Book Review – Unteachable by Leah Raeder

Unteachable
Considering the unconventional and taboo love story (but not too taboo since everyone is legally an adult in this one), this book was right up my alley. It didn’t take much to prompt me to read it, considering what it was about, but the excited recommendations had me scrambling to start it!

Tina: Highly recommend Unteachable! Very well written and easy to connect to. Amazing read!

Toski: Reading Unteachable.. SO SO good.

Jennifer: whewww, just finished Unteachable…LOVED it, totally a must read!!

Kathy: I agree!! The writing is so great in this book! Loved it!

Erin: AGREE!!! so good!!

Maddie: I just finished Unteachable and it was great! I thought it kept getting better and better as the story evolved. Awesome find!

Kaycee: @Maddie – I am absolutely LOVING it!! What a twist at 74%!! I’m in 85%.

I totally agree with y’all in regards to the descriptive writing. Eloquent and yet still has that darker, gritty feel, even in it’s beauty. Good!

But I was missing something… my own personal intense connection. I didn’t fall in love and I can’t exactly pinpoint why. It’s as if all of the depth, emotion and potential was there but didn’t come around full circle inside of me. I almost felt it. I almost loved him. I almost thought I could feel it. I was “almost”… but never full-on “in” with them. There was certainly an intensity to their situation, and an incredible passion that they shared in private. Stolen moments, and all that, that I almost delighted in. But I didn’t feel it and live it, as much as I worried about them (individually) from the outside looking in. And I don’t even know that I was all that worried as much as just… expecting the inevitable consequences that I had a feeling were coming. And I couldn’t help but keep reading to find out if I was right.

And yes, this one had a certain familiarity… reminding me of a few of my favorite teacher/student romances. The meeting, immediate connection, flirtation and well (this one goes all-out right from the start). 😉 STEAMY yes (no fading to black here). And then the realization after it’s a bit too late that he is her teacher. *whoops*  I haven’t read many teacher/student romances, so this part hasn’t gotten old for me, yet.

But that’s where the similarities end. This one takes a darker turn. It’s of a more sordid nature. This heroine is not surrounded by loving family and friends. The healing in this book is coming from a darker place. Not as uplifting. Do you know what I mean?

So what’s it about?

Eighteen year old Maise is beautiful, and uses her beauty to her mischievous advantage. Although I’m not sure just how much of an advantage it is when she can’t seem to love or care or… anything. Raised by her single (addicted) mother, Maise has been forced to grow up too fast, which appears to have emotionally stunted her, and her “escapades” really aren’t doing her any emotional favors. She’s a mental and emotional mess, and yet, too wise for her years. And both of these traits are really doing a number on her.

Until she meets Evan one evening at the local town fair at the end of the summer.

“How old are you?” he said, right on cue.

“Old enough.”

I love what that does to their faces. Old enough to… fill in the blank.

But The Guy only smiled. “I don’t want your parents to think I’m some kind of creep.”

He could have said, I’m a teacher, and everything would have been different.

RIGHT!!! But he doesn’t, does he? Ahhhhhh the chances people take. And the games that they play…

So, she plays her games with him, but can’t help but feel something more with this somewhat older (but gorgeous) and seemingly sincere guy. This part is so very sweet… even in it’s sadness.

And I felt something I’ve never felt before.

You can call it love, or you can call it free fall. They’re pretty much the same thing.

But she ditches him at the end of the evening like she does all of the others. (insert a tiny eyeroll here, but still, I like the angst!) 😉

I’m a pretty good liar. Key skills: eye contact, confidence, not caring about the outcome.

But here was the problem. Somehow, in the two or three hours since I’d met him, Evan had gotten to know me well enough to see through the bullish!t. Maybe he heard some undetectable crack in my voice, saw a furtive glint of desperation in my eyes. Because instead of joking or blushing or anything normal, he looked at me like I’d just said I never wanted to see him again.

Nevermind that was exactly what I was saying.

And then… she walks into class one day and meets him again. As her teacher.

His face fell. Not into dismay – all expression went out of it. Shock.

Let the tailspinning begin! (YAY!!)

I hated that he was treating me like a victim. Someone he needed to make reparations to.

And I loved that. ‘Cause that’s exactly the kind of reaction I’d expect. That kind of guilt and shame. And fear.

These characters have ugly pasts and possibly an even uglier present. And while there is hope for their individual futures, there are a few in their entourage that might just put a monkey-wrench in their plans. Along with the wicked secrets some are hiding, and the wicked expectations some are… imposing on them.

Some surprises along the way, but once the reveals were exposed, I don’t know that I was as excited or overwhelmed by them as I was… perturbed. Irked. Almost as if the reveal (reveals? 😉 – there are a few things going on here…) didn’t do the story justice. I was all… Oh. Oh? Oh. *hrmph*

Passion, obsession, angst, misunderstandings, dark yet thoughtful introspection, a bit of mystery and intrigue. It’s all there. Overall, good. But it just didn’t put me over that beloved edge that I hope for, each time I pick up a book.

3.5 stars (and 4.5 stars for that thoughtful, beautiful writing)!

Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy.