Becoming Us - College Love Never Hurt So Good

London Lovers Series, Book 1

By: Amy Daws

Narrated by: Emma Lysy

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

The dreaded friend zone...

The last place I ever want to be with college basketball god Jake LaShae.

I am losing my mind trying to figure out what this gorgeous and confident man wants from me. I need to break through his walls. What is it about me that makes him not go there? What am I lacking?

When a mind-blowing betrayal knocks the wind out of me, and I think I can't feel any lower...Brody stumbles into my path - barefoot no less, and sexy as hell. His direct and mouthwatering swagger is a breath of fresh air. The feelings this man gives me are like nothing I've ever experienced.

But Brody has a past.

A past that makes it nearly impossible for him to trust me and let us become us in whatever capacity that may be.

Just when Brody and I truly connect, just when I think that finding my soul mate in college isn't a total joke, Jake comes back into my life...and messes things up...possibly for good.

©2015 Amy Daws (P)2015 Amy Daws

✫✫ 3.75 Stars ✫✫

I'm a little conflicted about my feelings of this book. I enjoyed it and I liked most of the characters but I think maybe I should have saved this one for last, maybe a glimps back at where it started would have given me a better image of Brody. I really enjoyed the beginning but somewhere in the middle Brody shows his jealous, insecure side a few times and honestly I could relate to that part of him, I've met people like him but what I couldn't relate to was him just "throwing" away his baggage and all of a sudden being a great guy with no issues. I know I should have been rooting for them but to be honest, I was rooting for Jake to get his head out of his rear. The relationship with him felt more real, maybe because they got to know each other as friend or maybe because I was rooting for them and then BAM 180, Oh look new guy... I don't know. I know me and that means after A Broken Us I will feel completely different and I'll probably love Brody which is why I think I should have started there, maybe I needed to see the good side before the bad side so I could excuse it ?? That is just me I'm sure! In the end I am looking forward to seeing what's next for these two and I hope to fall in love with them in while they figure things out.

The narration was ok. Nothing I didn't specifically dislike, but nothing that stood out either.

Coming of Age meets College Romance

What does Emma Lysy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator gave presence and emotion to the story that would have been lacking had I simply read the book.

Any additional comments?

Becoming Us is a coming of age story full of college shenanigans and considerable drama wrapped in a budding romance. There were characters I loved and those I loved to hate which made this very reminiscent of my own college experience.

Finley's naivety was both charming and frustrating. Though I liked Finley, I struggled with her love interests. Neither one deserved her and that made it difficult for me to connect. I found myself at an impasse where Jake and Brody were concerned and never overcame my apathy towards them. There were sweet gestures and endearing confessions that softened my heart by the end of the story but I never felt the sense of peace from that pivotal moment when the relationship solidified.

I adored Finley's friends. They were fiercely protective and full of charisma. I absolutely believe they ensured Finley got the full college experience and they evoked plenty of smiles and laughs from me.

There is some unresolved conflict at the conclusion of the story that is expected to be resolved in the next installment which is available now. While this book did not work for me, I would expect those who like college age romances would enjoy this story.

*I was provided a complimentary copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for more from Amy Daws!

Where does Becoming Us - College Love Never Hurt So Good rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd rank Becomimg Us in the upper 20% of the audiobooks I've listened to. I haven't read many books occurring in college, so that was a little different for me. The narrator was good, but I definitely had a few issues with her performance of the male characters.

Which character – as performed by Emma Lysy – was your favorite?

Finley was my favorite character as performed. There were a few places where words were mispronounced and phrases repeated that probably should be fixed if possible.

Any additional comments?

I'm really looking forward to more books by Amy Daws. Super potential and looking forward to more!

Note: I received this free from the author but doesn't alter my opinion.

Interestingly Different!

Have you listened to any of Emma Lysy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Lysy's performaces are always of a high quality. She doesn't get in the way of the story, and she brings out each character's personality perfectly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love never felt so good!

Any additional comments?

I received this book free from the author, for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book.

Complete Love

At first a little iffy, but after the first couple of chapters I got hooked! Loved the crazy up and down typical meet, fall in love and see what happen!!! Absolutely adore the love notes!

Loved it!!!

Any additional comments?

I listened to this book all day today because I just could not walk away. This was a really well-written, very character driven story with people I really liked and rooted for. I've never heard of the author or narrator before but count me in as a fan of both!!! There were just a couple of tech issues where the narrator repeated herself but she had a very compelling voice and it was only mildly distracting (might even be fixable.) Such a good story!!! I just looked for book 2 on Audible and it's not available (BLAST!) but I will be there when it is. Loved this!!

What an amazing love story!!

Finlay had to go through so much before her perfect man came along. Jake was a charmer at first but then showed his ugly true colors which broke Finlay's heart. Then came Brody everything she always wanted but never thought that she would have. They had their work cut out for them. But they overcame their obstacles.

Great Series Starter

College, senior year. Unrequited interest and a rebound relationship turned into more. Lots of drama. The crazy kind with drunken shenanigans and high emotions. It's a really good book with a witty humor and true to life scenarios.
This was a new to me narrator and while I've got my favorites, this one was a pleasant listen.

It was ok

The story was ok, nothing great. The thing that really got to me was the narrator. I had a really hard time finishing the book.

Love is not always where you're searching.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'm not sure if I would. I liked the fact that after Finley thought Jake was going to be the love of her life and was surprised by the appearance of Brody. However, I thought all of the characters could have used some counseling. In fact, Brody's possessiveness and Finley's belief that she was the cause of all of the problems, along with her alcohol abuse, were kind of a turn-off for me. None of the men were willing to take responsibility for their circumstances. In Jake's case, he was unwilling to stand up to his father in order to live the life he wanted. Sad. The ending was disappointing. I hated the epilogue. I understand that there needed to be some kind of conflict in order for the story to move on to another book in the series. I just thought, after all they had been through, it would have been nice to see their relationship be a happy one. Instead, Finley spends too much time in a self-pity bag. The second book could have been about Jake's sad life instead. The epilogue just ruined the story for me.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Hated it.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I thought, the reading was flat.

Lovely

A lovely story about growing up, friendship and relationships. Fin is best friends with college basketball star and keen athlete Jake LaShae. Fin wants more, Jake seems happy to remain friends. Fin is sure that she will be able to win Jake over, until, one night at a party when Jake shatters all Fin's dreams of a happy ever after. Step in Brody who has had is eye on Fin for a long time, he eventually plucks up the courage to ask her on a date. Brody has been hurt before and doesn't trust easily, but, he goes all in with a relationship with Fin. Is Fin over Jake? Can Brody's trust issues be held in check? Theirre relationship is out to the test when Jake tries to worm his way back into Fin's life. A love story with some wonderful characters, a little angst and quite a bit of drama. The story ended on a bit of a cliffie (quite a big cliffie if I think about it, I was left shocked)! Lucky for me I can get stuck into book 2. That's just what I'm about to do now, can't wait.

a new author to me.

I was gifted this book for an honest review.
After a bit of a slow start, I struggled to keep the characters straight for the first couple of chapters, I got right into this book.
I thought this book was going to be a typical love triangle as so many are out the at the moment but I was pleasantly surprised. I really like the main character and her friends. They were all real, flaws and all. The male characters were just as real, annoyingly so at times. Nothing is glossed over in this book, the emotions that they feel are out out there for us all to feel. It takes your typical college romance story and for once shows it without the unrealistic shine. the characters mess up, argue but then try to fix things.
It is a good, easy, light story to listen to with no major triggers. cheating has affected some of the characters in the past and is referred to.
I am hoping as it is the start of a series I will get to spend more time with the supporting characters and find out what happens to them as they were really funny and I definitely want to know more about what happens to them, especially Mark!
It does have a cliffhanger and I will be going on to listen to it next.
I found the narrator good at both the female and male voices in the story, this is not always the case but she handles it well and the major characters had their own distinct voices through both the writing and the narration.