Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Blonde Identity

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

8 reviews

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

Ally Carter’s adult debut was a hilariously fast paced, spy filled Rom-com that reads like the love child of Argylle, Atomic Blonde and The Bourne Identity— if you love your Rom-Coms heart-poundingly swift and full of danger, then you’re sure to be as utterly addicted as I was!

With a plot that plays up to all the conventions of a classic spy caper (think mistaken identities, amnesia and plenty of gun toting bad guys.) Carter allows the delightfully witty banter and swoon-worthy chemistry of protagonists,Sawyer and Zoe (and their adorable Grumpy/Sunshine dynamics) to take centre stage.

I loved Zoe, our sunshiny, amnesiac MC —whose (rogue spy) identical twin,Alex has her fending off operatives from every government intelligence agency-in the most chaotic and entertainingly endearing way possible.

Like a Blonde Jessica Day (from New Girl) she stumbles into one dangerous situation after the next without a care in the world— something that would usually annoy me. But thanks to her unrelenting selflessness and optimistically quirky outlook on life, I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way. Starting from the moment we first meet her: laying on a snowy Parisian street, intending to take a nap.

Sawyer, the Nick Miller to Zoe’s Jess was also an enjoyable character to get to know. As the second POV character in this Dual POV Rom-com, I loved getting to explore his perspective on the increasingly dire situations they have got themselves tangled up in. As Zoe’s only lifeline to her sister (whom he worked beside before she ran off with a very important flash drive), Sawyer knows that he can’t let her out of his sight. For selfish reasons of course (he needs to find that drive asap) but also for less tangible reasons too.

His attraction and slow realisation to his developing feelings for Zoe, (and his initial reluctance) was quite interesting to explore and, along with some rather stellar comedic timing—made for quite a lighthearted juxtaposition to the more life threatening events around them. This is definitely a story that would be marvellous on the big screen, I’m already mentally compiling my dream cast (so please whoever’s in charge of such decisions, can you please adapt this immediately.)

Overall, a fun and fabulously addictive read that adventure seeking Rom-Com lovers should definitely consider checking out.

Also a massive thank you for Chloe over at Pan MacMillan for the finished copy.

Content Warnings

edietz22's review

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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samanthasshelf_'s review

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

"for the GGs. I'm so proud of you."

grown up gallagher girls, and there's gonna be a book two 🥹 🥹 I've been waiting for Carter's adult debut since my preteen years, and it did not dissappoint! a fun, twisty closed-door romantic mystery for Finlay Donovan lovers that wish we got more of the hot cop. the pet named weren't my fav and "lady" was not my jam, but i love a good grumpy-sunshine and the twists had me on edge until the end!

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ksykes's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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hailstorm3812's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.25

Ally Carter wrote books that made me squeal at 15 and it appears she can do it at 25. She can blend spy thriller with heartfelt romcom like no other. I really liked REDACTED and Alex, even though she's only in like a quarter of the book if that. I am a sucker for a romantic lead that is just a bit of a freak. I even liked Sawyer, if he is a bit of a genre stereotype. I also stand by my theory that YA authors can write sexual tension better than anyone since they can't jump straight into it. Though I will warn you it is fade to black. I had a hell of a time and I'm looked forward to the presumable next book.

Banger hilarious ending line also.

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ciwanski's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The dedication literally made me sob. Thank you Ally Carter for writing this book (and all of your books) for me.

While romcoms tend not to be the most prestigious examples of literature, this book was certainly a damn good time. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has made my heart burst in every single chapter, but this book hit the mark. Ally even made me not hate a man calling a woman “sweetheart.” Not to mention she gave a great addition to the classic “I’ll kill anyone who hurts you” line.

This book made me giggle and blush and kick my feet and occasionally check my pulse. It also made me very sentimental. For these reasons it is my first 5 star read of the year (almost 9 months in oops). I’m an Ally stan through and through.

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overflowingshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

CW: Violence; gun violence; murder; death of a parent (off-page)

When I heard Ally Carter was writing an adult romance, I was ECSTATIC. I was obsessed with the Gallagher Girls series as a teen as I felt like I grew up with Cammie and the gang, so I was so excited to dive into a new spy novel as I knew this would be a rip-roaring good time with plenty of action, humor, and romance – and that’s precisely what Ally Carter delivered with The Blonde Identity.

If you cannot guess from the title, this is a play on The Bourne Identity storyline. An injured woman wakes up in the middle of the streets of Paris with no idea who she is or what she’s doing there. Luckily, an extremely hot spy guy is there telling her to run as motorcycles come gunning for her as soon as she wakes up. Turns out, she’s the identical twin sister of a wanted spy that nearly every governmental organization and the Russian mob are looking for, so she has a massive target on her back. She has to team up with the sexy, brooding, hot spy guy to disappear safely. Together, they’re lying their way across Europe, dodging bullets and faking kisses along the way as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

It’s been a while since I stayed up until 3 a.m. multiple nights in a row to finish a book (that takes me back to my high school reading days), but this book had me doing that. I seriously couldn’t put it down because you’re immediately swept up in a high-stakes, action-packed ride as soon as you start reading it.

This was the perfect spy romance, as it had everything I wanted and more. With amnesia, mistaken identity, a road trip across Europe, and plenty of fun and flirty banter, there is a ton to love with the romance. I adored how the relationship between Zoe and Sawyer developed. It didn’t feel rushed, even though they only knew each other for a short time (being on the run and having to flee multiple people trying to kill you would bring anyone close together quickly). Their chemistry was immediately apparent, and I loved how their covert ops allowed them to flirt. The twists Carter weaves into the plot pulled on my heartstrings at times as it directly affected Zoe and Sawyer’s relationship, but she makes it all work in the end.

Fair warning, though – this book is closed-door. I don’t mind closed-door romances, but this was one where I was hoping it wouldn’t be closed-door. The sexual chemistry between Sawyer and Zoe was so good, and the lead-up to the behind-the-door scene was so sexy that I ended up disappointed that we didn’t see the culmination of all the build-up play out on the page.

Zoe and Sawyer felt like classic Ally Carter characters to me. Both have a razor-sharp wit, a bit of a sarcastic streak, and some unexpected skills. Thanks to Zoe’s amnesia, we’re taken along on the ride with her as she has no idea who she is. Considering the fact that multiple people are trying to kill her and she has no idea who she is, Zoe handles the whole situation surprisingly well. I like the vulnerability we saw with her as she grapples with not knowing who she is. She is incredibly resilient and clever, and I love her journey in this book as she manages to hold her own in the end. She does come off a little younger than she is based on how she’s portrayed and some of the things she says, but I honestly didn’t mind that much.

Sawyer is more of an enigma as the Hot Guy Spy. I loved how exasperated he was with the situation with Zoe, but he also would do anything to protect her. He’s definitely a badass spy – I mean, he strangles someone with a negligee! – but his morals may be a bit dubious. Getting his POV was fantastic, as it helped round out the story. Seeing him grapple with wanting more than the spy life after meeting Zoe was enjoyable. Also, this man tries to act like he has no feelings and tries to deny them to himself, but he so clearly does. He shows he cares in little ways, and I loved it. Exposing all parts of himself is not easy – he is a spy, after all – but I loved peeling back all the layers and seeing the real Sawyer without a cover.

This book made me incredibly nostalgic as it felt like a classic Ally Carter/Gallagher Girls story. The writing is the perfect blend of humor, action, and romance. It’s slightly elevated from Gallagher Girl days, but it felt instantly familiar as soon as I started reading this. I had a massive grin on my face while reading this, as the book was so fun. The writing had me laughing out loud, and I may have audibly gasped a few times as the twists and turns in the plot were so delicious and unexpected. Plus, I was feeling all the emotions with the romance.

I seriously loved The Blonde Identity and had such a good time reading it! I couldn’t put it down as I was invested in the story starting on page 1, and it didn’t let up until the end. I hope we get a sequel, as the ending perfectly left the door open for one, and I would love to get Alex’s story. Plus, Ally Carter is the master at writing smart, action-packed, swoon-worthy spy romances that just hit the spot for me. I definitely think some of my enjoyment of this book was due to the nostalgic value of revisiting a favorite author with an adult story. Still, this book was so fun that those who haven’t read Carter’s Gallagher Girls series will also enjoy it!

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vj_thompson's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

This was SO good!! It was difficult not to binge in one night. Ally Carter’s writing is 😍

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