A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

A Little Too Far
Synopsis:

Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

Review:

I guess I should have expected to not like A Little Too Far based in the synopsis, but since I saw a lot of great reviews I thought the author might write it in such a way that it is good. Unfortunately it wasn't really. I really disliked the ending, but not for the same reasons I think a lot of people did. Oh well. 

The book starts off with Lexie having a run in with her ex who cheated on her, who she was with for 3.5 years. She is still upset by this, but yet she still lets him make out with her on her way to the restroom. She has no backbone apparently and cannot stick up for herself. Starting off great, but really I had hoped that she would grow throughout the book and it would be okay. 

So she goes home from this awkward encounter more confused than ever. Should she take the ex back? I mean he says he still loves her....then when she has a break down her step brother finds her and offers comfort. He is her bff and they tell each other everything. While discussing whether to get back with the ex or not suddenly they are making out and have sexy time. I didn't really mind this as...well since it just starts right off with it I don't have the mindset that they are brother/sister. He just seems like a good friend and whatever. Of course this results in lots of awkwardness and she leaves for Rome pretty quick. 

I was hoping once in Rome she would use that time to be by herself and figure out what she wants, what she likes, how to just be alone. Of course that is not what happens. On day one in Rome she meets the dreamy deacon Moretti and is swept up in him. So it is just jump from one guy to the next, even though she thinks she is in love with Trent her step-brother. She also thinks since Alessandro Moretti is going to be a priest it is fine to be whatever with him. It was just...she tells him all about Trent, and he still is intrigued by her, obviously wanting more than just friends. At the same time he cannot act on that since he took a vow of celibacy for the priesthood...it was just a bit much for me that she just keeps jumping back and forth between the two guys. 

*spoilers ahead about the end*

So the middle of the book was kind of boring for me. Her giving tours on to kids about art, and talking about Rome and stuff, it just wasn't that interesting. I did like Alessandro, and really he is in most of the book so it seems like she might end up with him. Trent is barely in the book after the beginning so you never really get to see him. Whenever he is mentioned it just seems like she misses her bff, her confidant, not that they are in love. I never really saw them in love, just lusting for each other. Alessandro though...well you have the whole priest thing. If he gives up becoming a priest for her...well that is a big deal, one there is no way she could handle. She is just not mature enough for that kind of responsibility. Of course she realizes this too late after they get quite intimate (not intercourse, but pretty close). She then tells Trent she loves him via text and he shows up a few days later so they can be together. Great. 

So after that what happens? I mean they are brother sister so...will the parents really be okay with this? Their friends? I mean Sam was dating Trent for a bit, how happy is she going to be that you are now in love with your brother/her ex? Oh and Trent proposes so they are getting married! Again I didn't see the love between them so it was just odd to me. So they go home and the day they are finally going to tell the parents the mom walks in on them naked! Yes! Then dad comes home, they tell him, he storms off. 5 minutes later he is back and the parents are all okay this is fine, no problem, you guys can get married hurray! It was just...really? The parents would just be cool with it? It is that easy? For real? It made no sense. I cannot image parents being okay with this at all. Maybe after a while, but not after 5 minutes alone. So strange. 

The real reason I disliked the ending, besides the parents being totally cool with their kids hooking up, is that I really just wanted Lexie to pick neither boy. Since she didn't really spend any time alone I wanted her to be alone at the end. I wanted her to figure out what she is like without a guy. She didn't really get over her ex, jumped into bed with her brother, then immediately starts hanging out/liking the soon to be priest...I just felt like she was not at all ready for anyone. She is too immature and needs to grow up some, needs to experience life more. I didn't want her with Alessandro since she would not be able to deal with the guilt of taking him from his calling, and Trent was just...maybe if he were in the book more and you were shown they loved each other more. I just felt like it should have been an instance of I am going to take some time to myself, and maybe later, like a second book, she could get together with Trent. 

Overall I found most of the book kind of boring with a really unbelievable happy ending, when really I felt Lexie should have ended up alone. 

Rating: 1.5/5