Sometimes you buy a book because the cover is beautiful—I’m not going to lie, I totally do this. And every once and a great while, what’s inside that gorgeous book blows you away as much as the cover itself.

When I read the blurb for Unteachable, I cringed. Great, I thought. Another story about a teacher sleeping with a student. Just what the world needs. But it was that cover that drew me in, that cover that made me read it anyway. And WOW WOW WOW am I glad that I did. This isn’t just about a teacher and a student—it’s about the darkness of the world, the grit that many unfortunate young people are made to endure, and pasts that haunt us.

All that in a New Adult book?

I know, right? I’m as (pleasantly) surprised as you are. Here’s the breakdown:

Maise O’Malley is an eighteen-year-old (young) woman who is at the end of the summer before her senior year of high school. On that last day before school starts, she meets Evan at the town carnival, and their connection is immediate, starting on a literal roller coaster. They end up hooking up in his car, and then she splits—no strings attached, just like always. Except… there are definite strings, as she finds out the next day in her film class.

Don’t tell me.

Yes, you guessed it—Evan is Mr. Evan Wilke, her film teacher.

Like I said, nothing new here. It’s what comes afterward that’s different, that left me always wanting more, that made this a page-turner. As Maise and Evan deal with the fact that they are hopelessly attracted to each other even though they’re not supposed to be, their lives start to entwine and they stop fighting it. The truth eventually comes out in a way that definitely surprised me, and it made the whole thing even more worthwhile, because Maise learns that she’s truly not alone in the world.

You said dark and sexy – what’s not to love?

Honestly, not much! I loved just about everything about Unteachable. It is dark—Maise’s life is far from perfect. Her mother is an addict, she doesn’t know who her dad is, and the only thing moving her forward is her dream of going to film school. She knows she has to get away from her town, and she’s determined not to mess it all up. But it’s also sexy—Evan makes a charming and intriguing love interest, and the sex scenes are steamy and extremely well-written. On top of all of that, there is Wesley. Wesley is Maise’s only real friend, and he proves to be the kind of friend everyone wants—he’s out to protect her, and he puts her life and future above everything else, even when she doesn’t want him to. It’s a really well-told story of their friendship, as well as the relationship she shares with Evan. My only real complaint is something that comes up about a past relationship of Evan’s—that was the only part that seemed predictable and made me roll my eyes (but only once!). Other than that, there isn’t much that I didn’t absolutely love about this book.

Unteachable earns an A!

I’ve even refrained from lending it out solely because I know I’m going to want to read it again. What can I say—keep your friends close and your favorite books closer. 😉

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