{New Adult} Review: Faking It by Cora Carmack

Title: Faking It
Author: Cora Carmack
Series: Losing It, book #2
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

I loved Losing It when I read it earlier this year.  It was my first foray into New Adult, which I'd admittedly been a little hesitant to try, but I ended up really enjoying it.  And guess what?  I loved Faking It even more!

I'm just going to put this out there.  This book reminded me of a much more adult version of Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Two characters whose personalities are completely at odds with each other.  Check.  An undeniable attraction.  Check.  Awkward situations that keep putting them in each other's paths.  Check.  And just like with Lola, I enjoyed every second of it.

I was entirely bummed for Cade in Losing It and I wanted to see him get his own happy ending.  When he decided to transplant himself to Philadelphia with Bliss and Garrick, I thought there was absolutely no chance of that happening.  He'd essentially put himself on the path to self-destruction, but if he hadn't, he'd never have met Max.

Max and Cade made a great couple.  Not perfect, mind you, but their opposite natures complemented each other.  You'd think that they'd be at odds with each other constantly, and though their dispositions do make for great banter, the only time they have any problems are when they're trying to face down cold, hard truths together.  And the fact that they can do so without walking away cements their awesome coupledom in my eyes.

Cade is the epitome of a good guy.  The one your mama wants you to bring home but that you think would bore you to tears.  But he so wouldn't.  At least, he wouldn't bore me.  I like good guys, too.  Bad boys are fun, but good guys are for keeps.  ;0)  Max is troubled.  I appreciated her as a main character more than Bliss because she was less awkward and her actions didn't lead to constant cringing.  The way Max presents herself, that's who I always wanted to be.  The way Bliss was...well, that's more like the real me.  But Max's character was still realistic.  Her harsh exterior is just a mask...that girl has a lot of hidden depths.  And it took a nice guy like Cade to break through her barriers.

Needless to say, I will definitely be picking up the next companion novel in this series, which is from Kelsey's point-of-view.  I'm also dying for the novella from Garrick's POV.  Ah, hell...I'm dying for anything and everything from this author.  Which is why I'm stalking her blog as she slowly but surely releases pivotal scenes in Losing It from Garrick's perspective.  Swoons are forthcoming!  And some laughs, I'm sure.  This author knows how to write some swoons, but she never forgets the laughs, either!


Rating: 

the Losing It series

About the author:

I'm Cora Carmack, a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. I've done a multitude of things in my life -- boring jobs (like working retail), fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). I enjoy placing my characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. My first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller.

Find Cora:

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Labels: contemporary, cora carmack, funfunfun, harper-collins, indies, losing it, new adult, reviews, romance