Rock Bottom Girl

Yet another superb romance from the supremely talented Lucy Score. This story revolves around Marley, who at age 38, finds herself having to move back home in order to regroup after a series of setbacks. She lands a temporary job as soccer coach and PE teacher at her old high school. Marley reacquaints herself with the boy who got away, Jack. They're attracted to each other but don't want any commitment... or so they think. The main reason I love this particular story so much is the fact that it challenges the notion that by 38, you're supposed to have everything together. Career, love life, home life, children. Marley on paper, has none of these things but what she does have is wisdom, compassion, principle and bravery. These qualities are infinitely preferable to the teens she coaches and mentors. I loved every part of her journey to understanding she's fantastic and worthy just the way she is. Jack by contrast, is a pillar of the community despite his teenage rebellion phase. He has never been in love but he's not silly enough to deny it when he realizes Marley is his true love. There is a lovely mix of humor and seriousness that makes for a truly wonderful romance.

Whilst waiting for the new Riley Thorn to drop, I decided to go back to my previous favourite Lucy Score book. The overall story of high school 'pariah' going back to hometown as a supposed failure isn't new, nor is the fake romance, so it always comes down to how an author draws you in. Lucy has the ability to do this easily. Marley, feeling down on her luck, returns to her old town. She is volunteered by her mum for a job at the high school she still has nightmares of. She is an interesting character to me. Mainly because at times I want to grab and shake her and tell her to grow up! When she's not in sulky teenager mode, she is a funny, intelligent and warm character who doesn't realise the good effect she can have on people when she forgets her past. You do see that drive coming out in her dealings with another coach(someone should've 0unched him)and a bully pupil. You also see the sneaky prankster- which I personally love!. What I especially like is that she is an older women, she's described as being curvy but to me this means normal (sizing in the UK- thank you!). What Lucy does here that is unusual - and important- is to have a women doesn't want children. Generally speaking, across all media, female characters who don't want children/are not maternal are often made out to be cold hearted or suddenly have a change of mind when handed a child. In real life, you can be made to feel guilty. I love that a discussion is had, none of the stereotypical questions or reasons are used. No one tries to change her mind. Wonderful. As for Jake, he's easy to like from the outset. He is smart (both 'book' and 'street') , smouldering, funny and honest. His teenage crush comes back immediately when he sees Marley and you can feel the plan coming together. The chemistry is sparkling from the moment they first speak to each other - or he manhandles her! You know from the moment it's mentioned that there was some, let's say miscommunication, about the Homecoming between him and Marley, as well as the infamous prank. It's spaced out nicely throughout the book rather than in one chunk. It keeps you wanting to read more to find out exactly what she did. A lot of the interactions between Marley and Jake have a light hearted feel but there is always an undercurrent there of mixed up, complex feelings as well as being very funny. I love her relationship with Vicky too. Whilst they have their history and still enjoy some high school level high jinx, the friendship has moved on to adulthood. They're written in such a way you'd like to spend a night out with them. The way Lucy writes the team coming round to Marley and sticking together was well done. It's realistic as it's done over time rather than in one go. I wish we'd seen a bit more of their characters, but Libby is the only one you really get to know - for reasons made at the end. The only r...

Wading through high school can totally make or break a person and Marley had been broken. From there she went from job to job trying to find the “more” that would validate her life but she still believed she was a lonely loser.Jake, the high school bad boy who had made Marley see stars with their first and only kiss, had grown up, become a teacher and coach, and inspired his students not to settle for less than doing their best. He was happy with his job, extended family, and Homer, his dog, but deep inside he was still lonely. Well, after yet another disastrous job, Marley returned to her parents home, broke and with no idea of what to do with her life. In the meantime she agreed to teach high school PE and coach girls soccer. Little did she know when she accepted the job, her nemesis who had tormented her all through high school also taught there. With all the ups, downs, and highly charged dynamic interactions you’re going to love this book! Lucy Score has done it again.

Redemptions and second chances. Even though moving back to her home town and back in with her parents seems like rock bottom, Marley is essentially getting a high school do over. Her high school bullies may have grown up but their kids are following in their footsteps. And Marleys biggest nemesis is still a bully. Jake never left his hometown and never got over the girl he kissed under the bleachers. Now a teacher and coach at the same high school, he’s getting a second chance at the girl. Marleys getting a second chance at the boy and to guide the soccer team that she was once a part of. Not satisfied with her life and career choices, she’s convinced that her stay in her hometown is only temporary. Jake is hell bent on convincing her to stay. And comes up with a fool proof plan to do so. As with every Lucy Score book, the heat level between the two characters are off the charts hot!

I was in a mini book slump before reading this and boy am I glad I picked this up. Initially, I had some misgivings because I wasn't liking the herione much, and there's still things I would slap her over to wake the eff up, BUT the overal story was awesome. The hero really takes the cake with this one because he's a "reformed" bad boy, who brings enthusiasm for all aspects of his life and he respects the heroine. Then as he respects her more and more, he tumbles into love for the first time in his bacherlordom and it's awesome to watch. He definitely balances out the heroine's insanity. Speaking of, she was a lot of work. Constant self-pity and disgust because she couldn't get over high-school bullying, which is a real thing and her feelings are valid. But for 90-percent of the book?? I felt like her insecurities were split down the middle between high school and feeling overshadowed by her sibling and both sides definitely got tired. However, her growth over the book is what makes it worth it. You see progress as she refuses to let history repeat itself in front of her eyes and learns how to be confident. So, when it gets to the climactic point and she regresses it is beyond frustrating. But ultimately she gets her head out of her derrier, so yay. I did like how all the characters were pretty well-fleshed out, even if I confused some of them in the larger group settings. It makes it way more interesting and feel more of a small town, but thankfully it didn't go into the "small town, small minds" thing. I especially liked the interactions with all the teens, they were funny. Overall, this was an excellent read I had a hard time putting down. The only thing that bothered me besides the grow-up-already heroine was how she interacted with the main kid bully; I felt like that was a missed opportunity to help stop that cycle. Although seeing the heroine and her main nemesis come to terms was hilarious and better than the constant antagonism.