In the world Cindi Madsen has created in Act Like You
Love Me, is what every hopeless romantic girl dreams of; getting the
unattainable guy. For Brynn McAdams, as much as she dreamed of being with Mr.
Popular high school football player, Sawyer Raines, she never really thought it
would be a reality, especially after he moved away to New York . But fate has other things in mind
when he shows up, back in their hometown to direct the play she is the lead in.
“Oh woe is me” does not even begin to describe Brynn’s feelings and anxiety of
Sawyer showing up and disturbing her sliver of peace in the theatre. Thankfully
for Brynn, Sawyer doesn’t recognize her from high school and she desperately
wants to keep it that way. She never wants him to remember her being one of the
biggest “drama dorks” in high school or the one event that sealed her high
school fate. But that gets difficult when Sawyer keeps pushing to be near her
and the “acting” on Brynn’s part begins to crack as they spend more time
together. But an act can’t continue forever and Brynn is discovering that the
curtain is about to close.
Oh Brynn and Sawyer…what a wonderful contrast these two are
to each other. Brynn, being weird, and bubbly, and open. A true classical
literature romantic. Sawyer being immersed in the theatres on the outskirts of
the stage, taking control, going after what he wants, and a complete
commitment-phobe. I wanted to scream at Brynn to just be herself and not worry
about what anyone thinks, especially Sawyer. And I wanted to smack Sawyer
upside the head…in a good way. I adored their interactions, their relationship,
and their desire for one another.
Cindi’s writing is brilliant and she really captures the
differences in Brynn’s and Sawyer’s voices each time we get insight into their
minds.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who ever had a crush
in high school and wishes for the chance to do things differently. And for
everyone else who got that chance ever.
(I received an ARC for my review and this is my
honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review!)