BELIEVE, a new adult book by Erin McCarthy, gets to work showing us the ups and downs of college life. Robin, reveling in being away from home, tries out drinking, partying and lots of guys. Then one morning she wakes up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. The night before is a total blank, and she feels awful. Nathan wants to continue the experience, but Robin bolts for safety, disgusted with herself - and Nathan.

BELIEVE that Robin isn't a bad person. She can't tell friend Kylie that Nathan betrayed her, so Robin avoids all her friends, staying sober and realising that a decent guy who loves her is not going to be found at a hectic frat party. Kylie wants to know what's wrong, but the more she asks, the more Robin clams up.

Phoenix, a cousin of another student, is temporarily staying in their shared house. He's just out of jail, and Robin doesn't want to know more. While Phoenix had a girlfriend, she's moved on in his absence, so to pass the time this tattooed lad chats to Robin about her art. Phoenix has no family, since his addict mother vanished, and maybe it's his own sad past that makes him a sucker for a sad girl. Robin is only happy when painting. She wants to work in graphic design so she straightens out her life. Phoenix knows he has no business getting involved with a college girl, but he still makes friends with her. He could do with friends, and as neither of them drink or take drugs, they start hanging out, watching movies or going to the park. Robin doesn't need to say that she's not letting guys close to her either - Phoenix can tell there's a boundary, and he respects that.

BELIEVE does heat up in the bedroom once Robin and Phoenix are ready for a relationship. There's also strong language and references to hard drug abuse, and a character who downs too much vodka, too fast, suffers blood alcohol poisoning. On a lighter note, a slight irritation is the constant use of the word awesome, which just seems to be in fashion right now.

The events in BELIEVE are heavier than in True, also by Erin McCarthy. We have to admire the new adults for taking charge of their lives with so little direction and so many big issues. Erin McCarthy brings in a few of her past characters to tie the books together and we wish all the cast well.