Rush by Emma Scott

​NEW ADULT ROMANCE

Publication date: 06/30/2015
Cliffhanger: No

I don’t normally like new adult romance. With a few notable exceptions, I feel like I’m too old for the category. There’s too much angst for my liking, and there’s just so many stupid misunderstandings and dumb kids doing dumb things because they can’t seem to get their crap together enough to have a grown-up conversation that I find most new adult romances to be...tedious. I’m also not usually a fan of deep, emotional reads that make me cry. I like nice, easy reading. Rush is a new adult romance, full of angst, that made me cry. AND I FREAKIN’ LOVED EVERY PAGE!!!

Here’s what I loved

Noah, the hero
Noah is a grumpy recluse. Y’all know how much I love a grumpy recluse hero. But Noah isn’t your typical grumpy recluse. He was a daredevil reporter who was blinded in a terrible accident, and he’s ANGRY and in pain. I mean, he’s angry at everything and everyone and he lashes out. He lashes out A LOT. You can actually feel his pain and rage as you’re reading. That’s how good the scenes from his point of view are. On some level, he knows he needs to move on with his life, but he’s too angry to let go of the old life. My heart hurt for him. And it’s a rare author who can make a grumpy, jaded old reader like me feel as much as I did while reading scenes from Noah’s perspective.

Charlotte, the heroine
Charlotte is no stranger to loss, either. She hasn’t been physically wounded like Noah has, but  her emotions have taken one hell of a beaten. She’s lost her brother and her boyfriend (he was a twatwaffle anyway, but still…) but even worse, she’s a Juilliard-trained musician who lost her ability to perform when she took those emotional hits. But despite her setbacks, she’s not completely broken. She keeps going and still manages to have compassion for those around her. When she’s hired as Noah’s assistant, it would’ve been super easy for her to quit on him like all his other assistants had. But not Charlotte. She never gives up. She’s kind of a badass in a totally non traditional sense.

Charlotte and Noah together
I’m not talking about sex when I say that Noah and Charlotte are a perfect fit for one another. (Although their sexual chemistry is combustible and the sex scenes are plenty spicy) Charlotte is like sunshine to Noah’s darkness, and his encouragement/support gives her exactly what she needs to get back onstage and reclaim her music. They balance each other perfectly, and it was beautiful to read about. (She “plays” the dawn for him on her violin so that he can “see” it, y’all. It made me cry! And I’m not a crier, damn it!)

The ex girlfriend
Noah’s ex girlfriend wasn’t a jealous horrible hag who was out to destroy Noah and Charlotte’s happiness. She was actually a nice person who did everything she could to help Noah and Charlotte. It was a REALLY welcome change from what I’m used to reading in new adult romance.             

Long-story-short, if you’re looking for a masterfully written, super emotional story about the healing power of love (and yes, I realize that sounds so incredibly corny and I’m a little ashamed to have written it, but it’s totally true) that also has a swoon-worthy book boyfriend and an inspirational heroine, then I suggest you get your 1-clicking fingers ready and read this book immediately. That is all.
 
Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s stigma free. No rehab needed!

Other reading suggestions
I loved All In, too. Theo was my all-time favorite Emma Scott book boyfriend until Noah came along. (Sorry, Theo.) ​

---