Review: "Shredded" by Tracy Wolff

In this intense and exhilarating New Adult series debut, a hotshot snowboarder and a vulnerable rebel with a cause try to let go of the past—and find a future in each other. Twenty-one-year-old professional snowboarder Z Michaels is the bad boy of Park City, Utah. He’s always had his pick of any girl in town—and on the competition circuit. But underneath his cool exterior is a young man in turmoil, trying to take the edge off tragedy by overindulging in sex and shredding the slopes. In fact, Z’s reckless behavior is a thinly veiled attempt to blunt his emotional suffering with physical pain. Ophelia Richardson isn’t like any girl Z has ever met. Though she’s from New Orleans high society, she’s no Southern belle—and she’s not shy about being miserable in frozen, godforsaken Park City. But laying low is her only option after her ex, a rich boy who couldn’t take no for an answer, nearly killed her in a jealous rage. Following that terrifying encounter, the last thing Ophelia needs is a boyfriend—especially one as rich and arrogant as Z. But Ophelia soon discovers that he isn’t what he seems. If anything, Z may be even more damaged than she is. Tormented by their pasts and feeling alone in the world, Z and Ophelia find a connection unlike any they’ve ever known. But with Ophelia hiding the details of her life in Louisiana and Z’s death wish reaching terrifying new heights, their relationship seems to be going downhill before it even begins—unless they can find the strength in each other to trust, grow, and love again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

I quite enjoyed "Shredded"!  I liked all the characters, the steaminess, and the snowboarding.  One thing that was missing that I would have liked to see is an explanation for Z's name.  We get an explanation for Ophelia, but nothing on Z.  And I'm assuming with it being an American book by an American author that it's pronounced "Zee", but every now and then I'd find myself slip and call the guy "Zed".  Just a funny little aside!

Even though Z is a total dog, people can't help but like him.  He's got charisma out the ying yang!  Ophelia knows his reputation with women, and even though she has no reason to believe Z will be any different with her, she eventually succumbs to his charms.  Ophelia's no pushover, though - she fight Z pretty hard in the beginning, which is all part of the fun.  It's not just surface stuff with these two, though.  They're both dealing with some serious tragedies in their past, and this affects how they deal with each other.  

"Shredded" might sound like a "typical" New Adult romance, but I think what gives this book an edge in a genre flooded with mediocrity is the characters.  I was rooting for both Z and Ophelia the whole way through, and really hoped things would work out between them.  Being introduced to Z's friends added an interesting dynamic that I appreciated, too, and I can't wait to read more about them in future books.

My rating:  3.5 stars