By Referral Only by Lyla Rayne

By Referral Only (Whitman University)
Synopsis:

After being unceremoniously dumped freshman year because of her family’s “new money” status, Ruby Cotton has taken care not to put her heart on the line. No matter how enticing Emilie and Quinn make it look, relationships are scary and hard—while a string of flings is easy and fun. That’s what Ruby wants. Easy and fun. The only problem is, when it comes to satisfaction in the sack, most of the boys at Whitman are nothing but pretty window dressing and false advertising.

Ruby takes it upon herself to make campus life more fulfilling, creating a referral database that allows female students to rate their sexual experiences, thereby informing girls of what they’re getting into before agreeing to a date.

When her acting partner, Liam Greene, finally shows some interest, Ruby figures she won’t need to utilize the helpful gossip. He’s handsome, fun, and most importantly, not a guy she’d ever fall for hard enough to let him break her heart.

Not only that, but dating Liam gives Ruby the perfect excuse to say no to Cole Stuart.

As a star swimmer and heir to honest-to-God Scottish royalty, Cole sits at the top of Whitman’s A-list—but he’s also the lowest rated referral on Ruby’s website. The ratings make rejecting his repeated requests for a date a no-brainer, but her real reason for avoiding Cole runs deeper than a string of unsatisfied exes.

He’s gorgeous, he oozes sweetness and charm, and the electricity between them could power half of Whitman, but Ruby knows it will only last until his family or friends convince him she’s not good enough. 

Before she knows it she’s falling anyway, waiting for the other shoe to drop but clinging to a tentative hope that Cole might be as different as he seems. When the secret behind his low ratings comes to light, that hope is torn apart, and Ruby wonders if she was right to give him her heart…and whether she has the strength to let him keep it.

Review:

Ugh. I really couldn't stand Ruby. She was horrible. Her self loathing poor me attitude was just horrible. I hated her so much. She came from new money and so apparently people expected her to act like a white trash princess so what does she do? Acts like a white trash princess then gets mad when people see her that way. Um okay...if you don't want people to see you that way stop acting that way? Then she complains about poor her everyone judges her without knowing her, but she does the exact same thing! With everyone! So she had a boyfriend dump her once, because she thinks his family didn't like her, so that means everyone at her fancy school will be like that. Everyone. It doesn't matter how nice they are to her or the sweet things they do, they don't actually like her. Um okay...pot meet kettle. It was so frustrating!! So then she doesn't want a relationship she just wants a sex partner. Fine, but why in the world would you stay with Liam then? The sex is not good, he is a complete jerk to you so...why stay with him? If you just want a sex partner I am positive you can find someone to actually have enjoyable sex with. I didn't get it. 

Ruby just complained and whined and made assumptions about everyone the entire way through the book. Sure suddenly at the end she see the error of her ways and that Cole might actually like her and so she changes overnight. Sure. I buy that. I liked Cole and couldn't understand why he wanted Ruby. I mean she was pretty terrible to him. I mean after he reveals his humiliating secret that he is super ashamed of she just storms off and calls it off with him. Nice. Way to go. I wish it would have taken more groveling to get him back. It was way too easy. She pretty much just smiled at him and he was all okay! Boo. You deserve better Cole! You deserve way better than Ruby!! You deserve someone who will treat you with respect and love you like you love them. Not stupid Ruby poor me whiny pants who treats you like crap. I really don't get it. 

I also wanted to slap Ruby so many times and just be like so what you are new money and people think less of you for it? At least you have money to get an education at a fancy school and make all your fancy contacts so you will probably have a leg up after you graduate. Plus you can go to New York and try and make it big on Broadway without having to worry about money or anything so I really feel bad for you. Suck it up and be thankful for what you do have because there are plenty of intelligent driven people who just cannot afford to go to school and do not get the opportunities you have. I don't feel bad for poor little rich girl. Man I hated her. I really wish she would have been written so that she was somewhat sympathetic, but she was just horrible. 

Rating: ★