Review: My Side by Tara Brown

Book Description: 

Erin Benson felt like she'd won the lottery when she arrived all the way from North Dakota with the keys to her first home in hand.
 
Crisp white walls: Check.
Breathtaking view of downtown Boston: Check.
Minutes from Northeastern School of Law: Check.

But home is not always where the heart is. Sometimes it’s where you find Mr. Random shacked up and sprawled out on what was supposed to be your new bed.
Between the bear spray and the handcuffs, she discovers a terrible mistake has been made.
Lochlan hasn't broken into her new home to sleep with a seedy barmaid...he owns half.

With emotions running on high, Erin is determined to tough it out until a solution can be found.
The tight quarters seem smaller with his accumulated clutter and bizarre sleeping schedule. It also doesn't help that he's the new lead singer for Thin Ice, an indie band on its rise to fame.
 
What happens when a quiet bookworm gets stuck with a relentless rocker?
 
What happens when the things you see are not the things you get?

*** MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (and some venting)***

This book was awesome! It started out as funny and unexpected. It had its serious notes and its fair share of drama….as well as some incredibly irritating pieces, but I can say that I really enjoyed it.

I loved the first meeting between Loch and Erin. I think the last time I laughed that hard, I was reading Seduction and Snacks by Tara Sivec. I loved the set up…both of them rented the apartment, not knowing that it had been rented to the other person. I loved the initial bet and was slightly disappointed that the bet fell apart so soon. But I enjoyed their friendship wrought with sexual tension. I loved watching them get to know each other…watching the normal, everyday activities they did. I formed a nice emotional connection between them. As much as I liked that, the sex scenes were pretty hot. And the author didn’t make you wait 50% of the book with will they/won’t they. But I couldn’t help feeling like every time they spent time in bed, it was a catalyst for the next relationship disaster to befall them.

I swear to god…these two faced every drama known to man….well…except for a love triangle (and I’m thankful for that because I really hate love triangles). This is my first book by Tara Brown but it won’t be my last. She has great talent for making me feel every emotion in the book.

My biggest complaint in the book is how Erin was blamed for everything and how she was going to give up her dreams for a guy. Every character (minus one) blamed Erin for Loch’s actions. Every time he got angry, freaked out or acted out, it was Erin’s fault. I cry foul with that. Erin is not responsible for Loch’s reactions or his actions. And I don’t think it’s right that she was blamed for all of it. I especially took issue with her believing it. Yes, she made stupid mistakes but 1. She’s a character; 2. She’s human. People make mistakes. She reacted badly. She ran away. But I swear to god…as much as I loved Loch,  his emotions would swing wildly. The smallest things would set him off. And he made some pretty bad mistakes. Erin is not responsible for his mistakes. He is. He (and his friends) needed to man up and accept responsibility for his (their) actions. Just as an example of this:

"Loch's Loch. That's how he is. He was normal before you."

And even her brother tells her that it’s her fault (warning this may contain some spoilers, so don’t read the quote unless you don’t mind spoilers): 

To him love means sacrifice. Our parents aren’t like these people. Neither was willing to bend, so they quit. We’re quitters and Loch’s people are the type that hang in there till the last bitter drop of blood is squeezed. He is never going to cheat on you. He’s had opportunity like a mother fucker. I’m not kidding. He gets chicks begging him to suck hi…”

“STOP!” I stopped walking and shook my head, “I get it.”'

He released me and pointed, “You’re doing it now. You can’t control every aspect of his work life. You have to let him out of the yard and off the leash. He needs to not worry about getting dumped, every time you don’t like a girl giving him her number.

My other issue was how Erin was willing to walk away from her dream for Loch. Instead of continuing on with her dreams of a law degree she was going to walk away and give them up.

“I’m twenty-three years old, I have loads of time. Who knows how long this is going to be happening for you? Stardom is fleeting, law school is permanent.”

“What about your plan?”

I laughed, “You’ve been fucking with my plans from the minute I met you. I was supposed to unpack my apartment, go for a run, come back and make dinner in my new kitchen. I wanted to set up my Netflix account, eat, and watch TV alone. My plan only ever involved me. It was a selfish plan for a selfish person.

Now I want to support you. I want you to relax, and not worry about us, and not worry about losing me. Make it about the music. I want to finish this semester and then I’ll take a leave.”

I didn’t agree at all. How is it selfish to go after her dreams? Isn’t that exactly what Loch was doing? Why was it ok for him but not her?

I just couldn’t help but feel like the author was saying that a woman had to give up her dreams to get the guy. With that said, there was one character that gave Erin the come to Jesus talk she needed…her professor Dean.

“I marked your tests and I’m confused. Are you blowing this on purpose?”

I shook my head, “No, I’ve just been caught up in it all, ya know.”

He linked his arm in mine, “Let’s go get a coffee. You need a peppy speech and I happen to rock those like I a boss.”

I rolled my eyes, “You’re starting to sound like Gerry and them.”

He snorted, “At least I’m not giving up my dreams to be with them.”

I was thankful that Dean gave it to her straight and made her think twice about what she was doing. I also cheered when she made the decision to stick with her studies. There’s nothing wrong with going after what you want and fighting for what you want.

I just didn’t understand why it was an all or nothing for Erin and Loch. Relationships require a give and take…compromise. And neither was willing to compromise. That just spells disaster.

Those were my only issues with the book. But I have to commend the author for keeping me hooked and pulling every emotion in the book out of me. I’ll definitely read more from her in the future. 

To see my Loch, click here.

My reviews can also be found on Goodreads.