Easy Out

Newhouse University, Book 1

By: Ginger Walls

Narrated by: Heather Stonewell, Raphael DeRamiro

Lauren

I've been able to keep my personal and academic life separate for the last three years I've been at Newhouse University. Not even my best friend/roommate knows the truth about my past. I learned a long time ago the best way to survive is to be invisible.

My hope of graduating under the radar goes up in flames when James Hart gets assigned as my journalism partner. Not only do we have to write an article together, but he also has to write a story about me. I don't see an easy way out of this one.

Hart

I'm perceived as the campus grouch, but since I play baseball for the school, my behavior is excused. I don't date. I don't socialize. I have a small group of friends, and I'm happy with that. I didn't come to Newhouse to meet new people or fall in love. I'm here to play baseball and get drafted.

That is until I see her. The little witch who put me under her spell. I'm not sure what to do about it. The more I get to know her, the more I want to keep her around, even if it means exposing a part of my past I keep hidden.

For mature listeners.

©2024 Ginger Walls (P)2024 Podium Audio

Lauren & Hart

This book is incredibly sweet, and I absolutely loved the dynamic between Lauren and Hart. Both are students at Newhouse University and hardly interacted with each other until they were paired for a journalism class project. As they spent more time together, their connection deepened, drawing them closer. Each of them carries emotional scars they’d rather not confront, but through their growing bond, they find the strength to open up, offering each other the support they didn’t know they needed. It was heartwarming to see them evolve into each other's safe space. If you're looking for a touching, romantic story with a bit of spice, this is definitely one to add to your tbr.

Emotional Connections First! Love It!

Lauren has had a difficult past that makes her leary of friendship and love. Hart is the campus baseball star who chooses to keep his feelings close and has a hard time talking to people. Yet, these two find each other and first develop a strong emotional connection and then get to explore their steamy physical chemistry. The main characters learn to help each other and support each other. There’s a twist at the end so didn’t really see coming which added more depth to the plot. Hear me out regarding interconnected stand-alones. The dual narration was appreciated and enhanced the dual, first person PoV. I enjoyed listening to Hart’s pet names and some dialogue in Spanish. just something about staring a series after book one, and then reading the backlist and this time I think it enhanced my experience by starting mid series. It shone so much light on the characters in the subsequent book(s)…ahem…looking at you, Wyatt!

Easy Out

I really enjoyed Lauren and Hart's stories, both as a couple and their individual stories. Lauren's really just broke my heart and until some dialogue between Hart and Enzo later in the book, I did NOT see the twist coming. Like, for real, what are the chances?! Crazy. Anyways, I just loved the caretaker in Lauren. She had to grow up quickly and work for what she had but she did it. And she still took the time to put others first. Her relationship with Manny and Carlos just warmed my cold, little heart and had me sobbing.

And Hart. I love the "only soft for them" types of guys and Hart is so that person. I enjoyed watching him learn to open up to Lauren. I loved how he just instinctually knew that Lauren could and would take care of herself but also knew the exact times she needed him. It reminded me of my husband who knows I will damn well do whatever I want but also knows just when I need him to step in and support me.

And I would be remiss to not mention the friend group. I read Strike Zone before I read this and, I'm going to be honest, disco cowboy Wyatt is my main man. I love him. So getting the glimpses of him in this book just made my life. And his subtle drop in the epilogue had me ROLLING! Only Wyatt. It was great seeing the foundation for Sydney and Koa being laid too. Love me a sibling's best friend trope.

I read this on audio, and while it seems like it took me a long time, it wasn't because I didn't enjoy the narration. I get most of my audio time in at work and my work load in November just didn't cooperate with lots of listening time unfortunately. That being said, I enjoyed both narrators. Heather Stonewell was fantastic as Lauren. She did a great job differentiating the characters as she spoke. And Raphael Dearmiro did great as Hart. My only downfall with the audio vs. an e-copy was that Hart speaks in Spanish at times and, as I do not, those parts obviously got lost in translation (where my Kindle would translate). I didn't put too much thought in to it though. I just assumed Hart was being either swoony or dirty depending on the scene's context ;)

Overall definitely recommend. It's a great start to the Newhouse series and coming up next is my main man Wyatt so, like, you should definitely read this and then dive right in to Wyatt and Wren!

Loved book

Loved the book. I like that the books have characters that feel real. Wish this book. had whispersync.

Something special

I read Easy Out when it first came out. I was so excited to hear it was coming to audiobook. This did not disappoint. The Narrators did a phenomenal job bringing Lauren and Hart to life. The emotions were spot on. The story is one I will reread and relisten to again and again. Five big beautiful stars