Gabriella Mason is damaged.Teller Reddy is wrecked.Misery loves company, and that’s exactly what Ella gets the afternoon her path crosses with Teller’s: the misunderstood premed student who instantly becomes her lifeline when she moves to Los Angeles, an attempt at escaping her heartbreaking past. In the beginning, Lonely and Defensive complete each other. But in the end, their relationship is … end, their relationship is like broken glass—cutthroat and jagged.
Calling it off before they kill each other, Ella and Teller decide to “just be friends” despite the intensity that binds them together. It’s a delicate foundation rocked by tragedy, effectively destroying the illusion they’ve so carefully built.
Unable to deny what’s between them any longer, this is what happens when wrecked and damaged collide and close is still not close enough.
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This is my first book by this author. I’m trying to figure out my thoughts. On one hand I’m like, holy crap Teller and Ella are acting like 5 year olds fighting over who will be first in line. Then I’m all, when they’re good, they’re great. But watch out for the bad because holy hell, shit is hitting the fan. Everybody take cover! How are they not emotionally exhausted? I know I kinda am. It’s like watching a tennis match, all the back and forth, it gives you whiplash! The ending has a cliffy. WTF is up with him and bashing up her car? Fuck that noise! Nothing like showing you love a gal by destroying something she loves. I say two middle fingers up to you, my friend. But, I’ll read the next one because I have got to see how this train wreck ends!
Terrific Story & Narration Captivating & Wild!
Closer
By: Mary Elizabeth
Narrated by: Ramona Master
Consider me wowed, this book blew me away. Mary Elizabeth is a gifted author, she has a way with words and creates original and interesting storylines and characters, as well as great dialogue between them. She drew me right in to her story and held my mind captive straight to the end. She takes you for a ride on an angsty, emotional rollercoaster ride and you have no choice but to hang on for dear life and hope by the end you do not suffer from whiplash. The characters are complex and well developed, the lead characters Teller Reddy and Gabriella “Ella” Mason are not your usual romance characters. They meet on Ella’s first day at UCLA. She is starting a new life for herself, along with her brother Emerson. Teller is drawn to her like no other and he brings both of them in his life and circle of friends and family. Ella and Teller are so good together yet so toxic, both are headstrong, impulsive and have volatile tendencies. They need to stay in each other’s lives and decide to be just friends. I loved how everything plays out in this book, it is nicely plotted, told in alternating time frames starting with then and when they first meet to now, where they are in current time. And some of the things that go down between them if just mind blowing. There is never a dull moment in this book, there is plenty of drama, head spinning angst, some heartfelt moments, heartbreaking ones and some hot romance too. Mary Elizabeth, thank you for this amazingly addictive story and the emotional rollercoaster ride. I am so looking forward to what comes next in Ella & Teller’s story.
I listened to the Audible edition, Ramona Master is a fantastic narrator and voice artist. She does a great job portraying the characters and bringing them to life, giving each their own voice and personality. She handles the banter and back and forth dialogue with ease, switches roles flawlessly never missing a beat. You could hear how much heart she puts into her work as she captures and projects the characters emotions into her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this great listen
Closer is a wild ride that drops the reader off a cliff at the end! It deals with addiction, obsession and what at times seems like a fairly toxic relationship but this author does it in a way that I was addicted and obsessed!
“This is what happens when wrecked and damaged collide.”
The story is one that I couldn’t put down once I started. I listened on audiobook and recommend listening to this story.
-4 Stars!-
This book…this love story…I wanted to throw my Kindle a few times, and shake their shoulders, but I was completely addicted to the story and the writing. I ADORED the writing. Mary Elizabeth’s style is really unique and compelling.
I highly recommend if you need an angst fix!
No one writes a bad boy quite as good as Mary Elizabeth. I devour her words.
This story was insanely good! Wow, I was hooked instantly and Mary Elizabeth’s prose was poignant and flawless. My first book by this author and she knocked it out of the park. The story and its characters were addictive and in a way believable that I connected with them instantly.
I really enjoyed Ella and Teller’s friendship slash relationship because that’s what they had and wanted with one another. A friendship but wanting more yet never ready to acknowledge that and their feelings. That push and pull, tug-a-war they played with each other was so well described that their chemistry came off as blazing hot. It was intense and their dysfunctional friendship showed so many sides. From jealousy to possessiveness and obsessiveness both Ella and Teller couldn’t hide their emotions yet the only word they wanted to shout out never came. Love. Their journey span over seven years and their shared history was filled with so much love/hate or should I say frustration for each other. Yes, they played with each other’s emotions but when it mattered they stepped up.
The pace of the story was spot on and the flashbacks only added to their compelling and complex history.
Both Ella and Teller pushed my buttons and frustrated the hell out me but I enjoyed every moment of it. They’re both so flawed and broken and their childhoods/upbringing definitely played a part in that.
Ella’s brother Emerson was fantastic. He along with Teller captured my heart. The other secondary characters were excellent and played the part of being a family to Ella and Emerson wonderfully.
I seriously didn’t want this book to end. I’m so excited for what’s to come for these characters. I’m on pins and needles.
5 BadAssDirtySmellaStars
AHHHHH! This book is everything! One of my absolute favorites! I cannot wait to read the next in this series. This is a definite must buy. I suck at writing reviews, because I don’t like getting into the basis of the book (If that’s what you’re looking for, read the blurb!). It’s written so well and so realistic with the times and way of southern Californians in the tatted up/carefree(ish)/skater world, basically, the coolest crowd ever. If you’re familiar with that lifestyle or even just way of life, this book will feel like coming home.