Reviews - Timid | The StoryGraph

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This book, along with the first one are pretty mid. There isn't much development or chemistry between the characters which made the whole reading kinda dull and boring. After reading the first one I was just going to stop reading the series but I was intrigued to read this one because I just expected the issue and was interested to see how the author was going to establish the characters but sadly I was disappointed.

Summary Of My Thoughts:
- Spice: 3/5

- Plot: 3/5 (the ending ruined it)
- Character development: 2/5

- Told instead of Shown: 5/5 (I hated this)

- Chemistry: 3/5

Now lets start with my ideas - the characters:

- Jackson: Like many cliche stories, Jackson is the hero that has a lot of experience in the sexual department and has commitment issues and is just waiting for the right girl to move him so much he changes his ways. I wish the author spent more time developing his character and put him through the process of learning but sadly that wasn't the case. For someone who had such a big problem when it came to trust, you'd expect the character to actually learn how to love and to commit but he changed his mind after one argument with the heroin about his issues. That's not how it works. Jackson didn't go through the process of learning how to deal with his commitment and abandonment issues, he suddenly just got over it. Another thing that bothered me was how little interaction and relationship development the author put into Jackson and Ryder's relationship. Again, as someone with trust and abandonment issues, Ryder would've been the greatest way for Jackson to learn and develop a close brotherly bond with Ryder but the author basically just used Ryder to fix the sudden murder mystery plot at the end.

- Ryder: why was he even in the book? He had no significant role other than to help solve the mystery at the end. We never got to read the struggle of his character in trusting Jackson, Willa and other side characters. We were just TOLD that he was struggling and how he suddenly got close with Jackson and Willa. It would've been so much better if the author actually SHOWED the relationship development and how he would open up to those around him after having such a shit life with his mother. He was a useless character that had a lot of potential. What a waste.

- Willa: the typical virgin heroin that loves everyone and is there to fix the hero because she's not like other girls. What else is there to say?

- Jackson & Willa: Sooo this duo had a lot of potential but sadly I was disappointed to read so much and so little at the same time. There wasn't much development between the two and I wish it was a different case. There was so much time jumps that I didn't get to read about them getting close. Literally the chapter after they had sex starts with them a month later. A MONTH. why? There were many chapters of being told that weeks had passed and how close they got together by sharing stories and making jokes but where were those jokes and stories? Why were we being told instead of being shown? That's a mistake authors make to show that the characters are bonding and all but it actually shows the opposite when we as readers aren't able to actually read about them getting close and really feel their bond. I really wish authors would stop doing this because I almost gave up the book due to this problem.

NOW my problem with the PLOT:

- Had potential but the ending with the whole murder mystery ruined it for me. It was unnecessary. If I had a choice on the matter, I truly believe that the author should delete the entire plot about the murder mystery and instead add chapters about Ryder, Jackson and Willa developing a close relationship. If that was the case, I'm sure the book would be much more enjoyable.