3.8 ( )

I usually do not love New Adult -- the characters in this book are the same age as my son and behave accordingly -- but this charmed me. I really liked Charlie and Ever, and their banter was very good. The whole backstory for both characters was idiotic, but it really did not matter at all. I was in the mood for a light romance and attempted 2 absolutely god-awful books before this one (Just Her Bodyguard which I abandoned about 2/3 in and Just One Week which I abandoned at about page 30) and this absolutely met my light romance needs. Silly, sexy, pretty fun. ( )

The player just got played by a novice to the game. Tessa Bailey knows how to deliver sexy while keeping it sweet. Disorderly Conduct takes every stereotype about relationships and bends the rules. Ever as unique as her name. She acts tough, but that's just a facade to keep the pain and loneliness at bay. Charlie can be a jerk, but when he cares about anything or anyone, he's all in. One night of sex leads to a casual no strings relationship. Until emotions become involved? Will "nothing serious" turn into happily ever after? Something special has arrived. ( )

Disorderly Conduct (The Academy) by Tessa Bailey  
The player just got played by a novice to the game.  Tessa Bailey knows how to deliver sexy while keeping it sweet.  Disorderly Conduct takes every stereotype about relationships and bends the rules.  Ever as unique as her name.  She acts tough, but that's just a facade to keep the pain and loneliness at bay.  Charlie can be a jerk, but when he cares about anything or anyone, he's all in.  One night of sex leads to a casual no strings relationship.  Until emotions become involved?   Will "nothing serious" turn into happily ever after?   Something special has arrived. ( )

Disorderly Conduct pits 2 independent, one night stand type people against each other in a battle of wills! Will either of them admit that maybe a long term relationship is exactly what they want from the other? (I'm not so sure...these two are pretty stubborn!)

Ever's mom, grandma, and great grandma all taught her the Mistress rules. Ever doesn't sleep with married men like the other women in her family, but she still follows the rest of the rules because she fears getting attached and the heartbreak that comes with it. Charlie is a new recruit to the police academy and can't believe he is able to score a no strings, sex only relationship with Ever. Then, suddenly, she calls it off. He isn't okay with this and decides he isn't going to take it! Game on.

Honestly, I didn't really like either character. Ever's ridiculous mistress rules were degrading and offensive. Charlie is your classic, trite manwhore character that, frankly, I am over at this point. So, the book didn't start off so well in my opinion. Then her mother visits and, in Ever's words, gives her a glimpse of the 'ghost of mistresses future' and begs her to give relationships a shot. So, knowing Charlie doesn't want a relationship, she ends it.

I understand why both Charlie and Ever are so anti-relationship. Their entire lives have been a lesson in why it is bad. They are both still young in the story (early 20's), so their blind allegiance to the teachings is understandable. Frustrating? Yes. But, I reminded myself they are young and a product of their environment. I was happy to see Charlie begin to change his mind a bit. His little visions of life in a relationship with Ever made me see he was capable of change. My fear was that he would sabotage her dates so he could get her back as a fuck buddy which would have been so messed up. But, he does grow and change so I could root for him (even when I wanted to knock their heads together for being so stubborn! A simple conversation could have ended this whole charade!).

If immature characters get under your skin, you might want to skip Disorderly Conduct. I liked that both of them experienced character growth, and as long as I kept reminding myself they are young, their behavior and actions were 'more' understandable (I won't stay I understood them totally because I'm old, but if I think back to 21 year old me, I probably would have done some of this stupid shit too). You have to take this book with the same level of levity as you would a college romance. The characters are not perfect; they are young and make some dumb decisions. Once I kind of beat that into my head, I was able to enjoy the story. Its kind of funny to watch Charlie come up with ways to sabotage Ever's dates!

 

• POV: dual 1st


• Tears: no


• Trope: manwhore,


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: spoiler


• HEA: spoiler

How to Date a Douchebag by Sara Ney, Clam Jam by RC Boldt, ...then you will probably like Disorderly Conduct!

 


Disorderly Conduct





See full review on The Book Disciple ( )