Review: The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

The Perfect Game
(The Perfect Game #1)
by J. Sterling
Published: October 11, 2012




He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

This is a MATURE YOUNG ADULT/NEW ADULT novel
Suitable for ages 17+
Contains strong language, sexual situations and references

The Perfect Game for me is your typical college contemporary romance. Both characters have issues, Jack is popular and a jerk, Cassie doesn't want any involvement with him; same old, same old. It may sound cliche or a little predictable in some parts but I have my reasons why I really liked this book.

I didn't like Cassie immediately, but I did like her for being someone who does not easily give in to a guy like Jack, seeing him as who he truly is and that he would break her eventually. But cautious as she was, the undeniable connection is there so she gave him a chance of proving his worth. I love them together. It's Cassie who sets Jack straight and I believed that Jack's feelings for her is genuine. He is still a jerk though, because he made the biggest mistake to someone he cares for so much, someone he loves and breaking the promise that he knew would end the one thing he worked so hard to get.

I was so emotionally involved reading the story. I absolutely hate Jack for doing something like that to Cassie. He breaks her heart even more for choosing what he thought was right, letting his past decide of what kind of a person he might be. But I love Cassie for handling the situation despite the hurt. She is willing to give Jack a second chance, willing him to see that the road he is going to take is wrong. Instead of acting like some lovesick puppy with a broken heart and a locked door, Cassie made sure that she smacks some sense into Jack's head before everything gets worse. In the end, it was Jack's past that had won. Which made me scream bloody murder, wanting to tear Jack and what's-her-name girl to pieces while cursing. And that left Cassie with nothing to do but move on.

I enjoyed reading every part of Cassie and Jack's story. And I liked the ending even more. It took Jack a long time to realize his mistake and took him longer to fix what pieces of their love was left. It was a happy ending but looking back, I saw how much they've gone through in order to achieve it. I was satisfied with how everything turned out so I don't know what the sequel, The Game Changer, would have for me this time. Still, I'm excited to get my hands on a copy :)

Words!

“Get your stuff and get the fuck out. I don’t care where you go, but you can’t stay here.” I pointed toward the front door.

...

“Whatever, Jack. Good luck getting Cassie back after all this. No one will ever really love you. Your own mom didn’t even stick around.” She hurled the insult and I took it like a ninety-mile-an-hour fastball to the gut.

“I changed my mind. Get out of my house now. I’ll set your things on fire and mail you the ashes.” I grabbed her by the arm, forcefully removing her from the premises before engaging the dead bolt on the door behind her.

_______________________

“There. Sent.” I pretended like my insides weren’t doing somersaults.

“Now we’ll just wait for his—” Melissa’s voice was drowned out by the sound of Jack’s ringtone. I’d forgotten to change it. I shot her a horrified look before she whispered, “Answer it! Just answer it.” 

“Why are you whispering?” 

“I don’t know! Answer it!” she screamed.

________________________

It’s not that I can’t live without you; it’s that I don’t  want to. There’s a difference. We all make choices in life and I choose you.