Review: 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne was just released last week and I devoured this adult contemporary romance. I loved The Hating Game, you can read my review here. Or just trust me and check out my thoughts on Thorne’s newest below!

99 Percent Mine

by Sally Thorne
Published by: William Morrow Paperbacks
on January 29, 2019
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Crush: a strong and often short-lived infatuation, particularly for someone beyond your reach…

Darcy Barrett has undertaken a global survey of men. She’s travelled the world, and can categorically say that no one measures up to Tom Valeska, whose only flaw is that Darcy’s twin brother Jamie saw him first and claimed him forever as his best friend. Despite Darcy’s best efforts, Tom’s off limits and loyal to her brother, 99%. That’s the problem with finding her dream man at age eight and peaking in her photography career at age twenty—ever since, she’s had to learn to settle for good enough.

When Darcy and Jamie inherit a tumble-down cottage from their grandmother, they’re left with strict instructions to bring it back to its former glory and sell the property. Darcy plans to be in an aisle seat halfway across the ocean as soon as the renovations start, but before she can cut and run, she finds a familiar face on her porch: house-flipper extraordinaire Tom’s arrived, he’s bearing power tools, and he’s single for the first time in almost a decade.

Suddenly Darcy’s considering sticking around to make sure her twin doesn’t ruin the cottage’s inherent magic with his penchant for grey and chrome. She’s definitely not staying because of her new business partner’s tight t-shirts, or that perfect face that's inspiring her to pick up her camera again. Soon sparks are flying—and it’s not the faulty wiring. It turns out one percent of Tom’s heart might not be enough for Darcy anymore. This time around, she’s switching things up. She’s going to make Tom Valeska 99 percent hers.

Review

Last year a book rocked my bookish world. That book was The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. It was her first book and she smacked it out of the park. So when I heard she was releasing a new book called 99 Percent Mine it became my most anticipated read of 2019. At midnight on release day this book was in my greedy little hands and I read until my eyes turned into sandpaper. Let’s just say Thorne did not suffer a sophomore slump. In fact, her character development and storytelling only grew. 

Enter Darcy Barrett. This is not your typical heroine of contemporary romance. Darcy is no lithe, shrinking violet, succumbing to the whims of some macho alpha male. No sir. This is a straight talking, short haired, pierced enigma who holds her own against grizzled bikers and construction workers.

This was a role reversal story with Darcy being the aggressor where she holds nothing back when it comes to the apple of her affection Tom Valeska. And where to begin with Tom? Is he the last truly good guy on earth? He certainly gives me hope. 

What I truly adored about this story was how interesting Darcy was. She wasn’t perfect in fact she was a bit of a mess but the intense chemistry she shared with Tom literally jumped off the page and slapped you in the face. Darcy was awkward and painfully honest with her feelings for Tom. She hid her love in plain sight.

“What are you doing here so late, Tom Valeska, world’s most perfect man?”

99 Percent Mine – Sally Thorne

And the things Darcy would blurt out? You can say there is a bit of second hand cringe on her behalf as her mouth just cannot contain the hideously honest things her brain wants to express. There was just no stopping the borderline inappropriate things she would hurl at Tom. She’s a firecracker, a live wire and more than a handful that’s why it could only take someone as good, honest, steadfast (and ok insanely hot) as Tom Valeska to keep up with her antics.

Darcy Barrett was a breath of fresh air in a genre littered with “princess-y” leading ladies. I don’t think I’ve come across a contemporary with as unique a female lead.

Did I mention that the sexual tension in this one was drawn out to agonizing satisfaction? I am not into instant gratification when it comes to opposite attracts stories and this one delivered.

Moreover, there was a bit of a hint of a side romance in this one between Darcy’s brother Jamie and best friend Truly. Let’s just say I slid in Ms. Thorne’s DM’s and declared my need for a spin off for these two polar opposites to which she replied she’d love to write their story in the future. I will keep my fingers crossed for this one.

So as I closed the last page of the newest Sally Thorne masterpiece, I can say with 100 percent certainty, that if you pick up this book you will not be disappointed.

Also for those that read The Hating Game there is an epilogue at the end of this book. I REPEAT there is an epilogue to The Hating Game. It’s like a strawberry on top of an already ridiculous sundae!