WhiskeyintheJar Romance

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review

Gabby is a brilliant M.I.T. student spending the summer in her grandmother's house, the last summer it turns out as her parents have decided to sell it after the grandmother's death. Gabby was close to her grandmother as she accepted Gabby for who she was and wasn't forever disappointed in her choices the way her parents always seem to be, so she is greatly saddened by this decision. As Gabby walks about the town, she occasionally crosses paths with a leather wearing bike riding rebel. He not only catches Gabby's eye but causes her skin to heat up and send a spark down her spine. Gabby may be a geek on the outside but she craves the sex life of a happily satisfied dirty girl. After a string of dating guys who look at her like she is a freak for wanting more in the bedroom, she swears off wasting time on men who aren't able to give her what she wants. Her friend Jamie however swears she has the perfect guy for her and Gabby reluctantly goes on a blind date, showing up on this blind date is Connor who is a currently reforming bad boy extraordinaire. He was a rebel rouser due to his lousy childhood but has spent the last couple years going to school and working to clean up his act. He has seen Gabby around town and is intrigued by her but battles not feeling good enough. When these two meet for coffee and strawberry shortcake, passions, feelings, and emotions swirl creating a summer where Gabby and Connor may just find themselves while they get lost in each other.
 
This is a New Adult story and I loved it, there was not a whiff of slut shaming or overly angry aggressive dudes coming out of the woodwork. The main characters are around 24 years old and for the most part are true to that. Gabby has been frustrated in the past because she was scared and unsure about articulating what she wanted, rather it be in life or the bedroom but now has garnered enough confidence to stick up for what she wants, even if her voice is a tad bit shaky. Connor is trying to escape the reputation he had as a teenager and come into his own. They exhibit wonderfully what it is like to be in your early mid-twenties and struggle to not only find who you want to be but becoming that person. The tie in with the title of the book representing the math formula (I consistently received Cs in math so not even going to try and fully explain it) Gabby is working on for her thesis and how it pertains to duality is brilliant; it mirrors how Gabby and Connor perceive each other, not realizing that someone can be one thing while also being another. Connor only sees Gabby as a smart successful woman on a pedestal who shouldn't be wasting her time with a loser like him and tries to smother his sexual and at times dominate nature. Gabby thinks Connor is just another guy who is turned off by her more adventurous sexual desires as he backs away from her every time things heat up. Its miscommunication brought on by fear of rejection of their true selves.
 
This is a novella so it is more along the lines of short and in this case, hotly sweet. The sexual tension between these two as they go on their dates is sizzling and you'll be just about as disappointed as Gabby when Connor backs off. It was after they surrendered to all that sexual tension that the story started to feel rushed; the last 30% or so was hurried and lacked the emotions which made the beginning and middle so remarkable. There are a couple threads left dangling, Connor was going to sell his bike but I guess he doesn't have to now?, which left the story feeling somewhat incomplete. The surrounding characters of Connor and Jamie's friends and Connor's grandparents were nicely regulated to the background but given enough life to add to the story and make me curious about just how good of friends Jamie and Dean are. I sailed through this story as Gabby and Connor made me smile like a school girl at her crush; it's a read in one sitting kind of book.
 
The bottom line is there are a couple cheesy moments and the ending wasn't as strong as I would have liked it to be but this is still a must read. Gabby and Connor's journey to accepting themselves and coming together is not to be missed. As a debut book this is especially strong and I will definitely be on the lookout for future books from this author. The Duality Principle is a highly enjoyable, engaging, and hot read, don't miss out on it!