Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 3 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Blog Tour
Reviewer: Aimee Jo


This isn’t your normal, happy go lucky YA romance. It has real issues. Issues that are probably more common than we expect. I felt for Jessie and his situation. I think Jessie got the short end of the stick, but I was glad he wasn’t portrayed as a total bad boy either. He made the most of his situation and made plans to get out of his rotten start to life, but he never let himself hit rock bottom either.



While it dealt with realistic issues, it wasn’t as original as I had hoped it would be. I know, I know, it’s hard when everything has been written already, but unfortunately it doesn’t stand out or outshine others similar to it. The only exception, was how Jessie dealt with his misfortune. I’m glad he was strong enough to stand on his own two feet. For me, this was what kept me reading through to the end. The hope I had that Jessie would find his way out.



My only wish for this book would be for Claire. I wanted to her be something more than she was. I struggled to connect with her. Mostly what I got out of the book was that she was a teenager bored with her life. So Jessie was there to spice up her life, only to accidentally fall for him in the process.



I rarely comment on the style of which a book is written, but I liked the way the author set up her novel. There are clear indications when the character view changes between Jessie and Claire. I really appreciate how she didn’t switch it up every few paragraphs, but instead, each chapter was alternating between the two. It made it clear who we were following at the moment and never left the reader confused on a sudden switch. ( )

Loved this. Can't wait for Shallow..


Review:
This is set in a high school setting. You have your popular girl Claire who is dating the schools quarterback, Forbes. They are the picture perfect couple, and the one that most want to be in high school. Claire is smart and beautiful, she comes from a very good family, and when Jessie (the new guy) enters the picture everything is turned upside down.

I enjoyed Claire’s character, she might have been the popular cheerleader, with the popular boyfriend, but there was a lot more to her. We learn about her past and it made her easily relatable. She is quiet to a point but has a feisty side as well and her best friend Payton was fantastic, she was one of those girls that doesn’t take crap from anyone and tells you like it is. Now Claire and her boyfriend Forbes’ relationship was filled with the typical high school drama. He’s pushing for things she is not ready for, and he is. So of course they have issues. And Forbes is vengeful towards Jessie for taking his spot as quarterback. The things he does are unconscionable, and he is shows everyone his true colors.

Now, Jessie. What can I possibly say about him. Well, he was the amazing “bad boy”. He has had a horrible upbringing, but still has his mind set to make something of himself. It doesn’t hurt that is hot and smart either. He begins this little game with Claire and their interactions together were intense. He grows protective for her, and doesn’t want her to learn of his past, which is heart breaking and dangerous.

I really did enjoy this and it was a quick read too because you just want to keep reading about Claire and Jessie. They were a couple you want to root for till the end. Speaking of endings, the ending was wrapped up nicely, you just don’t want their story to end. Going Under take us on one consuming ride dealing realistic issues, and steamy attractions, and a love story that wasn’t simple but very real. Going Under is a fantastic contemporary romance. One that I would recommend reading. I look forward to starting Shallow and seeing where it takes us next.
( )

Love, Love, Love!!! That pretty much sums it up. The characters Jessie and Claire are swoon worthy, because it is so easy to fall for them. I couldn't help but get caught up in the emotion of this book, and it was like the feelings transferred from the page. This story is so beautifully written and realistic. It a good representation of how circumstances don't define who you are. Jessie is seen as trouble and no good for Claire, but this bad boy is super smart, and has heart. Claire is seen as the good girl, who does what is expected of her but she is more than that. Though they both are from opposite spectrum's of the social hierarchy, the chemistry between them ignites and what starts as a game of who can tempt who first becomes much more than they expected. There is a part towards the end that made my heart literally fall to the floor, and I thought there is no way it can end like that. Cates' writing style draws you in so well that you feel as if you are apart of this world. Absolutely fantastic read! ( )

I received a digital copy of this book, free, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I am going to tell you this only because of the promise of being honest, no matter what. Negative reviews don’t make me happy. Good reviews don’t make me happy. They only tell you of the overall experience I had with a book. They don’t give you moment by moment reactions. This is the third review I have written for the same book. Yes, third. The first one was “negative”, but it didn’t capture everything because there were parts I enjoyed. The second one was “positive” but it felt as if I overlooked what bothered me about the story. So here we are, round three. Making a list would show that each side has equal points. But they don’t weigh the same.
I did enjoy this story, really I did. Jessie and Claire’s bantering back and forth was humorous, and their sexual tension were at moments over the top and other times dead on. Looking back at my high school years, before teachers and administration started cracking down on PDA, some of the scenes were classic and would be seen everywhere. Others not so much. Forbes tend to come off as a little bit psychotic to me, and no one really seemed to be bothered by it. I like Jessie for the most part, though he didn’t make a very convincing drug dealer. The only time where there is a scene with him attempting to make a deal is at the end, which only served as a catalyst for the conclusion.
Claire and Jessie’s relationship was more of the insta-love variety so it lacked depth. This didn’t bother me so much from Jessie’s perspective, but it irritated me to no end coming from Claire. A part of me wonders if the intensity stems from her trying to make contact with something more stimulating then Forbes, or her being a virgin. The ending made the insta-love worth it. A part of me was like “of course!” But another part of me had to smile at the ending. That was the odd thing about this book, I was pulled into the story and at the end had a warm feeling. But I am not gung-ho over this book and that may be because I was hoping for a darker ending. Regardless, it was an overall enjoyable experience.
Recommendation: YA Romance fans will enjoy this. Though my feelings are mixed, I still think it’s worth checking out.
What’s Next? Shallow
3 Stars *** ( )

Jessie Boone is your typical oh so hot bad boy, who you can't help but fall in love with, especially as you begin to learn more about his story and his past. He's at a new high school, a star football player, he comes from the wrong side of town, and he has past that he would like to keep hidden. Claire Deveraux is the classic "high school sweetheart," a cheerleader, smart, sweet, and just happens to date the guy who got replaced by Jessie on the football team. What starts out as a game of revenge turns into something so much more. Jessie is the only one who sees past Claire's facade of being perfect, and she is the only one who sees past Jessie's hard outer shell to the great guy he is on the inside. The only problem is that they are from two different worlds, and as the reader, we get to experience what happens when those worlds collide.

This story will pull at your heartstrings, causing you to experience a wide variety of emotions. Georgia Cates has done an excellent job of putting you right in the middle of everything that is going on - all the heartache, the joy, the romance, the passion, the drama - you experience it all. I really loved the characters in this story. Claire's snarky friend Payton, was one of my favorites. I also liked Claire and admired the fact that she was able to see past "societies labels" and see Jessie for who he really is. I absolutely fell in love with Jessie Boone. OMG, he is one of my most favorite hot bad boys ever. He puts on this tough, hard exterior because the hand he has been dealt in life has been a hard one, and one that hasn't been fair. The chemistry between Jessie and Claire is off the charts. They face many obstacles in their relationship, some of which cause them to stumble and fall, and they don't always make the best choices, but love refuses to be denied and always manages to find a way.

I was hooked from page one and there was not a dull moment in the whole book. I was drawn into the story immediately, and although I felt as if my heart would breat sometimes, Georgia has inserted some humor in just the right places to perfectly balance things out. Georgia certainly delivered in the romance area to. It was really hot, and let me just say the ending absolutely blew me away - that is all I can say about that without giving too much away. If you are a lover of contemporary romance, this is one story you won't want to miss. ( )