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stungbythewood's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This feels pertinent to today’s socioeconomic climate, seeing how it’s still difficult and time consuming to get hired for jobs in this day in age. I, too, wish I had a handsome billionaire to pay for my college tuition.
I was a little surprised to see that this was published in 2015, as it reads like it was written within the last year. In that regard, this has aged quite well. As someone who’s in the same age bracket as the FMC, the dialogue and expressions felt very similar to how people of my age talk. There’s no out of place terminology used.
Onto the pros and cons:
PROS
I admired Kayla’s desire to keep working even after she’d have all her expenses paid for.
I am not of the notion that someone is lazy if they don’t want to work (because honestly, who likes having to work in this day and age?), but I enjoyed that she still had goals and plans for herself even if she didn’t have to worry about income anymore. She thought of her own financial independence and didn’t let herself get “lost” in her partner.
Another positive for me was how attuned Michael was to how Kayla was feeling and although this is the bare minimum of respect and integrity, he never pressured Kayla into having sex with him and always made sure that he got enthusiastic consent from her when they were having sex.
Michael is also enthusiastically into Kayla. He doesn’t have any insecurities about her weight or what people might say when they’re seen together.
Lastly, in my ever growing desire to read books with more diversity, I am happy to say that this cast includes a variety of characters or color, LGBTQ+ characters, and plus-sized characters. It was really nice to see a trans woman of color develop a cute little relationship with a famous pop star.
CONS
One thing I hate in romance stories is when a friendship between women is dissolved over a man. I had hopes that this wouldn’t happen between Kayla and Adler, but as I got to the last chapter of the novella I soon realized what I feared would happen, happened.
I would probably still dislike this trope even if it had a more natural progression, but this in particular felt very rushed and tacked onto the end to create an unnecessary point of conflict. It just doesn’t make sense to me as to why things ended like that.
I am beginning to realize that I also dislike the insta-love trope within the romance genre. In this case it felt very rushed, especially with the main characters moving in together at the end. I feel like the whole plot point with Adler was just an excuse for these two characters to have a reason to move in together.
I get why Kayla left the apartment and didn’t want to stay roommates with Adler, but I don’t think I’d move in with my partner that I’d only known for a few months at MOST. Michael was wanting Kayla to move in as well but I’m sure if she wanted, Michael wouldn’t have a problem getting a little one bedroom apartment for her.
My last issue is with the anal sex scene. I was a little bit shocked to read that the characters when condom-less, especially when they were still wearing condoms while having vaginal sex, especially when STI’s can still be contracted through anal sex and the characters did not seemingly have a discussion about their status or sexual health history.
There were a few spelling errors here and there in the ebook I read but I’m mostly accrediting that to editing.
All in all this was a quick, fun and summery little read.
I was a little surprised to see that this was published in 2015, as it reads like it was written within the last year. In that regard, this has aged quite well. As someone who’s in the same age bracket as the FMC, the dialogue and expressions felt very similar to how people of my age talk. There’s no out of place terminology used.
Onto the pros and cons:
I admired Kayla’s desire to keep working even after she’d have all her expenses paid for.
I am not of the notion that someone is lazy if they don’t want to work (because honestly, who likes having to work in this day and age?), but I enjoyed that she still had goals and plans for herself even if she didn’t have to worry about income anymore. She thought of her own financial independence and didn’t let herself get “lost” in her partner.
Another positive for me was how attuned Michael was to how Kayla was feeling and although this is the bare minimum of respect and integrity, he never pressured Kayla into having sex with him and always made sure that he got enthusiastic consent from her when they were having sex.
Michael is also enthusiastically into Kayla. He doesn’t have any insecurities about her weight or what people might say when they’re seen together.
Lastly, in my ever growing desire to read books with more diversity, I am happy to say that this cast includes a variety of characters or color, LGBTQ+ characters, and plus-sized characters. It was really nice to see a trans woman of color develop a cute little relationship with a famous pop star.
CONS
One thing I hate in romance stories is when a friendship between women is dissolved over a man. I had hopes that this wouldn’t happen between Kayla and Adler, but as I got to the last chapter of the novella I soon realized what I feared would happen, happened.
I would probably still dislike this trope even if it had a more natural progression, but this in particular felt very rushed and tacked onto the end to create an unnecessary point of conflict. It just doesn’t make sense to me as to why things ended like that.
I am beginning to realize that I also dislike the insta-love trope within the romance genre. In this case it felt very rushed, especially with the main characters moving in together at the end. I feel like the whole plot point with Adler was just an excuse for these two characters to have a reason to move in together.
I get why Kayla left the apartment and didn’t want to stay roommates with Adler, but I don’t think I’d move in with my partner that I’d only known for a few months at MOST. Michael was wanting Kayla to move in as well but I’m sure if she wanted, Michael wouldn’t have a problem getting a little one bedroom apartment for her.
My last issue is with the anal sex scene. I was a little bit shocked to read that the characters when condom-less, especially when they were still wearing condoms while having vaginal sex, especially when STI’s can still be contracted through anal sex and the characters did not seemingly have a discussion about their status or sexual health history.
There were a few spelling errors here and there in the ebook I read but I’m mostly accrediting that to editing.
All in all this was a quick, fun and summery little read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
kloughlin's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Dementia
memorable's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I know this is a novella and it’s supposed to be short; however, for me personally, it was way too fast and I couldn’t really connect with the characters. Most of the time, I was kinda rolling my eyes, because it just felt too rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexual assault
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