Review: The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen

Blurb from Goodreads:

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard. 

My Review:
I liked this one a lot -- the conflict before the end wasn't my favorite but luckily it was resolved quickly. At first (and this kind of reminded me of the beginning of The Deal), I couldn't stand Evan because I kept wanting him to defend Taylor against the gossip and tell the truth. But, as we get to know both Taylor and Evan better, I was rooting for them so much! They were really sweet together and it was really fun to see both of them transition from not knowing each other to cute, relationship types. One thing I also really loved was Taylor's relationship with both of her parents and Evan's relationship with his mom -- it felt real for their ages and maturity levels.  The ending was also very realistic and had a fun twist (without spoilers), too, which I find is rarer and rarer in YA these days. I definitely can't wait to read what this author writes next!
I would definitely recommend this to fans of contemporary YA romance!  This had a definite To All the Boys I've Loved Before, The Deal and Charade vibe with its fake relationship between the nerd and uber popular womanizer trope.  The Way to Game the Walk of Shame came out yesterday Tuesday, June 7, 2016, you can purchase HERE, and I definitely recommend it!

It was . . . god, like nothing I had ever imagined. I'd read about kisses like this in novels, but I never thought that it was possible.  Nothing can make the world melt away and make you forget about everything and everyone except the person in front of you.  The way he smelled.  His muscles and warm skin pulsing beneath your fingertips. The softness of his hair as your fingers ran through it.  And his lips, soft but impossibly hot without burning as they pressed against yours, opening and moving to massage, to kiss, to taste.