Review – Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

I am disappointed in my words to review this book because I cannot adequately convey how much I simply loved it.  ~ Leigh, Guilty Pleasures

Description:
You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.
I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.
But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.

**Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+

I can’t remember the last time I couldn’t put a book down until I was done. I ugly cried, I ignored everything around me, I got lost in a different world, and I completely fell in love with Elec and Greta.

I have to admit, initially the title of the book squicked me out. But despite this, I gave it a chance and am thankful that I did. Stepbrother Dearest was so beautifully written, so honest and so heartfelt that I can’t get these characters out of my head. I felt invested in these two people and their lives that about midway through, I did something I hate. I did the unforgivable… I snuck a peek at the last page just to make sure everyone would turn out the way I wanted. (gasp!) I’m not proud of this, but I just had to know that everything was right in my little book bubble for a while.

Initially told through the point of view of Greta, she details her stepbrother Elec coming to live with her family for a year in high school. Tormented and complicated, Elec had secrets and resented everyone. But little by little Greta wormed her way in. Years later when they come together again, the result is touching, tender, angry and heartbreaking. I loved these two and felt the anguish they both felt at the missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and the way life held them apart.

Greta was sweet and kind and willing to see the best in Elec. She was an open book and a perfect foil to her stepbrother. Elec was moody, rude, and hurting. But when he finally opens up to Greta, we meet a truly good man. One that never intended to hurt anyone and was simply not dealt a fair hand.

I am disappointed in my words to review this book because I cannot adequately convey how much I simply loved it. I have never read anything by Ms. Ward before, but the rest of her books will be the very next thing I download. Even though it was not flush with descriptive details, her writing made me feel as if I was sitting there witnessing the events first hand, I could picture them so clearly. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and I genuinely felt an emotional connection with these characters. Anyone not clicking “buy” on this book is missing a wonderful read.

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