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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Zac and Bianca. Childhood friends (Zac is Bianca's cousin's Boogie's best friend and was practically raised by Bianca's grandmother) who have THE STUPIDEST MISUNDERSTANDING OF ALL TIME and fall out of touch for 10 years. As adults, he's a quarterback for the NFO who hasn't found his forever team. She's works at Maio House, and posts videos online as The Lazy Baker.
So... let's break this down in the MZ formula, shall we?
1. She has awful, neglectful, borderline abusive parents, but she's got a great support system in terms of her extended family.
2. The guy we meet at the beginning of the book is not the same one who professes his feelings to his respective h. Or, maybe better put, his actions and feelings don't make sense. Each H has a moment in his book that makes you stop and think, "wait, what? how can that be true?!?"
3. We are told for most of the book that Bianca is "not Zac's type" and of course he could/would/should not like a girl like her.
Got it? Now, let's focus on the specific issues with this book.
From the very start, Zac, Boogie, and Bianca were practically inseparable, but Zac and Bianca apparently always had a "special connection." EVERYONE AROUND THEM CAN SEE IT. As a teenager, Bianca has a crush on Zac but she knows that her feelings are never going to be reciprocated.
Then, we hit the moment that eclipses all MZ WTF moments:
A jealous GF of Zac's makes Bianca feel like sh*t, and then messes with each of their phones so that they no longer have each other's numbers. They continue to text and call each other, but of course, none of the communications go through. They see each other in person, and the two closest people in the whole world with the unspoken bond don't say anything about the mounting conflict. Then, they spend more time apart and individually decide that the other wants nothing to do with them. Bianca starts to avoid any run-ins with Zac, but Zac can't stop asking for updates on "Little Texas." Umm, when he remembers that she exists. Because, you know, he's off being a professional football player and one of his best friends just disappearing off the face of the planet is so easily forgettable.
Yes. One month of unreturned texts and calls is going to overturn 10+ years of being in each other's company and knowing each other and loving each other. Done. That's it.
Meanwhile, Boogie, Connie, Richard, Zac's Mom, Paw-Paw, basically everyone who is interacting with them individually IS SITTING BY AND WATCHING. All of the people who are so nosy and interfering and love our MCs and only want the best for them can see what is happening and aren't going to do anything about it. In fact, they are going to help our MCs stay apart.
With me? OK, let's go back to the beginning of the story.
Boogie (WHO HAS BASICALLY BEEN KEEPING BIANCA AWAY FROM ZAC FOR A DECADE) asks Bianca TO GO TO ZAC'S HOUSE because Paw-Paw is in the hospital. Once Zac sees her and realizes who she is, he suddenly obtains:
1. her phone number
2. her home address
3. her work address
But he couldn't get any one of the three above a decade earlier because...
Zac reinserts himself into Bianca's life and Bianca does everything she can to show Zac that she feels worthless. He isn't having any of it, but of course, she doesn't believe him. They fall back into a weird friendship (AFTER A DECADE OF AVOIDING/FORGETTING THE OTHER). He keeps trying to make Bianca feel valuable, but his actions can't make up for his past.
She tries to keep him at a distance, but he doesn't respect her wishes. Zac doesn't see Bianca as an equal. He's constantly calling her "kiddo" and does what we wants without any consideration of what she wants, thinks, or needs. Yeah, that's romantic.
Bianca is at a fork in the road and needs to make decisions for her future because no one is going to take care of her better than she does. Zac is there, he's saying and doing all the right things, but Bianca is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then, a photo of Zac is uploaded to social media and it proves that all of our doubts and fears were warranted. Bianca bolts.
Zac comes after her, and with 7% left to go in the book, Zac talks and everything is magically fixed. Seriously, guys. EVERYTHING. Our two can finally be together and get married and have babies and fulfill the potential that everyone around them saw FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
tl;dr: the actual conflict between our two MCs doesn't make sense, it's resolved too easily and too late into the story. HEA but it's unbelievable that they're going to have a stable present or future based on the foundation of their past.
So... let's break this down in the MZ formula, shall we?
1. She has awful, neglectful, borderline abusive parents, but she's got a great support system in terms of her extended family.
2. The guy we meet at the beginning of the book is not the same one who professes his feelings to his respective h. Or, maybe better put, his actions and feelings don't make sense. Each H has a moment in his book that makes you stop and think, "wait, what? how can that be true?!?"
3. We are told for most of the book that Bianca is "not Zac's type" and of course he could/would/should not like a girl like her.
Got it? Now, let's focus on the specific issues with this book.
From the very start, Zac, Boogie, and Bianca were practically inseparable, but Zac and Bianca apparently always had a "special connection." EVERYONE AROUND THEM CAN SEE IT. As a teenager, Bianca has a crush on Zac but she knows that her feelings are never going to be reciprocated.
Then, we hit the moment that eclipses all MZ WTF moments:
A jealous GF of Zac's makes Bianca feel like sh*t, and then messes with each of their phones so that they no longer have each other's numbers. They continue to text and call each other, but of course, none of the communications go through. They see each other in person, and the two closest people in the whole world with the unspoken bond don't say anything about the mounting conflict. Then, they spend more time apart and individually decide that the other wants nothing to do with them. Bianca starts to avoid any run-ins with Zac, but Zac can't stop asking for updates on "Little Texas." Umm, when he remembers that she exists. Because, you know, he's off being a professional football player and one of his best friends just disappearing off the face of the planet is so easily forgettable.
Yes. One month of unreturned texts and calls is going to overturn 10+ years of being in each other's company and knowing each other and loving each other. Done. That's it.
Meanwhile, Boogie, Connie, Richard, Zac's Mom, Paw-Paw, basically everyone who is interacting with them individually IS SITTING BY AND WATCHING. All of the people who are so nosy and interfering and love our MCs and only want the best for them can see what is happening and aren't going to do anything about it. In fact, they are going to help our MCs stay apart.
With me? OK, let's go back to the beginning of the story.
Boogie (WHO HAS BASICALLY BEEN KEEPING BIANCA AWAY FROM ZAC FOR A DECADE) asks Bianca TO GO TO ZAC'S HOUSE because Paw-Paw is in the hospital. Once Zac sees her and realizes who she is, he suddenly obtains:
1. her phone number
2. her home address
3. her work address
But he couldn't get any one of the three above a decade earlier because...
Zac reinserts himself into Bianca's life and Bianca does everything she can to show Zac that she feels worthless. He isn't having any of it, but of course, she doesn't believe him. They fall back into a weird friendship (AFTER A DECADE OF AVOIDING/FORGETTING THE OTHER). He keeps trying to make Bianca feel valuable, but his actions can't make up for his past.
She tries to keep him at a distance, but he doesn't respect her wishes. Zac doesn't see Bianca as an equal. He's constantly calling her "kiddo" and does what we wants without any consideration of what she wants, thinks, or needs. Yeah, that's romantic.
Bianca is at a fork in the road and needs to make decisions for her future because no one is going to take care of her better than she does. Zac is there, he's saying and doing all the right things, but Bianca is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Then, a photo of Zac is uploaded to social media and it proves that all of our doubts and fears were warranted. Bianca bolts.
Zac comes after her, and with 7% left to go in the book, Zac talks and everything is magically fixed. Seriously, guys. EVERYTHING. Our two can finally be together and get married and have babies and fulfill the potential that everyone around them saw FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.
tl;dr: the actual conflict between our two MCs doesn't make sense, it's resolved too easily and too late into the story. HEA but it's unbelievable that they're going to have a stable present or future based on the foundation of their past.
Awww so happy to read about Zac. Fell for him in the wall of Winnipeg, and I’m glad to finally getting around to his story.
He is legit the sweetest man ever. So kind and honest.
Zac and Bianca were childhood friends who lost touch, and ten years passed without contact.
Events bring them back together and they quickly go back to their old routine and become inseparable.
All his “darlin’” and twang just made me swoon.
He is legit the sweetest man ever. So kind and honest.
Zac and Bianca were childhood friends who lost touch, and ten years passed without contact.
Events bring them back together and they quickly go back to their old routine and become inseparable.
All his “darlin’” and twang just made me swoon.
Reread #1. I have been waiting to reread this book since... well, pretty much since I finished it the first time back in July 2020. But, as is my habit with Mariana books, I wanted to wait until the audio was available. Naturally, the pandemic delayed things. But, I digress. I'm so happy I finally got to reread it. Zac and Bianca gave me all the feels again on this second go 'round. Plus you know I'm always down for getting to spend some time with Aiden and Van, even if they weren't the stars of the story here.
too sweet, not enough spice
I really like Mariana Zapata’s books, but this one was a bit precious and slow for my taste. Not bad, just not my favorite.
I really like Mariana Zapata’s books, but this one was a bit precious and slow for my taste. Not bad, just not my favorite.
My least favorite MZ book to date. Too many overused corny nicknames, too many unoriginal characters, too many run-on sentences, and too many pages for not a lot happening.
I loved Zac in The Wall of Winnipeg and me and I loved him in Hands Down.
This book probably would have been five stars if there was just a little more tension between Bianca and Zac. Otherwise I loved this book and Mariana Zapata is still the queen of slow burn!
This book probably would have been five stars if there was just a little more tension between Bianca and Zac. Otherwise I loved this book and Mariana Zapata is still the queen of slow burn!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes