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3.09 AVERAGE
3.09 AVERAGE
I wish I liked this book more because the concept is SO GOOD. Sadly, the plot and writing were too weak to pull it off. There were definitely good moments, but the bad moments really felt like low-quality fanfiction. Three stars because I'm giving it points for effort and creativity.
Intriguing premise with lots of possibilities (two teen boys have been trained as spies who compete to get a particular girl to fall in love with them; then friendship and attraction start to develop between the two boys); didn't fully deliver. The ending was a little unrealistic and felt like we missed the endpoint of all the tension building between Caden and Dylan. Some things I liked: Caden's exploration of what it means for him to be "nice," how others see him vs how he sees himself, trying to figure out whether he is genuinely "nice", the fine line between acting and feeling. Also the role reversal where the boys are objectified and have to make decisions based on the need to maintain their physical attractiveness (e.g. having to turn down food in order to keep a certain physique, deciding which clothes to wear based on how others will react). I would read more by this author.
Super cool concept that sadly lacks in execution.
Content warnings include: child abuse, violence and death.
The Love Interest plays with well-known tropes in the world of YA, particularly the love-triangle relationship of one girl and two guys, one of which is the best childhood friend next door, the other the mysterious bad boy with a tortured past.
The idea of a spy organisation that trains boys to be either a Nice (boy next door) or Bad (bad boy) who are meant to compete for a Chosen girl's love, get together with her and spy on her for the rest of their lives while the one not chosen gets executed, is WILD - but I was willing to accept it and the surrounding circumstances, since the book is honest about it from the start. I think it's awesome to explore this concept, particularly under the premise of the Nice boy and the Bad boy falling in love with each other rather than the Chosen girl.
Another nice touch was the girl being the genius scientist with world altering inventions while the two boys are literal eye candy to the point of being so obsessed with their appearance that they have to keep their muscle circumference within a certain range for maximum appeal, having all their interactions scripted, and there being key events like taking-of-your-shirt-in-front-of-the-girl, all painstakingly organised for the best effect.
This has so much potential, and it's fun to read about for the most part... except the execution leaves much to be desired. I would have expected the book to not take itself too seriously, but I couldn't figure out if that was the case or not. Explanations were lacking, contradictory, confusing or too simplyfied, which made many of the things not work. An example for this is how the Bad Boy stereotype often treats the girl badly, which somehow is supposed to signal his interest and make her want to "save" him from himself or something - but here it is taken too far in the sense that the Bad, Dylan, is instructed to literally hurt the girl, Juliet. His interactions with her are absurd and just plain mean.
Generally the dialogue and many interactions within the book just doesn't work. It often felt awkward and stilted, and much of it broke my suspension of disbelief.
Another thing that broke that suspension was Juliet herself. She is literally a genius, yet she just accepts the absurd circumstances around Cayden and Dylan inserting themselves into her life and how they go about it. Especially how she considers Dylan, who physically hurts her and pushes her around, a valid romantic option was a mystery to me.
There were also other details around Cayden's being a spy that didn't make sense or didn't tie into the rest of the plot that ended up feeling unfitting and unecessary, like his fake parents being super mean, the mention of soul mates that was never brought up again, or the random evil scientist towards the end.
What really threw me off was the ending. It feels like an entire chapter before the epilogue is missing, with key details and mentions of if they even really achieved their goal simply missing. This not just affects the plot but also the romance.
Generall the romance was kind of luke-warm. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as if Cayden really fell head-over-heels in love, and the love interest's (no pun intended) feelings remain largely unclear. There was however an unexpected element to it which would have been cool, except it was also mostly unresolved and not explained.
I did like Cayden as protagonist however. Him being a good liar and actor was exciting, especially in contrast to how he really feels. But even there were some inconsistencies, with him going on about how he's not a Nice at the beginning with no explanation which is just forgotten at the end, even though it would have been easy to bring back and tie up neatly.
I did have a pleasant enough time reading The Love Interest but it just didn't live up to what it could have been, especially since there were several lines that are truly great and meaningful. To me it seems like it was a bad choice for a debut novel, with a subject matter too complex for the writing at this point.
Content warnings include: child abuse, violence and death.
The Love Interest plays with well-known tropes in the world of YA, particularly the love-triangle relationship of one girl and two guys, one of which is the best childhood friend next door, the other the mysterious bad boy with a tortured past.
The idea of a spy organisation that trains boys to be either a Nice (boy next door) or Bad (bad boy) who are meant to compete for a Chosen girl's love, get together with her and spy on her for the rest of their lives while the one not chosen gets executed, is WILD - but I was willing to accept it and the surrounding circumstances, since the book is honest about it from the start. I think it's awesome to explore this concept, particularly under the premise of the Nice boy and the Bad boy falling in love with each other rather than the Chosen girl.
Another nice touch was the girl being the genius scientist with world altering inventions while the two boys are literal eye candy to the point of being so obsessed with their appearance that they have to keep their muscle circumference within a certain range for maximum appeal, having all their interactions scripted, and there being key events like taking-of-your-shirt-in-front-of-the-girl, all painstakingly organised for the best effect.
This has so much potential, and it's fun to read about for the most part... except the execution leaves much to be desired. I would have expected the book to not take itself too seriously, but I couldn't figure out if that was the case or not. Explanations were lacking, contradictory, confusing or too simplyfied, which made many of the things not work. An example for this is how the Bad Boy stereotype often treats the girl badly, which somehow is supposed to signal his interest and make her want to "save" him from himself or something - but here it is taken too far in the sense that the Bad, Dylan, is instructed to literally hurt the girl, Juliet. His interactions with her are absurd and just plain mean.
Generally the dialogue and many interactions within the book just doesn't work. It often felt awkward and stilted, and much of it broke my suspension of disbelief.
Another thing that broke that suspension was Juliet herself. She is literally a genius, yet she just accepts the absurd circumstances around Cayden and Dylan inserting themselves into her life and how they go about it. Especially how she considers Dylan, who physically hurts her and pushes her around, a valid romantic option was a mystery to me.
There were also other details around Cayden's being a spy that didn't make sense or didn't tie into the rest of the plot that ended up feeling unfitting and unecessary, like his fake parents being super mean, the mention of soul mates that was never brought up again, or the random evil scientist towards the end.
What really threw me off was the ending. It feels like an entire chapter before the epilogue is missing, with key details and mentions of if they even really achieved their goal simply missing. This not just affects the plot but also the romance.
Generall the romance was kind of luke-warm. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as if Cayden really fell head-over-heels in love, and the love interest's (no pun intended) feelings remain largely unclear. There was however an unexpected element to it which would have been cool, except it was also mostly unresolved and not explained.
I did like Cayden as protagonist however. Him being a good liar and actor was exciting, especially in contrast to how he really feels. But even there were some inconsistencies, with him going on about how he's not a Nice at the beginning with no explanation which is just forgotten at the end, even though it would have been easy to bring back and tie up neatly.
I did have a pleasant enough time reading The Love Interest but it just didn't live up to what it could have been, especially since there were several lines that are truly great and meaningful. To me it seems like it was a bad choice for a debut novel, with a subject matter too complex for the writing at this point.
I liked it, but not as much as I hoped I would. But still pretty good! Full review to come!
"I guess I thought I was straight just because everyone treated me like I was, and no one ever gave me a chance to think otherwise." OHHHHH I'M HIT
Thank you so much to the FFBC for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour & especially choosing me for a review. I was really looking forward to this novel and I’m very glad I got the chance to tell everyone about it!
So if you didn’t read the synopsis, this novel is about a secret spy agency that trains males (and females) to become love interest for a certain person to be of importance to the world. They are basically to get the person to fall for them, so their lover can spy on them to the government. Two of them are chosen to rival each other, so that the person is forced to choose their love partner for life. Whoever doesn’t win the love interest’s heart is killed. Things start to get complicated when the main character Caden, falls for his rival, Dylan.
This book was pretty much un-putdownable for me. If that’s even a word. This is how contemporaries always work for me. I’m sucked into the story and I have to see how it all ends. I read this book in like two days, I was so engrossed in the plot. That’s always a good thing to see in books, it pulling you in and keeping you along for the ride.
What I liked about this book was the characters. They were all so real and had such great and well developed voices. I loved all of them and almost wished I had a POV for the whole gang of them. Especially a Dylan point of view!! I would have LOVED to see inside his head. Even Juliet’s – she was so smart and extremely interesting.
This was one of those light and easy reads that can get you out of a slump. I’d been having a lot of trouble trying to get into books but when I received this e-arc, I dove right in and pretty much didn’t stop until I finished. I have no doubt in my mind that this book will do the same to any readers. It’s just so good, and keeps you interested and anxious for what will happen next.
I have to admit this book had me on edge a lot. I was so frustrated with the weird love triangle that was going. I wanted both of the boys to win because I didn’t want either of them to die. It also brought me quite the emotional pain, so don’t go into this book thinking it’s all fluff. The author really knows how to make a reader frustrated, let me tell you!
My only negative thoughts, and some criticism on the book is how it all ended. The book had great pacing, in my opinion, up until the very end. Things went downhill and concluded so fast that I didn’t really have time to understand what was going on and get a chance to think over what was happening. So if anything, I wish the ending was dragged out a bit more. I feel like more time to defeat the bad guys and come to an epic conclusion would have been beneficial to the story. Perhaps that will be fixed in the final copy, as I did read an e-arc. Maybe even extending the novel to a sequel could have changed things.
I actually really would look forward to a sequel in this world, because I thought it was really interesting, the whole spy agency. I want them to continue to fight The Love Interest corporation. I want to see more of Juliet and her brilliant inventions, more of the boys and their complicated love. After the epilogue, though, it seems like the story came to a close. Overall though, I did adore this story. It didn’t disappoint as an anticipated novel of this year. I just wish there had been more!
So if you didn’t read the synopsis, this novel is about a secret spy agency that trains males (and females) to become love interest for a certain person to be of importance to the world. They are basically to get the person to fall for them, so their lover can spy on them to the government. Two of them are chosen to rival each other, so that the person is forced to choose their love partner for life. Whoever doesn’t win the love interest’s heart is killed. Things start to get complicated when the main character Caden, falls for his rival, Dylan.
This book was pretty much un-putdownable for me. If that’s even a word. This is how contemporaries always work for me. I’m sucked into the story and I have to see how it all ends. I read this book in like two days, I was so engrossed in the plot. That’s always a good thing to see in books, it pulling you in and keeping you along for the ride.
What I liked about this book was the characters. They were all so real and had such great and well developed voices. I loved all of them and almost wished I had a POV for the whole gang of them. Especially a Dylan point of view!! I would have LOVED to see inside his head. Even Juliet’s – she was so smart and extremely interesting.
This was one of those light and easy reads that can get you out of a slump. I’d been having a lot of trouble trying to get into books but when I received this e-arc, I dove right in and pretty much didn’t stop until I finished. I have no doubt in my mind that this book will do the same to any readers. It’s just so good, and keeps you interested and anxious for what will happen next.
I have to admit this book had me on edge a lot. I was so frustrated with the weird love triangle that was going. I wanted both of the boys to win because I didn’t want either of them to die. It also brought me quite the emotional pain, so don’t go into this book thinking it’s all fluff. The author really knows how to make a reader frustrated, let me tell you!
My only negative thoughts, and some criticism on the book is how it all ended. The book had great pacing, in my opinion, up until the very end. Things went downhill and concluded so fast that I didn’t really have time to understand what was going on and get a chance to think over what was happening. So if anything, I wish the ending was dragged out a bit more. I feel like more time to defeat the bad guys and come to an epic conclusion would have been beneficial to the story. Perhaps that will be fixed in the final copy, as I did read an e-arc. Maybe even extending the novel to a sequel could have changed things.
I actually really would look forward to a sequel in this world, because I thought it was really interesting, the whole spy agency. I want them to continue to fight The Love Interest corporation. I want to see more of Juliet and her brilliant inventions, more of the boys and their complicated love. After the epilogue, though, it seems like the story came to a close. Overall though, I did adore this story. It didn’t disappoint as an anticipated novel of this year. I just wish there had been more!
DNF at 85%.
Usually when I don't finish a book, I don't rate it or review it and instead just clear it from my shelves. However, because I got so far in before quitting, I feel I'm able to give an educated enough rating and explain why I eventually gave up on it.
First, some positives: the satirical approach to the Nice Guy vs. Bad Boy trope in love triangles was amusing, and I genuinely think the whole concept of the LiC is intriguing and could be super refreshing. I also loved the scene where we catch a glimpse of M's deeper character when Caden finds her by the tulips; that was lovely.
However, the book just fell consistently flat for me. The twists were predictable - I suspected Natalie was a Love Interest far before it was revealed, for example, and if it was supposed to be a shocking reveal, I would advise the author underestimate their readers less and sprinkle in a few less hints about Natalie's smile disappearing when she looks at Trevor, etc. etc. Sometimes being able to predict a twist is triumphant and exciting and doesn't take away from the reveal itself at all, but that wasn't the case here - instead, it just caused it to feel tired and obvious.
Caden lying about his sexuality being a play just seemed incredibly pointless to me, too. It made it feel very back-forth-back-forth-again, and if Dietrich really wanted yet another obstacle in the way of their getting together, I'm sure they could have thought one up that made more sense, particularly considering they're, you know, on the run from the LiC and wanted fugitives.
In the end, it just wasn't keeping my attention, and I'm really not invested enough in how they inevitably and nonsensically take down the LiC as a bunch of impulsive teenagers to keep going the last 25%.
Usually when I don't finish a book, I don't rate it or review it and instead just clear it from my shelves. However, because I got so far in before quitting, I feel I'm able to give an educated enough rating and explain why I eventually gave up on it.
First, some positives: the satirical approach to the Nice Guy vs. Bad Boy trope in love triangles was amusing, and I genuinely think the whole concept of the LiC is intriguing and could be super refreshing. I also loved the scene where we catch a glimpse of M's deeper character when Caden finds her by the tulips; that was lovely.
However, the book just fell consistently flat for me. The twists were predictable - I suspected Natalie was a Love Interest far before it was revealed, for example, and if it was supposed to be a shocking reveal, I would advise the author underestimate their readers less and sprinkle in a few less hints about Natalie's smile disappearing when she looks at Trevor, etc. etc. Sometimes being able to predict a twist is triumphant and exciting and doesn't take away from the reveal itself at all, but that wasn't the case here - instead, it just caused it to feel tired and obvious.
Caden lying about his sexuality being a play just seemed incredibly pointless to me, too. It made it feel very back-forth-back-forth-again, and if Dietrich really wanted yet another obstacle in the way of their getting together, I'm sure they could have thought one up that made more sense, particularly considering they're, you know, on the run from the LiC and wanted fugitives.
In the end, it just wasn't keeping my attention, and I'm really not invested enough in how they inevitably and nonsensically take down the LiC as a bunch of impulsive teenagers to keep going the last 25%.
I don't understand though why people rated this author's books so low. They're not that bad. I enjoyed this first one. I want to read his latest book too.
Every now and again, I will read and enjoy a book that I know objectively isn't very good. I will call it a guilty pleasure, or enjoyable trash, and probably forget all about it as soon as I put it down, but the fact remains that I found enjoyment from it.
This is what has happened with 'The Love Interest' by Cale Dietrich.
I can't explain why I enjoyed it necessarily. The plot itself was rather cheesy, the characters fell into cliched stereotypes quite often, and the weird obsession the author seems to have for Nicki Minaj is very peculiar.
It just filled a very particular gap in my reading, and for that I am thankful to it.
There are better LGBT inclusive YA books out there for sure, Proxy by Alex London and Replica by Jenna Black spring to mind, but I'm not mad at having read this. If that sounds like I'm damning it with faint praise, maybe I am, but still, there was enjoyment there, so it can't be all terrible.
This is what has happened with 'The Love Interest' by Cale Dietrich.
I can't explain why I enjoyed it necessarily. The plot itself was rather cheesy, the characters fell into cliched stereotypes quite often, and the weird obsession the author seems to have for Nicki Minaj is very peculiar.
It just filled a very particular gap in my reading, and for that I am thankful to it.
There are better LGBT inclusive YA books out there for sure, Proxy by Alex London and Replica by Jenna Black spring to mind, but I'm not mad at having read this. If that sounds like I'm damning it with faint praise, maybe I am, but still, there was enjoyment there, so it can't be all terrible.
I just didn't like the world.
The writing is good and the characters are nicely explored (so far).
I'm sure it's a good book, the world just isn't my taste.
The writing is good and the characters are nicely explored (so far).
I'm sure it's a good book, the world just isn't my taste.