Megan Erickson

Max Payton lives by two rules: Size and strength win any fight, and never show weakness. When a rash of assaults sends Bowler University into a tailspin, Max volunteers to help teach a self-defense class. One of the other instructors is the beautiful, pixie-faced girl he keeps butting heads with … and who challenges everything he thought he knew. Lea Travers avoids guys like Max—cocky jocks who assume she's fragile because of a disability caused by a childhood accident. She likes to be in control, and something about being with Max makes her feel anything but. During the moments he lets his guard down, Lea sees a soul as broken inside as she is outside. Trusting him is a whole other problem … When the attacks ramp up and hit close to home, Lea and Max must learn, before it's too late, that true strength can come from vulnerability … and giving in to trust is sometimes the only way to make things right.

A Bowler University Novel

Make It Right

Nicole Goldstein

Initial thoughts: 

I can't stress how much I loved absolutely everything about this book. Megan had her work cut out for her, redeeming Max after his actions in Make it Count and making readers fall in love with him. But you know what? She pulled it off and then some. I love Max. I absolutely adored Lea. I want to be friends with every single one of these characters. 

All. The. Feels. 

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So, I think I've sat down no fewer than five times to try to write my review for Make It Right, but I'm having such a difficult time saying anything more than "OMG I LOVE IT BUY IT IMMEDIATELY SWOONS AND FEELS" in shouty caps. I recognize that's not particularly helpful, so I'm going to try my best to reign in my inner fangirl and tell you WHY I loved this book so much. Just know that whatever I say, it won't do this one justice. 

I have a great amount of respect for an author who can make me love a character I previously hated. Ok, maybe in this case "hate" is a strong word to use for Max, but let's face it, he wasn't a nice guy in Make It Count. He made just about every unforgivable mistake a guy can make. I had zero respect for him as a person, a friend and least of all, a boyfriend. He was arrogant and self-centered and even though I was completely ready to dismiss him, I was still excited to find out Megan was writing a book for him. I don't like disliking characters. I think nearly everyone has redeemable qualities and I love when an author can make me see the true character and make me admit I was wrong. And I was definitely wrong about Max. 

The beginning of Max's transition began, for me, when he took in the stray cat. I mean, who doesn't love a guy who loves cats? It was obvious he identified with the cat and in saving the cat, he found a way to begin saving himself, too. One of my favorite scenes in the book, and in all the books I've read so far this year, involved Max explaining why he was going to make homemade (yes this guy BAKES!) treats for Wayne the cat because he deserved good things too. It was so heart-melty and swoony, I think I fell a little bit in love with him right then. Regardless of when it happened during this book, the end result is the same... Max completely redeemed himself in my eyes. And more than just redemption, he earned my love and respect. He is a genuinely good and caring guy. He just went through some stuff and even if I didn't like the things he did, after learning more about his backstory, I completely understand why he did. 

I can't begin to tell you how much I loved Lea. She was such a fantastic heroine. She was a strong woman who could take care of herself, despite her disability. She avoids cocky guys like Max like the plague. But, even with her mind set on avoiding him, there's no denying she has a bit of a crush on him. As she watches him flirt with so many girls around her, she wonders why he constantly teases her and doesn't give her the same attention. She might think she doesn't want him, but that doesn't mean she still doesn't want some of his attention. After he helps her out after her cousin is attacked, she realizes there just could be a lot more to this guy than meets the eye. 

The dynamic between Max and Lea was just great. Neither of them backed down to the other. I love a girl who gives as good as she gets and Lea definitely did that. Their banter was fun to read, their chemistry was palpable and the sexual tension between them leapt off the pages. I loved getting lost in their world as they learned more about each other and grew closer to something real. There were as many sweet and swoony moments as sexy ones and I was completely enamored with the characters and their stories... both times I read it. (Yes, I read my ARC twice because I loved it so much.) The on-campus crime spree was not only important to Max and Lea's story, but I think it added another level of importance to the book. This is one of the things I love most about Megan's books. Not only does she give us kickass characters and sweet and sexy romance, but there's always a little bit MORE to them. This makes them more realistic to me... and it makes them stand apart from some other new adult books. I just can't recommend this series highly enough. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

Make It Right A Bowler University Novel

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