Review: Misunderstandings by Tiffany King

Misunderstandings (Woodfalls Girls #2)
   by: Tiffany King

Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | iBookstore | BAM | Target
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Just when she thought things were going up…

Two years after a devastating breakup, Brittni Mitchell has moved on from Justin Avery—or so she tells herself. But when she returns to Seattle for her best friend’s engagement party, Brittni finds herself the victim of a disastrously timed elevator breakdown. She’s trapped with the last person she wants to face, and forced to recount the past she desperately wants to forget.

She’s going to have to look back…

When Brittni left her podunk hometown for a big city college experience at the University of Washington, hooking up with a guy like Justin Avery was not part of her plan. Between Justin’s attention-grabbing tattoos, cigarette smoking, and bad boy attitude Brittni quickly chalked him up as "Mr. Wrong.” But his charm was unrelenting, and Brittni’s decision to give Justin a chance quickly turned into the worst choice she ever made.

So that she might be able to move forward.

Now she’s stuck with Justin—literally—and the complicated web of misunderstandings that tied up the truth for two years is about to unravel.

 

“Funny, real, moving and passionate, Misunderstandings is a MUST-READ for NA contemporary romance fans."--New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young

“Super sweet and swoon-worthy!”— #1 New York Times Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

 

After reading and loving Tiffany's No Attachments last year, I knew I HAD to continue to Woodfalls series and see Ashton's friends, Brittni and Tressa, find love. I am so glad I did! There's something about Tiffany's writing style that just pulls you in and keeps you engaged the entire time. I really enjoyed this one, as I felt Tiffany really showed her versatility as an author with the way she develops her characters and switches back and forth between the present and the past.

 

Pacing: I thought it was great. I didn't experience any lulls in the plot and I could not stop reading because I was desperate to find out what had caused such an awful rift between Brittni and Justin.

 

Storyline: I really enjoyed how the book goes back and forth between the present and the past. It is not distracting at all and I found I was able to keep up quite easily. For Brittni and Justin's story, I think it is critical to understand how their relationship was before and watch how it deteriorates in front of your very eyes. It gives you that added perspective as to why the characters act the way they do now and I think it really made the story that much more endearing and made your heart really ache for these two people. The title of this book is so fitting as everything comes down to miscommunication between the two and letting fear take over.

 

Presently, Brittni and Justin are reunited and despite not speaking or seeing one another for two years, things are still tense between them. Justin still harbors a lot of animosity, bitterness, and hurt towards Brittni over how things ended between them. It was very hard to witness their happy memories together and watch their relationship develop and overcome their insecurities, only to see it in shambles now. Even now, there are still things Justin doesn't know about what really happened, but being stuck in an elevator together forces the two to confront the past and decide whether they can forgive and move forward.

 

Characters: It actually took me awhile to warm up to the characters. Past Brittni is pretty judgmental. When she first meets Justin she assumes she knows his type and stereotypes him as a bad boy because of his flirtatious nature, his tattoos, etc. In reality, he is a pretty easy-going guy. He isn't easily offended by Brittni's statements and still wants to get to know her. He's a great brother, artist, and an incredibly passionate individual. He likes Brittni a lot, but has never really done relationships in the past. Brittni hasn't really either, which is why their relationship really took them both by surprise. Neither one expected to feel the way they did about one another, and while Brittni still had her doubts and insecurities, they actually really had a great relationship. Brittni is easily accepted into Justin's family and I loved seeing those scenes with Justin's mom, sister, and brother. Their fallout was something that really bothered me, as I felt they both acted prematurely and rather childishly. Justin has always been patient and understanding of Brittni, so it was hard to watch him make the decision he did concerning their relationship and then throw it back in her face. As scared as Brittni was, she should have told Justin the truth before they crossed a line they couldn't come back from.

 

Present Justin is, as I stated earlier, bitter and angry at Brittni and was hard to like, as he was so closed off. Brittni still has her spunk, but is a little defeated at the same time. She was also hurt by the past and they both really handled things very badly. Now that they have a chance to clear the air between them, they will have to decide whether they can deal with the secrets of the past and forgive one another or if the weight of what happened is too great a burden to let go of.

 

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed the second novel in the Woodfalls Girls series, as there is so much depth to Brittni and Justin's characters and I really liked seeing their story unfold. It is a great story about falling in love, second chances, and learning how to forgive and I am very excited to read Tressa's story in Contradictions!

 

 

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

For information on any of Author Tiffany's titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com.

 

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