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3.09 AVERAGE
3.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really love the premise of this book and the world building. It’s a fascinating concept. It was fun and action packed, but I wish the pacing was a bit more consistent throughout because it felt like a lot would happen at certain times or others there would be very low stakes and action. You need ups and downs, but it could have been evened out a bit.
I loved the premise of the novel; I just didn’t fully enjoy the execution of it. For a full review, follow the link: https://suereadingcorner.wordpress.com/2017/04/30/arc-review-the-love-interest-by-cale-dietrich/
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I'm probably being generous with that rating tbh. More of a 3.75 3.5 but I'M GENEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO LGBT BOOKS IK. Plot seemed awesome, execution alright. Biggest gripe was writing and unresolved plot points. Still an enjoyable quick read, so I'd recommend. Also dialogue at times was cringe AF.
Caden is a Nice. He’s the boy-next-door type with a perfect body and impeccable manners, and he wants Juliet to fall in love with him. There’s only one thing standing in his way: Dylan. Dylan is a Bad. He’s dark and brooding and dangerously handsome.
What Juliet doesn’t know is that both boys are Love Interests. Owned by a secret organisation, each boy is trying to make Juliet fall in love with them so they can uncover her secrets and feed them back to the organisation who owns them. It’s a high stakes competition between Caden and Dyl as the loser will be killed.
Living in the outside world for the first time, both boys must execute the perfect strategy to make Juliet fall in love with them. But both boys are under a lot of pressure and the only person who understands what they’re going through is the other. Caden and Dylan must face the reality of what winning means, especially when they start to develop feelings for each other.
The concept is intriguing, but poorly executed
The idea of Love Interests and the high stakes competition is really interesting and original. I loved the concept and how well it was introduced in the first few chapters. Unfortunately, the book went downhill from there.
When Caden and Dyl are sent out into the real world, the book just becomes a high school contemporary. The sci-fi elements disappear and the book focuses solely on the relationships between the characters. I felt I’d been a little misled because I was expecting a through-and-through dystopian sci-fi story.
The story didn’t have a sense of reality
Yes, I understand we’re talking about a sci-fi setting with telepathy and killer robots, but the story wasn’t given any authenticity or depth to make it feel real. I didn’t find the story particularly engaging or immersive, which left me questioning a lot of the events and noticing how unrealistic and ridiculous they are.
The writing is inelegant
I was rather pained by the writing style in this book. It often felt awkward and jarring. Multiple times I was pulled out of the action of the book by an awkward sentence or phrasing.
There is witty criticism of gender roles
I think it’s important to read this book knowing that it makes fun of YA tropes and gender roles. The book discusses what makes a Nice™ guy or Bad™ guy in a parody style, which is amusing and dripping with satire. The story also subverts and mocks the trope of a love triangle, giving an original twist where the two competing males actually fall for each other.
The ending …
Without giving any spoilers, all I can say is that the ending is predictable and ridiculously unrealistic. What ending do all dystopian books have? Yes, it’s that. Very unoriginal.
Overall
I was really disappointed by this book. The premise is really original and intriguing and I love the idea of subverting the love triangle trope, but it was just executed poorly. The writing style is cringey and jarring, the story quickly turns into just another high school contemporary and there is no sense of reality or depth to the characters or plot.
What Juliet doesn’t know is that both boys are Love Interests. Owned by a secret organisation, each boy is trying to make Juliet fall in love with them so they can uncover her secrets and feed them back to the organisation who owns them. It’s a high stakes competition between Caden and Dyl as the loser will be killed.
Living in the outside world for the first time, both boys must execute the perfect strategy to make Juliet fall in love with them. But both boys are under a lot of pressure and the only person who understands what they’re going through is the other. Caden and Dylan must face the reality of what winning means, especially when they start to develop feelings for each other.
The concept is intriguing, but poorly executed
The idea of Love Interests and the high stakes competition is really interesting and original. I loved the concept and how well it was introduced in the first few chapters. Unfortunately, the book went downhill from there.
When Caden and Dyl are sent out into the real world, the book just becomes a high school contemporary. The sci-fi elements disappear and the book focuses solely on the relationships between the characters. I felt I’d been a little misled because I was expecting a through-and-through dystopian sci-fi story.
The story didn’t have a sense of reality
Yes, I understand we’re talking about a sci-fi setting with telepathy and killer robots, but the story wasn’t given any authenticity or depth to make it feel real. I didn’t find the story particularly engaging or immersive, which left me questioning a lot of the events and noticing how unrealistic and ridiculous they are.
The writing is inelegant
I was rather pained by the writing style in this book. It often felt awkward and jarring. Multiple times I was pulled out of the action of the book by an awkward sentence or phrasing.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I can’t help it.”
“I—I,” she stammers. “I have no idea how to respond to that, so I’m going to ignore it. Anyway, Caden, I can’t believe I almost forgot to show you my absolute favorite thing. Do you want to see my lab?”
There are some things I want to say to you, Juliet, but it’s hard, because you’re wearing that glossy stuff on your lips you wear sometimes depending on how fancy you want to be. I’m just a guy standing before you, and you’re so beautiful I never get tired of looking at you.
There is witty criticism of gender roles
I think it’s important to read this book knowing that it makes fun of YA tropes and gender roles. The book discusses what makes a Nice™ guy or Bad™ guy in a parody style, which is amusing and dripping with satire. The story also subverts and mocks the trope of a love triangle, giving an original twist where the two competing males actually fall for each other.
The ending …
Without giving any spoilers, all I can say is that the ending is predictable and ridiculously unrealistic. What ending do all dystopian books have? Yes, it’s that. Very unoriginal.
Overall
I was really disappointed by this book. The premise is really original and intriguing and I love the idea of subverting the love triangle trope, but it was just executed poorly. The writing style is cringey and jarring, the story quickly turns into just another high school contemporary and there is no sense of reality or depth to the characters or plot.
usually don't care for satire/parody but the writing and premise worked really well together. also, gaaaaaaaaaaay
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes