Review: Going Under by Georgia Cates

Title: Going Under

Author: Georgia Cates

Published: Mars 10, 2012

Pages: 347

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

**REVIEW**

‘Going Under’ was one of those books with a misleading title as well as cover - I like both, but they didn’t reflect the story. They suggested something much deeper and struggling than what the high school love story was.

What you gather from the book description of Jesse trying to steal Claire from Forbes only to put him in his place didn’t carry out for long in the book and the “feud” between Jesse and Forbes was barely anything to acknowledge.

‘Going Under’ isn’t a new story - it’s already been told so many times and I was disappointed not having been taken off guard by any supposed twists - and the plot is predictable from start to finish, everything you think or expect is going to happen will happen.I hit a rough patch fairly early on and from there it was obvious I wasn’t going to be taken on a spectacular journey. The pace resembled a three-steps-forward-and-one-step-back dance.

The hero and heroine were your typical bad boy “with a good heart” and good girl “with a wild side” pair. I would’ve wished for more emotional build-up with them. Just more heartfelt emotion other than physical attraction. It was all rushed since their pre-relationship was based on confusing games that quickly switched to real feelings without much explanation.I’d say Claire’s feisty best friend, Peyton, and Jesse’s teammate, Dane, would’ve been a more fun and interesting couple. I’d root for them.

[Spoilers ahead!] I was bothered by how unnecessarily harsh Jesse was when he broke it off with Claire and very much bothered by how Claire turned into Desperation herself, clingy, and pushy. And how everything was just about being physical. [Spoilers ended!]

The only time I got a real reaction was at the end where you practically walked into a wall. It had me speechless due to being so abrupt and.. strange, almost as if Cates created such an odd ending just for the dramatic effect. Then follows the epilogue that wrapped up the story with a perfect red bow.

There were a bunch of mistypings (two examples, “me” instead of “you” and “done” instead of “down”), I couldn’t help but notice since the story failed to interest me enough to overlook them. Basically this was a pass-the-time/one-eye-on-the-TV type of book for me. It was just flat.

(2.5/5)