Just One Year

I loved loved loved this book. It was sweet, funny, and very emotional. I didn't think some the events would happen but I'm glad that they did.

Sexy, British foreign exchange student....YESSSS PLEASE!!! Teagan’s about to get schooled and it’s never been HOTTER! A slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with the most intense attraction. You won’t be able to resist Caleb either!Caleb is in Boston as an exchange student to complete his freshman year. His parents are back in the UK. He’s finally free to let go of some of his past and live happily in the present. He’s fun and witty which he hides his pain. He’s loyal and good. He’s just a little lost.Teagan is a genius, introvert working toward her degree in marine biology. She’s driven and dedicated when it comes to her studies, however she’s not great with people or emotional attachments. From a loving family, she still keeps herself on the outside.Her and Caleb get off on the wrong foot but since she’s now his host family while he’s in the US, they’ll have to find a way to get along. Caleb wins her over quickly with his British charm and s'mores.They started out butting heads, but soon become friends who share their deepest secrets and painful pasts. It doesn’t take long for friendship to turn into romantic feelings. The only problem is Caleb’s stay has an end date.Caleb and Teagan share an incendiary slow burn. He’s leaving at the end of the school year. He has family and obligations to get back to, so starting a relationship is the last thing they should do. However, the pull is just too strong. There comes a point where you need to decide whether to make the most of the time you have or live with the regret of never knowing how good it could have been.This story was filled with emotion. Love and loss. Guilt and heartache. It was chasing dreams and finding your happiness. It was sexual chemistry and falling in love. The path is not always straight forward, but the ending makes it all worth it. You will fall in love with Teagan and Caleb!

I’m a big fan of Penelope Ward’s, and I absolutely love her co-written novels with Vi Keeland. So it’s a given that if she writes it, I’m going to read it. I’ll be honest, though, I was nervous going into Just One Year. The YA and younger New Adult genres are my least favorite stories to read, and, with very few exceptions, I usually don’t read them at all. I just have a hard time connecting to such young characters, and I struggle with maturity levels as it relates to the development of the relationship or the plot. This is purely my own personal preference, and it boils down to the fact that there are other storylines, tropes and genres that I enjoy more and would rather read.That being said, Penelope Ward is one of the exceptions to my rule, and in this case, I’m glad because I did enjoy Just One Year. A big part of the reason was because both the hero and the heroine were incredibly mature and thoughtful—character traits that were revealed early on in the story when they both made the wise choice to focus on being friends to avoid the inevitable heartbreak of Caleb’s departure at the end of the year.A very slow burn romance, Teagan and Caleb’s relationship begins as a friendship, and I loved watching it grow and deepen. Caleb helps to draw the introverted genius, Teagan, out of her shell, and she brings Caleb’s tortured soul some desperately needed peace. There was definitely an attraction between them, but they stayed firmly in the friend-zone until they didn’t.Emotional, angsty with a sweet, slow-building friends-to-lovers romance, Just One Year by Penelope Ward gets four smooches from me!

Penelope Ward once again delivers an emotionally beautiful story that will make you fall in love right along with the main characters. It's funny and sweet but you'll definitely shed a tear or two so be prepared with those tissues!British exchange student Caleb is all of your teenage fantasies come true. Sexy, funny, charismatic all wrapped up with a killer accent. It's no wonder Teagan couldn't help but fall in love with him! Caleb is everything you hope for in a hero, complete with a sensitive side that will make you melt. I sure as heck swooned something fierce! He's a little bit lost, trying to find his place in the world and decide which direction his life will take. Teagan is also lost, living at home with her father, step-mother and step-sister but unsure how she fits into their world. Her past has defined her present and future and she's stuck behind some pretty steep walls that she has erected. When Caleb comes to live with Teagan's family, the two forge a beautiful friendship and, eventually a relationship of sorts. I loved watching these two beautiful souls heal one another. Of course nothing is easy as Caleb is only living in America for a year. What will become of their budding relationship? Will they find their way back to one another after they're separated? There's a happily ever after on the horizon for these two but you'll have to read the story to see how it plays out. 4.5 stars

This book was one I was really looking forward too as I usually thoroughly enjoy her angles on a storyline. This book really comes in three parts the beginning section is humourus, fast flowing and sets the scenes. The middle section is somewhat slow, appears to almost loose itself in texts and narration and possibly a little dry. The end section is fast, all ends tied up and new characters introduced, quickly. Both Caleb and Teagan, have believable characters and are interesting and have great chemistry, eventually between them but I just feel for me the usual ,”I can’t get enough of this” is not there. It is a story of two young adults that meet, one being from a different country. There to find himself. Teagan is a loner with issues. They both have. I won’t say more as the storyline flows well, although as I’ve mentioned a little slow for me, but perhaps I may not have been as open to enjoyment on this book as others. I am not and do not want people not to read this, as for some it may and is terribly appealing. Just not so much for me. I look forward to the next book this very delightful author writes though, with excitement and anticipation.

Amusingly but with some embarrassment, Teagan and Caleb's first meeting in a college male toilet was awkward and really disconcerting. Yet such an auspicious meet turned out to be more... But why did that happen?Then later, British Caleb, on a one year student exchange to the US finds himself living in a house with the family of the girl from the toilet. Teagan is mortified at this occurrence and keeps her distance from Caleb, seeing him as an unwelcome and tiresome person because unfortunately, he seems to instantly get on with her family, better than she does.Eventually, Caleb discovers Teagan is very intelligent. And in fact, she has an IQ high enough to be in Mensa. He, then entrees her to help him with revising for his college tests and assignments. She agrees to help him and gradually with his influence she becomes less of a recluse. She becomes more out going and sociable. But what happens at the end of Caleb's year in the US.Well, in order to find out, I suggest to get the book yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised by the conclusion.

DNF. Characters had zero chemistry. Female was boring and insipid. Male character was with another woman half the book. He was British, but please, can the author call on some British fans please to sense check. There is no British accent, there are various English, Welsh and Scottish accents. Stratford upon Avon is not commutable from London daily for students. The only men who call females "love" are old comedians or camp characters on UK soap operas. Shame as usually enjoy this author's work but the writing combined with lack of UK knowledge made this unreadable for me.

This book was too slow paced for me I got to chapter 15 then skimmed the other chapters to get to the end. I sampled a little of the audio version which I enjoyed and that got me hooked to want to read the book. sadly for me it turned out to be a let down. loved the cover the gorgeous model on the front was the best thing about it.

Really enjoyed this. Read it in one sitting. Caleb and Teagan both have demons from their pasts which they support each other through. They become close but as they know their time together is limited, they struggle with their growing feelings for each other.You’ll have to buy the book if you want to find out what happens and I recommend you do just that!