Before Now (Sometimes Never #2) by Cheryl McIntyre

Park Reed is a bastard in every sense of the word. He hasn't always been this way. But after his heart was broken by the only girl he ever loved, being heartless gets him through the day and allows him to fill his nights with the nameless girls he has no intentions of seeing again. He now lives his life following his ever-growing list of “life lessons.”

Lucy Braden is everything Park is not. She’s sweet, caring, and an all-around nice person. She tries to follow Lucy's Rules to Live By everyday.

When Park moves in with Jessie, which happens to be the floor below Lucy, Jessie's one stipulation: Lucy is off limits to Park. The problem with that is Lucy is determined to be a good friend to Park and see past the drinking and random girls to find the man beneath it all. The other problem: Park follows his own rules.

*This is a New Adult novel. Recommended for 17+ due to sexual situations, harsh language, and drug and alcohol use.

Before Now is a companion novel to Sometimes Never, and many of its characters are in Park’s story. However, it can be read as a stand-alone book.

Find it on Goodreads.

Expected Publication June 4, 2013

Review:
In Sometimes Never (Book One) we are introduced to Park as Hope's "unofficial boyfriend." He comes across as an asshole, making one wrong move after the other. I was TEAM MASON all the way, even though Park did get the short end of the stick, he wasn't right for Hope and I just wanted him to suck it up and move on. In all honesty I looked at him like the bad guy. BUT, while reading Blackbird, the novella to Sometimes Never, I fell in love with Park. There is a scene when Hope goes to talk to him and you can just tell he is suffering and it broke my heart. I knew then that I had misunderstood Park in book one and I couldn't wait to read his story.

 

I love guys with tortured souls, heart breaking pasts and self destructive personalities and all of that is what makes Park PERFECT. He is the definition of self destructive. Cheryl brought him to life for me and I felt as though I was right there with him making stupid decisions and battling conflicting emotions along with demons from the past. Park is drinking his way thru life and girls, no relationships, no emotions, just sex. He doesn't need to know your name or ever see you again. Then he meets Lucy, the hippie chick from the upstairs apartment and everything changes. He has a whole new set of problems. (1) Lucy ONLY does relationships, nothing casual. If Park wants her he has to commit to her and (2) His roommate and friend, Jessie warns him to stay away from Lucy. So now he has to figure out how to follow Jessie's rule and still be friends with the hottie upstairs.

 

Lucy has taken it upon herself to help Park. His destructive behavior is only going to hurt him in the long run and well, she likes him and thinks he is better than that. Everybody needs a friend, someone they can count on and she wants to be that person. She refused to lower her standards and become THAT GIRL, the one that Park uses and then moves on. Things get complicated, lines get blurred and Park does what he does best...he's an asshole!

 

I LOVED IT....FREAKING LOVED IT!! These characters are not only friends they are a family and Cheryl takes you right into their world and makes you their family. You laugh with them, cry with them, get mad at them just like you would your brother/sister/friend. Her writing style flows so easily it's like I'm living their story. I was captivated from the beginning and with each page I fell even more in love with each character. I can't wait for the next book, I hope it will be Chase's story, I have a feeling that will be very interesting ;)