Synopsis: Liberty Montgomery is many things:
A dutiful daughter.
A perfect wife in training.
Easy to manipulate.
But secretly she wants more.
For years, Liberty has dreamed of a life filled with opportunities – a life where she makes the decisions, living by her own rules. Unfortunately, her parents have other plans for her, ones that involve her submission and total obedience. Every attempt to break free from their control is met with threats, leaving her feeling trapped. Just when all seems hopeless, Liberty meets Oliver Nichols. With just two words, be brave, he stirs up her secret longings for more… friendship, fun, and independence. He almost has her believing her dreams are possible. However, taking a stand can be terrifying when you’ve spent your entire life pleasing others.
Are some chances worth taking? What would she risk for freedom?
Review: Wow, I wasn’t expecting this! I thought I would just read a typical New Adult romance, something light and fun to entertain me on summer evenings. But Loving Liberty is so much more than this! I really didn’t expect to be flooded by such strong emotions.
Liberty is a 21-year-old girl who really has the wrong name because she has no freedom at all in her life; her parents decide for everything: her frequentations, her clothes, and even her future husband! While her big sister is satisfied with such a life, Liberty is craving for independence. And when she meets Oliver, this longing grows stronger and stronger, encouraged by the young man’s words. But how can she break free without getting her fingers burnt?
As I said, Loving Liberty is filled with strong emotions. I got hooked from the very first pages on, getting absorbed in the story and in the heroine’s life. I could feel her hopelessness and really felt oppressed, as if it was me who had tyrannical parents who decide on every aspect of my life without paying any attention to my own desires (which is not the case, don’t worry!). My heart was aching for her, I so, so wanted her to break free and gain her freedom!
I think the emotions I felt were as strong as the ones I felt while reading The sea of tranquility by Katja Millay, which is by far the best New Adult romance I have read to this day.
I got quickly attached to Liberty. Not because of her personality, her parents control her so much that she can’t really show any, but because you’d have to be the same kind of monster her parents, her sister and her future husband is not to feel any sympathy towards this poor girl. And because the authors describe her feelings so well that I felt them as if they were my own.
I also really liked Oliver. Because of his attitude towards Liberty, because he always finds the right words to help her and because he follows her pace, driving her forward but never rushing her. What a shame he only is a fictional character! All girls should have a man like him.
On the contrary, I wholeheartedly hated her parents. They are selfish and heartless monsters. On behalf of doing what’s best for their daughter, they actually only serve their own interest regardless of hers. How many times does her mother tell her to “think about the family’s reputation”? It made me want to puke. Same goes for her sister and her future husband. I have no words to express the hatred and aversion I felt towards them. Only thinking about them makes me want to enter the book and choke them.
Belinda Boring is talking about an extreme case in her story. Yet I think that the message behind the words can concern each one of us. Our life is ours only; we are the only ones who can decide what we want to do with it. That’s important to always find the courage to claim who we are, what we like and what we want, even in adversity, even if it’s easier to meet people’s expectations. Fortunately I don’t have the same life as Liberty does, but I took this message for myself nevertheless. It led me to think. And I really like these kinds of books, the ones that bring you something beyond sheer enjoyment.
Shortly said, Loving Liberty is much more than just a romance. It’s a book that urges you to consider how important it is to step forward and assert yourself as the master of your own life. And if Liberty has the wrong name, so does the author because Boring, her book definitely was not.
I recommend this book to you if: You like romances and strong emotions? Don’t hesitate any longer! Although they’re different stories, on some aspects it reminded me of The sea of tranquility by Katja Millay and Me before you by Jojo Moyes so if you enjoyed these two books there’s a chance you enjoy Loving Liberty as well.
Tari
Siiri
Yay for massive feels! TSoT? O____________O Oooohkay, I really must try this one. TSoT is just epic! I love the sound of Oliver 🙂 So happy to hear that it tackles more issues than just someone’s love life. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Melliane! Thanks for bringing it to my attention 😉
Melliane
not my review
blodeuedd
I must say her last name, LOL
brandileigh2003
A fun and light element but also one that can give the emotional feeling sound great.
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
Love when a book surprises me and turns out to be so much more than I was expecting! I’m already rooting for Oliver and Liberty and hating her parents just after reading your review, so I’m definitely adding this to the list:) Fantastic review Tari!
Stephanie Faris
The author’s last name is Boring? That certainly gets your attention… I wonder if that’s really her last name or she uses it to make people stop and notice?
kindlemom1
This definitely sounds like my kind of read! Fantastic review!!
Tabitha (Not Yet Read)
Haha and I was just going to comment on the authors last name which is cool that you mentioned it as well.
Braine Talk Supe
I had to do a double take because I have yet to see Melliane read Contemporary NA LOL
I need to check out Katja’s book, I’m prejudiced when it comes to NA Lit, I should read GREAT NA books and maybe that will open my mind a bit.
ShootingStarsMag
Sounds like a very impactful novel! that’s great you found more meaning in it than you had thought.
Kirsty-Marie
Ahhh, the feelings! The best ones always affects you. Damn, I’d feel suffocated the way she lives. I hate a lot of parents in YA (okay this is NA, but still the same-ish), but they sound really really awful. I’d probably get a lot angry at this one, haha. But it sounds emotional and great, so I’ll probably pick it up and give it a try. 🙂
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Awesome review, Tari! I need this book, because Liberty sounds like a character I’ll enjoy too. And a NA romance that can make me feel all the feels sounds awesome 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer Bielman
It does seem like new adults are all the same now, but this one does sound different. Love the feels!!
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Awesome! Glad you were so hooked on it. 🙂
Amir
You got me at Sea of Tranquility. I love that book! And if this book made you feel emotions the same way you did SoT then I definitely have to check this book out. I don’t read a lot of NAs but I do get really excited when i hear about really good ones. Lovely review!
LilyElement
This one sounds pretty emotional. I’ve seen BBoring’s books around but haven’t read any yet.
Christy
“I think the emotions I felt were as strong as the ones I felt while reading The sea of tranquility by Katja Millay”
SOLD. I just read TSOT and whoa, that was good. I am for sure reading this.
kimbacaffeinate
Love your review Tari and I want Liberty to be free 🙂
kim { Book Swoon }
Ah, I love it when a book surprises me and brings out all the emotions and deeper thoughts. Loving Liberty is new to me, but I’m excited to check it out some more. I can feel the emtions just from your review-awesome. So glad this was such a good read for you, Tari 🙂
Tanja
I’m so happy to hear that this is not yet another typical NA story. I’m sick and tired of those. I love how emotional this sounds and I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Great review, Melliane 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things)
This would have been a book I might have passed on until now. Oh I enjoyed Sea of Tranquility as you did so I also think I will enjoy this one as well. I don’t always like emotional books until I’m absorbed in one. 🙂 I will add this one to the wishlist.