Ripped (The REAL series)

I am conflicted with this book. There are areas I adore and others not so much. Overall I enjoyed the book. So let’s get to the nitty gritty of what I liked, didn’t like and the meh of the book.

What I liked: I like MacKenna. I like that under the facade and the secrets he is the man who fell in love all those years ago and is still in love. I like that no matter how much anger he has he still allows forgiveness to be a part of him. I love that his healing was by writing songs of his time with Pandora. His bandmates show how much they care for him as well. I enjoyed the writing style. This story wasn’t fluffed up or glossed over. This was what they felt and what they went through. This was what one kept being immature about and fighting and the other having acceptance and love. We saw the raw emotions, the anger, hatred, acceptance all of it. I enjoyed Pandora’s cousin. She was precious and how her and MacKenna were with each other. I really loved MacKenna at the end and how he understood that final secret between them and didn’t push Pandora away.

What was meh: The reasons Pandora in high school kept him secret. You can see how MacKenna could get the interpretation he did and not like how Pandora acted like he was wrong. Secretly I think MacKenna was right and Pandora didn’t want to admit it. The lying to herself that Pandora was doing. She never grew up only allowed things to fester and make her bitter. Pandora’s friends were to accepting of her nature and how she treated people. They didn’t think there are two sides to every situation and Pandora I don’t believe told them how she was with him as him being a secret boyfriend. That can mess with anyone because you feel like they are ashamed of you.

What I didn’t like: Pandora in the first half of the book. I didn’t like her immaturity. I didn’t like her false self riotousness. I didn’t like how she didn’t really listen to other or forgive. She let her mother walk all over her and dictate everything. Pandora does grow on you in the end but it isn’t until the end when she finally lets go of all this anger and hatred and you truly see what Mackenna saw in her that you like her.

Overall: I enjoyed the book and the story. The plot of story was like a happily ever after of two crossed lovers. The plot is like Pretty in Pink where they are from different sides of the track and many influences tear at them, pressures pull them apart and in the end they find their way again. A story of two people who messed up and were broken by it and found there way back to each other.

Omg!!! Katy Evans is amazing!!! She has to finish Pandora story!!! I want to know moreeeee!!!!!I screamed just tell each other how you feel!!! Omg! Stop being stubborn!!! Lol Love Pandora and Mackenna!!!!

"There are people who have an effect on your life. And there are people who become your life."

Ripped is man hater, goth dressing, pink striped hair wearing, Pandora's story. We get to find out who made her hate all mankind. That who is the one and only rocker Mackenna Jones. Kenna and Pandora were teenage lovers whose relationship was ripped apart by self serving parents. Their love was true but misunderstanding turned that love to hate and regret over the past six years.

Present day antics have put Pandora back in Mackenna's reach again. Will he be able to let her go again or will he fight to keep her with him always? Pandora knows under all her darkness lies her heart that has only belonged to Kenna, but she refuses to let him in knowing the pain it can cause her when he leaves her again. She can't resist what happens to her when he is near.
"He keeps touching me with those long musician's fingers. Never, ever date a musician. Other men will never compare"

Can he make her see they belong together? Will his music make her see the light she still has beneath the dark? Kenna and Pandora need to face the past and move forward. Is it possible after all this time after all the secrets?

Pandora and Melanie together are quite a force of a friendship and throw in Brooke and I am all in for a girl's night out with these bff's.... umm maybe they can bring the guys too ... eye candy and all. I have no idea what took me so long to read this one but now I really miss Remy and Brooke and will have to plan a re-read.