
Olivia hasn’t had an easy life. The one constant in her life for the past 11 years was her tight-knit group of college friends. This story embraces true friendship and what a gift it is. The main character, Olivia, has kept her past hidden from her friends and the world. She is a strict rule follower who has spent her whole life doing all the “right” things. In an uncharacteristic moment, Oliva says, “no” to her boss and sets into motion a whirlwind of change. She books a last-minute ticket and treks across the globe to meet up with her friends for a South African vacation. Olivia realizes how much she has been missing out on. When she returns home, her life is unexpectedly turned upside down. When she is down and out, her good friend, Deiss, steps in to help. After years of pent-up attraction, Liv and Deiss struggle to come to terms with the intense feelings they have for each other. Could succumbing to their desires ruin a decade of friendship? Would their group of friends withstand the change in dynamic?
I love a good friends-to-lovers story and From the Jump by Lacie Waldon did not disappoint. The characters in this story were well developed and their story was enjoyable to read. The storyline was a little unrealistic at points, but not enough to make me dislike it. This was my first Lacie Waldon novel and I will definitely read more of her work. I enjoyed Liv, Deiss and all their friends. I recommend this entertaining contemporary romance.
5 out of 5 stars!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
Goodreads Blurb:
Liv Bakersfield is used to living her life in “shoulds.” Be fit. Be financially responsible. Be your best self. An overworked graphic designer, she’s stretched so thin that she’s about to miss yet another vacation with her beloved group of college friends. But when Liv finally decides to start saying no, it feels good…good enough to leap straight into quitting her job and hopping on a plane to join them in South Africa.
Amid the exotic landscape and unforgettable sights, Liv expects sun and safari animals and an easy time with her best friends. But such close proximity makes everything more complicated, especially with the emotionally unavailable Lucas Deiss. Their friendship is the only thing in her life that’s still solid, and she vows to do anything she can to keep the group together. But once they get back to L.A., Liv discovers that her leap of faith has become a freefall, sending her crashing into Deiss’s arms. With the trust of the people she loves most on the line, Liv must decide between doing what she should … and risking everything for what she shouldn’t want.