Mean Girls Luv Books: Blog Tour: Finding Me, Finding You by Shealy James

Parker wasn’t always a bad boy. It wasn’t until his life seemed to lose meaning that things started spiraling out of control. Nothing mattered though, not without her around. That was until he met Maggie, the introverted beauty that had taken one too many verbal beatings. Maggie wasn’t exactly shy, but she definitely wasn’t confident either. Until now she had been happy existing in her small world, but she was ready for a change. She vowed to make friends in college. Simple, right? Not quite. Maggie discovers she was in store for more than just friendship. Instead she finds a painful crush on an emotionally unavailable guy. As Maggie and Parker each head down the path of self-discovery, they learn it isn’t always easy to keep the ones you love when you are becoming the person you want to be.

Finding Me, Finding You is a cute story. It sucked me in right away. The author’s writing is easy to read and connect with, and she created great characters. The reason I couldn’t rate it higher is because it was a bit slow. Nothing really happens for a while. Strangely though, it had a good timeline flow. The book spans from freshman year of college all the way to graduation. I DID really like that the characters grew together and that they stuck together through thick and thin.

The story starts off with Maggie and Max. They are best friend. They grew up together and are inseparable. They go off to college together. Max’s roommate is Parker; Maggie’s roommate is Sarah. The four build a tight bond and are together throughout their college careers. They are all best friends. Sarah always has a boyfriend and Max has a girlfriend, so that leaves Maggie and Parker without. However, they are okay with it, as they really enjoy each other’s company (and secretly like each other.) Well, everyone seems to know but the two of them.

This story is really about Parker and Maggie. Maggie is learning to come in to her own. She is finally out from under her mother’s thumb and finding out who she is, gaining confidence, and just enjoying life. Parker does not commit to girls. He lost his mother to cancer years previous and just kind of stopped living and feeling. That is until he meets Maggie and the rest of their group. They become each other’s confidants, rocks, and really lean on each other. But, Parker has issues and there is always a push and pull to their relationship.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys New Adult. The characters are endearing and fun. It’s a good romance. I would say it is more of a story that plays on the emotions of the characters than any action really happening. It did start to pick up more in the middle of the book though and is definitely worth it in the end.

“So, Parker, how long have you been in love with my little girl?”

I looked at him shocked. “What?”

“You’re watching her like You’re ready to pounce anyone who touches her wrong or if anyone under the age of sixty tries to dance with her. You drove all this way to come to a party that she hates. I know she is incredibly crabby when she is home, and I can only assume that has something to do with you. She has been happier at school this year than she was the last two, and I know about your piano performance, which was a nice touch by the way.”

I thought for a second. Was I in love with Maggie? This wasn’t the first time this had crossed my mind, but it was the first time I believed it could be possible. Yes. I am. I’m in love with Maggie Miller.

“I’ll ask you again, son. How long have you been in love with my daughter?”

“I think since the day I met her, sir.”

“Yeah I thought so. I saw the way you looked at her then as well. Have you told her how you feel?”

“No, sir.”

“Have you had sex with her?”

“What? NO! No, sir!”

He gave me a mischievous grin. “Ha. Just checking. Well, go get her.” He nodded to where she was dancing with a bald older man with wandering hands. I laughed when she had to move his hand off her butt for probably the tenth time.

“Are you going to cut my balls off?”

Shealy James is Georgia native who teaches middle school math during the day and disappears into fiction at night. She is an avid reader and a writer who laughs in the face of middle school angst and welcomes humor, drama, and the all-important happy ending. Shealy is the author of Finding Me, Finding You (Finding Series Book 1), Finding Us (Finding Series Book 2) and Whole Life Re-Do (Whole Life Series Book 1).