The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
Published by Simon & Schuster on February 7, 2012
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 259
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
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Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken.

Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?

 

The One That I Want is a cute, fun, quick contemporary read. Jennifer Echols’ romantic comedies for Simon Pulse have always been some of my favorites but she really upped her game with this one. I think this is the best romantic comedy I have ever read from her.

Gemma is not the pretty, popular girl who gets the guy all the time. She’s shy, a little weak, and quirky but she’s also funny, smart, and kind. However she always gets overlooked in favor of her pretty, perky, best friend Addison. Gemma lets Addison walk all over her and she calls her a friend when she is so far from it. She is a nasty, jealous, backstabber who wants want Gemma has. While I loved Gemma, I hated Addison more than I have hated any character in quite some time. Gemma had a few flaws sure but she was still a good person. Addison was pretty much nothing but flaws. However in this case, that’s how Addison was supposed to be and so it didn’t bother me. I knew I wasn’t supposed to like her and I didn’t.

Max and Gemma together were really fun. They were funny, sweet, and while they were immediately attracted to each other, they didn’t immediately fall for each other. The progression of their romance was so real and one of the best things about the book. Gemma was so awkward with Max and she just didn’t know how to handle him. Max was pretty much the same way with Gemma. They set each other off and at times it seemed like they hated each other more than they liked each other but it was just so right.

The plot is nothing too spectacular but I didn’t go in to the book expecting some crazy detailed, edge of your seat plot. I expected a romance with some complications and crazy situations and that’s what I got. I do have to say though that I couldn’t stop reading until I knew if Gemma and Max were going to get their happy ending. I read The One That I Want in one sitting and I was up way later than I should have been just so I could finish it.

Overall, The One That I Want is a perfect rainy day read. Every now and then it’s a good idea to read a cute book that leaves you with a smile on your face and this book will do just that.

Looking for more reviews of The One That I Want?
Chick Loves Lit’s review
The Compulsive Reader’s review