Haley Howell has had a hopeless crush on her brother’s best friend, Jake Lexington, for as long as she can remember. Too bad to him, she’ll forever be off-limits. But with senior year and acceptance to a college outside their tiny southern town of Culler, South Carolina, comes new confidence. Haley’s ready to get Jake to notice her–whatever it takes. No one in Culler notices the real Jake … Jake anymore–to them, he’s nothing more than the star football player or the kid with the family tragedy. When one mistake lands him in community service, he’s shocked to find his best friend’s little sister there, too, looking cute as hell and threatening all his no-friends-with-benefits rules. But Jake isn’t ready to take a chance, no matter how crafty Haley’s willing to get to prove him otherwise…
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains underage drinking, language, and a drool-worthy football player who puts Tim Riggins to shame. It will make you cry, sigh, and yearn for your own Friday Night Lights.
Each book in the Southern Charmed series is STANDALONE:
* The Sweetheart Sham
* The Crush Collision
more
Haley has had a crush on Jake since she was twelve. The problem is that he’s best friends with her twin brother Chris. Plus, her best friend has already called dibs on him. Unbeknownst to Haley, Jake reciprocates her feelings, but Chris has made her off-limits. What will happen when senior year sees them growing closer and closer? One thing’s for sure – someone’s going to get hurt.
The first chapter is confusing because too many characters are introduced at once with no context. The characters are variously called by their first name or last name, and you have to figure out who’s who. But, from there, things get better. The story alternates between the present and the past, from the points of view of both Jake and Haley. The past sections are italicized but written in the present tense; it would be better if these parts were in the past tense. These minor technical issues aside, the story holds your attention and the main characters are likable and relatable. Jake grows throughout the course of the book, with the help of Coach, who is a real inspiration. It’s nice to see an adult portrayed as helpful in young adult fiction. Kids shouldn’t have to solve all of their own problems.
Cute, sweet, touching.
Warnings: coarse language, underage drinking.
Note: I haven’t read the first book in the series but found that this book stands on its own.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (22 February): https://www.booksdirectonline.com/2019/02/the-crush-collision-by-danielle-ellison.html
The Crush Collision is a sweet, angsty, young adult romance. If you love a brother’s best friend read, this is the title for you. I quite enjoyed Hayley and Jake’s story, which is told in a dual point of view. As you’d expect from a story based on high schoolers there is some teen drama, but overall I found this pair to be quite relatable, and what I enjoyed most was the friendship and camaraderie they share.
Overall this pair of characters are very likeable, and I enjoyed seeing them grow and develop over the course of this title. Hayley lives in her twin brother’s shadow. He’s Mr. Popular and the star quarterback, and everything he touches turns to gold, whereas she’s sweet, and kind and has a tendency to steer clear of the limelight. Being a twin myself I could totally relate to her character, thoughts and feelings.
Jake is a star footballer, who’s family has gone through their fair share of tragedy and he’s struggling to cope with misplaced guilt and the new normal.
I haven’t read the first title in the Southern Charmed series, and believe this title can easily be read as a standalone. It’s an enjoyable read and although it was my first time reading Danielle Ellison’s work it won’t be my last.
I’m going to go ahead and say it ahead of time that I didn’t read the first book in the Southern Charm series, but I have it on my list to read it soon because I did enjoy the second book in the series. The Crush Collision is all about a crush, but this crush deals with a kind of forbidden crush.
Hannah Howell is the twin sister of the star quarterback of the high school football team, and she’s had a crush on his best friend since she was twelve years old. Unfortunately, it will only be a crush because she can never have anything else with Jake Lexington since her twin brother Chris Howell will have a fit if his best friend, so much as looks at his sister. Hannah wants to change that though, and she’s determined to win over Jake somehow and also show the world that Jake is more than a jock who gets into trouble.
Jake Lexington is the typical football player in the story with his popularity and good looks, but he also has some bad traits. He loves to party too much, and he tends to get in trouble quite a bit, especially after what happened to his brother. Ever since the car accident that both he was in and his brother was in, Jake has gotten worse with getting into trouble and one stupid mistake ends up making him do mandatory community service. His community service leads him closer to Hannah, and he becomes attached to her in the story. A crush ends up turning into so much more with these two characters.
I enjoyed The Crush Collision because of it as all the elements of a young adult contemporary story. This genre is what got me reading in the first back in the day. (Nope not telling when then you could figure out my age.) I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they finally got together, especially when characters can change other characters for the better. I didn’t like certain characters in the story and how they reacted to the relationship between Jake and Hannah, but it’s how they found out too in the story, which didn’t help. I won’t go into details though because it’s a must for readers to find out for themselves.
The author wrote a charming small town romance story between two characters who made each other risk takers in their ways. I love these types of stories, and I look forward to reading more from this author and reading the first book in the series, which sounds interesting too.
Fair warning though that the book does include a lot of teenagers doing quite a bit of underage drinking and quite a bit of swearing in the story, but I know it didn’t stop me from reading the book, and I don’t think it should stop you from reading it either.
Story Rating: 4 stars
Standalone or part of series: Part of series, but can be read as a standalone.
Do I recommend this book? Yes. If you are a fan of YA Contemporary.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Trope/Elements: Unrequited love ends up requited love; Small Town Romance; Off Limits Romance; Hero: Football Jock, Best Friend of Heroine’s Brother, damaged due to what happened to his big brother; Heroine: Twin Sister to QB, has always been on the sidelines of her twin brother, Southern Belle, and has a crush on brother’s best friend for years now.
Two words perfectly describe Jake: hot mess. He parties too much, he drinks too much, he gets into trouble. Cue community service with his best friend’s sister. Haley couldn’t be more opposite from Jake. She’s the quintessential good girl. But the more time they spend together, the more they realize that there is more to them than meets the eye (cue closing monologue from The Breakfast Club).
This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be the last. I loved the connection, the angst, the story. There was so much packed into this story. I’m definitely adding the first book from this series to my TBR!!
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*
The Crush Collision by Danielle Ellison a five-star read that will warm even the coldest of hearts. This is the second novel in the Southern Charmed series, and they can be read as stand-alone as I haven’t read the first novel and don’t feel like I missed out, I will be going back to read the first one as I am sure Georgia May has a great story to tell. This is a sweet, charmingly romantic and frolicking fun read, there are some great story lines in the novel and the characters are compelling some more than others and I can only hope that we get chance to read the other Lexington’s story. Haley Howell or the other Howell as she is lovingly known was a little wishy at the beginning but by the end, she showed us her true self and she blossomed as the story progressed. Jake may be the big player, but he becomes so much more. I can’t wait for more from this author, she made it fun and flirty without being over the top.