At nineteen, Kalli Perkins has never been in love and doesn't ever intend to be. She has her issues handled. She's managed to keep the secret of what happened to her nine years ago from her mother, although her mother's usually high anyway and barely notices Kalli or her little brothers.
One night at a party, Kalli makes a bet with her friend, Nate, that could change everything. But she didn't count on him. Nate's very capable of satisfying her, not only under her clothes, but in her heart, too.
She just doesn't know it yet.
One night at a party, Kalli makes a bet with her friend, Nate, that could change everything. But she didn't count on him. Nate's very capable of satisfying her, not only under her clothes, but in her heart, too.
She just doesn't know it yet.
*** Recommended for mature readers due to explicit content. This book is published in Australian English and includes relative diction. ***
Review by Janeane - ARC received for honest review
Kalli is a strong young woman. Abused as a child, drunk and drug-abusing mother, studying at university, all the while watching out for her 4 year old twin brothers, who are not really being cared for by their mother.
She acts out in the only way that makes sense to her - sexually, but only in public.
Nate is her best male friend. She has never done anything with him, as she knows it will change their relationship forever.
Their attraction is mutual, which is becoming harder and harder to ignore.
It took me a little while to get into Kalli's head, but when I did, wow! Some of the things that she did, I just wanted to scream at her for, but how she does not completely break down is beyond me.
Nate, Nate, Nate. You sexy thing. My heart broke over and over for him as he watched Kalli do these things. He and Kalli always drew together only for her to push him away and I felt for him every time.
And the interactions between this pair.... steamy, sexy!
As much as Being Kalli is a story about the relationship between Kalli and Nate, the bigger part of the story for me was the relationship between Kalli and her mother, Mary.
Mary is a troubled lady. Instead of looking after her children, she is all about getting drunk and high with her friend, all about "having fun". I wanted to slap her and tel lher to wake up to herself on more than one occasion.
I wanted to cheer when Kalli confronted her about her behaviour. But even more when it seemed to work. I was a big cheerleader for Mary cleaning up her act and being the mother for a change.
Can Mary stay clean? Kalli and Nate - will they or won't they?
For that you are going to have to read for yourself!
I did feel that a couple of areas of the book were a little rushed over, but these may be gone over in more detail in later books.
This is the first book of Ms Berto's that I have read (I have had her other books on my kindle forever waiting for me to read them, I have just never got to them :/ ). I will definitely be moving them further up my TBR list.
ENTWINE
PULLING ME UNDER
DROWNING IN YOU
PRECISE
