Unteachable
An edgy, sexy USA TODAY bestseller about falling for the one person you can’t have.
Maise O’Malley just turned eighteen, but she’s felt like a grown-up her entire life. The summer before senior year, she has plans: get into a great film school, convince her mom to go into rehab, and absolutely do not, under any circumstances, screw up her own future.
But life has a way of throwing her plans into free-fall.
When Maise meets Evan at a carnival one night, their chemistry is immediate, intense, and short-lived. Which is exactly how she likes it: no strings. But afterward, she can’t get Evan out of her head. He’s taught her that a hookup can be something more. It can be an unexpected connection with someone who truly understands her. Someone who sees beyond her bravado to the scared but strong girl inside.
That someone turns out to be her new film class teacher, Mr. Evan Wilke.
Maise and Evan resolve to keep their hands off each other, but the attraction is too much to bear. Together, they’re real and genuine; apart, they’re just actors playing their parts for everyone else. And their masks are slipping. People start to notice. Rumors fly. When the truth comes to light in a shocking way, they may learn they were just playing parts for each other, too.
Smart, sexy, and provocative, Unteachable is about what happens when a love story goes off-script.
Maise O’Malley just turned eighteen, but she’s felt like a grown-up her entire life. The summer before senior year, she has plans: get into a great film school, convince her mom to go into rehab, and absolutely do not, under any circumstances, screw up her own future.
But life has a way of throwing her plans into free-fall.
When Maise meets Evan at a carnival one night, their chemistry is immediate, intense, and short-lived. Which is exactly how she likes it: no strings. But afterward, she can’t get Evan out of her head. He’s taught her that a hookup can be something more. It can be an unexpected connection with someone who truly understands her. Someone who sees beyond her bravado to the scared but strong girl inside.
That someone turns out to be her new film class teacher, Mr. Evan Wilke.
Maise and Evan resolve to keep their hands off each other, but the attraction is too much to bear. Together, they’re real and genuine; apart, they’re just actors playing their parts for everyone else. And their masks are slipping. People start to notice. Rumors fly. When the truth comes to light in a shocking way, they may learn they were just playing parts for each other, too.
Smart, sexy, and provocative, Unteachable is about what happens when a love story goes off-script.
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Community Reviews
Unteachable was a good read in a lot of ways. I did some issues with it though. Somehow I couldn't picture it like it appears most others did. I'm not even sure I'd recommend it.
Let's start with the cover. Pretty right? Yeah, didn't even see the girls face until after I finished reading it and happen to turn it sideways. Makes more sense but I don't think it matched the book, no matter how many times they described the carnival lights.
This story was weird for me. I'll just go ahead and put it out there.
I could not accept and/or like Evan. Was it the age difference? The student teacher relationship? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure it was the lying, hiding, and repeated mistakes he was making. To me he was a villain and I couldn't get past that. Yes, she loved him and apparently he loved her, but I didn't believe it. I didn't feel for them. It was tough.
Maise on the other hand was brilliant. Her character stood out by bleeding emotional struggles in each page. She was real and really broken.
The writing was magnificent. Descriptive in all the right ways. It basically played out like an independent film, which was fitting because he was her film teacher.
The book is definitely on the gritty side. Intended for mature audiences for a reason. The drugs, sex, and abuse are only the top layer. When you continue peeling there's a whole other layer containing a psychological mess. It's heartwarming, exciting, and brutal all at once. Like being beat in the face with a baby polar bear. This is why I rated high. The romance wasn't my style but the rest of the book deserves it's recognition.
Would I recommend it? I don't know. I don't normally have a problem with this type of taboo relationship, but something about the two of them just didn't fit right. Oh well, weird romance is better than no romance?
Let's start with the cover. Pretty right? Yeah, didn't even see the girls face until after I finished reading it and happen to turn it sideways. Makes more sense but I don't think it matched the book, no matter how many times they described the carnival lights.
This story was weird for me. I'll just go ahead and put it out there.
I could not accept and/or like Evan. Was it the age difference? The student teacher relationship? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure it was the lying, hiding, and repeated mistakes he was making. To me he was a villain and I couldn't get past that. Yes, she loved him and apparently he loved her, but I didn't believe it. I didn't feel for them. It was tough.
Maise on the other hand was brilliant. Her character stood out by bleeding emotional struggles in each page. She was real and really broken.
The writing was magnificent. Descriptive in all the right ways. It basically played out like an independent film, which was fitting because he was her film teacher.
The book is definitely on the gritty side. Intended for mature audiences for a reason. The drugs, sex, and abuse are only the top layer. When you continue peeling there's a whole other layer containing a psychological mess. It's heartwarming, exciting, and brutal all at once. Like being beat in the face with a baby polar bear. This is why I rated high. The romance wasn't my style but the rest of the book deserves it's recognition.
Would I recommend it? I don't know. I don't normally have a problem with this type of taboo relationship, but something about the two of them just didn't fit right. Oh well, weird romance is better than no romance?
See this review and more on my blog
Lilybloombooks
4.5 stars
I first noticed Unteachable on my blogger bestie's wish list and decided to purchase it for the both of us. Call me morbid, twisted or whatever, but I like these kinds of stories. The forbidden kind. The kind that make you think. The kind that has that moral compass flipping back and forth between right and wrong. The stories you love but almost feel weird admitting it. Oh yeah, that kind.
I have always been a believer that you can't help who you love. You just do. Yes, I feel like there are situations where it isn't... OK, per se. There are lines. And there are times where these lines should never, ever be crossed. But let's be real here, they do. And more often than not, those lines are pretty blurry, depending on the situation. This situation in particular can be taken either way. You can sit there and believe that Maise was innocent and taken advantage of. Or you can see it like I do; a mature girl having a relationship with an older man who just so happens to be her teacher too.
I have read my fair share of forbidden type romances. But Unteachable is by far, one of the best I have read to date. There are several reasons why; but the main reason? The characters. Maise, in particular. Honestly, I was kind of jealous of her. LOL She is beautiful and knows it. She isn't arrogant but confident. I wish, even now, I had that type of confidence. She is also smart, raw, honest and so strong for someone her age. I often forgot that she was 18 because she didn't seem like it. At all. Of course, this doesn't mean she isn't flawless. She has issues. Yet, I felt like she has legit reasons for said issues. Her upbringing and the horrible things she was put through as a child; then more as she got older. The things her mother used her for. Which brings us to the core of her issues. Older men. It's more than that though. She is scared. Scared of loving and being loved. Scared of being like her mother. Scared of being alone. And although she is tough, she is naive too. She is beautifully flawed.
As the story progresses; we see the relationship between Maise and Evan (Mr. Wilke) grow. While it was purely physical in the beginning-- with the added taboo of their situation-- it quickly became more than that. They fall in love. They challenge each other and they GET each other. There IS more to their relationship than just the.... wrongness of it. There are more issues at hand. It's just.. gah, it's really hard to explain! I really enjoyed their interactions and watching as their flaws and insecurities were laid out there. It was just so REAL, realistic and be to honest, hot.
Evan, while sweet, nerdy and harboring an innocence himself; was a hard character to read at times. I couldn't help the back and forth thoughts about his real intentions. If he was a creep or if he really was in love with Maise (does this make him a creep for falling in love with Maise?!). In the back of my head, I knew Evan. It's just.. you can't help but question it, ya know? Especially when his past started to come to light. See, we know why Maise likes older men; it's clear as day. Evan is portrayed as a repeat offender. Was it just coincidence? Was it Fate? Is there something not right there? Is it because of HIS childhood too? I don't even know. That's strong writing for you, right there.
The writing is what made this book. Not everyone can take such a taboo and morally questioning subject and make it work. The situation is so realistic, though. Her prose is beautiful and lyrical and whether or not you agree or disagree with the situation at hand, you will still be wholly engrossed and captivated by the writing. I loved how the book was over the course of a year. We weren't rushed into anything, or forced to believe anything. But she really makes you think. Things developed slowly and at those breaks in time, she summarized everything nicely and I never felt like I missed anything.
My Peeve- I wanted more back story on Evan. We get into some gritty details about Maise and her past but not a whole lot on Evan. Also, while I LOVED the ending, I wish there was an epilogue to see how things turned out months or years later.
Overall- I loved it. Leah is a remarkable writer, flawlessly crafting a love story that is beautiful as it is taboo. I highly recommend this one.
Lilybloombooks
4.5 stars
I first noticed Unteachable on my blogger bestie's wish list and decided to purchase it for the both of us. Call me morbid, twisted or whatever, but I like these kinds of stories. The forbidden kind. The kind that make you think. The kind that has that moral compass flipping back and forth between right and wrong. The stories you love but almost feel weird admitting it. Oh yeah, that kind.
I have always been a believer that you can't help who you love. You just do. Yes, I feel like there are situations where it isn't... OK, per se. There are lines. And there are times where these lines should never, ever be crossed. But let's be real here, they do. And more often than not, those lines are pretty blurry, depending on the situation. This situation in particular can be taken either way. You can sit there and believe that Maise was innocent and taken advantage of. Or you can see it like I do; a mature girl having a relationship with an older man who just so happens to be her teacher too.
I have read my fair share of forbidden type romances. But Unteachable is by far, one of the best I have read to date. There are several reasons why; but the main reason? The characters. Maise, in particular. Honestly, I was kind of jealous of her. LOL She is beautiful and knows it. She isn't arrogant but confident. I wish, even now, I had that type of confidence. She is also smart, raw, honest and so strong for someone her age. I often forgot that she was 18 because she didn't seem like it. At all. Of course, this doesn't mean she isn't flawless. She has issues. Yet, I felt like she has legit reasons for said issues. Her upbringing and the horrible things she was put through as a child; then more as she got older. The things her mother used her for. Which brings us to the core of her issues. Older men. It's more than that though. She is scared. Scared of loving and being loved. Scared of being like her mother. Scared of being alone. And although she is tough, she is naive too. She is beautifully flawed.
As the story progresses; we see the relationship between Maise and Evan (Mr. Wilke) grow. While it was purely physical in the beginning-- with the added taboo of their situation-- it quickly became more than that. They fall in love. They challenge each other and they GET each other. There IS more to their relationship than just the.... wrongness of it. There are more issues at hand. It's just.. gah, it's really hard to explain! I really enjoyed their interactions and watching as their flaws and insecurities were laid out there. It was just so REAL, realistic and be to honest, hot.
Evan, while sweet, nerdy and harboring an innocence himself; was a hard character to read at times. I couldn't help the back and forth thoughts about his real intentions. If he was a creep or if he really was in love with Maise (does this make him a creep for falling in love with Maise?!). In the back of my head, I knew Evan. It's just.. you can't help but question it, ya know? Especially when his past started to come to light. See, we know why Maise likes older men; it's clear as day. Evan is portrayed as a repeat offender. Was it just coincidence? Was it Fate? Is there something not right there? Is it because of HIS childhood too? I don't even know. That's strong writing for you, right there.
The writing is what made this book. Not everyone can take such a taboo and morally questioning subject and make it work. The situation is so realistic, though. Her prose is beautiful and lyrical and whether or not you agree or disagree with the situation at hand, you will still be wholly engrossed and captivated by the writing. I loved how the book was over the course of a year. We weren't rushed into anything, or forced to believe anything. But she really makes you think. Things developed slowly and at those breaks in time, she summarized everything nicely and I never felt like I missed anything.
My Peeve- I wanted more back story on Evan. We get into some gritty details about Maise and her past but not a whole lot on Evan. Also, while I LOVED the ending, I wish there was an epilogue to see how things turned out months or years later.
Overall- I loved it. Leah is a remarkable writer, flawlessly crafting a love story that is beautiful as it is taboo. I highly recommend this one.
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