RATING: BUY IT

I read a lot. Every blogger does and chances are, being KU, you do too. There have been many books that I’ve loved this year – so many in fact, that when I was asked the other day, “Any recent 5-star reads?” I literally didn’t know where to start. The list was that long. So, as crazy as it sounds, when I read a few 5-star books in a row, which I just did, I always think that I’ll have to come down from that at some point. Not  yet apparently. Far from it.

Professed by Nicola Rendell came onto my radar at the beginning of the month. I’d started hearing little whisperings about it and read the blurb. It is a debut novel and we love supporting new authors, so I got it on my schedule. I’m not always a fan of the student-teacher trope, but something about this particular one just spoke to me.

However, nothing could have prepared me for how much I loved this book. Quite frankly, I haven’t read a book that gave me those little stomach flutters throughout in a long, long time. There’s just something about the relationship between Naomi + Ben that is so connected. So delicious. So honest. So fierce. I loved watching their relationship build and grow and stretch and contract. I loved the sex between the two of them. Not only because it was hot (and it IS hot), but because it really is the focal point for how they connect, not merely on a physical level, but in a powerful, deeply rooted way.

Professed takes place at Yale and the Ivy League background of Ms. Rendell is evident in her writing. I love, love, love smart writers and I relished the little hints at academia throughout. I was married to a philosophy professor for just under a decade, so even though it was only peripheral, there’s still a small love of philosophy left in me.

I’m not going to say it’s a perfect book. There isn’t such a thing. And, like most books, if one really wanted to, I’m sure they could take issue with any number of things in Professed. However, I don’t often say this, or even think it, after only reading one book, but I will without a doubt one-click any new books that Ms. Rendell releases. Lucky for me she has another one, Confessed, coming out next month!

As of 8.23.16, Professed is available on Kindle Unlimited.