Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy by Tammara Webber
January 3rd, 2013 · Penguin
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 322

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night - but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

What is there to say about Easy that hasn’t already been said? The answer? Not much. Even if you haven’t read it, you’ve surely at least heard about it; all the praise and commotion and glowing reviews are hard to miss. Most times, the hype is well-deserved and that’s certainly the case with Easy.

Assault and rape are very delicate issues and rightly so. You don’t want them to be used as a plot device but that isn’t the case with Easy. Tammara Webber deals with the ‘after’ and all the things that follow in such a tasteful manner.

As for the characters, they are a highlight of the story; flawed, connectable, huggable and ones that will have you cheering them on. Jaqueline, our heroine, was a fantastic character whose voice I fell in sync with right from the start and had strength I admired. The great thing about her is I think she relates to everyone in one way or another - she’s not a super brain nor is she Miss. Popular, she’s just a young women navigating through life.

Oh, Lucas, what isn’t to love about him? Some might describe him as a bad boy and though I do see why he’s often labelled that, he’s SO much more – intelligent, caring, sweet, supportive and artistic, the boy is a swoon to be reckoned with.

Easy tackles some demons in terms of subject matter but surprisingly, I wouldn’t label it a ‘dark contemporary’. At the same time it alarms and informs you, it offers a powerful story that ticks all the boxes and show’s that your past doesn't define you – you definite it.

4/5