Title: When Joss Met Matt
by Ellie Cahill, Liz CzukasPublishing Info: February 24, 2015 by Random House Publishing Group
Source: Edelweiss, Netgalley
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: December 5, 2014
Related Posts: Call Me, Maybe, Just a Girl, Throwing My Life Away, Ask Again Later, Top Ten Clues You're Clueless
Ellie Cahill is poised to coin the term “sorbet sex” with her charming twist on the age-old ‘friends-with-benefits’ story.
Dating can be fun, but it can leave a nasty taste in your mouth. For Joss, ever since her longtime boyfriend cheated on her, she doesn’t want her last memory of a guy to be that jerk. Enter her college friend, Matt. They come up with a theory: after a bad break-up, a person needs to cleanse the palate with a little sorbet sex. Lovers for a night, but always back to being friends in the morning. The two can handle it because they have a contract: rules they wrote, rules they follow and rules they can sometimes bend. The arrangement works: everyone needs a little sorbet now and again … until it starts to be the only thing you want. And then Joss breaks the one rule they never wrote down: don’t fall in love.
I love Liz Czukas (sorry, I mean Ellie Cahill *wink*) and so I knew I would love WHEN JOSS MET MATT but I didn’t realize how MUCH I would love it. Her debut novel, ASK AGAIN LATER, totally won me over but WHEN JOSS MET MATT had me totally falling head over heels for these characters, the story, and how much I connected with absolutely everything (and I already have it pre-ordered).
WHEN JOSS MET MATT is everything I want New Adult to be. Always. We first meet the two during Joss’s first years of college and when a good relationship goes bad, she leans more and more on her new friend Matt who also helped her coin the new idea of “sorbet sex” (having sex with someone else after a bad encounter to wipe the slate clean). I’m not shy around sex in books but there are quite a few times in the new adult books that I’ve read that the sex scenes become tawdry and over-the-top and unrealistic, so although there is plenty of sex in WHEN JOSS MET MATT (hey, that is the whole concept of the book…), it never felt silly or awkward to read (well, except when it was supposed to be)!
The characters were fantastic too. I LOVE Joss and have been in her shoes so many times. I just really connected and although I may not have been in the exact same predicaments, everything was just so incredibly relatable no matter what it was. She and Matt are both just totally normal people. No one is over the top sexy or hunky but there’s enough attraction between the two to flirt with that line of best friends vs something more (MY FAV) and see how the two end up.
Books with flashbacks/flashforwards are often “take it or leave it” for me but I loved the back and forth in WHEN JOSS MET MATT. We start to get to know Joss & Matt in college but the story constantly flashes back and forth between their past and their present day (which also made me VERY NERVOUS but in a good way). It takes a great author to really make those scenes fit together plot-wise even though they’re not chronological and I love the way Ellie Cahill handled them.
But really my favorite part was just the overall feel. I loved that it took place in Wisconsin since I’m from Illinois (and one scene in Chicago!) and I felt that Midwestern vibe, which may not be much different than any other setting, but it really helps me connect that much more. Everyone is very down-to-earth and the situations these two ended up in felt like they could happen to me — or HAVE happened to me. The book was funny yet serious, sexy and sweet, and I absolutely love love loved the ending. If you’re not a fan of new adult, PLEASE try this book! I absolutely adored it and it’s one that I think could easily appeal to YA, new adult, and adult fiction lovers alike.
“The View from Goodreads” is a featured section in my reviews that I decided to incorporate! I tend to update my Goodreads status a LOT when I read — reactions, feelings, notes — so I thought it would be fun to share the sort of “reading process”! All status updates are spoiler-free (no specific plot points will be revealed) but will contain reactions to certain pages and/or characters!
Joss // Character Obsessions: Friendships, her job, her cat, Matt, sexy underwear.
Joss is just your girl next door. And I absolutely loved her for that. She’s not what you’d necessarily define as traditionally beautiful but she’s still a normal-looking girl and has a normal life. I loved her little quirks — especially her love for sexy underwear (because let’s be honest. It makes us all feel super sexy even if no one sees it) — and I just totally clicked with her. She has a great sense of humor and may say a little TOO much sometimes but I loved that she reminded me of a combination of both myself and a few of my friends.
Matt // Character Obsessions: Family, friendship, dating, Joss.
OH MATT. I loved him. He was a great best friend, so funny, so nice, and yet still a “typical” guy. He was so funny and had really great chemistry with Joss. Also infuriating at times, but hey, that’s what happens with both guy best friends and when you’re interested in your guy best friend. I just loved how relatable he seemed as well!
Kept Me Hooked On: New Adult. YAYYYY this is what I want all new adult to be! I know the “typical” thought about NA is that it’s sexed up and well… this definitely has a lot of sex in it but it isn’t overly-explicit and I really think that extends its appeal to so many more readers. It’s not just a romance novel — it’s so much more.
Left Me Wanting More: Of this book! I didn’t want it to end. I just loved every second of this book and it was so, so perfect.
Addiction Rating
BUY IT!
No, seriously. BUY THIS BOOK. If you’re a fan of YA or NA or Adult contemporary, you should definitely read this. And buy it. And hug it. I loved it!
BOOKS LIKE WHEN JOSS MET MATT
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14 thoughts on “When Joss Met Matt – Ellie Cahill”
I am currently reading Top Ten Clues Your Clueless and am loving it so far, so I definitely need to check out her New Adult book! I love books with good characters and this sounds like I will fall in love with them too 🙂
Great review Brittany! This is my pick for your birthday giveaway also 🙂
I’ve really struggled with finding a title to draw me into the NA genre, but I’ve seen nothing but rave reviews about When Joss met Matt, and have heard that it still keeps some of the YA feel. I also always applaud an author who can integrate physical intimacy into their books, because it’s a real and valid part of the romantic experience, without making it seem cheesy or trashy (and it definitely seems like this book is able to handle that theme well!) I recently read Just One Day and really loved it, so I’m excited to hear that you’d recommend it for fans of When Joss Met Matt, as it further confirms my suspicions that I’ll like the book!
I’d love to win a copy of this book in your giveaway! Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful birthday!
I’ve found myself reading more New Adult novels lately, since I’ve found the kind that works for me – smart, sexy and fun! When Joss Met Matt sounds really, really good. I love the two characters already based solely on your description! Definitely need to put this on my list of books to check out this year 🙂
YAYYY! I’ve read this one too and LOVED IT LIKE SO MUCH(so much I surprised myself!). This is what I THOUGHT NA would be. It’s just so perfect! And I think it will appeal to a lot of YA readers too. It’s the first NA I’ve read that doesn’t just feel like adult romance under a different name, but it’s something completely *different*, something that does actually need it’s own category. And Matt and Joss were just fantastic! I loved their banter and how their relationship wasn’t super romantic in terms of grand gestures or sweeping statements, but it was still swoony in a much more realistic way.
I basically requested this on NetGalley because of your initial flailing on twitter and now I want to read it EVEN MORE!!! Hopefully this weekend! It sounds amazing and like everything I enjoy in a book. I don’t read a lot of NA but if they’re like this, I will start! I love great chemistry and books that feel like where they’re set. Eeeep I’m ready for a feelsy sexy book since it’s close to Valentine’s Day too!
This book sounds amazing! It’s definitely going on my TBR. It sounds perfect for a newbee NA reader.
*flailing* I have been convinced! I was kind of nervous about this one, because of the whole NA issue, but you’ve swayed me 😉 And I really did adore Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless, so I’m sure I’d like this one even if it’s a bit older in character and tone.
I have an eARC of this and I have heard of good things about this one so I’m really excited to read it as well. I’ve enjoyed the one *Liz Czukas* book I’ve read already so I’m excited for more, especially in a different genre. 🙂
This review has convinced me I need this book. Finding NA books is a struggle for me. I end up always reading the same few authors and I really want to branch out and read others but just don’t know who to read in this genre, even though NA has become one of my favorite genres. This books sounds like the perfect NA. Must have it now!!
Great review, Brittany! I’m so glad you enjoyed this as much as you did. I love finding an NA book to devour, because sadly they’re not all that common (though I had much more luck last year).
I’m not sure if this is a me book, though? I love Liz Czukas, but all the other dating these characters do makes me nervous. :/
I love your New Adult recommendations, because I think it is a gender with so much potential if done right, but it is so hard to find good ones. So I’ve taking note of your recommendations. I’ll give this one a try.
Great review! I haven’t read much new adult lately, but this sounds like a fun one. I do get annoyed with over-the-top sex scenes in this genre, so it’s good to know this one avoids that.
Oh PERFECT TIMING. I’ve been eyeing a few New Adult books to read and this sounds perfect. I especially love the term “sorbet sex” and will try to find a situation in which I can use it in re lif! Haha.
I love Liz Czukas, too! I am a little nervous to read this book, though, although I have no idea why. I don’t have a problem with NA or sex in books or anything. But I”m so glad to hear how much you enjoyed this book and I should totally read this.