ANGST, DRAMA, NOT MUCH ON THE ROMANCE SIDE

Crew is brilliant, full of angst, full of drama but as a romance reader it didn't have what I enjoy in my books... romance.

I listened to this in audio and although it was exciting and the narrators were absolutely fantastic and they brought the story to life, I still wanted more.

I would read more in this series now that I know what to expect. It was different, enlightening even. I didn't have a clue about crews and although it was confusing at first and difficult to digest with its heavy plot regarding crews especially at such a young age I did enjoy it.

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This book nearly broke me. Literally.

At first, I had a love/hate relationship with it. I wasn’t sure how or if I would relate to Bren, having experienced her almost childish ways from Channing’s perspective. Then we meet her. I mean, we really meet her. We see what makes her tick, why she carries a knife, why she joined her crew, why her relationship with Channing is so fragile, why she relies on Cross, and why she became the Bren she is today. I cried for her when she couldn’t shed the tears herself. I wanted to fight with her, for the future she lost thanks to her father. And, I wanted to protect her, from herself and those intent on causing her harm.

This book really had it all. Yes, the crew life may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and yes, the whole book is set around Bren and her crew but it is so much more than just violence and scrapping. The story shows how four dysfunctional people became friends and why their loyalty to each other means more than life itself.

This book is poignant and heartbreaking in the way the story is portrayed. I was frustrated with the characters at times but that just made me more invested in the storyline. I really disagreed with Cross’s decision to put retribution before Bren towards the end of the story, and that point had me almost tearing my hair out but then I realised, these are young people shaped in a way that is different to most. They draw their strength from each other and could quite possibly fall apart without each other.

The boys are A-typical for their age group in the way they sleep around but that just makes them more loveable. That said, Cross and Bren’s connection was the complete opposite with them drawing comfort from each other’s presence way before their entanglement became romantic. The whole romance scene between them was extremely well written, thoughtful and tasteful, which I really appreciated.

I am sorry that some people didn’t connect with the story or the characters. For me, they are simply diamonds in the rough. Created from a force so great that makes them shine in their own special way.

This was an audiobook read for me and the narrator really did the story a huge justice in the way she portrayed the characters and brought the story to life. Maybe there’s a difference between the ebook and the audiobook, I don’t know. What I do know is that this story, although it started steadily, is one that will last with me for a very long time. I can’t wait to read/listen on in this series.

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1 person found this helpful

A full five star review - I loved it

You know the feeling. You start a book, and from that very first page you know. You just know that you’re gonna love it. Well that was me with ‘The Boy I Grew Up With’. I’ve not had that feeling for a while, but thank you Tijan. It’s back! I fecking loved Channing and Heather. I was expecting good, great even, what I got was even better, it blew all my preconceived notions out of the window. It literally blew me away! We got a glimpse of Heather and Channing in Fallen Crest, and then again in Crew, but nothing prepared me for all the feels, the emotions, the never wanting a book to finish feeling I haven’t had in what feels like forever. The book starts in the middle of their, oh so complicated relationship, whilst they are currently ‘not together’. The story takes us through their very tumultuous, yet emotional relationship from when they met in fifth grade to the present day. The synopsis says it all, so I won’t duplicate it in my review. I will tell you that this is one of my top reads this year, that the writing was perfect, and the story was full of passion, action, lots of drama, sexy times, and yes again, that word, emotion. I loved it. Also two different book covers, one for ebook, and one for paperback. I love them both. Oh, and that bonus scene! I almost missed it. Perfection. I couldn’t have asked for more in a romance novel. Excellent narration from Therese Plummer, she completely nailed Bren. A full five stars.

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