Into The Night Book Reviews: Blog Tour: Two Roads by L.M. Augustine

Welcome to our stop on the blog tour for Two Roads by the incredibly talented L.M. Augstine. This is a gorgeous read that follows Cali and Logan through the tumultuous journey that is falling in love. It is sweet, funny and all those things that simply make you smile with pleasure as you read.

Title: Two Roads

Author: L.M. Augustine

Hosted By: Romance Addict Book Blog

The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali's parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better--and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn't hurt that he's part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.

But when Cali's parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.

And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren't that obnoxious after all…

Two Roads is New Adult Romance about finding love, standing out, and learning to embrace who you are. It contains some language and mild sexual content.

The truth is, when Logan and I are going at it like this, we’re in our own little world. A world full of fire and passion and hate and dying puppies, sure, but our own world all the same. It’s just us, just me and him, just our insults and our pranks and our twisted, refreshing, perfect and so screwed-up hate for each other. In a really really really strange way, it’s kind of nice. Actually, “nice” does not even begin to describe it. My hatred for Logan is terrible and refreshing, wonderful and horrible all at once. “Asshole,” I say, letting the hatred seep into my voice, taking a sip out of his hot chocolate. “Bitch,” he replies, and he gulps down more of my precious coffee. Heat pulses between us, and the laughter and gossip and all the other sounds in The Dungeon disappear. The world seems to go silent, and when I glare at Logan, he is all I see. He--in all of his innocence and wit and completely frustrating geekiness. He--with his deep blue eyes and glasses and perfect dimples. He--the guy who ruined my life.

The loss of someone close to you has devastating consequences. Different people deal with their grief in different ways and often, sharing the pain and loss with those close to you is the hardest thing to do.

Cali is devastated by the loss of her brother. Not only does she miss his love and support, but she feels guilty that she didn’t do more for him, she is angry at her parents for insisting he be something he wasn’t and she is furious at his best friend Logan for moving on so effortlessly.

In an effort to mask her despair Cali adopts the person of carefree party girl. She is popular and sought out, the quintessential ‘mean girl’ really - all the while hiding her true self from everyone around her. Her love of poetry in particular.

When Logan transfers to the same college as Cali an intense rivalry between the two unfolds - punctuated by pranks and name calling:

It’s on, the gesture says, and Logan just smiles.

“Loser,” I continue, trying to sound as cold and calm as possible.

“Heartless freak,” he shoots right back.

“Dickhead.”

“Asshole.”

“Bastard”

“Jackass.”

“Guy no one wanted.”

“Girl whose parents hate her.”

His friends keep jerking their heads back and forth between us. “Idiot.”

“Jerk.”

“Imbecile.”

“Moron.”

“Asshat.”

“Oaf.”

At that, Logan stops, bites his lip like he’s trying to stop himself laughing, and we both silently declare me the victor of this round.

Some of the pranks the two pull on each other are astonishing and hilarious, to say the least.

Despite the outward animosity between the two there is the solid connection of Ben: Cali’s brother and Logan’s best friend. And as much as the pranking and insults could be hate filled, it is clear there is something else driving the exchanges between the two.

Unexpectedly they discover a shared love of poetry and there is a subtle shift to their exchanges. The poetry references are gorgeous (and clearly popular among readers given the number of visible highlights). They’re subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, messages about love, life and offer inspiration to choose the road less travelled.

Cali allows her love of poetry to relax some of her defences and in doing so, comes to a number of realisations about her life, her parents, her brother Ben and most importantly Logan.

Two Roads is a beautifully written love story, with some inspiring messages about life’s journey. It sensitively tackles the subject of suicide and the impact this has on those left behind.

4 out of 5 stars

L.M. Augustine is a YA romance author who is obsessed with writing about dorky teenagers, love, and happy endings. He currently lives in New England, where he spends far too much time reading books and screaming at his computer, and he believes that the solution to the world’s problems can be found in chocolate cake.