First of all, if you have not read the first book, please do not read this review, as it may contain spoilers. This book continues the story of Ellen and Jag from Discovering Us, however, it is from Jag's POV. I love a good guy POV, so I enjoyed this book. It starts off very similarly to the first book in that Jag describes how he has known "El" since they were kids, but he points out how he doesn't necessarily remember every date like she does - their first Popsicle together, for instance. I got a few chuckles out of this because I could sort-of hear my husband when I read statements like that. He does catch us up on the fact that he has always cared deeply about her, however. His story moves along from childhood to their teen years a little more quickly, though, which I did appreciate. I don't really like reading the exact same story from a different POV - I want more, which is what he gives. Jag does talk a lot more about his hesitancy to be with El, physically, and it really made me appreciate their relationship more because it reiterates that theirs is not an "insta-love" or just a relationship based on sex. So, we basically get caught up to the present, which begins right after El leaves Jag when he tells her that they need a break. This, of course, happens after Jag attended an event for the commercials that he is shooting with lingerie model, Alessandra. At that event, Jag was basically told that he could not bring El with him and had to pretend to be with Alessandra, instead. This is after he had bought El this amazing dress and accessories and paid for her to get dolled up for the event. I think that every girl could feel her hurt and humiliation after that. We see from Jag's POV that he hated it as much as El, but he also sees it as something he has to do that should not effect his relationship with El. In his mind, he loves her, he wants to be with her, and she should stop being upset with him about it. After he storms off to cool down, however, and El leaves, he seems to begin to "get" it. Thus begins Jag's time to try to figure out how to win El back. He begins to open up to several team mates and talk with them about their relationships and experiences, which is truly comical, and he begins to get ideas. El remains pretty steadfast at first, and with Jag's ball schedule, it takes some time for him to get back to Chicago to see her. He does finally get through to her, and they have a very steamy make-up session. As with the first book, we then have several chapters where we see how much El and Jag love and care about one another and their families. Jag finally sees that El had given up a lot for him to follow his dream, so he becomes more supportive of her dreams, even though it means more distance for them between Chicago and California. Nothing good ever lasts for long for these two, however. Alessandra is not finished trying to come between them, and Jag continues to be that guy that doesn't realize how devious women can be! I began to get a little frustrated with him at this point. I really wanted him to completely ignore her and his agent, Dirk, yet he does not. This, sadly, leads us to the end of the book, which has these two at odds again. This time, however, El breaks up with Jag after getting some information that makes her very suspicious of Jag's actual relationship with Alessandra. Jag tries to talk with El but finally goes back home and begins another season of baseball. He hurts himself, causing El to contact him, but is Jag ready to take El back when she constantly shows him that she does not trust him? We don't know - another cliffhanger. Again, not my favorite tool for a book ending, but I will definitely be waiting for book three. ~Jess And there it was, folks. Another open-ended book. Can I say CLIFFHANGER!? AGAIN?!But Jag made a lot of points in this book.1. "Men are dicks." (Hey! Jag's words, not mine.)2. Men are a bunch of idiots. (Sometimes. But please refer to number 1.)3. Men are gullible. (Yeah. Especially with nice bod girls.)3. Men can screw everything up. (Even if they really don't mean to)4. Men sometimes do things without thinking. (Impulsive much, eh?!)5. Men are egoistic. (Alpha male mode on. Yeah right.)6. Men can be very persistent. (Especially when they really mean what they're saying)7. Men knows if their "luckiest asshole in the face of the world". (And pretty rub it to everyone's faces)8. Men can be faithful. (Just keep on trusting them)9. Men are cute when they're jealous. (And when they are stalker-ish but not to you-will-not-look-to-other-guys-not-even-glance-when-they-are-talking-to-you kind of thing)10. Men also have their moments when they realize that they want to spend their life with the girl they're sitting next to. (Aww. Isn't it a sweet thing?)11. Men also can be cheesy and be the sweetest thing ever. (Like "I love you. Forever and a day.)Since this book end in a not-so-good way, my conclusion is:13. Men can say bad things, really horible things, when they are angry and hurt as hell. (Like shouting on the phone to the woman they love to fuck off, or something like that)Hey. Hey. I'm no guy expert. These are Jag's pointers (based on his POV, of course).Aaaaaaand, I really meant no harm to the population of the men. *wink wink*PS. From the beginning of the book, Jag point this out.14. Men are not perfect. They cheat, make a lot of mess out of nothing and they lie. Not even fiction men are knight-in-shining-armor-riding-a-white-horse-looking-oh-so-brave deal. Not even close. (But they are sooo imperfectly perfect. So are we, girls. So are we. )
What do You think about Finding Us (2000)?
Jag needs a slap!!! Loved this book though. Can't wait for the next so that cliffy can be resolved.
—Melanie
