REVIEW: DISMISSED - KIRSTY MCMANUS

***DISCLAIMER: I received this book via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Any thoughts and opinions are my own.***

BOOK DETAILS:

Dismissed by Kirsty McManus 
Publication date: April 28th 2015
Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:
The second Lizzie White lays eyes on her new English teacher Brandon Thomas, she is hooked. Brandon is young, cool and sexy – and nothing like the other teachers at her school. But of course he is forbidden from fraternising with the students or forming any sort out of outside hours relationship. And combined with the fact that Lizzie’s best friend Taylor declared her feelings for Brandon first (and has therefore claimed theoretical ownership), Lizzie decides it’s all too hard and focuses on a budding relationship with fellow student and class clown Gabe instead. But then Jason shows up. Jason is Brandon’s trouble-making twin brother who seems to have no qualms about flirting with students or leaving a trail of broken hearts wherever he goes. Before she knows it, Lizzie is dragged into a confusing world of blurred lines and lustful thoughts, where loyalties are tested and true feelings are explored.
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Review: 
Dismissed left me feeling disappointed. I am very sad that this book turned out the way that it did. By now, you guys know that I love romances, especially taboo/scandalous romances. From the blurb of this book I thought I would get just that. Unfortunately, I didn't. 
Lizzie and Brandon are "in love" with each other yet they've barely even spoken to each other outside the confines of a student/teacher relationship. But we, the readers, are supposed to believe that they're meant to be together. And then there's the imaginary triangle between Taylor and Brandon and Lizzie. I say 'imaginary' because Brandon doesn't even know he's been claimed but these two girls are competing over him. Throw in a mischievous twin and you've got yourself a messed up square of people who really have no business being together. Period. 
I really did not like the dynamic between Lizzie and Taylor. Taylor is not a real friend to Lizzie but Lizzie has no backbone to just tell her to buzz off somewhere. This girl is superficial and stuck up and Lizzie is the complete opposite. Then through in the fact that Taylor is the pretty blonde and Lizzie is just the "boring brunette" and you've got a recipe for Saved by the Bell episode. 
The writing isn't that bad, though, which is what kept me reading. This book is short, thank goodness, because I honestly don't know if I would have been able to finish if it were any longer. There was a lot of potential here for a really great book but it just kind of fell flat.