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dragonstar1974's review against another edition
4.0
Adorable fake romance to the real thing with all the bumps you'd expect along the way. If you're looking to fill a rainy afternoon this charming story is the perfect way to work out your need for a little teen angst.
Given to me for review by Entangled through Netgalley.
Given to me for review by Entangled through Netgalley.
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
4.0
James Parson has a problem. His military dad is going to yank him out of his expensive boarding school if James doesn’t prove he’s no longer hooking up, pulling pranks, and charming his way out of consequences. What better way to show he’s now responsible than becoming the committed boyfriend of a U.S. diplomat’s daughter?
Level-headed, book-smart Edelweiss may have traveled the world thanks to her dad’s job, but when it comes to friends and boys, she knows exactly nothing. Newly enrolled in boarding school, Edel is now on a mission to learn it all. James says he’ll help her experience the ultimate high school life—if she’ll be his fake girlfriend. And fake is perfect, because he’s exactly the kind of player she’d never date.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains red-hot romance, all the feels, and a soul-mate bad boy.
Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: super cute, endearing romance; absolutely love the "fake to real" relationship trope; not sure I buy that they "love" each other after such a short amount of time, but I'm willing to overlook this; Edel's character arc is well-rounded and entertaining
Huge thanks to Lizzy Charles, Entangled Teen Crush, Chapter by Chapter Book Tours, and Netgalley for sending me a free digital galley of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
"I'll never get elected to the student council if we're caught like this."
He pauses, whipping his head around. "Student council? You're joking, right? I'd have pegged you for a cheerleader."
"I don't jump."
There's just something about contemporaries that, recently, have me falling head over feet to get through. I don't know if it's that I can "turn off my brain" and just enjoy the journey, or something else entirely...either way, contemporaries have been calling my name a LOT lately. It's a good thing I've got a ton of them on standby for such occasions, I suppose?
Regardless--this was SUCH a cute, entertaining contemporary. I sat down expecting it to be just like all the rest...and instead found myself sucked straight into the story. There's something adorable about Edel that I couldn't look past, and something searingly steamy about the "fake to real" relationship.
"Great job out there," Edelweiss says when I reach her.
"You still have no clue what I'm doing on the field, do you?"
"You catch the football and run. What else is there to know?"
The character arcs are also entertaining and enlightening. I really enjoyed that we got front seats to both James' and Edels' changes over the course of just a few short months. Many of the side characters also step into their own, and I loved seeing how they each brought something new and unique to the table. Learning the intricacies of familial relationships--the the rules of boarding school--right next to Edel was a great way to bridge the gap between characters and readers, in my opinion. The fact we got to watch her interact with and react to the varying situations that crop up only helped to more vibrantly paint her across the page. This was, in fact, true of all the characters; due to this, they all were bright sparks of personality woven into the pages.
In the end, I had a ton of fun (as I usually do!) stepping out of the chaos of my own life and into the chaos of someone else's for a little while. Lizzy Charles wrote these characters with intricate, vibrant personalities--and made me care for each of them as individuals. The plot, while not inundated with action, was fast-paced and entertaining all the same, and I cannot wait to pick up another Lizzy Charles novel in the future! I definitely recommend this to lovers of boarding school settings, bad boys struggling to change, and "fake to real" relationships. Care to redefine relationships? Pick up this book!
sebinsangel's review against another edition
4.0
Let me start with this, what a stinking cute story. I have to admit that I was hooked from the beginning. I'll be honest when I started this book I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with Edel, mostly because all I could think was she was this pretentious rich girl. Thankfully as the book went on I came to realize she was just a normal teen, and I also realized that I was judging her just like a normal teenager and I felt kind of bad for that. She's starting a brand new school, which she's never even been to school in the fist place! She just wants to have that normal teenage experience and this is basically her last chance before being thrown in to College Life and trying to adapt to that.
Also can we talk about the "meet cute". I am a sucker for a good meet cute whether it be in a book, on a show, or in a movie. Granted I would have been pretty upset had I been in Edel's position, but I think James saved it. I felt like I knew a little bit about how things were going to go with this, but then again I was pretty surprised with things that were happening. The whole time I was questioning things but I still kept wanting to read and keep figuring things out.
Yes, this book is extra cheesy, but isn't that what makes contemporary's what we love? I know personally that I really love cheesy contemporary books because it just makes me fall in love with the characters even more and gives me that butterfly feeling in my stomach. That is how I know I've found a good contemporary novel. Sometimes things seemed a bit convenient when twists happened, but I never lost that butterfly feeling with this book and I just felt that it was so cute I couldn't stop reading it.
If you are an avid contemporary reader I would suggest this from you. It is such a fun and easy read that just pulls you in and makes you want to continue to read it. It really is hard to put it down until you realize that it's over. I am so excited to know that this is technically a first book so I'm excited to see how the next novel will go and what will happen!
Also can we talk about the "meet cute". I am a sucker for a good meet cute whether it be in a book, on a show, or in a movie. Granted I would have been pretty upset had I been in Edel's position, but I think James saved it. I felt like I knew a little bit about how things were going to go with this, but then again I was pretty surprised with things that were happening. The whole time I was questioning things but I still kept wanting to read and keep figuring things out.
Yes, this book is extra cheesy, but isn't that what makes contemporary's what we love? I know personally that I really love cheesy contemporary books because it just makes me fall in love with the characters even more and gives me that butterfly feeling in my stomach. That is how I know I've found a good contemporary novel. Sometimes things seemed a bit convenient when twists happened, but I never lost that butterfly feeling with this book and I just felt that it was so cute I couldn't stop reading it.
If you are an avid contemporary reader I would suggest this from you. It is such a fun and easy read that just pulls you in and makes you want to continue to read it. It really is hard to put it down until you realize that it's over. I am so excited to know that this is technically a first book so I'm excited to see how the next novel will go and what will happen!
haylisreading's review
4.0
*I received this book as an arc from NetGalley and all thoughts are my own!*
I actually really liked this book. The premise is really cute and the two main characters, James and Edelweiss, were so cute together. Plus, I just love the fake dating trope. It's my favorite. (And I feel like it made it all the more interesting that it was set at a boarding school.) This book was so cute and fluffy and would be a great short read for anybody who wants a cute little romance.
Though, the characters were pretty trope-y. James is a fantastic football player, master prankster, super popular, and a total hit with the ladies. Only to find out that he has some flaws and he has really good grades that only makes him even more appealing in Edel's eyes. Now, Edelweiss, she's the new girl. She could be considered as "not like the other girls" because of how she grew up and how she traveled the world with her parents all of her life. And, of course, she is super pretty and smart too. So, if those kinds of "typical" characters bother you, you may not want to read this book. I personally don't mind tropes so I really enjoyed this book regardless.
I would definitely recommend this book! :)
I actually really liked this book. The premise is really cute and the two main characters, James and Edelweiss, were so cute together. Plus, I just love the fake dating trope. It's my favorite. (And I feel like it made it all the more interesting that it was set at a boarding school.) This book was so cute and fluffy and would be a great short read for anybody who wants a cute little romance.
Though, the characters were pretty trope-y. James is a fantastic football player, master prankster, super popular, and a total hit with the ladies. Only to find out that he has some flaws and he has really good grades that only makes him even more appealing in Edel's eyes. Now, Edelweiss, she's the new girl. She could be considered as "not like the other girls" because of how she grew up and how she traveled the world with her parents all of her life. And, of course, she is super pretty and smart too. So, if those kinds of "typical" characters bother you, you may not want to read this book. I personally don't mind tropes so I really enjoyed this book regardless.
I would definitely recommend this book! :)
angelicasreads's review
3.0
This book was so cute and fluffy, and I loved it! I needed a book like this to read during finals and get my mind off actual work.
I am a huge fan of fake romance turned true love stories. As cliched and cheesy as they are, I cannot help but enjoy their drama.
This book was adorable and a surprisingly quick read. It follows Edelweiss and James, a quiet girl going to school for the first time, and the most popular guy on campus. With that alone, I knew I was going to enjoy this novel.
Edelweiss (Edel for short) has lived all around the globe with her diplomat parents. Now, for the first time, she is going to go to an actual school, Brokemore Academy, and she has with her a list of things she wants to complete to have officially lived a good high school experience. Among those things are:
-Make the type of friends who will laugh with you until you cry or cry with you until you laugh
-Stay up all night long binging Netflix with my roommate
-Give a speech
And the most important:
-Fall in love and break up
Enter James, charming, handsome, and resident bad boy at Brokemore. His dad is in the military and has traveled the world to do his duty. Sadly, this means that he has left James behind to be raised by his aunt with the hopes of giving him a normal life. And while James is thankful, all he really wants is his father’s attention and to make him proud.
And then, James runs into Edle (literally), and sparks (and a little bit of pizza) fly.
In order to please James dad, and give Edel a sense of security at the new school, the two make a deal, pretend to date each other through the semester. With the bargain struck, a friendship starts to build, and soon, something else starts to form beneath. But what I liked more than the romance was the characters.
I like they are each their own person. Many times in YA romance novels the characters are only half people, needed their other half to be a full person. I don’t like that. Here, both James and Edel know what they want and who they are. They are strong minded and loyal, and good. James especially, I felt was a very well developed character. Usually, the male lead’s personality revolves around being handsome and tough. James, on the other hand, was such a nice guy who genuinely loved his family and truly did everything in his power to make his father happy.
I also loved all of the side characters. Julie was great, I love seeing good depictions of adults in YA. So many times are adults two-dimensional idiots or heartless jerks in YA. And then there is Ainsley, I want more of her story. I want to know what happens next with her, which is why I am glad that there will be more to this series.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one night and could not put it down. Admittedly, it took me a bit to truly get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. Great novel!
Also, just cause, let’s give a hand up for this super awesomely adorable interracial couple. Honestly, the people on the cover was what really pulled me in and made me want to read it. I need more books like this in YA contemporary!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
I am a huge fan of fake romance turned true love stories. As cliched and cheesy as they are, I cannot help but enjoy their drama.
This book was adorable and a surprisingly quick read. It follows Edelweiss and James, a quiet girl going to school for the first time, and the most popular guy on campus. With that alone, I knew I was going to enjoy this novel.
Edelweiss (Edel for short) has lived all around the globe with her diplomat parents. Now, for the first time, she is going to go to an actual school, Brokemore Academy, and she has with her a list of things she wants to complete to have officially lived a good high school experience. Among those things are:
-Make the type of friends who will laugh with you until you cry or cry with you until you laugh
-Stay up all night long binging Netflix with my roommate
-Give a speech
And the most important:
-Fall in love and break up
Enter James, charming, handsome, and resident bad boy at Brokemore. His dad is in the military and has traveled the world to do his duty. Sadly, this means that he has left James behind to be raised by his aunt with the hopes of giving him a normal life. And while James is thankful, all he really wants is his father’s attention and to make him proud.
And then, James runs into Edle (literally), and sparks (and a little bit of pizza) fly.
In order to please James dad, and give Edel a sense of security at the new school, the two make a deal, pretend to date each other through the semester. With the bargain struck, a friendship starts to build, and soon, something else starts to form beneath. But what I liked more than the romance was the characters.
I like they are each their own person. Many times in YA romance novels the characters are only half people, needed their other half to be a full person. I don’t like that. Here, both James and Edel know what they want and who they are. They are strong minded and loyal, and good. James especially, I felt was a very well developed character. Usually, the male lead’s personality revolves around being handsome and tough. James, on the other hand, was such a nice guy who genuinely loved his family and truly did everything in his power to make his father happy.
I also loved all of the side characters. Julie was great, I love seeing good depictions of adults in YA. So many times are adults two-dimensional idiots or heartless jerks in YA. And then there is Ainsley, I want more of her story. I want to know what happens next with her, which is why I am glad that there will be more to this series.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one night and could not put it down. Admittedly, it took me a bit to truly get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. Great novel!
Also, just cause, let’s give a hand up for this super awesomely adorable interracial couple. Honestly, the people on the cover was what really pulled me in and made me want to read it. I need more books like this in YA contemporary!
**I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
breadedbookpages's review
5.0
Originally posted on my blog!
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
I picked this up because I just loved the cover. It is so bright and colorful and I loved that there is a black boy on the cover. God knows we need more diversity in contemporary young adult books especially ones with healthy relationships.
The book has dual point of views which is lovely because we get to see what goes on in Edel and James’ minds concerning the little romance they have. I always enjoy romance books from dual point of views because AGH, pining, amazing stuff, which this book had plenty of!
The book starts off with Edel joining the boarding school. She’s excited and is refreshing to read because I love me an honestly kind and determined girl. Edel wanted to get as involved as possible seeing as she spent all of her life being home schooled by her mom. Don’t be fooled by the blurb, Edel isn’t entirely all into the whole boyfriend experience, she simply gets into the fake relationship (which she suggests) so she can go through the first months without being hounded by somewhat creepy boys. Let’s admit it, we all wish we could be somewhat protected from creeps. I liked Edel’s straightforward nature. She was inexperienced with people but in no way was she disrespectful.
James on the other hand is sort of a reformed bad boy. Be aware that he is the softest, smartest and cutest boy despite his label as a bad boy. He’s guilty of loving to prank the headmistress, and they’re harmless jokes. I actually had several “Oh wow,” moments in which I fell for James. He’s afraid of horror films, talks about his feelings toward his dad and can analyze Russian novels without breaking into a sweat.
Also: he’s a jock. He’s quite far from the stereotype of a jock. He is so aware of the weird rules of society and I liked that he also had a great relationship with his aunt. See, James is biracial and gets his melanin from his mother side. His Aunt Julie teaches him not to wear his hoodie at night, and not to seem dangerous, which are lessons he didn’t get from his white Irish dad despite his dad being a military man. I liked that James didn’t fit into any bad stereotypes of how black boys are portrayed in media. He was honest and earnest in making his dad proud. Also: he was so soft on Edel and truly worked hard to take care of her while they were ‘fake’ dating.
The plot moved at a really nice pace that gave you an insight at Edel and James as well as the friendships they have. There are antagonists like Emma (who is James’ ex-girlfriend and cheats on him) and this creepy guy John who tries his best to get into Edel’s orbit but my girl blocks him fairly amazingly.
The writing flows nicely enough and makes the whole book very easy to read and get into. The characters are relatable despite one minute where Edel thinks light lip gloss and eyeliner is “too much makeup” *looks into the camera with my full makeup look* that made me laugh a lot.
There are also many friends. Edel has not one but three girl friends and I just loved the female solidarity. There is Tuti who is Indian and a youtuber with a crush. There is Charlotte who comes from a poor background and talks about her drunk mom. There is Ainsley who is tough as nails and has her own secret which she reveals once she’s comfortable enough.
I liked that this didn’t have the somewhat excessive focus on sex that some other books have. It was fairly PG13 and I know it might sound unrealistic but believe me: not all teens are thinking of sex all the damn time. Asexuals (and Aromatic) teens exist. Not that there are any asexuals in this book as far as I know.
I also like that when James and Edel meet, he doesn’t touch her before asking for her consent. Hallelujah for the zero times the word “crazy” was used in joking. Lack of usage of food to refer to James’ brown skin: amazing. I know, it’s the minimum that I could ask of but I really didn’t find a reason to dislike this book or not give it five stars besides just one thing and I don’t think I need to fuss over too much.
I liked that James is already a changed boy by the time he’s introduced so Edel was not going to “fix” him or anything like that. But it got on my nerve that Edel, at times later in the book, would doubt James. She’d think he’s being draped by girls when he told her that he was not interested in being with girls since he was focused on school in his senior year. I felt like she should have trusted him more but that doesn’t mean that her misconceptions of him turn into scorn, she simply feels this way because she’s hurting and I could understand. She soon enough thinks otherwise.
This book had the perfect mixture of fluff and situational angst that got me rooting for the couple to get things in order. They just had so much cute energy together and it was really fun to read it. Plus, it’s really short and the pacing is great for a good pick-me-up book that’ll get anyone out of a reading slump!
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves contemporary young adult books with characters that are likeable and kind.
I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
I picked this up because I just loved the cover. It is so bright and colorful and I loved that there is a black boy on the cover. God knows we need more diversity in contemporary young adult books especially ones with healthy relationships.
The book has dual point of views which is lovely because we get to see what goes on in Edel and James’ minds concerning the little romance they have. I always enjoy romance books from dual point of views because AGH, pining, amazing stuff, which this book had plenty of!
The book starts off with Edel joining the boarding school. She’s excited and is refreshing to read because I love me an honestly kind and determined girl. Edel wanted to get as involved as possible seeing as she spent all of her life being home schooled by her mom. Don’t be fooled by the blurb, Edel isn’t entirely all into the whole boyfriend experience, she simply gets into the fake relationship (which she suggests) so she can go through the first months without being hounded by somewhat creepy boys. Let’s admit it, we all wish we could be somewhat protected from creeps. I liked Edel’s straightforward nature. She was inexperienced with people but in no way was she disrespectful.
James on the other hand is sort of a reformed bad boy. Be aware that he is the softest, smartest and cutest boy despite his label as a bad boy. He’s guilty of loving to prank the headmistress, and they’re harmless jokes. I actually had several “Oh wow,” moments in which I fell for James. He’s afraid of horror films, talks about his feelings toward his dad and can analyze Russian novels without breaking into a sweat.
Also: he’s a jock. He’s quite far from the stereotype of a jock. He is so aware of the weird rules of society and I liked that he also had a great relationship with his aunt. See, James is biracial and gets his melanin from his mother side. His Aunt Julie teaches him not to wear his hoodie at night, and not to seem dangerous, which are lessons he didn’t get from his white Irish dad despite his dad being a military man. I liked that James didn’t fit into any bad stereotypes of how black boys are portrayed in media. He was honest and earnest in making his dad proud. Also: he was so soft on Edel and truly worked hard to take care of her while they were ‘fake’ dating.
The plot moved at a really nice pace that gave you an insight at Edel and James as well as the friendships they have. There are antagonists like Emma (who is James’ ex-girlfriend and cheats on him) and this creepy guy John who tries his best to get into Edel’s orbit but my girl blocks him fairly amazingly.
The writing flows nicely enough and makes the whole book very easy to read and get into. The characters are relatable despite one minute where Edel thinks light lip gloss and eyeliner is “too much makeup” *looks into the camera with my full makeup look* that made me laugh a lot.
There are also many friends. Edel has not one but three girl friends and I just loved the female solidarity. There is Tuti who is Indian and a youtuber with a crush. There is Charlotte who comes from a poor background and talks about her drunk mom. There is Ainsley who is tough as nails and has her own secret which she reveals once she’s comfortable enough.
I liked that this didn’t have the somewhat excessive focus on sex that some other books have. It was fairly PG13 and I know it might sound unrealistic but believe me: not all teens are thinking of sex all the damn time. Asexuals (and Aromatic) teens exist. Not that there are any asexuals in this book as far as I know.
I also like that when James and Edel meet, he doesn’t touch her before asking for her consent. Hallelujah for the zero times the word “crazy” was used in joking. Lack of usage of food to refer to James’ brown skin: amazing. I know, it’s the minimum that I could ask of but I really didn’t find a reason to dislike this book or not give it five stars besides just one thing and I don’t think I need to fuss over too much.
I liked that James is already a changed boy by the time he’s introduced so Edel was not going to “fix” him or anything like that. But it got on my nerve that Edel, at times later in the book, would doubt James. She’d think he’s being draped by girls when he told her that he was not interested in being with girls since he was focused on school in his senior year. I felt like she should have trusted him more but that doesn’t mean that her misconceptions of him turn into scorn, she simply feels this way because she’s hurting and I could understand. She soon enough thinks otherwise.
This book had the perfect mixture of fluff and situational angst that got me rooting for the couple to get things in order. They just had so much cute energy together and it was really fun to read it. Plus, it’s really short and the pacing is great for a good pick-me-up book that’ll get anyone out of a reading slump!
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves contemporary young adult books with characters that are likeable and kind.
lifeofaliterarynerd's review
3.0
This was such a quick book. It was so easy to read and follow the story. I knew I’d like this book, because who doesn’t enjoy a good fake dating story. They’re alway the perfect combination of cheesy romance and hyped up drama. I’m a sucker for both.
Things I Liked:
-The meet cute in this book is fantastic. It’s the perfect blend of endearing, humor, charm. It shows Edel and James’ personalities and sets up their relationship.
-I really liked the Dual POV in this book. Edle and James had distinct voices and personalities. So it was nice getting to see things from both of their points of views and how they interpret what’s happening around them.
-Edel and James both seemed like genuinely nice people. They were supportive of each other and kind. They were really easy to root for and get behind.
Things I Didn’t Like:
-I felt like the secondary characters were undeveloped. We just didn’t really get enough of them for them to feel like real people. They didn’t have much of a role so I never connected with them.
-story was a little too fast paced. I would have liked it to be a little longer to just add more depth, with the side characters and expanding the world and relationship to feel real. Some scenes were glossed over and could have been used to add more weight to the story.
-The drama at the end felt a little rushed and unbelievable. Again, I think it could have been better if there was more added.
This was a fun story filled with lovable main character and tons of humor. This is a great contemporary read, guaranteed to make you smile.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Things I Liked:
-The meet cute in this book is fantastic. It’s the perfect blend of endearing, humor, charm. It shows Edel and James’ personalities and sets up their relationship.
-I really liked the Dual POV in this book. Edle and James had distinct voices and personalities. So it was nice getting to see things from both of their points of views and how they interpret what’s happening around them.
-Edel and James both seemed like genuinely nice people. They were supportive of each other and kind. They were really easy to root for and get behind.
Things I Didn’t Like:
-I felt like the secondary characters were undeveloped. We just didn’t really get enough of them for them to feel like real people. They didn’t have much of a role so I never connected with them.
-story was a little too fast paced. I would have liked it to be a little longer to just add more depth, with the side characters and expanding the world and relationship to feel real. Some scenes were glossed over and could have been used to add more weight to the story.
-The drama at the end felt a little rushed and unbelievable. Again, I think it could have been better if there was more added.
This was a fun story filled with lovable main character and tons of humor. This is a great contemporary read, guaranteed to make you smile.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
lenoreo's review against another edition
4.0
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.com/2017/05/11/it-had-to-be-you-by-lizzy-charles/
4 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
I will wholeheartedly admit that there were a few things in this book that on another book would probably have bothered me more, but I just couldn't help but devour this book and end it with a big smile on my face. And I think that's because there were just that many things to love, and that I got enough pleasant surprises that it made me gloss over the things that usually annoy me.
So let's get the lamesauce stuff out of the way. The niggles:
a) Lack of communication. Yeah, there was some of that, but it didn't bother me quite as much for some reason, maybe because I was getting other stuff from the romance, and it didn't last like the whole book? But it did bother me a little...it's frustrating when assumptions are made on both sides and that's what prevents the couple from getting together.
b) Over the top evil/witchy with a b girl. Emma was seriously over the top. I'm not a fan of that. I didn't even see any depth in her to explain why she was that way, she was just a straight up mean girl. I guess those girls exist in real life, but I'm kind of tired of that.
c) The situation with Emma became a bit implausible, and I'm not sure I enjoyed how that all played out and was handled.
d) A few little things were dropped or not followed up with how I expected. Like we'd suddenly be a week later, and I kind of wanted to know how things developed in between time (like after the hair, or even right after they agree to fake date).
e) Some of the twists felt a bit convenient, especially since we'd find them out at convenient times as the story went on (Julie, some of the Ainsley stuff including the Foster Mom).
OK! That's done! I know that seems like a lot, but please remember they were little niggles that only slightly detracted from the awesome. So what was the awesome? Great characters that surprised me at different turns! I enjoyed the fact that James wasn't a horrible bad boy, but more of a guy who made some poor choices, or got pulled into the "need to impress" that many teenagers feel in high school. He was seriously so much deeper than I had been anticipating. I LOVED that we got to see how his family life affected him (having a military father, no mother), how his race affected him, how being biracial with a white father affected him. I appreciated those little touches and that they weren't glossed over. I loved that we got to see real emotion in him, particularly wrt his father. I loved that he made some monumental mistakes, which I know sounds weird, but I loved that he owned up to them and tried to make amends. I loved that he really was genuinely trying to change. I LOVED that he was a literature nerd, I would have enjoyed even more from that. Basically he really impressed me with how much we got from him in just a short novel.
Then there's Edel. Not to be left out, Edel was pretty well rounded as well! I enjoyed her unique situation, and how her life growing up shaped her, and how she desired normal teenager experiences. I loved that she was pretty naive, it really fit with what I expected from her. But she was also brave and strong at times too, and I thought she grew as the book went on. She had typical teenage girl feelings, and they still existed right to the end. I loved that we got to see bits of her relationship with her parents. And she also made mistakes, one big one in particular. I did enjoy how she stepped up and did the right thing eventually, and didn't shy away from it.
And the two of them together were super adorable. I LOVED the tummy tingles I got just from the hand holding. And I loved the way they stuck up for one another, particularly how Edel championed James.
I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, though I wouldn't have minded a bit more. But I wonder if we didn't get more because this is going to be a series and we'll eventually get their own stories? I sincerely hope so.
So yeah. May have had a few pitfalls, but the good just made me so happy that it was a success!!
4 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
I will wholeheartedly admit that there were a few things in this book that on another book would probably have bothered me more, but I just couldn't help but devour this book and end it with a big smile on my face. And I think that's because there were just that many things to love, and that I got enough pleasant surprises that it made me gloss over the things that usually annoy me.
So let's get the lamesauce stuff out of the way. The niggles:
a) Lack of communication. Yeah, there was some of that, but it didn't bother me quite as much for some reason, maybe because I was getting other stuff from the romance, and it didn't last like the whole book? But it did bother me a little...it's frustrating when assumptions are made on both sides and that's what prevents the couple from getting together.
b) Over the top evil/witchy with a b girl. Emma was seriously over the top. I'm not a fan of that. I didn't even see any depth in her to explain why she was that way, she was just a straight up mean girl. I guess those girls exist in real life, but I'm kind of tired of that.
c) The situation with Emma became a bit implausible, and I'm not sure I enjoyed how that all played out and was handled.
d) A few little things were dropped or not followed up with how I expected. Like we'd suddenly be a week later, and I kind of wanted to know how things developed in between time (like after the hair, or even right after they agree to fake date).
e) Some of the twists felt a bit convenient, especially since we'd find them out at convenient times as the story went on (Julie, some of the Ainsley stuff including the Foster Mom).
OK! That's done! I know that seems like a lot, but please remember they were little niggles that only slightly detracted from the awesome. So what was the awesome? Great characters that surprised me at different turns! I enjoyed the fact that James wasn't a horrible bad boy, but more of a guy who made some poor choices, or got pulled into the "need to impress" that many teenagers feel in high school. He was seriously so much deeper than I had been anticipating. I LOVED that we got to see how his family life affected him (having a military father, no mother), how his race affected him, how being biracial with a white father affected him. I appreciated those little touches and that they weren't glossed over. I loved that we got to see real emotion in him, particularly wrt his father. I loved that he made some monumental mistakes, which I know sounds weird, but I loved that he owned up to them and tried to make amends. I loved that he really was genuinely trying to change. I LOVED that he was a literature nerd, I would have enjoyed even more from that. Basically he really impressed me with how much we got from him in just a short novel.
Then there's Edel. Not to be left out, Edel was pretty well rounded as well! I enjoyed her unique situation, and how her life growing up shaped her, and how she desired normal teenager experiences. I loved that she was pretty naive, it really fit with what I expected from her. But she was also brave and strong at times too, and I thought she grew as the book went on. She had typical teenage girl feelings, and they still existed right to the end. I loved that we got to see bits of her relationship with her parents. And she also made mistakes, one big one in particular. I did enjoy how she stepped up and did the right thing eventually, and didn't shy away from it.
And the two of them together were super adorable. I LOVED the tummy tingles I got just from the hand holding. And I loved the way they stuck up for one another, particularly how Edel championed James.
I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, though I wouldn't have minded a bit more. But I wonder if we didn't get more because this is going to be a series and we'll eventually get their own stories? I sincerely hope so.
So yeah. May have had a few pitfalls, but the good just made me so happy that it was a success!!
theestherhadassah's review against another edition
5.0
New, different and great ♥
Only people who have lived the 90s will know what I mean when I say: This book kind of reminded me of that movie "My Date with the President's Daughter". Just because James starts dating the daughter of a diplomat. I don't know the connection, but that's what I thought of. This is a quick, light-hearted read. I was able to read it in a few hours (in between life and watching rowdy brothers). Lizzy Charles has done a great job to bring a new, different story to the world. I highly recommend you pick it up. :)
DISCLAIMER: I own a copy of this book, but I also requested an e-ARC from NetGalley, and am participating in a blog tour with Chapter by Chapter Book Tours
Only people who have lived the 90s will know what I mean when I say: This book kind of reminded me of that movie "My Date with the President's Daughter". Just because James starts dating the daughter of a diplomat. I don't know the connection, but that's what I thought of. This is a quick, light-hearted read. I was able to read it in a few hours (in between life and watching rowdy brothers). Lizzy Charles has done a great job to bring a new, different story to the world. I highly recommend you pick it up. :)
DISCLAIMER: I own a copy of this book, but I also requested an e-ARC from NetGalley, and am participating in a blog tour with Chapter by Chapter Book Tours