of Kenzie, who is 3 years younger.

Kenzie has always been in love with Hunter and when she is 17 and he is 20, she decides to tell him how she feels.  Although Hunter has some of the shared feelings, he knows he can’t be with her because of her brothers and their friendship.  Kenzie is devastated.

“When he walked away from me that day, a piece of my heart went with him.  At least now I had my answer even if it crushed me.”

Fast forward to the beginning of college and Kenzie has tried to move on from her feelings of Hunter and has a boyfriend, Dominic.  They all 3 are now attending the same college.  Right from the beginning of meeting Dominic you will get the vibe that something is going on with him and it isn’t good.

Hunter is a sweetheart even though you just want to scream at him to get his act together and get with Kenzie – or CC as he calls her, and the reason for that is so cute.  <3

Things get tense between the brothers and Hunter, but Hunter is willing to take the downfall for hurting her once before and wanting to love Kenzie now.

“I can’t do it anymore.  I need you like my life depends on it.”

Eventually the inability of one of the brother’s acceptance of their relationship begins to wear on them.  Hunter becomes distant and questions everything.  Kenzie begins to feel physically ill from the tension between everybody.  Things aren’t handled the best between the two young lovers and weeks of silence entail, with Kenzie finding comfort and unwanted answers with Dominic.

A person of questionable identity from the past threatens to take away the happiness and future that Hunter and CC are seeking.  The result is one heckuva cliffhanger…

“I need you; I can’t do this on my own.”