“THE BACKUP PLAN is classic new adult at its finest. With plenty of angst, drama and emotion, I seriously loved this romance!” ~ NYT bestselling author Monica Murphy I’m beyond help… I threw a football before I could walk. Everything in my life revolved around football-and I loved every second. I was a star. Until, suddenly…I wasn’t. Now everyone thinks I’m the monster who killed his best … everyone thinks I’m the monster who killed his best friend. I’m an outcast on campus, silent and alone. Then Taylor Selmer walks back into my life. When will she learn-I’m beyond saving.
I need to save him…
Chase and I used to be friends. But after the accident, nothing was the same. We used to have something special-until we didn’t. But he doesn’t smile anymore. Doesn’t talk. Doesn’t play. It hurts me to see him this way, and I will do everything I can to get him back in the game. Whether he likes it or not.
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Chase did not kill his best friend even though everyone else believes that he did; therefore, he is an outcast. It was an accident which left his best friend dead and his shoulder damaged so he cannot play football anymore. As a result, he does not care about anything anymore and is doing poorly with his college courses. Taylor has known Chase forever and they were good friends, but she is the daughter of servants and he is the son of parents who are well off. Taylor is not seen as someone acceptable for Chase, but she comes back into his life at the time that he needs her most.
Will Taylor be able to help Chase out of the hole he is in? Will he ever be able to play football again? Will he ever be happy again? Can they be happy together? The odds are not in their favor but one never knows what life will bring.
I loved this story. It was realistic and had wonderful emotion. It pulled me right in and kept me interested right up until the last page. The characters were well-developed and interesting. The story moved at a very good pace. This is a second chance romance story. Read it and find out if the get their HEA.
This is my first read by Jen McLaughlin and I am looking forward to one-clicking some other books from her.
Well-written, college romance that will have you hooked from the beginning.
Chase and Taylor grew up together but, were in 2 different leagues.
Chase Maxwell, the all-american football player who comes from money. He had everything until one day a tragic event happens that throws him into a downward spiral.
Taylor Selmer, the daughter of the cook and butler for a rich family. Given the opportunity to go to an amazing school all paid for on one condition that can ultimately break her heart. A deal with a business man that can rip her world apart.
Contracts can be the key to a broken heart but also, a forever love. Dive in and follow these two friends as the fight for what they want.
The Backup Plan is an angsty second chance romance with a collegiate setting. The story centers around young college students – ones who haven’t quite figured everything out about their lives and who overreact and act impulsively, leading to unexpected situations, perhaps even life altering events.
Chase Maxwell was a star football player for his school and with one bad decision, he quickly became an outcast and campus’ public enemy #1, irrevocably changing his life and his attitude for the worse, but for some reason, Taylor Selmer, a girl who has known Chase since they were young, goes out of her way to help him, both with school and with his life as a whole, even if his demeanor in the first half of the story makes him seem undeserving of her assistance.
Taylor is quite the sassy heroine. She’s funny, intelligent, and rational, and every time Chase attempts to push her away or acts spiteful towards her, her witty comebacks and sarcasm prove that she won’t back down or let him walk all over her. I have to admit that, sometimes, I questioned why Taylor cared so much and tried so hard to help Chase when he seemed so undeserving. His treatment of her didn’t sit well with me, and I just didn’t understand why she put up with his shit.
For the first half of the book, Chase is a dick with a huge chip on his shoulder, and while I can understand his survivor’s guilt, his moodiness towards other people wasn’t justified and actually made me not like him. And then Chase gave me a bit of whiplash when his feelings seemed to change overnight, offering little insight into why his change of heart took place and why he was resolved to be a better person.
In my opinion, the plot line felt a bit rushed in parts and not fully flushed out given the tragic incident that upended Chase’s life and put Taylor in Chase’s corner to get him back on track and help him graduate. Even with Chase’s point of view, I really couldn’t understand all of his actions and decisions, which made it difficult for me to be truly invested in him and his issues.
Even with my frustrations with some of the aspects of The Backup Plan, though, I still liked the story. Taylor was awesome and her inability to be pushed around by Chase was admirable; the story line was unique and had potential…everything just needed to be explored deeper, so that all parts could be understood and connected. But I still suggest readers of New Adult Romance give this story a try and make their own assessments on Taylor and Chase’s story.
3.5 Poison Apples
The Backup Plan is a perfect feel good read. It’s sweet, romantic Cinderella story. It’s the story that when you finish you have a huge smile plastered on your face. You have the warm fuzzies and a craving for more.
He’s a broody, unhappy jock.
She’s the nerdy help.
They are an unlikely pair to most but exactly what this fairytale like story needs.
Friends who used to be. Strangers in the now.
It’s absolutely Hallmark without the cheesy overtones. This college romance is exactly the pick me up you want.
Book received in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed on behalf of Once Upon An Alpha
The Backup Plan by Jen McLaughlin, is one of those books that has a little bit of everything. Family, college, discovering yourself, friendships, romance, drama, and possible a happily ever after. If you went away for college you can probably relate to the struggles that Taylor and Chase encounter.
I just love duel point of view books and this is one of those books that reaffrims that. The back and forth between Chase and Taylor and having their own thoughts and feelings written, drags you in and has you feeling their feels. So well written, easy to read.
Chase had it all; family, money and the college football career dreams are made of. Until one night everything is ripped away from him and everyone on campus thinks he is a killer/monster.
Taylor has been given an opporunity of a lifetime and is now back in Chases life.
But can old wounds heal? Can past friendships be given a second chance? Can family destroy everything? You’ll just have to read it to find out!!!
There is just so much tension, drama, emotion, heartbreak and some laughter that this is just a wonderful romance novel. Another thing that was so well done was that there is not a huge amount of sex in this book, but the the wording and how the story plays out you don’t need it. You still feel the tension, attraction, chemistry and the explosion of wills with the words you read. So well done!!!
4 Stars
***Review by Lisa, Late Night Reviewer for Up All Night with Books***
This was a wonderful new to me author and great read. I read this book in shorty period of time because I could not put this book down because Taylor and chases story is so wonderful. Jen McLauglin is now an author that I will have to look for new reads. I highly recommend this read.