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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
While I liked this book, I just wish I would have read it before the Hating Game because that book was a solid 5 ⭐️ for me. I will most certainly read anything else Sally Thorne still!!
I think this book should have been called "99 Problems and Tom Valeska is One of Them"
Okay - I really really wanted to love this book. It was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2019 and I am just so disappointed right now. There are going to be a ton of people who love this book and then there are going to be people like me who just thought this felt all wrong.
You guys, I love [a:Sally Thorne|18002228|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1526286936p2/18002228.jpg] and I will read whatever she writes, but this book had none of the charm, wit or banter that I loved from [b: The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679s/25883848.jpg|45762345]. I can still vividly remember scenes from THG (the paintballing part was my favorite) that were adorable, sexy and just fun - I stayed up all night reading it. There is none of that in [b: 99 Percent Mine|36300625|99 Percent Mine|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1532485978s/36300625.jpg|52353841]. I know it's not fair to compare each book from an author to another of their books, but I do have to say I had a certain expectation after reading THG. And sadly this book just doesn't compare.
My biggest issue with this book is probably Darcy. She's supposed to embody a "tough chick" who does not care what anyone thinks of her. She's super snarky, she knows how to put men in their place, she works in a biker bar, she can handle herself around abusive men, she can have sex without caring, she has a nipple piercing, she CHOPPED ALL HER HAIR OFF OMG! Blah blah blah. I am ALL FOR badass women. But I'm sorry, Darcy is not a badass. She's a little girl with some SERIOUS self image issues. Which is why her whole "bad gal" schtick feels forced and phony. I could not root for her because she was constantly lying to herself, and there was never any real character development. As for the other characters, Tom feels like a doormat - falling all over himself for the Barrett twins and DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON JAMIE. He is the worst. Also nothing actually happens in this book. So there's that.
Guys, overall this just wasn't for me. There were too many things that just really bothered me about this book. They may not bug anyone else, but I just can't move past it. If you loved [b: The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679s/25883848.jpg|45762345], you might like this too - I know a lot of people who did. But if you loved [b: The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679s/25883848.jpg|45762345], you might not like this. It's a 50/50 coin toss as far as I'm concerned. I'll say one thing though, I'm going to be very interested to see what Sally Thorne writes next.
Okay - I really really wanted to love this book. It was one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2019 and I am just so disappointed right now. There are going to be a ton of people who love this book and then there are going to be people like me who just thought this felt all wrong.
You guys, I love [a:Sally Thorne|18002228|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1526286936p2/18002228.jpg] and I will read whatever she writes, but this book had none of the charm, wit or banter that I loved from [b: The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679s/25883848.jpg|45762345]. I can still vividly remember scenes from THG (the paintballing part was my favorite) that were adorable, sexy and just fun - I stayed up all night reading it. There is none of that in [b: 99 Percent Mine|36300625|99 Percent Mine|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1532485978s/36300625.jpg|52353841]. I know it's not fair to compare each book from an author to another of their books, but I do have to say I had a certain expectation after reading THG. And sadly this book just doesn't compare.
My biggest issue with this book is probably Darcy. She's supposed to embody a "tough chick" who does not care what anyone thinks of her. She's super snarky, she knows how to put men in their place, she works in a biker bar, she can handle herself around abusive men, she can have sex without caring, she has a nipple piercing, she CHOPPED ALL HER HAIR OFF OMG! Blah blah blah. I am ALL FOR badass women. But I'm sorry, Darcy is not a badass. She's a little girl with some SERIOUS self image issues. Which is why her whole "bad gal" schtick feels forced and phony. I could not root for her because she was constantly lying to herself, and there was never any real character development. As for the other characters, Tom feels like a doormat - falling all over himself for the Barrett twins and DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON JAMIE. He is the worst. Also nothing actually happens in this book. So there's that.
Guys, overall this just wasn't for me. There were too many things that just really bothered me about this book. They may not bug anyone else, but I just can't move past it. If you loved [b: The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679s/25883848.jpg|45762345], you might like this too - I know a lot of people who did. But if you loved [b: The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1467138679s/25883848.jpg|45762345], you might not like this. It's a 50/50 coin toss as far as I'm concerned. I'll say one thing though, I'm going to be very interested to see what Sally Thorne writes next.
This book's badness was still haunting me weeks later so much so that I had to come reduce the rating.
So after the sad book that was The Lonely Hearts Hotel, I decided to go back to where it all started; with a Sally Thorne romance novel. Let me tell you it was a breath of fresh air. After I finished it I went straight back to the library and picked up a few more books that sounded right up Thorne's alley.
Ok, what happens? Darcy Barrett is a woman on pause. Her grandmother has recently passed away leaving Darcy alone in her run down cottage. In her will she stipulated that Darcy and her twin, Jamie, were required to use the money she set aside to renovate the dilapidated house, sell it for profit, and split the money between the two of them to do with as they pleased. Darcy already plans on using her half to galivant the globe, but first she has to find her passport.
Enter Tom Valeska. He's the house-flipper who's going to make this cottage look beautiful again and he's also the Barrett twins' oldest and best friend. Darcy's been practically in love with him since they were eight, but Jamie saw him first so he has first dibs. Now that Darcy and Tom are in close proximity to each other it's clear that there is something between them and Darcy wants to explore those feelings, but does Tom?
Ok, what did I think? Ugh, Thorne knows her way around good romance tropes. I know technically writers are supposed to stay away from clichés, but come on. Mutual pining? Sign me the fuck up.
I will admit I prefer [b:The Hating Game|25883848|The Hating Game|Sally Thorne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1467138679l/25883848._SY75_.jpg|45762345] just a smidge more than 99 Percent Mine, but that doesn't mean that 99 Percent Mine is a bad book. On the contrary I think Thorne does a great job at creating a believable relationship between twins and the guy they adopted as their best friend at a very young age. Darcy is a kickass bartender who doesn't take shit from any dumb boy who thinks he's a man and, honestly, I would love to hang out with her just so I can watch her make men cry. She has a rocky relationship with Jamie, who thinks he knows everything (like most men, am I right ladies?), but when push comes to shove they are both there for each other.
I mean....I get it Darcy.
Which is a kind of terrible way to go back to my description of Darcy and talk about her underlying heart condition. I have a soft spot for characters with a weakness that they refuse to acknowledge. Like I said, Darcy is a badass and she's not going to let her bum heart ruin that persona she's built up. I really enjoyed watching her learn how to still be a badass while taking care of herself and I definitely enjoyed watching the people closest to her realize that they can care and worry about her without babying and pitying her. I thought Thorne did a great job with character development all around.
Finally, I will say that sometimes some interactions took me out of the story. I stand by what I said earlier - the character growth is, I think, phenomenal, but sometimes a character (specifically Darcy) would say something and I would cringe so hard it would take me a second to get back into it. BUT here's my little asterisk on this note - I think this may just be because, as an introvert and recovering shy person, I would not say some of the things Darcy said.
Some slight spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
For example, when Darcy discovers that Tom and his longtime girlfriend (and recent fiancé) Megan have broken up she practically pounces on the guy. In a conversation where they partially destroy the kitchen Darcy says the words and I quote:"Get in me."
Which, to be fair, she cringes about for the rest of the novel, but if I were in that situation I wouldn't have said it at all. I also probably would never had said anything and the book would have ended with the house being renovated and absolutely no love happening at all. Just construction and pining.
Long Story Short:
-God, I love fun romance novels
Spoiler
-Don't tell a guy to "get in you" when you want to sleep with him. Just, like, talk to him idk-I really want to flip a house now. Was that what I was supposed to get out of this novel?
My Rating: 4/5
The Literary Something | Bookstagram
I ended up enjoying this story more than I anticipated, but it took a while to get me there. The unhealthy sibling dynamics in this brother’s best friend story were hard to get past, but in the end everything works out. The HEA was worth it. I also really enjoyed Jayme Mattler’s narration.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
I love Sally Thorne’s writing style so much. My third of her books. They are all so different, but equally good.
Tom was amazing and sweet and nice so of course he's the ONE. That being said I didn't love Darcy. She had such a tough exterior and volatile. I'm just predisposed to shy away from a character that drinks a lot, and she seemed to drown her sorrows more than I'd like.
Aside from those nitpicks though I did like the story and the setting of house renovations. The relationship with her twin was interesting and when he finally showed up you could see what a strong personality he had to over shadow Darcy's.
Well written, good characters, and an interesting setting all made for a satisfying read.
Aside from those nitpicks though I did like the story and the setting of house renovations. The relationship with her twin was interesting and when he finally showed up you could see what a strong personality he had to over shadow Darcy's.
Well written, good characters, and an interesting setting all made for a satisfying read.