Book Review: Chasing Red

Chasing Red, by Isabelle Ronin

Publication: Sourcebooks Casablanca; September 5, 2017

About the book: 

Chosen as one of Goodreads’ 21 Big Books of Fall

They said she was going to be my ruin…
Then let her ruin me.

Caleb Lockhart has everything—wealth, adoration, a brilliant future. Until a chance encounter with a siren in a red dress changes everything. Until he meets the woman he dubs Red.

Veronica Strafford’s past makes it hard for her to trust anyone. Now, kicked out of her apartment, she reluctantly accepts Caleb’s offer for a place to stay.

Caleb feels intensely drawn to Veronica. And, for the first time in his life, he really wants something—someone. Too bad Veronica’s heart might just be the one thing Caleb can’t win.

My Review:

Chasing Red is the whirlwind, debut novel from author Isabelle Ronin and it is such a fast-paced and addictive love story! Caleb and Veronica are both college students, but where he’s the big man on campus, Veronica has always stayed to herself. Then she gets evicted from her apartment, has nowhere to go, and ends up drinking and dancing in a club. Caleb gets one look at her in her red dress and everything he thought he knew about himself changes. 

I’m going to start with Veronica. I liked her character and in a way felt that she was pleasantly complex. Beautiful, intelligent, caring – until she started repeatedly shying away and freaking out about her developing feelings for Caleb. 

Caleb started out seeming to be a typical, rich, cocky college guy expecting all women to fall at his feet. However, Caleb completely grew and changed over the course of the novel and I absolutely loved him! What started out as a character that seemed a dime a dozen in romance novels, turned out to be a truly complex, emotional and genuine young man. Don’t get me wrong, he screws things up on a few occasions, but otherwise, I was on his side.

Something unique and refreshing about Chasing Red is how incredibly sexy the novel is without there being sex scenes. The chemistry and feelings between Caleb and Veronica were so powerful that sex scenes weren’t necessary. Veronica literally blossomed before my eyes as she tried to come out of her shell, make friends, and allow herself to feel. Where Caleb started out seemingly shallow without a heart, he matured and learned about an entirely different aspect of life – falling in love.

I loved this novel, but as always, a few things did irk me a bit. First, the ending – enough said. Second, I felt like Veronica almost craved drama and heartache. Her character consistently clammed up, ran, and sort of played the damsel in distress thing a bit too much. Otherwise, this romantic and moving novel was a page-turner. I did not realize until after reading that the second novel is out in November and I cannot wait to get my hands on it and find out what happens in Caleb and Veronica’s story. 

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review! 

Learn more about Isabelle Ronin.

Purchase Chasing Red on Amazon.

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