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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This is not a book I would typically pick up. I was feeling overwhelmed with the amount of sadness and injustice around me and I needed something light. This book did not disappoint. It reminded me of a show I used to really enjoy (The Game-it was a guilty pleasure in college, okay?). Taylor is a physical trainer who struggles in school, so didn't finish college and therefore struggles to get jobs she really wants. Jamar is an injured pro-athlete that wants to get back in the game. In each other they find strength, encouragement, and love. It was an easy, fun read.
DNF (audio). I really wanted to like this story, but it ultimately came off as a little bit preachy to me at times. And as someone who has no interest in nutritional facts and workout routines and physical training it just didn’t hold my interest. I don’t want my books to have a lecture about potato chips and restricting food, especially because I believe everything in moderation is a more joyful way to live. I also didn’t feel like the characters had much chemistry and I couldn’t get into the plot. I took a break from the audio, but was just never able to brim myself back to it, so I had to call it.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this plot makes no sense
she has no business or fitness credentials or knowledge of the NFL and yet he hired her anyways? also - why are they fake dating?
she has no business or fitness credentials or knowledge of the NFL and yet he hired her anyways? also - why are they fake dating?
I liked this second installment of The Boyfriend Project trilogy. I love Farrah Rochon's writing style. She is great with dialogue that is natural and not forced. It was super fun to get to see the three friends together again.
I liked Jamar and how hard he was working to rehab his knee to get back to the NFL. I really enjoy that Farrah Rochon includes the male perspective and their own angst, turmoils, and struggles. It makes the book - and the couple - feel balanced. The fake dating trope really works for their unique situation too.
I'm confused on why it is so important that Taylor have a bachelor's degree in order to grow her business. She should already have multiple certifications: teaching yoga, fitness coaching, nutrition, etc. While I understand the "no degree = no work" road block is what helps her figure out her learning disabilities, it undermines her expertise. Taylor seems more qualified than someone who just watched YouTube and PE on army bases!
The cliffhanger from the first book was kind of glossed over so that was just a bit disappointing. I expected it to pick right up from there and have a bit more action. It is always nice to "meet" the main characters' families. Oooh boy, Jamar's parents. LOL.
It seems like London's class reunion will be where she finds her love interest. That always makes for some interesting side characters! I can't wait.
*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*
I liked Jamar and how hard he was working to rehab his knee to get back to the NFL. I really enjoy that Farrah Rochon includes the male perspective and their own angst, turmoils, and struggles. It makes the book - and the couple - feel balanced. The fake dating trope really works for their unique situation too.
I'm confused on why it is so important that Taylor have a bachelor's degree in order to grow her business. She should already have multiple certifications: teaching yoga, fitness coaching, nutrition, etc. While I understand the "no degree = no work" road block is what helps her figure out her learning disabilities, it undermines her expertise. Taylor seems more qualified than someone who just watched YouTube and PE on army bases!
The cliffhanger from the first book was kind of glossed over so that was just a bit disappointing. I expected it to pick right up from there and have a bit more action. It is always nice to "meet" the main characters' families. Oooh boy, Jamar's parents. LOL.
It seems like London's class reunion will be where she finds her love interest. That always makes for some interesting side characters! I can't wait.
*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish this book would've been good but no amount of black love could've saved this boring story and unrealistic romance.
I think the problem began when I started asking questions about the plot 10 seconds into the story because it really only went downhill from there for me.
- Taylor being a fitness business owner is fine, and her having financial insecurity due to her being a small business owner makes sense, but half of her issues came from her just straight up being an idiot. She doesn't understand why she needs to be CERTFIED in fitness practices to get business and recommendations? She has, what seemed to me, to be a toxic relationship with food and the way it works with exercise which makes no sense if you're trying to teach people how to be healthy and physically fit. The final nail in the coffin for her idiocy for me was when she said she had no idea she had to pay taxes on the money she made from her Youtube channel....i was like oh this makes total sense why you're in hella credit card debt.
- Jamar was boring and his reasonings for everything he did in this story made little sense. He briefly played in the NFL but was injured early on....and then YEARS LATER decides he wants to make a comeback and hires...Taylor...the uncertified fitness instructor with 0 sports health credentials to be his personal trainer to get him back in NFL shape. HUH? This man has boatloads of money but he's hiring some chick who's ad he saw on facebook over a real professional? He's also in the NFL for reasons that seemed silly to me. He was chasing (and achieved) this dream of being in the NFL not because he wants to, but bc of the guilt he feels over his dead friend (who died 10 years ago) and his promise to "take care of his family". Why do you even want to play in the NFL this bad when you seemingly never wanted to?
- Them fake dating makes no sense and adds 0 tension to the plot because they virtually call off the fakeness like 2 weeks into them dating and turn it into a real relationship. Some random reporter sees them out, a famous NFL player and an otherwise unknown woman, and Taylor tells the reporter they're together for reasons. The reporter never talks about this to the press, but they decide that they need to be seen in public kissing to solidify the lie that no one is asking about. Riiiiiight. This makes even less sense when you have to read Taylor explaining why she'll never dates her clients for the 10th time.
They have the same banter, the same conversations, and the same sex on a loop. They both had 0 personality and it was just boring reading about them being together for the whole story. This book had 0 stakes and 0 reason to care about the romance overall.
The smaller plot points about Taylor having a learning disability was fine and that context was so true within the black community, but also had me asking why she HAD to take the ACT. She could've literally picked a school or a program that didn't involve that but for some reason she was fixated on it. Sure I guess. Jamar having guilt over his friend would've had a decent payoff if it had been anything other than a high school friend/promise. Like the friend could've been in the NFL with him or something? The friend storyline that was his entire character arc had very little to do with him being a football player....
Idk, all i got from this is that the author didn't really understand the basics about any of the details she chose to add to the plot and that combined with a boring romance didn't really do it for me.
I think the problem began when I started asking questions about the plot 10 seconds into the story because it really only went downhill from there for me.
- Taylor being a fitness business owner is fine, and her having financial insecurity due to her being a small business owner makes sense, but half of her issues came from her just straight up being an idiot. She doesn't understand why she needs to be CERTFIED in fitness practices to get business and recommendations? She has, what seemed to me, to be a toxic relationship with food and the way it works with exercise which makes no sense if you're trying to teach people how to be healthy and physically fit. The final nail in the coffin for her idiocy for me was when she said she had no idea she had to pay taxes on the money she made from her Youtube channel....i was like oh this makes total sense why you're in hella credit card debt.
- Jamar was boring and his reasonings for everything he did in this story made little sense. He briefly played in the NFL but was injured early on....and then YEARS LATER decides he wants to make a comeback and hires...Taylor...the uncertified fitness instructor with 0 sports health credentials to be his personal trainer to get him back in NFL shape. HUH? This man has boatloads of money but he's hiring some chick who's ad he saw on facebook over a real professional? He's also in the NFL for reasons that seemed silly to me. He was chasing (and achieved) this dream of being in the NFL not because he wants to, but bc of the guilt he feels over his dead friend (who died 10 years ago) and his promise to "take care of his family". Why do you even want to play in the NFL this bad when you seemingly never wanted to?
- Them fake dating makes no sense and adds 0 tension to the plot because they virtually call off the fakeness like 2 weeks into them dating and turn it into a real relationship. Some random reporter sees them out, a famous NFL player and an otherwise unknown woman, and Taylor tells the reporter they're together for reasons. The reporter never talks about this to the press, but they decide that they need to be seen in public kissing to solidify the lie that no one is asking about. Riiiiiight. This makes even less sense when you have to read Taylor explaining why she'll never dates her clients for the 10th time.
They have the same banter, the same conversations, and the same sex on a loop. They both had 0 personality and it was just boring reading about them being together for the whole story. This book had 0 stakes and 0 reason to care about the romance overall.
The smaller plot points about Taylor having a learning disability was fine and that context was so true within the black community, but also had me asking why she HAD to take the ACT. She could've literally picked a school or a program that didn't involve that but for some reason she was fixated on it. Sure I guess. Jamar having guilt over his friend would've had a decent payoff if it had been anything other than a high school friend/promise. Like the friend could've been in the NFL with him or something? The friend storyline that was his entire character arc had very little to do with him being a football player....
Idk, all i got from this is that the author didn't really understand the basics about any of the details she chose to add to the plot and that combined with a boring romance didn't really do it for me.
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love these characters. This book was even better than the first and I really felt for Taylor in her recognition of challenges and her determination to make changes in her life. I have my theories about what's coming in book three and I can't wait.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes