Release Day Review ~ What's The Use Of Wondering? by Kate McMurray

Release Day Review ~ What's The Use Of Wondering? by Kate McMurray

Title: What's the Use of Wondering?

Author: Kate McMurray

Release Date: July 3, 2017

Category: Contemporary, New Adult

Pages: 200

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Violinist Logan has spent most of his life training for a career in music. But as the pressure mounts during his junior year, he questions whether playing in an orchestra is the future he wants, or one chosen by his parents. His new roommate—that annoying jerk Peter from last year’s production of Guys and Dolls—complicates matters. Crammed into a dorm room with the overconfident but undeniably hot accounting major, Logan can’t stop snarling.

Then Peter sprains his ankle building sets, and Logan grudgingly agrees to play chauffeur. But instead of putting further strain on their relationship, spending time together reveals some common ground—and mutual frustration. Logan discovers he isn’t the only one who doesn’t know what he wants from life, and the animosity between him and Peter changes keys. But just as the possibility of a happier future appears, Logan gets a dream offer that will take him away from Western Massachusetts University—and Peter. Now he has to decide: will he live the solitary life laid out for him, or hold on to Peter and forge his own path?

4 Stars

Logan and Peter meet at college and definitely get off on the wrong foot. They both travel in the artsy circle, so they continue to run into one another. When Logan's roommate moves out, instead of garnering the single room he hopes for, Logan gets a new roommate. The first day back at college his Junior year puts him face to face with his new roommate, Peter.

NA college age used to be one of my all-time favorite tropes to read, but I found suddenly the college kids authors were writing all felt too much like middle schoolers. They just all seemed to be very immature, but What's the Use in Wondering, reminded me why I love this trope so much.

I absolutely adored this story. The characters were likable and once they move in together they quickly become frenemies. The progression of their relationship is natural and realistic. It's a slow move from enemies to roommates, then later from tentative friends to lovers. The relationship happens over time and isn't rushed. This couple really has to work to decide what they want for their futures. Both young men are living their parents' dreams and not their own, but together they figure this out and gain the courage to stand up for what they want in life.

The story is well-written and flowed well. I not only loved the main characters, but Logan and Peter's friends were amazing and supportive secondary characters. Logan and Peter had good chemistry and they fit well together. My one real complaint about the author's writing and a piece of criticism I'll give is that the writing was sometimes too telly and not showy enough. Don't tell me the action that's happening on page, show it to me. I want to experience it through the characters' eyes myself, not be told what's happening. For me, it takes away the emotional connection between the character and the reader. Okay, sorry this is a real pet peeve of mine, but I'll get off my soapbox now. All in all, this was a sweet and enjoyable read that's very recommendable.

*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie via Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.*

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