Reviews

Against the Wall by Julie Prestsater

rachelreadsdaily's review

5.0

This was a light,quick, easy read and I loved it! It caught my attention from page one and never let go. It was smart, witty, laugh out loud funny and heartwarming! I loved all of the beer references and how Shelly picked up men based on their beer tastes. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for something funny and not too angsty, although, I will mention that the 'high school makeout sessions' were pretty hot.

Fave Quote:

"And I'm married. I dream about every man I see, or read about. Thank God for fantasies or I'd never get the chance to be manhandled by so many beautiful men."

jaimejustreadsromance's review

4.0

What a cute book. I was laughing the whole way through it. I loved the way Mel and Shel talked to each other. I really liked that there wasn't too much drama in the relationships, it made the story more realistic.

wicked_nyx's review

4.0

What a feel-good funny book! Snappy dialogue, foul-mouthed teachers, hot eye-candy...what more could a girl ask for? Well, I would have loved more smutty goodness, but in the context of the set up for this book, less works.

Matt is close to perfect for a book boyfriend, and hotter make-out sessions cannot be found. Shelly is delightfully foul-mouthed, and even though she is hung-up on her ex, the whole book is delightfully angst-free.

Funny, sweet, and full of adult language this is a definite keeper.

shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review

4.0

I love great dialogue. If characters have snappy wit and sassy dialogue to back it up, I'm all over it. So imagine my surprise when I started reading AGAINST THE WALL and found Shelly. She embodied snappy wit and had some of the best lines of dialogue (even if they were her inner monologues).

The story starts with the beginning of the school year and Shelly still nursing a broken heart after her long time boyfriend/fiance and fellow teacher dumps her for the new, shiny science teacher. With the help of her best friend, Mel, Shelly is determined to find her Mr. Right...just not at her workplace. Too bad all too hot teacher Matt Fuller didn't get that message. As Shelly and Matt try the "we're not really together" thing, Shelly needs to figure out if what she wants is still out there or the man right beside her.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Matt was almost too good to be true in his bid to prove the Shelly that they belonged together. He gave her the space to figure things out. He gave their relationship time to develop without all the normal relationship "pressures" in hope that Shelly would understand what they had was so much more (that's the almost too good to be true part), Besides, who wouldn't love a guy that loved you enough to take you against the wall.

I felt like Shelly was one of my girls. I got her and I loved her. I'm not sure I could even convey, in words, just what it was that made me like her so much. This is going to be one of those time where I just have to say...read the book to see what I mean.

This was a really quick read for me, but one that gave me some great moment of laughter. Definitely one of those book that will leave you with a smile on your face.

alaiawest's review

5.0

I’ve read this like 4 times and love it each time I want a Matty but I’m like gay female form.

radcarlawho's review

4.0

This book made me giggle and even blush a few times. It's not for everyone. The main characters like to cuss a lot (I find it funny, even though I don't talk that way). The story is sweet--teacher (with hilarious best friend) recovering from bad break-up is romanced by good friend who works with her. This book gets very steamy (I'd rate it about 4 panties on The Book Bosses Panty Changer scale) even where there isn't actual sex happening--anticipation/fantasies. Now, if I were to critique the writing, my rating would be a little lower. The descriptions of kissing and the sex scenes are more detailed than necessary (she could take a lesson from Diana Gabaldon on writing a good sex scene without giving the "thrust by thrust" play by play, if you know what I mean). But my 4 star rating is about how much I enjoyed this book overall for the laughs and the story.

hopeglo35's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

jodyladuemcgrath's review

1.0

I read about 3/4ths of this book, but just couldn't finish it. It was soooo boring. And I think the main guy was completely unbelievable to the point of nausea! I know a lot of great guys in their 30s, but none of them are Boy Scouts like this guy. The whole no-sex-till-you-love-me bit was creepy. I kept thinking we were going to get treated to a couple chapters about erectile dis function or something. And he had been pining away for her for 5 years (he is super hot by the way-but he waited for her) and knew too much about her. It was like stalker-vibes! And they all acted like college kids, and treated their careers as teachers like it was a gig at mcdonalds! Swearing, fighting, getting all sexed up. Yuck! And how many "hot" teachers taught at this one school...like 7 I think it was. At least. Not just attractive, but OMG hot. Huh? Where is this believable? Any normal job usually doesn't have that many sexy people at it! Was this like Model High?

mel_reviews_in_a_pinch's review

3.0

This is a full spin-off novel (463 pages on the Nook) that can be read as a stand alone from Julie Prestsater’s Double Threat series’ universe. I haven’t read that series, but it was still easy to follow along with the characters and plot. The plot was a story most people can relate to, getting dumped. Although getting dumped by your high school sweetheart and then seeing them at working every day might make things a tad more complicated. The characters were interesting and had individualized quirks, but the main character was just too stuck in her past, in my opinion. Prestsater’s characterization was a little too jumpy for my taste. As for the ending, it was too much of a happily ever after (let’s just tie this story in a nice little bow) and occurred way too fast. Overall, I did actually like this book. However, I am recommending it because it is free at barnesandnoble.com and will give readers a taste of Julie Prestsater’s writing style. It’s hard to go wrong with a free book.

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keelanstorm's review

4.0

I enjoyed this, but the final scene it had been building to (and I figure the author was trying to be realistic) fell a little flat to me. I was expecting to be wowed more at end. Still a great read.