Jenny - TotallybookedBlog's Reviews > Josh & Hannah

Jenny: Well G, when I first started this book I thought I was in book heaven. It had all the makings of a sweet “first love” story of two teenagers, soul mates, one from the wrong side of the tracks who were both to learn, grow and love deeply. In fact, I remember texting you saying: ”I’m only 8% into this story but think I may just have book love”. I did like a lot about this book. The premise of Josh and Hannah’s story was sweet, it was lovely, and I really did enjoy the first part , I devoured the epilogue, but somewhere in between something just didn’t gel with me. I’m thinking you’re on the same wavelength as me here Gitte?

Gitte: Yes, I loved how this story started. It was fresh, sweet and the theme really was lovely. So much pain, tragedy and emotional trauma with a sweet innocence thrown in. I absolutely loved the first half of this story. A beautiful love story with innocence and heart-ache.

“Josh was stunned when his kiss of compassion derailed and against his will, became a kiss of hunger and need.”

Josh was so protective and such a gentleman, wiser than his years – respectful of Hannah. Making Hannah and himself wait until she comes of age.

“Look, have you ever wanted something so damn bad that you thought you’d go insane if you couldn’t have it?”

Then it went off in a really odd direction and our characters changed rather than developed with age and it turned into something else, something that to me was quite frankly unappealing and made me feel quite queasy. However, the epilogue saved it again somewhat and I loved every word of it. You really appreciated the journey and the strength of Josh’s and Hannah’s love and perseverance.

“You try to remember that it’s not where a person comes from that makes him who he is. A man chooses how he makes his own life…”

Jenny: That was one of the things I loved G. Their journey and their love for one another. Now, I love my alpha heroes. There’s just something about that whole jealous, possessive and protective streak they have going on that appeals to me and oh yes, Josh was an alpha alright but he was also waaaay too – over the top and I had problems his behaviour.

My main one being that whilst Josh is 18, Hannah is only 15. Fifteen!! She is a young, innocent and impressionable girl who, due to her lack of life experience, always appeared to roll over for Josh. She forgave him without exception and took everything he said as gospel. Josh felt so much older than Hannah and I’m guessing I found that uncomfortable also.

“You’re going to belong to me, heart, body, and soul, and I’ll touch you when and how I want, and you’ll let me.”

I found it really difficult to cope with an 18 year old man dictating (and that is what it was) to a fifteen year old girl what she can wear, who she can and can’t converse with and even what to read.

“You’re only fifteen years old. You shouldn’t be reading Cosmo. I don’t like it.”

Josh had lived a tough life and he’d fought through adversity and for that I commended him. He was making something of himself, moving out of his father’s shadows and the love he has for Hannah knows no bounds, he loves her with all his heart, and I never doubted that for one minute. I really did feel that I deep down I knew Josh’s heart was in the right place….but…….well, I’ll let you jump in here Gitte.

Gitte: Okay, so this was my whole issue and why I got confused and have a problem rating this book. Josh, yes, is an alpha male and seems older than his 18 years. He comes from a shitty background, it was disgustingly horrific. This poor bloke grew up in violence until he was saved by his Aunt and Uncle. Now, he could have gone one of two ways. He did good. I loved him for it. He was a bad arse but his heart was pure gold and his ideals and viewpoints were respectful and admirable! The way he was with Hannah to begin with was sweet and so amazing. It had the fabulous message of ‘never judge a book by its cover’ (how apt and pun totally intended). Then suddenly he completely did a 360 and turned, quite frankly, creepy for a while. There was nothing hot or exciting about his verbal, in my opinion, abusive behaviour. It was crude and over the top when aimed at a girl who started off as 15 who didn’t know any different and was in complete love.

“You belong to me, and no matter what kind of fight we had…while you’re gone you best remember that you belong to me…Is that clear enough for you? We’re together and if you don’t remember that then there will be hell to pay.”

I was turned right off and just didn’t get it. This is being classed as NA. Well, I don’t understand the classification of this story it was very YA with NA moments thrown in haphazardly and over the top alpha male tendencies that belied the ages. It threw me for a loop. I just did not get it.

I felt like Josh’s character got lost and he was let down by phrases that are a ‘dime a dozen’ but in the Erotica genre and in my opinion had no place in this story which was dark yet sweet, horrific yet inspiring; romantic and passionate.

“Say it…No one will ever touch you say it.”

“You’re mine. I’ve waited and waited and waited for you to grow up so that I could have this. Now you belong to me, just me. You understand?”

I’m not sure whether I am making any sense, I just feel so frustrated because I was LOVING this story!

Jenny: Yes, you make perfect sense. I too was completely in love with this story until Josh’s behaviour seemed to change and yes, the NA rating had me confused also.

For me the alpha male character in Josh and Hannah was taken to extreme, which is fine, but when a 15 year old girl is on the receiving end, well, it does become something else entirely.

Whereas I loved Josh for the unwavering love he showered on Hannah and the respect he showed her in regards to not pressuring her for sex, he was certainly the stoic one where that was concerned, I couldn’t help but feel that his attitude was too forceful, not physically, but mentally and emotionally, the way he spoke and projected himself to Hannah just didn’t sit right with me.

“Hannah, I’m warning you, and you better listen up and listen good. You’re mine…..”

There were also plots in the story that were built up yet never seemed to eventuate into anything, which left me feeling a bit flat.

The epilogue was wonderful and in that, you saw how deep their love for each other went, how their relationship had developed and I was happy with that, but at the end of the day it wasn’t enough to have me falling head over heels in love with Josh and Hannah’s story as much as I would have hoped to.