Novella Review: Needing Her

Needing Her

By: Molly McAdams

Published By: William Morrow Impulse

Publication Date: December 23, 2013

Page Count: 384

Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via Edelweiss

Audience: New Adult (18+) - Contemporary Romance

Review of From Ashes

I was not a huge fan of Connor Green in From Ashes. I was a little nervous to read this novella since it's his story which begins about six months after the end of From Ashes. I adore Molly McAdams' work though so I decided that I'd give it a try and hope that Connor could win me over. This is not a direct sequel to From Ashes. It could stand alone, but to truly understand Connor, I would recommend reading From Ashes first. Also, the page count is misleading because this one also includes excerpts from other works by McAdams. The novella itself is around 60% of the total length.

Connor is still reeling from how things ended with Cassidy; he isn't acting like himself - in fact he's become an emotional zombie. His friends and family worry that he's spiraling into a depression. It's not until a prank war with the girl-next-door, Macie, ignites that Connor begins to find himself once again. Maci is off limits to Connor since she's the younger sister of his best friends, but that doesn't stop the building attraction between Connor and Maci.

While I enjoyed the chemistry between Connor and Maci, I never truly bonded to these characters like I have with previous McAdams' characters. I think part of this stems from my initial reaction to Connor. It was hard to see him as a sympathetic character, but he did grow on me as this story progressed. By the end, I had learned to see him differently and even liked him, but he doesn't hold a candle to Gage.

The prank war between Connor and Maci was one of my favorite parts of this novella. I won't ever be able to look at Kool-Aid again without laughing.

My biggest complaint with this novella is that it was more about the steamy parts than the character development and storyline. Sure, many people read contemporary new adult for that purpose, but I like a little more substance with my steam. Typically, McAdams delivers the perfect mixture of well developed characters, witty banter, a compelling storyline, and steamy moments. This one does contain many of the elements, but due to the length, it felt like the intimate connection between Connor and Maci dominated the story. Again, this isn't a deal breaker and this wasn't a bad read by any means, it just kept me from rating this one a five.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, but it isn't my favorite McAdams. I do feel like many will enjoy getting to know Connor better. I also enjoyed this one because Christmas plays a prominent role in the storyline. This is a fun romance with a seasonal flair and should appeal to fans of New Adult contemporary romances.

One Last Gripe: I was slightly annoyed by Maci's brothers - particularly the twins. I know they wanted to protect Maci, but they ended up driving her away and insinuating that she wasn't smart enough to take care of herself.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: I enjoyed watching Maci learn to stand up for herself and go after what she wants.

First Sentence: Amber slapped a hand over her mouth and had to work at swallowing her coffee before she burst out laughing.

Favorite Character: Maci

Least Favorite Character: Bryce

Summary:

She’s the Girl Next Door

Maci Price isn’t really into relationships. Having four very protective older brothers has always made having a boyfriend very difficult, anyway. But her friend is set on finding her the perfect guy – and thinks the mysterious Connor Green is the perfect pick.

He’s Her Brother’s Best Friend

Connor Green is trying to find himself again. He loved then lost and it’s time for him to pick up the pieces. His brooding is making his friends crazy, but, Maci Price, who has grown up into a gorgeous and incredibly sexy woman, is about to break the spell.

They’re Made for Each Other

When Maci starts up old pranks to get Connor out of his slump, an all out war leads to a night that will break all their rules, and a relationship they must keep hidden. Together they’re electric. Apart they’re safe. And soon they’ll find they’re exactly what the other needs.

A fabulous, fun, and sexy, New Adult novella from New York Times bestselling author Molly McAdams. If you loved Connor in From Ashes, this is the story for you.