Book Review: True by Erin McCarthy

Publish Date: May 7th, 2013
Publisher: InterMix - Penguin Group
ISBN: 9781101623152
Pages: 238 ebook pages
Series: None
Source: ARC ebook from NetGalley

NetGalley Synopsis:

A captivating New Adult novel from New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy.

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

My Review:

True was my first Erin McCarthy book, and I was impressed. It was a really great read. I truly enjoyed reading it. Rory is a character you can relate to in certain ways and it was refreshing to read. Her point of view is clear and makes for easy understanding of who she is. She doesn't mess around, she's straight to the point and honest, though why all of a sudden she is so eager to loose her virginity is still a bit of a mystery to me. Is it so she doesn't feel left out? So she can fit in? She's so independent, she doesn't need to do this and that was the one small detail that bothered me in True. It's not until you see that maybe Rory is really ready to step into that new experience that she hasn't bothered to explore yet. She has been kind of a quiet nerd her whole life so far, one who studies and doesn't go out a whole lot.
Tyler is a likable character from the start. We see genuine care towards Rory, even though there's that little secret between him and Rory's roommates. I really liked watching their relationship grow. It was like watching a movie with the best actors/actresses. The picture was clear from start to finish, the characters, the storyline and McCarthy's writing all played a role in that. 
Tyler has 3 brothers, 2 younger and 1 older. While Tyler was with his brothers, it was so honest and pure. It really shaped his character and made him that much more likable. The interactions between Tyler's brothers and their mother was heart breaking, seeing as they were called names, treated terribly and so afraid of her behavior because of drugs. The connection that Rory felt with his brothers and vice-versa made things so much better. It will lift the readers heart to see Tyler, his brothers and Rory form a friendship that will persevere though everything.  
There is quite a bit of sexual content in True, but it's not a YA book, so it's OK. The sex scenes were never too much. I never felt uncomfortable while reading them. There was just enough detail to feel the raw emotions of Rory and Tyler. Through this, we got a better understanding of the importance of sex that Rory felt, and what it means to Rory.
Erin McCarthy is a great writer. Her details, characterization and the plot line were so seamlessly crafted into this truly extraordinary read. You'll want to pick this up whether you're a fan of McCarthy or not; you will be after True.