Review: One Night (Friends #0.5) by Monica Murphy

Title: One Night
Series: Friends #0.5

Author: Monica Murphy
Publisher: EM Publishing
Published: September 23, 2016
Pages: 152
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Ebook - FREE at online retailers!

ONE NIGHT is a FREE prequel to my new YA novel JUST FRIENDS, available now! 

There's a party over at Jordan Tuttle's house tonight and everyone is there. Including... 

Olivia: Who's leaving for her dad's house in Oregon tomorrow. So she plans on having the time of her life tonight with her best friends. 

Dustin: Who wishes Livvy could see just how much she means to him. 

Emily: Who's trying her to best to get with someone. Anyone. 

Cannon: Who has an encounter with Em he won't be able to forget. 

Amanda: Who's finally ready to go all the way with her boyfriend. 

Tuttle: Who discovers the girl he's always secretly liked just might like him back. 

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MY REVIEW

Disclaimer: This review MAY contain SPOILERS.

This novella is all about teenage drama. I have been reading adorable contemporary romance novels all week so I went in search of something steamier. And this one definitely left me feeling hot and bothered. Haha. 

The entire novella occurs during a single night at a high school party thrown by the most popular rich boy in school. The entire book is completely saturated with nothing but teens hooking up and drinking at a party or unrequited (or somewhat unrequited) teenage love. Or lust. Maybe both. Probably both. While all the drama concerning the teens' sex lives and romantic lives was entertaining enough, I was disappointed by a lack of other plot points of substance. It touches upon a rich boy whose parents aren't around much and a teen girl that is focused on partying too hard and giving her goodies to all the boys in school, but that was pretty much it. There was also a boyfriend caught cheating on his girlfriend with her best friend, but I suppose that falls into the relationship drama category. 

I actually found that the most interesting characters aren't even those that are featured in the synopsis of the first book. I adored Jordan (Tuttle) and Amanda's part of the story. I hope that there is more of it in the first book. The other characters were okay, but they didn't interest me as much. I did love the different POVs throughout the story.

I guess that I won't put too much weight into this review since the novella is about a one-night event introducing the characters in the series. I will say that it was entertaining, definitely had its steamy moments, and introduced the characters well enough. I definitely want to see what happens next. 

THIS BOOK CONTRIBUTED TO THESE 2018 READING CHALLENGES

- Stellar Series Challenge
- Beat the Backlist Challenge
- Let's Read Indie Challenge
- Contemporary Romance Challenge
- Popsugar Challenge

Check out my 2019 Challenge Page to see my progress!

Sometimes I crave a steamier upper Young Adult Contemporary read. The Royals series by Erin Watt is one of my favorites. What are some other similar books that you have run across? I could always use more on my TBR!