Nineteen-year-old Whit Conrad leaves her conservative Pennsylvania home for sunny California, looking for independence, a fresh start, and a place to stash her grief. She promptly finds a job at a tattoo parlor, a craptastic first apartment, and one friend—Ryan—who is a little less friend, a little more benefits.
Deo Beckett is a soulful surfer with a passion for tattoos and beautiful women. On the eve of his twenty-second birthday, he finds himself living with his grandfather, recently unemployed, and seriously adrift. He doesn’t know much about what he wants out of life, but he does know his current situation isn't cutting it.
When Deo meets Whit, she’s all sexy makeup and fierce, smart-ass fun. It doesn’t take him long to see past her tough shell. And when he gets a good look at what's under all the superficial stuff that usually gets his attention, it leaves Deo wondering if there might be more to life than living fast and free.
Too bad Whit has a past she doesn't plan on sharing—no matter how hot Deo is. She might want him, but she knows better than to let her guard down.
Deo falls for Whit, and falls hard. But everything about her, down to that mysterious tattoo and the way she thrashes in her sleep, tells him that the girl he loves is hiding something. And the more he pushes for answers, the more Whit pulls away.
Having your guard up is one thing, but are the lengths Whit goes to to protect her secret worth throwing away the second chance she has at happiness with Deo?
Review:
"It's the Deo effect."
When I started this book I hadn't read the synopsis, but it seemed everyone is crazy about this book, so I just go ahead and went with it. Therefore the first thing I noticed was his name, Deo, which where I come from we use that word for deodorant. So after going over that like five times in my head, I just let it go and hoped this meant he smelt really nice and fresh. Glad we got that out of the way, now on to the rest of the story.
Deo is what most people would call a beach bum. He's recently unemployed, lives with his grandfather, divides his time between surfing, drinking and beach bunnies. The only thing missing is smoking weed, but he has quit that. One of those guys who have no clue what they are going to do the rest of their lives and just cruises along. It doesn't bother him, but his family and friends do worry about it, but he just laughs it all off.
Whit is a walking contradiction. One time she looks like a freaking pin-up girl, ready for a very good time and the next minute she's scrubbed clean and don't you dare to come any closer. The girl is messed up, but it's not her fault. She moved to California to move on with her life, but what she actually has done is run away from her problems and shutting everyone out.
"That mouth and those sexy dark eyes and her perfect curves are all conspiring to drive me fucking insane."
Deo is so focused on Whit and her problems, he can forget about his own worries and life. Whit hates that he tries to put his nose where it don't belong. She is all about being independent and making her own decisions, not realizing this doesn't mean you can't share your woes.
Both have to take a good look at themselves and figure out what they want and what they are going to do, if they want to have a chance of making it in life and love.
Lengths is beautifully written. There is this great balance between strength and vulnerability within With, which makes you understand her better and easier to associate with. Then there is Deo's humor, it translates very well of the pages and always made me smile. A couple of scenes even had me tear up, because the stuff Whit has gone through are so painful. Now I definitely understand why everybody is so in love with this book. How can you not want to read a story about two people struggling with life trying to find love.
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