Book Review – Charade by Nyrae Dawn

Charade
The first half… good, but the second half was so good, and so incredibly heartbreaking that I could barely contain myself. Oh wait, that’s right. I didn’t contain myself at all. I just let go and cried and cried and cried. Not just tears, I mean the sobbing and high pitched keening and everything. Little balls of damp tissue paper littered my bed, my pajama top soggy and wrinkly from using it to mop up my face repeatedly (I had been using that until I finally decided to go find the tissues). Usually the pajama top suffices, but not in this case. *shakes head* Prepare yourselves. 

My dogs were all concerned over my wailing, and trying to snuggle me closer (they do that! They’re so cute when they know I’m upset). And my husband was…? That’s right. In the living room, happily watching Arthur Christmas at full blast, and he couldn’t. Hear. A thing. 😉 And THAT my friends, is why I let it allllll out. Ahhhhh it was cathartic. But at the same time, painful. Very painful, and I’m feeling that pain again, right now as we speak.

After an influx of enthusiastic (and heartfelt) recommendations, I absolutely HAD to feel all of that too, and boy, did I. Here’s a sample of the numerous discussions/recommendations on our Facebook page.

Joanna: Spent the evening reading Charade by Nyrae Dawn. Cried like a baby, which I don’t do. Ever. Fantastic book.

Sabrina: Great book!! Colton…

Petra: I need to read it. I like books that make me cry.

Tasha: Charade by Nyrae Dawn Is a must read I can’t put it down 🙂 I’m only a little over 50% in and I would give it five stars 🙂

Tess: Read this book this afternoon, LOVED IT!!! Yes, 5 stars plus definitely! *Colt* sigh….

Melissa: Read this one last night…totally loved it!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: My TBR list just shifted! I received about 8 recommendations for this one in the last 24 hours. And after tearing up BIG time in the sample (of all things!)… I knew it was something I had to read now. So “Charade” by Nyrae Dawn is what I’m currently reading, if anyone wants to read with me 😉

Kim: Hmmm it’s on my Kindle wish list well guess I’m purchasing it NOW

Jessica: Read it last week and loved it!

Jacie: I read it, and I loved it… I was actually gonna suggest it on your page 🙂

Heather: Know you’ll enjoy it cause I loved it!! 🙂

Jennifer: This book was amazing! Loved, loved, loved it! 🙂

Jessica: Just read it a couple of days ago. Loved it!

Susana:  Just read this…great book I was sad to see it end…

Aileen: Just downloaded and will start tonight.

Tracy: Loved this book! Colt was such a yummy tortured bad boy!

Angie: ill join you was at the what to read next stage!!!

Kostantina: you will love this book!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy: Ewwweeeeeee sounds like a good one – up next for me as well 😉

Cassandra: Just bought it! Thanks! 🙂

Tiffany: Oh man!! This looks good! Have to read it next!!

Erin: loved it!!!

Denisa: Ahhhh you guys are all reading it! twas super a fab book!!! Colt and them tats and his little dancer oh and the moms and tears oh lord i just loved this book!!1

Mackenze: i just finished! I bought it earlier when you posted and couldn’t put it down. Big fat sloppy tears. Loved it!

Julie: Colt is yummy<3!

Tami: I just finished!! I bought it a couple hours ago after reading your post & couldn’t put it down!!!!! Excellent book!!!!!!!

Angie: okay so i finished this was by far the best book i have read this week 5 stars it hooked me right away and kept me hooked til the last word, emotions ran high i laughed i cried, i fell for colt. i sighed. i squeeeed what more can a girl want from a book!!!!

Aileen: An all nighter but finished it and LOVED IT!

Maryse’s Book Blog: cried my eyes out. Cried and cried and cried…

Sandra: well if it made you cry do I want to read it? Jesus now I’m scared

Maryse’s Book Blog: Ugly cry, too! 😉

Joanna: Read Sandra – it’s beautiful.

Okay. 😉 That was a big sample, but there is even more where that came from.

So… what did I mean when I mentioned the beginning just being “good”. I immediately recognized the storyline and characters as totally “my thing” but was surprised to find myself struggling to connect to “them”. I’m not sure if it was because I was expecting that big *oomph* right away (considering the great response for this book), but I felt… okay, but somewhat indifferent. I had an idea where the story was going, and I absolutely wanted it to go there, but there was something holding me at arms length. Was it the main character’s interaction together? Their dialogue? The instant, and constant annoyance between the two? Or was I simply a little jaded that their immediate dislike for each other had an all too familiar “feel”? Right up to 50%… 60%, I liked it, I wanted to read and finish it, absolutely. But. I wasn’t “there”, and I was starting to worry (mind you, there was one part of the story that I was deeply connected to from the very start).

Then it hit me. Like a freight train that I saw coming, and yet, I still took the impact at full force. It may have been a slow tentative build from the start, but I reached a point of no return and LOVED it. I was finally connecting to every single detail and moment. I lived it with them, and cried my eyes out for them.

Here’s a bit about the book (just a bit – there’s way more to it. An incredible depth that mustn’t be missed.)

Cheyenne joins her boyfriend in college a year after he’s already been there, and realizes he’s been unfaithful the entire time. Walks in on ’em and everything. It starts off with a punch to the gut, and yes, I DID feel that whole first part. That’s when I knew I was likely not going to put this one down.

This is the guy I’d stupidly allowed myself to begin to trust after so long together— against my better judgement since I know, I’ve always know you can never really depend on someone.

She realizes just how alone she is in her new school, and decides to “make a new friend/boyfriend” immediately (even if it’s just an act to get back at her ex). And the guy she chooses (“Colt”) just happens to be his biggest enemy (her ex is a jock, and her “new” guy is of the bad-boy variety, and they’ve been antagonizing each other for a year now). Despite realizing that even she can barely get along with Colt, their mutual dislike of her ex stubbornly bonds them together.

“You really are serious, aren’t you? Didn’t I just tell you I’m not looking for a girl? I have much more serious sh$t on my plate than playing this game with you.”

“I don’t really want to be your girlfriend. It’s a charade. Hello? I would figure that much would be obvious.”

And of course, because of the time they spend together, they get to know one another, get used to and grudgingly come to care for, each other. Grudgingly? Yep they’re still pretty moody and irritated, but… you know. There are reasons for that. She has issues with her past (very sad)…

What is it about me that makes people think they can take advantage and toss me aside? Why am I so easy to betray?

and he has issues with his present (WAY sad), that tie them together. And it’s because of their eventual (yet reluctant) need to support each other that I finally started connecting to them.

“I might not be able to do much for you, but I’ll hold your secrets.”

And then I finally started to “live” them, and I must say that I loved this book, too.

I just recommended it to a friend who asked me what I thought, by saying:

1st half good, middle better, second half so good that it makes up for anything I was struggling with in the first half. For me, I’d say 4 stars. But I REALLLLLLLY felt that 2nd part and anything that keeps my crying and crying like that, definitely had it’s hold on me.

It took me awhile to get to know the characters and believe in them, but I got there.

So there you have it. 😉 I wholeheartedly recommend this one!

4 stars!! (3.5 stars for the good first half and 4.5 stars for the amazing second half)

P.S: There will be a companion novel! The author says:

“Remember that guy…what was his name? Colt’s friend. Oh yeah. Adrian. That guy. He will be getting a book! Yay.”

… FAÇADE will be released late Spring 2013.”

Yay is right! 🙂

➔➔➔  Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews. 😀