Emma Mills - First & Then

"Jane Austen was my favorite author, hands down, and I knew that my true life’s story would be told in her style. Someone who was capable of calling bullshit in the most elegant way imaginable."

Entwined?
Happened naturally. After I read These broken stars I needed to be dragged out from its somber world. And eventually I happend to read a witty and flat-out amusing story. It was written in the stars. Really.

My book lover?
For sure!

The Glamorous Life of Devon Tennyson
"I just want to know why you want to continue your education."
"My parents."
"To get away from them?"
"To keep them from murdering me."

Devon Tennyson (what a cool name by the way) thinks of herself as 'stunningly average' and 'plain boring', however each dumb human being could tell that's not the case at all. Having started her senior year the time has come to make up her mind what the hell she's going to do with her life. What if she's good at school but not remarkable? If she's reading Jane Austen 24/7 and does suck at PE? The best qualifications ever in case you wish to cook steaks at McDonald's. Ronald would be proud.

Nevertheless, like every little girl she has a dream, too. Not the locked-up-in-a-fortress-waiting-for-Prince-Charm-to-save-the-day type of version because who cares about him right? No. Her frosted dream is to study in the shade of the oak trees of Reeding University. Goodbye 'advanced breakfast with a minor in cable television'! Welcome 'drunk roomies and inebriated classmates'! Yeah, It would be so colligate.

CELEBRATE TEMPLE STERLING’S OWN ALL-AMERICAN
"Get a ball."
"Get it yourself."

Ezra Lynley chosen for the army’s All-American Bowl East team barreled down Temple Sterling High School like a frantic tempest in the stale TS air while taking over the varsity football team. He's so freaking talented that due to the rules of the wilderness part of the population deifies him as a Divinity and according to a larger section he's a visitation of God. Surprise, surprise. He must love high school.

In Devon's regard, Ezra's a great big giant asshole. And that'd be even an understatement. He made a pretty shitty first impression but she doesn't go out of her way to get to know him better either. That situation sounds familiar....bingo! the lovely Dizzy (LOL) relationship in her beat-up Jane Austin copy which also starts off on a rather bumpy road. The best couple ever. Hands down.
Apart from the obvious he's rather sulky and reserved sitting in the corner while everyone else parties and he struggles to compose a whole reasonable sentence Devon finds a way to make him talk. There are times when they hold a complete conversation. That's what I call PROGRESS. Congrats.
The time of Jesus-I'll-die-he's-so-hot-I-fall-for-him-at-first-sight expired and the age of the thoughtful  'inaccessibly handsome' bad-at-talking football genious has come finally. I love you Ezra;)

'Ezra’s like baking chocolate. When you cook it up, it’s full of flavor. But by itself, it’s too … intense to be understood. Ezra’s just a really intense dude. You got to get him in order to really … get him. He’s the kind of person you want on your side, isn’t it?'

Weirdo in sight

Freshman Foster Devon's cousin member of The Future Science Revolutionaries of America (watch out!) not to mention he wakes up at five thirty every day and he sneaks under the table from time to time (weird), which is not included in his CV...at least I hope so. I feel sorry for the poor fellow since he lost his daddy and after fourteen years of upbringing his mum dumped him. Like literally let her brother-in-law adopt Foster because she has drug issues. She's just doomed him to therapy sessions for the rest of his life. What a petty slimebag.

Thus he has no choice but crash at his new sister's place. Devon isn't dazzled by the idea, regardless she gets used to her lame companion. What's more, it turns out that ZipLip Foster is a natural kicker so it's an evident step that he gets into the varsity team. Imagine the skinny all-teenager dude among the giant bulky seniors.

To much of Devon's surprise, the mysterious Ezra takes Foster under his wings. It's inevitable Devon must attend each of their training as long as she can read Sense & Sensibility on the bleachers. It's quite a miracle Ezra's able to take her mind off Mr. Willoughby for a few minutes at all. Her heart would be in great danger unless she's committed to an unrequited love that has no future. Period.

Revelations
Dev starts to realise (at last!) that she's lived so far in a convenient bubble that shuts people out. Besides, she easily put her fellow school mates into various categories. But those who like wearing make-up and taking selfies also can be smart and intelligent at the same time. I suppose it was high time she'd figured it out at the age of seventeen. Clever girl.

Champion of Her Heart
"Baking chocolate for the soul."

When things are getting better and better like cuddles emotional supports and invitations to the Homecoming dance plus the spark between them that I can sense through the pages, that's when the powers of the universe pull in the handbrake and poke their nose into none of their business. A heated quarrel in an un-Jane-like style composed of way too much 'fucking' and similar delicate adjectives ruin something they had.
To boost excitement Ezra takes another girl to Homecoming (traitor) and throws a fancy part at his fancy house with all the fancy seniors invited (playboy). Trouble in paradise: some idiotic bastard starts a brawl and Ezra ends up in the pool. Devon reacts immediately and jumps after him. At least she didn't embarrass herself as much as she does at PE since her instinct proved to be lifesaving. A real freaking heroine. As for me, I definitely wouldn't mind to CPR of American version...

Yet it's still not what breaks the ice. Ezra writes a letter in a Darcyish style to the HS newspaper in which he apologies to Devon and writes his entire résumé. (Besides he seems to have a damn good vocabulary and expresses himself just fine. Well, you could've done it earlier, bro.)

"I feel about you the way they feel in those books. The way those guys feel about those girls that they don’t always deserve."

By this time I felt like this:

Jane's getting together part - when the person does reciprocate your feelings
Neither fireworks nor background music but who could possibly need more than a guy who admits having read a Jane Austen novel for a girl. Heavens, he's so adorable! (squels and screams;)

Rating
5 out of 5

Starring
Tyler Hoechlin the dark grumpy not-really-talkative football player. Any girl looks nice next to him ;)