Book Review – Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde

Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding Series) —> (side note – this book is no longer available for free on Fictionpress, as discussed in the review below but is now for sale on Amazon).
I’m changing it up a bit! Today’s review features a freebie on Fictionpress! I mean… why not, right? So many of my favorite books originated there (Thoughtless, for example), and if a bunch of my fellow readers are *squeeing* over a story, I MUST read it, too!

And that’s what happened over the last week or so. Francine first recommended it to me in April, via email:

“I just finished reading two books on fictionpress by K. A. Linde.  It is only available online.  Avoiding Commitment and Avoiding Responsibility.  Very very very good read.  Angst, love, lies, sex, bitchy girls and Ramsey <3.  Just wanted to share!”

Oh I wanted to read it SO bad. But I held off only for one reason. It wasn’t available for my Kindle or Nook or any e-reader (had to be read, or so I thought, on Fictionpress via a regular web browser). *hrmph* .

But then my Facebook crew discovered it last week and the *OMG *squee’s* began, yet again.

Courtney: RUN, do not walk to go read Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde. I am absolutely speechless after reading this book. I could not put it down and it is absolutely up there with BD and Thoughtless. This book is full of twists and turns and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I heard about this book from SC Stephens and always had it on the back burner but I am so glad I finally read it. For some reason it is only available online at https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2755989/1/Avoiding_Commitment but the good thing about that is that it is free. Did I say RUN to go read this book 🙂

That was it. I decided I’d just deal with the “web browser” version. Until Christina solved my reading dilemma and introduced me to a website that could convert Fictionpress stories into e-reader files!! WHAT!WHAT!WHAAAAT???!!!  My TBR list came alive and shifted yet again, to accommodate this “must read”.

Christina: Maryse, go to Flagfic.com and copy the URL of the book on fiction press and you can convert it to your kindle for all of your highlighting needs. I use Flagfic all the time.

Courtney: I think that is why I put off reading it because I am not the biggest fan of reading on the computer either, but I promise it is worth it! For me it was they type of book that I was thinking about constantly even when I wasn’t reading it. If a book does that to me I know it is good!

Tracy: Courtney *squeee* there is a sequel!!! Avoiding Responsibility takes up where this one leaves off… go to fictionpress.com and search for the title…fixing to start on it now..thank you so much for the rec

Danielle: These books were soooooo good. I was so sad when I finished them.

Tracy: Wow…just read Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde on my computer that was recommended by Courtney on your page yesterday….could not put it down (can you say that about a book on computer?) You have GOT to read it…if you think The Opportunist did a number on your emotions, just wait! I wanted to cry, scream and throw my computer…ugh..it hurt but in that way we love our books to!

Kristina: Reading Avoiding Commitment by K.A. Linde which was recommended by Tracy Davis & it is soooooooo good! OMG totally The Opportunist/Thoughtless feel to it & it’s like a train wreck you cant look away from. I’m only half way through it but had to also recommend.

I mean just LOOK at them! They’re going crazy for it!! I was chomping at the bit! So I read book # and I have a sort of LOVE/LIKE?/DISLIKE relationship with it. It took me a few days to read it because while I didn’t really want to put it down, I HAD to for my own sanity.

What’s it about? Just a quick synopsis is all you’ll need to get the “gist” of it. It starts off where two college aged people meet (BEYOND GORGEOUS and so sweet and charming “Jack” and a very pretty law student, Lexi). And they totally crush on each other. They begin frequenting each other for a month straight and while keeping it “fairly” innocent and friendly (he’s a total gentleman), their attraction deepens. The next step should be to become a couple, right? Well… *shrug*

And herein lies your storyline. Because they just can’t stay away from each other, their undeniable … what? Love? Lust? Soul-deep connection? keeps bringing them together… and yet… let’s just call it “things” (grrrrr!!) keep tearing them apart. For years! And we get to live it with them. Awww poor them, right? The unjustness of love. Angsty and romantic? Suuuure. Throw in their self-sabotaging ways and we’ve got ourselves an almost unputdownable, yet deeply agitating read. Almost ’cause I put it down. A lot. I had to. Yet, silly me, I kept picking it right back up for more mental and emotional misconduct.

Maryse’s Book Blog: My progress update on the Fictionpress story Avoiding Commitement: Yep. I’m a book-zombie again. Exhausted. I literally spent the entire night tossing and turning and I think it’s because these characters continued living (and being BAD and driving me crazy!!) in my subconcious. This book has affected me on a weird level. I can’t even tell if I like it. I must… ’cause for sure I can barely put the darn thing down, but for once, I’m both pining over AND not sure if I even care about the main “hero”. Jack. Grrrrrrr!! Craziness. Yet. I can’t wait to get back to it and see where the heck this thing is taking me. And to think… there’s a book #2? Eeeeep!!

Kristina: I feel your pain. Jack infuriated me!! But I loved these books still lol.

Lori Francis OMG. One minute I was completely in love with Jack and rooting for him and Lexi to get their HEA and the next minute I just wanted to smack him. It’s a great story! As is book 2 😉

Happy: Oh it is definitely a no sleep kind of book…uh the second one even more so…. 🙂

Tina: Definitely an emotional roller coaster! Not a traditional romance novel, which is why it’s so good!!

Francine: Avoiding commitment and the sequel avoiding responsibility were great reads! Holy angst. Jack, lexi and Ramsey were such real characters. Even *** evil fiance was an awesome bee-otch 🙂 the second book made me want to punch my pillow repeatedly. But I loved it. K A linde is a wonderful writer.

Melissa: I am more grrrrrr at Lexi.. shes just as brutal at what she is doing. ugh… she is Keiras twin! lol

Tracy: Maryse, in book 2 it is much clearer as to which characters you will love and hate…and Lexi is less annoying 🙂

Yep. Another one of “those”. I read this book, constantly shaking my head in annoyance, thinking OH NO HE DIDN’T!! and OMG WHAT is she thinking?? The story, the characters… all of it. Maddening! I know, I know. I usually love that kind of stuff… but, I felt overwhelmed this time around. I could barely catch my breath before the next bit of infuriating drama began. They emotional punches just kept coming. I wonder had there been more gentle and sweet downtime, realistic time between the main characters, perhaps I might have connected to the so-called “hero” of this book. But to me, as swoon worthy as he sometimes seemed (operative word, here) to be and as much as I wanted to love him… UGH!! It was just so hard!

And you know what? Maybe I’m not supposed to connect to him. Awwwww!! <—–  *me whining* But I wanna so bad, ’cause he’s s darn cute!!! Er. Wait. No. I take that back.

Maryse’s Book Blog: Honestly guys. I dunno if I can read #2. Jack is just killing me… It’s too much. I usually like this kind of angst in a book, but all I want to do is…. … UGH!!! It’s toooooo much.

Sali: OMG !!! i nearly started this then put it off ….i cant handle to muh angst it makes me horrible to be around lol ….is it that bad mate ??

Lori: Jack is a bit much, he’s charming and a little irresistible but he’s lost and obviously makes horrible judgement calls. Now Ramsey…. sigh!

Sabrina: Book 2 makes the ride worth it ;c) — I understand!!! You make me laugh…..

Jenny: Keep going Maryse , you can do it! There is a point near the end where I wanted to jump into the book and punch the living daylights out of Jack – well, there were other times too….but especially at that time!! It’s angst aplenty that’s for sure! They’re good reads!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Yep. Good and infuriating. I asked for it this time, didn’t I? This one tops my infuriating scale.

Lise: Oh… it just gets worse, better, worse… I didn’t want to read the 2nd book but I did *ugh*

Melissa: Lexi was the one that annoyed me.. But keep going.. you will be glad once its all over i promise lol

Kristina: Maryse you got to truck on through!! lol. Book 2 may be worst in the angst department but a lot of questions are answered. I can’t wait till you finish book #2 to let us know what you thought. You can do it!!

Tiffany: Oh I totally agree! I’m at 48% and it’s driving me crazy! I want to put it down and quit reading but I can’t help myself to see what happens next!

Kristy : Just finished #2 and all I can say is WOW! So loved this book! And the last scene…um that was awesome!

Tarah: I had to put it down too just because it was driving me crazy but I had to know what happened so I kept reading and I am so glad I did! One of my fave books this year so far. Now I am stuck as to what to read next.

Courtney : Ok, I am the one who suggested this book last week so I sort of feel responsible for everyone’s angst (: I felt the same way you all do, emotionally exhausted as well as elated because the books were affecting me so much. The second book definitely gives some more answers and you don’t feel left as dumbfounded as you do at the end of the first. For me I feel like so many CR books have the same formula so it is refreshing to have a book or books that are unique and affect me in this way. I loved these books for taking me on an unexpected ride and for being different.

Brandie : I finished #1 yesterday and am still on the fence. I couldn’t put it down (like watching a train wreck) but I didn’t love it. It was all a bit much for me for no good reason, kwim?

Maryse’s Book Blog: exactly how I feel. EXACTLY. I HAD to finish it. I had to know, and all through it I was all UGH… why?? Why are they doing this? Why am I reading this?? DO I even like it? What am I doing? and in the end I was all UGH!!! and yet… I shall read #2. You know I will. *sigh*

Brandie: I started book 2 too Maryse. I just couldn’t help myself. I’m sure I’ll be back to commiserate with you;)

Debra: I just started book 2 also. Considered reading something in between but just couldn’t do it!

Jenna: I read both Avoiding Commitment and Avoiding Responsibility a few months ago and absolutely loved (hated, haha) them. Couldn’t put them down. I admit it now, I’m totally an angst-addict.

So off I go to read #2. What? Am I actually going to subject myself to more torture? BUT of course!! I LOVE these books. Um?  I’m confused…

I’ve gotta see where this is going. There’s gotta be a reason other than just plain old drama for the sake of drama, right? No? Or we’ll just chalk it up to guilty pleasure, the likes of soap opera fodder? Hey I’m not exactly knocking it. I am reading it, after all. 😉

Oh right. How many stars do I give it? 4 stars. No. 3 stars. Hrmmm… I dunno. I’ll wait until I get the “big” picture after book #2 to decide.

P.S. —–> For those of you looking for book #2 (Avoiding Responsibility) it will be available shortly. It is currently in editing and being prepared for publication.