Watch out for spoilers. I didn't care for the book, so I don't really care much for spoiling it.
Yeah, this didn't really work for me. Mostly because IWatch out for spoilers. I didn't care for the book, so I don't really care much for spoiling it.
Yeah, this didn't really work for me. Mostly because I'm really done with the "inexperienced/virgin heroine" trope (and the "ladies man hero whose personality is that he has, in fact, had the sex" trope), but also because it is possible to do fan fiction well, and this ain't it, chief. Let me count the ways.
Let me first address the elephant in the room, the sexual harassment. I'm a political scientist, so obviously, I don't work in STEM, but I do work in academia. Lack of diversity is a very serious problem in academia. As I remember Cynthia Enloe saying to a professor of mine, what about gender in academia? In spite of an overwhelming number of women actually going into academia, very few actually make it. It's one of the most "establishment" fields in existence, and because this is personal for me, I'm mad about the way it's treated here. I also want to state here, I work in internet & tech policy. A lot of the work I do actually involves talking to, and working with people in STEM, especially those who specialise in the computer science of it all. Overwhelmingly, the men we like to call "tech bros" are quite awful. Being a woman, and having the added advantage of not being from a STEM background has led to some pretty amusing, if not insulting incidents. All this to say, I get it more than you would think. It's even personal in some ways.
I want to talk a little about sexual and gender-based harassment in academia first. Mainly, because of the sheer number of sexual harassment problems in academia, I find it more than a little disrespectful the way it's treated in this book. Title IX is not as straightforward as you would think it is, and I know some pretty well-established people who have been fighting sexual harassment cases in really big schools for years. It is so hard for women to get into academia, let alone make it, and so not all of these cases are actually even reported. Even fewer are investigated. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy academia, and I'm fairly certain it's one of maybe 3 jobs I'm okay with actually doing. That doesn't mean it isn't a cesspool, though.
Sexual harassment in academia (specifically STEM academia) is kind of one of the big themes of this book. And, the fact that Hazelwood herself is from academia raised my expectations a bit. I expected some level of sensitivity here, because it's such a fucking serious issue. Anyway, our girl Ol gets sexually harassed (verging very close to assaulted even) in the book. It's pretty jarring, actually. But also, it's difficult to talk about. Not to mention, retaliation and repercussions for women who "complain" are aplenty. So, honestly, if the girl had decided to not report her sexual harassment because she was scared of what it could do to her life and career, I would have supported her a hundred percent. I get it. In fact, I can understand any reason for not reporting it but for the one she actually gave. She decides to not report it because it could jeopardise the career of the crochety professor she's in love with. Who, by the way, already has a pretty successful career, as is emphasised on every other page. Who also, is one of those "strict" professors that I've had that uses aforementioned "strictness" as a reason to be awful to their students. I've been in school for 7 of the last 10 years, and I work with academics now. I'm basically surrounded by professors of all characters and colours. It really makes this book for a tedious read.
I am just so tired of women having to make unnecessary sacrifices for the benefit of mediocre white men in real life, you can only imagine my sheer delight when I saw that happen in what was supposed to be Reylo fanfic. I just think for all the "STEMinist" messages this book preaches. it shouldn't be teaching girls to lie about bad experiences in life for the benefit of someone else. It's a bad message, plain and simple. I vehemently dislike the use of sexual harassment as a plot device, especially in fluffy books. I don't understand whom it was pandering to, but it was written in an insultingly bad manner, and quite honestly, did nothing to move the plot. A real shame, considering how big of a problem this actually is, and how much of a reality it is for so many women (and non-men).
Anyway, I'm going to move one, because I have so much more to complain about, but also because I don't want to be more livid than I already am. Like most adults, I don't really care for other people's sex lives, whether in real life or in books. Have as much or as little sex as you want, I really couldn't care less. Obviously, I don't really give a flying fuck about whether or not Olive is a virgin, I'm not a virgin-shamer. Just like I'm not a slut-shamer. I do, however, have a problem with the weird second-wave feminism that almost always accompanies a mostly sexually inexperienced heroine, usually coupled with some form of slut-shaming. Which, happens here like clockwork, and with the bisexual friend too. I wouldn't go as far to say that it was intentional; I genuinely don't think it was, but I'm really done with reading about just oh how promiscuous the bis are. I'm bisexual (more pansexual, really), and we get enough of that in real life, so I could go without having to read that in some trash fiction. I also hate it when someone's sexual inexperience makes them attractive or appealing to a sexually experienced partner. For one, it's represented as some kind of virtue signalling, which, ugh. For another, I think it plays into the notion that enjoying sex makes you "loose" and somehow less than, and I don't know, I just am always disgusted by the virgin heroine trope. If for no reason than because it's almost never done well, case in point. Sex is sex, and we really must stop making more of it than it is. Seriously. It's just sex.
I also see that most authors, including Hazelwood, whilst addressing the issue of a sexually inexperienced, albeit "strong and independent" heroine, chalk it down to her being busy or just not interested in such mundane tasks as sex, until the hero opens a whole world of sexual possibilities to her. It adds to her self-deprecating charm, and her notion that she's not attractive, although the world and its aunt constantly tells her she is. It comes across as a more psychological "taking of her glasses to learn she was beautiful all along" trope. Most of all, I truly hate lack of a sex life being portrayed as a character trait, almost putting the heroine in a morally superior position to the mere mortals who continue to fuck like bunnies. It's not necessarily slut-shaming, but also, really, it kind of is.
In the same vein, I also tired of reading about how absolutely mediocre Olive thinks she is, when she's really quite attractive and smart and all that. Look, I get it. She has self-esteem and abandonment issues. That's fine, that's normal. What I cannot understand is just how long it takes for her to realise that a man who's throwing himself at her actually likes her and is not, you know, pretending. It really seems like she's being oblivious for the sake of being oblivious, which in this case, I guess adds a few pages to the book. I am also, if it isn't obvious already, very, very tired of the trope of the self-deprecating woman. It's supposed to be the anti-manic pixie dreamgirl, but it's really more similar than not. I mean, I've read books where it's done well, and I've even read books where the heroine is normal and flawed without being self-deprecating (looking at you, Marianne). I just need authors to know that this isn't cool or quirky, mostly it comes across as a bit pathetic and annoying.
Before I wind down, I do want to talk about the writing a little bit, because I have a tendency to forgive books for being tacky if they're well-written. Honestly, considering the bad characterisation and flimsy-at-best plotline, I don't think Dostoevsky could've saved this book, but I could have upped it to 2, maybe even 2.5 stars if the writing had been good. It wasn't bad, but I've read better, much better. I've even read better fanfic, and better chick lit. Hazelwood has a tendency to ramble, and whilst I do like stream of consciousness writing, I think it's necessary to be a good writer before one attempts it. Also, I guess it works better if that's the intended effect as opposed to an unintended consequence of subpar editing. Hazelwood, and by extension, Ol is terrible at showing, and mind-numbingly detailed at telling. She spends so much time just describing every single feeling she has, in such excruciating detail, it had me climbing walls.
I think we can all agree that Adam Driver is very attractive. I mean, just ask John Oliver. But alas, even picturing his face didn't improve this book for me.
This isn't a very good review; it's definitely more of a rant, as proven by my really having gone overboard with the adjectives. But by god, did I dislike this book. My friend Gretel has written a much more articulate review of this book here, and I think she does a much better job of explaining why this didn't work....more
This book is the definition of beige. The characters were blah, the story was blah. I am tired of oh-so-boring female protagonists that need a man to This book is the definition of beige. The characters were blah, the story was blah. I am tired of oh-so-boring female protagonists that need a man to show them that they were beautiful all along, if only they'd removed their glasses. Ruth Midoni was just not interesting enough of a character to suck me in, and I guess Thorne decided to make up for it by making Teddy Prescott "really interesting". It all worked out in the end, obviously, but I almost wish it hadn't. I could say more, but I really don't want to.
This is one of those times where I actually enjoyed a book marketed as chick lit, but was more on the women's fic/contemporary spectrum. It didn't helThis is one of those times where I actually enjoyed a book marketed as chick lit, but was more on the women's fic/contemporary spectrum. It didn't help that Orenstein's other books, seem to not have very favourable reviews. So I was already apprehensive going into this. But. This was good. Better than good, even. I've been complaining to anyone who will listen to me that chick-lit isn't what it used to be. I think one of the reasons for that is that most writers who write in the genre churn out a couple of books a year with generic hot people having generic hot sex. Head Over Heels is anything but. In fact, if you've come here for some hot gymnast on gymnast action, this book is not for you.
Case in point: There’s a certain stereotype about sex with gymnasts, and I heard enough jokes about it in my early twenties from gross guys at clubs to last a lifetime. The truth is that, yes, while we may be stronger and more flexible than the average person, we’re still just regular human beings who like regular sex. Putting your feet behind your head isn’t all that exciting when that’s just your typical Tuesday morning.
I think the reason that this story works is that Orenstein is an actual writer. As in she trained as one, she can really write, and I don't mean churn-out-chick-lit-write, but write-write. It shows in the book. There are many places where the story could have slipped, gone awry, but it doesn't. Orenstein moulds and manipulates the storyline and the characters to make sure it doesn't. She has control over her writing, and does a good job of neither under-, nor overdoing anything. No one unnecessarily waxes poetic about anything, and there isn't an overload of metaphors. It's realistic, in that I appreciate Avery as a real, flawed person, even when she isn't real. Also, with true props to Orenstein, she turns what could have been some serious women-hating-women to women-supporting-women.
I think books like this work better when they're grounded in some kind of research. It's about a gymnast and gymnastics, so naturally I expect some gymnasts doing gymnastics. Orenstein writes in the beginning of the book that she was a gymnast herself, and it shows. Her characters are actually passionate and knowledgeable about gymnastics, because she is passionate and knowledgeable about gymnastics. There aren't unnecessary gymnastics terms thrown around for emphasis, although the sport does form the crux of the book. I also think that that is what lends credence to the way she deals with many of the other issues associated with gymnastics, in the book. (view spoiler)[Avery, the protagonist is trained by a narcissistic and emotionally abusive coach. There is also a doctor who sexually abuses his young patients, much like Larry Nassar. Both of these instances are used to emphasise the need for providing good resources, support systems, and therapy to young gymnasts. Avery and her friend, in the end, actually start an organisation to assist and provide such support to young gymnasts. Nothing was glorified, and I was honestly very impressed with the way the whole thing was handled. (hide spoiler)]
I also genuinely enjoyed that Avery was unapologetic about being an exceptional gymnast. Life gets her down, as it does all of us, and whilst she knows she wasn't what she used to be, she remains proud of her skill. She would have been an Olympian if it weren't for an injury, and she knows that. She doesn't apologise for having been exceptional, or for knowing that she used to be. On the other hand, I dock points because Ryan was a bit of a douche there, in the middle and towards the end. Not a fan.
What I expected was a fluffy romance with lots of flexible gymnast sex. What I got was a damn good book about turning lemons into slightly bitter, but still edible lemonade. And you know what, I'm really glad I got the latter....more
So close, this book came so, so close to being one of those absolutely perfect books. AboTRIGGER WARNING: Anxiety, mental health.
Mild spoilers ahead.
So close, this book came so, so close to being one of those absolutely perfect books. About the first 90% of this book was actually pretty perfect. But then, the last few pages were absolute garbage. Not in terms of writing, just in terms of handling anxiety as an actual mental health issue.
I have acute anxiety. And I occasionally get panic attacks. Nina Hill also has both these problems. She's also kind of socially awkward, except in some situations, and she can be a homebody sometimes. Both these things are again, something I can relate to. Somewhat. I'm not socially awkward as much as I have a daily quota of how much I can be around people. And once I hit that wall, it's home time, baby. For a very large portion of the book, these aspects are actually handled very well. Her panic and introversion aren't "quirks", they're parts of her life that dictate her life and behaviour.
On the other hand, this doesn't stop her from having a "normal" life. She has a job she likes, a house she loves, friends who're pretty great. She also enjoys sex and is good at it, which, if one were to believe chick lit starring awkward and anxious women, is something such women don't indulge in. She's smart, good at trivia. Again, both big points in her favour. Oh, and she has a therapist, and the book isn't disdainful of it. It's treated as a real, normal part of her life, as it should be. She conscientiously plans her days, and always has a fun fact or two for you. If you know me at all, you know I am a sucker for fun facts.
I absolutely loved all of this. The complete normalcy of her life was not only appealing, but interesting, actually. Considering the woman in the last book I read was a literal clown, especially so. Nina is a normal woman with a normal life, and making that an interesting read, truly takes an exceptional writer. Which, Abbi Waxman is. For the most part.
When she finds out that she has a huge, ragtag family in addition to her mother who birthed her, and her nanny who raised her, she reacts like anyone would to such news. With shock, and some scepticism. After all, to this point, she is an introvert with two family members and three friends. Actually. Literally. Again, here, Waxman does an excellent job of balancing family drama with other, more "normal" aspects of family life - getting to know the members, connecting with some of them, and so on. So far, so good.
In comes Tom, rival trivia group leader, attractive, but humanly so. (view spoiler)[Is it absolutely cheesy that he makes bookshelves for a living? Fuck yeah, but I was more than happy to let this slide. (hide spoiler)] He's cute and charming, and their romance isn't forced. It's endearing, much like the characters themselves.
But then, and this is a HUGE but then, a lot of what's been happening in her life gets to her - kind of screwing up trivia, maybe losing her place of employment to CBD makeup, and the drama with her new family. To this, she responds to any normal girl with anxiety does. She has a panic attack. It isn't the panic attack I had a problem with, it's what happened after. Nina just wants to be left alone for a while after it, because that is a completely normal reaction to have during, and immediately after a panic attack. Tom, our good friend, however, thinks that this is, in fact, about her shutting him out. He is not happy with being asked to leave, and thus begins The Great Poutfest of 2018. Or it could've been 2019.
This was what did it for me. Tom took a perfectly normal situation with a perfectly reasonable explanation and turned it into a bitchfest. He Nina's panic attack all about himself, and that in turn, made me mad. Especially because she had to apologise with a grand gesture and all that. It may sound very minor, but it sort of diminished all the "normalcy" of the anxiety that had made this appealing to me in the first place. Simply put, a good man's love is not a cure for anxiety or panic attacks. Fin. ...more
I have no words to describe how much I absolutely loathed this book, so let's get into it. I want to start with what is a huge pet peeve for me, persoI have no words to describe how much I absolutely loathed this book, so let's get into it. I want to start with what is a huge pet peeve for me, personally. I am very much not a girl for nicknames, and "baby-girl" is, in my opinion, one of the worst things you can call someone as you take their virginity. Sure, it can be used as a term of endearment, but in my opinion, only if you're friends. Not when you choose to do the dirty in all the places I can think of, and a few I wouldn't if you paid me you to.
Also, SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL CLOWN. Not that there is anything wrong with being a professional clown, except I HATE CLOWNS. I'm deathly terrified of them. And, as I've said before, why can't the heroines have any...normal jobs? On that note, however, I am actually curious to know how much professional clowns make, because at the age of 23, the woman has her own house. That she has bought. On her own. With her own money. On a clown's salary. And it isn't a one-bedroom studio apartment, it's a house complete with a fireplace and all that. In fucking Long Island. HOW?! Meanwhile, I went to law school *and* graduate school, and I can barely afford my rent for my one-bedroom basement apartment that is an hour and a half from where I work. Note to self: start looking for jobs as a clown.
He, on the other hand, used to be a professional baseball player, who learns that because of an injury, he can never play again. If that ain't the stuff that causes severe depression, I don't know what is. BUT. And here's the thing. This is a man who hasn't got out of bed for days, who's been living on take out, and who has probably not showered for even longer. And well, all it takes is her throwing some leftover Chinese food at him, and he's...functional again? That must be nice.
So anyway, the clown and the man-child come up with an *ingenious* scheme to, um, improve both their reputations. Gerogie dates the man-child to prove she isn't a child anymore ALTHOUGH HE LITERALLY CALLS HER BABY GIRL. Travis dates the clown because for some reason she is stable, I think, and this would help him look more "family-friendly" for a job he wants. Trope-y? Yes. But it could've worked. Most romance novels are formulaic, and enough of them work well enough for me. Not this, however.
Also, I mean, the title of the book should've been clue enough, but, with the fucking makeovers, man. To be very fair, I will agree that there is a reason that everyone thinks Georgie is still a baby. She does act like a child, and she also apparently has no inkling of what fashion is. She gets her clothes from the friendly, neighbourhood thrift-shop, and apparently they're all from the '90s. Which, honestly, as someone who spends a lot of time figuring out what she should wear, doesn't sound like a problem to me at all, although I believe that it is impossible for anyone to actually be that bad. Also, realistically, the 2000s is when it got really bad; the '90s weren't that bad. But for the purposes of seduction, and by extension, this book, she ditches these clothes for, well, more "fashionable" ones. And I have a number of problems with this: 1. Fashion is whatever you're comfortable in - everyone has their own sense of style, and it takes everyone time to grow into theirs. I totally believe that this is something we need to embrace. 2. As someone who has worn heels for most of my adult life, it isn't a switch you can just turn on, out of the blue. You cannot make the transition from sneakers to 6-inch stilettoes in a day. This isn't a major issue per se, but it bothers me because it sort of ties into this weird stereotype about the kind of girls who wear sneakers as opposed to the kind of girls who wear pumps, when in fact, most women wear both. 3. Most importantly, makeovers are stupid. Changing your entire wardrobe so someone notices you is stupid. If he likes you after said wardrobe change and has never noticed you before, that ain't it, chief.
Oh, and Georgie's family was a whole new ballgame (ha ha ha, I'm actually funnier than the book, though, please laugh). Not only do they completely belittle Georgie, the innate sexism that runs in that family is unbelievable. Her brother, whose name I cannot remember at all, treats his wife like a princess in a 90's video game. There is literally a scene (two, actually) wherein he barges into a meeting she's in, picks her up, and um, drives away. That is not cute or romantic, it's a little toxic, if you ask me. He also completely undermines his other sister, who also happens to be his business partner, although she sounds more talented and competent than he is. Speaking of his wife, also, it is interesting how her entire self worth has been reduced to her wifely cooking skills, and her wifely baby-making abilities. Which, about the former, don't get me wrong, anyone who is a good cook, regardless of gender, is a winner in my book. But also, the whole men-belong-in-the-construction-site-and-women-belong-in-the-kitchen sentiment is so old, it doesn't even make me mad anymore. Just a little sad and amused.
All of this would have been but a footnote for me if the book had been well-written, and it was decidedly not. The writing was tropey and amateurish. All of the characters were whiny and quite tone-deaf, especially the men. They wouldn't have figured out the error of their ways if it smacked them in the face. The sex scenes were dirty but not in the way they were intended to be, and I kind of want to state here for everyone's future reference that liking sex is not a personality trait, and it automatically does not make a person different.
I honestly wish I had more to say about the Georgie and her spring awakening, except it was pretty milquetoast other than the truly terrible bits. But hoo boy, between the sexism, bad sex, and the fact that the heroine is a literal clown, this was a hot mess if there ever was one....more
I think the whole enemies to friends to lovers trope has been ruined for me by namely three authors - Jennifer Cruise, Sally Thorne, and Julie James. I think the whole enemies to friends to lovers trope has been ruined for me by namely three authors - Jennifer Cruise, Sally Thorne, and Julie James. The whole lawyers chick lit thing has also been spoiled for me by Julie James (I really like Julie James, okay), who, because she's a lawyer, gets the law part right. That works for me because I'm a lawyer and a stickler for details. What can I say, that's what gets me hot and heavy.
Meet Cute was cute enough, but because of who I am as a person, I still had issues with it. First of all, making partner before you're 30 is spectacularly difficult. You'd pretty much have to be a savant to achieve that. But maybe I'm being nit-picky there (no I'm not). An actual issue I had, however, had to do with the general personality of both the main characters.
As a small, curvy, bespectacled brunette, I am tired of my ilk being used to represent the quirky, cute girl who takes her glasses off, only for everyone to realise that she was beautiful all along. On that topic, what represents "quirky", really? Does the heroine have to look in the mirror and say quirky four times, so she turns …quirky? In this particular case, calling oneself quirky a couple of times and wearing patterned pantyhose seems to do the trick. "Quirky" is not a character trait, and it does not a character endearing make. It just gives a blah feeling to the whole thing.
The boy is aight, per usual. The man is almost always aight. Even if he doesn't have much of a personality other than a hot bod and being fucking amazing in bed. Why can't there be any normal, quirky guys, perfect for the normal quirky girls? Sigh. Maybe I'm just bitter. We'll never know, will we.
That said, it was more enjoyable than my words give it credit for. A very good mindless read. Excellent brain candy. It's all that....more
Basically, I had a horrible day and needed a pick-me-up. As usual, James wows with her amazing characterisation and sexy banter. She's the only romancBasically, I had a horrible day and needed a pick-me-up. As usual, James wows with her amazing characterisation and sexy banter. She's the only romance author I've favourited, and she totally deserves it. ...more
Somewhere between the first book in this series and this one, Penny Reid learnt to write. Well, Neanderthal Seeks Human wasn't bad, but it 4.5 stars.
Somewhere between the first book in this series and this one, Penny Reid learnt to write. Well, Neanderthal Seeks Human wasn't bad, but it was nothing in comparison to the lolz and sheer entertainment provided by this book. Bonus points for no grammatical or spelling errors. Well, not ones I could spot anyway. Ms Reid writes phenomenal characters, and this is something I reiterate. Strong, independent, attractive women, yet, not so much as to make them come across as "bitches". Good-looking, cocky heroes who aren't domineering sons of bitches. In fact, "men I fell in love with" is an understatement for what Alexander Greene was. The whole "bad boy with a heart of gold" cliche has been done before, but this was...different. Maybe because said bad boy was a nerd, and I have a thing for nerds. Or maybe because it wasn't reiterated in every line that "he was a bad boy". Or it could also have been because there was enough balance between the bad boy and the heart of gold to make Alex and lovable character.
So why four and a half stars? The ending was too over-the-top, and there are only two books in this genre I've five-starred, and that too one of them, after the second read. I still recommend this. Strongly recommend this....more
I'm busy till the weekend, and it's much easier to read shitty books in class. It's also a lot easier to point out why a book sucks, than to point outI'm busy till the weekend, and it's much easier to read shitty books in class. It's also a lot easier to point out why a book sucks, than to point out why it doesn't. I don't know; I think books I like warrant more time to write more cohesive reviews than the crap I don't like. So sue me.
Ugh. Plain Jane meets the most devilishly handsome man she's ever met, and he saves her from a bunch of...bad things, and they live happily ever after. Well, I hadn't read that before. Just another sloppily put together romance novel about two empty shells of characters who think there's really not much to life other than looks. I kid you not, because both the MCs in this clusterfuck seem to legitimately think so.
Caroline is your average brown-haired chemist; she's just an average girl from an average family. And whatshisname is well, ripped as a motherfucker and "obviously" hot. And yet, they still have time for some over-the-top insta love BS. I'm a very frequent flier, and I've sat next to some incredibly good-looking men on the flight. I've had idle conversation with most of them, but never, during the course of such conversation felt the urge to surrender my body, soul, and undying love and loyalty to them. Then again, if my life were a romantic story in the sense of this book and its likes, I wouldn't be reviewing shitty books at midnight.
Unrealistic as the books in this genre I've read so far have been, this one takes all the cakes. Chemist and Navy Seal thwart terrorist masterminds. Now that would be something. Not. Both the MCs have a very, er, childish line of thought. Case in point, the heroine thinks that It couldn’t be good to be trapped in a plane thousands of feet above the ground with people hell-bent on causing trouble. Like, I'm so awed by her quick thinking. And it is her that the people in this book have to rely on for saving them. Also, the only point of making her a chemist was so that she cold sniff out whatever it was the terrorists were using to control their passengers. Clearly, subtlety isn't the author's strong suit.
As Navy Seals save the day and Caroline gets a mini orgasm thinking about the fact that she incapacitated a "freaking terrorist" by tripping him, I'm left wondering why I still haven't considered writing such utter shit as an alternate career option. Even as people are being rescued after the event of the terrorist attack, Caroline's first ridiculous thought is that all the other passengers are attractive, and she's ugly. Even the shallowest of persons I know wouldn't think that. She also thinks it's a good idea to lie to the authorities about the events surrounding a terrorist attack. She gets kidnapped and tortured and all that, and I still don't think she was punished enough. Getting into more details would only be painful for both you and me, reader.
If I had a penny for every time the word blush was mentioned in this, er, badly written writing assignment, I'd be seventeen pennies richer. I'm too tired to convert that to rupees, but that was never the point of this statement. And yet, even my terrible joke fares so much better than the feeble attempts at humour made by the author. Do I have to make the point about subtlety again? If I have to hear the word drug being used instead of dragged again, so help me god. I yelled at a classmate for writing "common" instead of "come on" today, so know that I take this seriously. ...more
You may ask me what the fuck I'm doing with my life reading all the trashtastic books I can find. Well, let me tell you that I am living my life goddaYou may ask me what the fuck I'm doing with my life reading all the trashtastic books I can find. Well, let me tell you that I am living my life goddammit. Although, I think I've exhausted my capacity for chick lit after this. I had my fun. I enjoyed my Sunday. And I actually really liked this book.
So, why did I like this book? Why indeed. Because I saw a relationship that actually worked, that was built on trust and companionship, rather than the mere need to fuck. Which, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with casual sex, but it takes more than that to build a relationship. Garrett and Hannah remind me of real-life couples I've met, which is something I don't think I can say about books of this genre in general. (view spoiler)[They're both also survivors - him of abuse, and her of rape, and I think both are handled quite well in the book. Their stories aren't glamorised, or used as plot points to move the book forward. (hide spoiler)]
Questions I had during the book however: 1. Why don't the heroines ever study something more normal? Like journalism. 2. How does a music major make money? Would it be more lucrative to be a music major? Asking for a friend. 3. Why doesn't the hero study something equally niche? Like, I don't know, fashion merchandising? 4. Why does one of them (usually the boy), have to be a trust fund kid?
I know I just spoke about how much I have begun to dislike the whole enemies to friends to lovers trope, but it works here. Maybe because it's a solid friendship. I mean, I know from the book that if Garrett and Hannah break up, they'll still have each others' backs. Everything was just more realistically handled - the problems they faced as a couple (except for that one final one) were more plausible. More like the kind of problems I've had with significant others in the past. Except, as I said, the one final problem. Had that been avoided, I might've even awarded five stars....more
This was actually not bad, despite its corny title. Emma wasn't an asinine idiot, and Jason wasn't an insensitive prick. The story line was as cheesy This was actually not bad, despite its corny title. Emma wasn't an asinine idiot, and Jason wasn't an insensitive prick. The story line was as cheesy as the title itself, and I cringed each time I read the words "Buttermilk Falls", but it was kind of cute, but not in an ersatz, overdone manner. Not bad, Ms. Neeley. Not bad at all....more
The world and its mother loved this book. I didn't. I couldn't. I don't think there was anything wrong with the book per se, except that it was too loThe world and its mother loved this book. I didn't. I couldn't. I don't think there was anything wrong with the book per se, except that it was too long, but somehow, nothing about the book stuck with me. Oh, and by too long I mean it was too long for the story, not as a book in general.
Everything was too forced, too predictable; I mean, the blurb screams "I'm different", yet the story remains the same. Then again, this is probably just another case of "it's not you, it's me." I'm sure everyone knows what the story is, so I'm not going to delve into that, what I would like to mention, however, is that Ms. Ahern is quite a talented writer, and she really isn't a bad story teller. It's just that there is no story in this one. I get that I'm with the unpopular opinion here, but as I've previously mentioned, very few romance novels impress me, and this one just didn't cut it. I know I may come across as a heartless bitch when I say that, but it is what it is. Actually, I think one of the reasons I couldn't bring myself to like the book was that I couldn't sympathise with Holly. Pity her, I did, but I couldn't feel what she was feeling. And so another one bites bit the dust....more
Meh. Very meh. For a book that started off with a sexual innuendo, I did not expect the h to be a twenty eight year old virgin. But she was. I loved tMeh. Very meh. For a book that started off with a sexual innuendo, I did not expect the h to be a twenty eight year old virgin. But she was. I loved the food porn, but that's about all I loved. I strongly disliked the H, and the h was kind of pitiable. Please do not try to sell me a twenty-eight year old who stutters because the man next to her looks like a chocolate-sculpted god of thunder (Criminal Minds references FTW). Also, the ending was forced as hell, I mean, come on! I'm all for the HEA endings, but at least make an effort with it. There was no clever banter, no kind of real connection between the MCs; most of the humour seemed too forced. And what is with the instalove/instalust? I know that books are a place to escape reality, but could it be anymore forced? The love, I mean. I've only been in love once, and let me tell you, dear writer, that's not how it happens. Sure, everybody falls in love differently, but I'm pretty sure this, er... story isn't one of them.
Also, I beg to differ on this point. "Maybe songwriters through the ages had gotten it right: Love is all you need. Love will keep us together. Love will find away. Love is the answer." A very clever man named Ian Curtis also sang this:
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which, according to me makes more sense. But then again, I'm not in the book, so, it doesn't matter.
Again, this is probably more of an "it's not you, it's me" kind of case, but boy am I glad this was free.
EDIT - 16/02/2017: I had a horrible day today (well, yesterday), and amidst all my bitchiness and PMS and crying and general bad mood, I couldn't findEDIT - 16/02/2017: I had a horrible day today (well, yesterday), and amidst all my bitchiness and PMS and crying and general bad mood, I couldn't find enough chocolate. Anywhere. So yeah, I read this book again; I don't really know why, and it really made me feel better. I'm upping this to five stars.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Hallelujah! A book written for women where the heroine is not a klutz or a bimbo or a stereotype.
Meet Minerva Dobbs, a slightly chubby actuary who doesn't seem to have much luck in finding true love. Her total asshole boyfriend dumps her for not having sex with him, and she doesn't grovel. Instead, she contemplates killing him. She is not a total fucking doormat. She talks her mind and eats like a pig, even if she doesn't want to. A woman after my own heart! She wears these statement shoes and doesn't really give a damn what people think. She's smart, sassy, kind, wonderful, and beautiful. She knows what she wants from life, and is absolutely the best sister ever.
Meet Calvin Morrisey. A total babe. A 10/10. Smart, compassionate, with a heart of gold, despite his "tough guy" exterior. I love that he loves her when she eats and acts like a total boss bitch. I love that he loves her shoes and appreciates her for the amazing person she is. His relationship with his nephew is adorable, as is said nephew's slight crush on Min. (view spoiler)[You know how they say that every man ultimately marries his mother? Well, Harry (nephew) marries his aunt. (hide spoiler)]
I also like that none of the characters is an empty shell. Even Cynthie, the ex-girlfriend trying to win Cal back is beautiful and sexy... and a qualified psychologist. This is not to say that the book didn't have its flaws; it had its "disapproving parents", its "fairy godmother BFF", and of course, the "big fight before the hero and heroine realise they're meant for each other after all". Okay, to be honest, it had a few of those. But hey, it is fiction at the end of the day, and its ultimate aim is to make you feel good. And make you feel good, it does.
Oh, and the banter. Both sexual and otherwise, the banter is everything. I like books where the characters actually have things in common, where they can talk about things and actually connect, rather than, well, merely connect their bodies (if you know what I mean), and Min and Cal's relationship was one of minds, souls, and of course, bodies. Find someone who teaches you to cook Chicken Marsala. Find someone who defends you at all costs. Find someone who enjoys licking frosting off of you as much as they enjoy seeing you licking frosting off of doughnuts. Most of all, find someone who loves you unconditionally. For who you are. Forever....more
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