Title: The Chase Author: Elle Kennedy Genre: YA Romance Format: Ebook Source: Playbooks Rating: 4/5
Synopsis (Goodreads)
Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.
And that his best friend has a crush on me.
And that I just moved in with them.
Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?
I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?
He knows where to find me.
Dean has always been my all-time favorite character in Elle Kennedy’s universe. So, when I discovered that Dean’s feisty younger sister, Summer, had her own story, I just had to read it.
And, as the cherry on top, she was paired with the swoon-worthy Fitzgerald Colin, who goes by Fitz. It was obvious from the start that there were sparks flying between them!
What made their attraction so thrilling to witness wasn’t just the steamy physical chemistry. There was a palpable electricity between them that was impossible to ignore. Seeing them fall for each other was such a joy to experience.
Fitz fought against his growing feelings for Summer because she was different from what he had always wanted for himself. Meanwhile, Summer’s honest and open-minded approach to life was a refreshing change of pace.
Summer scares me. She always has. She makes me want to open up, and that’s not a normal urge for me.
The Chase By Elle Kennedy, Page 286
It’s not often that you come across a novel featuring a character with a learning disability, but I have to say, I was impressed with the way it was handled in this particular book. While it’s a love story at its core, it doesn’t shy away from touching on issues like ADHD.
Additionally, the author doesn’t hold back in tackling the important topic of sexual harassment in academic settings. It’s all too common for individuals who have been victimized to feel powerless and without a chance at redemption, even when they carry deep internal scars.
At one point in my life I thought about becoming an event planner, but I realized fairly fast that I don’t actually like planning the parties—I like attending them. I get enjoyment out of putting together an outfit, picking a makeup palette, accessorizing. Making an entrance, and then wandering around to see what everyone else is wearing.
The Chase By Elle Kennedy, Page 101
Summer, the protagonist of the book, was a self-proclaimed feminist (although she was quick to clarify that she’s not a “radical” feminist). While this aspect of her character isn’t necessarily a defining trait and there isn’t much development in this area throughout the story, I was still pleased to see it mentioned – even if it was a bit vaguely.
“Enough with this slut bullshit,” I snap at her. “Do you realize how many decades you set us back every time you call another girl a slut? We’ve spent years fighting to not be viewed as sexual objects or be judged and shamed if we happen to enjoy sex. It’s bad enough that men still do this to us. When you do it too, it sends the message that it’s fair game for women to be treated this way.”
The Chase By Elle Kennedy, Page 211
Moving on to Fitz, though I’m hesitant to refer to him as “my boy” given how many times he managed to irritate me throughout the book. There were moments when I felt like barging into the story just to grab him by the ear and make him listen up.
For example, he called Summer a bitch or told her to stop acting “bitchy” towards him. Sure, she was being snarky due to something she overheard him say to Garrett on New Year’s Day (or as they call it, Garett Day – an inside joke you probably won’t get). But even so, his language was uncalled for.
To make matters worse, Fitz managed to derail what should have been a beautiful love story by running around and avoiding Summer for much of the book.
As someone with ADHD (and possibly undiagnosed Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria – RSD), it was painful to watch her beat herself up over his actions. All that wasted time made the book feel needlessly drawn out, stretching to nearly two hundred pages. Frankly, it was infuriating.
Finally, I wasn’t a fan of the author’s tendency to take liberties with character names. For instance, referring to Mike Hollis by his first name in one chapter and his last name in another was needlessly confusing. If the author had made similar errors in the books featuring Logan and Tucker, it would have created a confusing party of Johns.
Despite a few bumps in the road, I must admit that Summer and Fitz are an amazing couple and I can confidently say they might just become my favorite in the Elle Kennedy universe.
The chemistry between them is electric, and I couldn’t help but root for them throughout the book. While there were moments that left me feeling frustrated, I still found myself drawn to their story and invested in their journey.
If you’re a fan of swoon-worthy romance with complex characters, I highly recommend giving this book a read. Despite its imperfections, the love story between Summer and Fitz is a delight to experience and is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.
“I love you,” I tell her as we walk down the hall to my room.“Love you too,” she whispers.
