True by Erin McCarthy: A Review

A captivating New Adult novel from New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy.


When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.

Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…

Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

(From NetGalley)

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty standard story about a girl from the right side of the tracks meeting and falling in love with a guy from the wrong side of the tracks. There aren't a lot of surprises in this story; it hits all of the expected marks with the precision of someone checking off a to-do list. Good girl meets Bad Boy, check. They try to deny their attraction, check. They get thrown together, check. Examples of his horrible home life versus her near perfect home life, check. There are so many reasons why this relationship shouldn't work out and yet it does.

That being said, it is a well-written story that just sucks you in and keeps you up all hours of the night, reading when you should be sleeping. After just a few chapters, you will find yourself invested in what happens to these characters - and their friends and family. I know I was. I really wanted things to work out for Rory and Tyler because, appearances aside, they are both very decent and caring people who deserve to have that happy-ever-after. I really liked how they cared not only for one another, but for the people in their lives. They are both very loyal and generous people, often to the point of self-sacrifice and it is at once endearing and heart-breaking to endure at some points.

Ultimately, this is a wonderful story of two people who just want to be together despite the hand life dealt them - and what they do to achieve that end. I enjoyed it very much and can't wait to read more from this author - I am so looking forward to the next book!