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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
I liked a lot about this book. Especially Seth and Trina. But I didn't like the main character all that much. Not bad but not as good as I'm used to from Kasie West.
It took me three days to read this, and though that might not seem like a long time, it is for me when it comes to Kasie West books. I can usually speed through them in about a day because they're pretty short and fun to read; but this book and I just did not click. I'm still trying to puzzle through what I'm feeling so let's break it down.
What I did like: Seth. Interactions with Seth. Yeah, basically just Seth. I know some people found Seth a bit of a cutout, but I personally liked him and he seemed like a pretty typical Kasie West love interest. I liked that we finally finally finally had an Asian male love interest, like thank the heavens, it finally happened. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't some problems with the character as well. While West did address some issues with race, I would love to see her address them a little more head-on instead of just sticking them into the book and not really discussing them beyond the typical "racism sucks, they shouldn't treat you like that" spiel. In terms of the character himself, I think he actually had some personality but I think that the Asian part of him was a little bit like a cutout of any Asian person. Speaking as a second generation Asian myself, the whole parent expectations thing is a big part of our lives, but it isn't the only part of our lives. There are other wonderful things that make people Asian and I would love for West to expand on that with other characters and cultures in future. I know it looks like I hated the Asian character in this book, but I really didn't. Did it not do full justice to my own culture? Yes. But is it nice to see some representation, that doesn't follow a negative stereotype, even if it isn't completely perfect? Hell yes. It's all about baby steps, people.
Okay, moving onto what I didn't like: basically everything else. Maddie is a goodie two shoes character, and that's fine, I am one too, but once she wins the lottery, she is suddenly this super rebellious teenager buying fancy cars and throwing crazy parties. I know money changes people, but before this life changing event happened she was so focused on school and suddenly university becomes an after thought? Doesn't seem realistic to me. I get that most teenagers would spend ludicrous amounts of money after winning it, but I just can't relate to that because that's not how I would act so maybe that's what contributes to my exasperation with Maddie's character. She also is so incredibly annoying. Let me give you an example:
What I did like: Seth. Interactions with Seth. Yeah, basically just Seth. I know some people found Seth a bit of a cutout, but I personally liked him and he seemed like a pretty typical Kasie West love interest. I liked that we finally finally finally had an Asian male love interest, like thank the heavens, it finally happened. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't some problems with the character as well. While West did address some issues with race, I would love to see her address them a little more head-on instead of just sticking them into the book and not really discussing them beyond the typical "racism sucks, they shouldn't treat you like that" spiel. In terms of the character himself, I think he actually had some personality but I think that the Asian part of him was a little bit like a cutout of any Asian person. Speaking as a second generation Asian myself, the whole parent expectations thing is a big part of our lives, but it isn't the only part of our lives. There are other wonderful things that make people Asian and I would love for West to expand on that with other characters and cultures in future. I know it looks like I hated the Asian character in this book, but I really didn't. Did it not do full justice to my own culture? Yes. But is it nice to see some representation, that doesn't follow a negative stereotype, even if it isn't completely perfect? Hell yes. It's all about baby steps, people.
Okay, moving onto what I didn't like: basically everything else. Maddie is a goodie two shoes character, and that's fine, I am one too, but once she wins the lottery, she is suddenly this super rebellious teenager buying fancy cars and throwing crazy parties. I know money changes people, but before this life changing event happened she was so focused on school and suddenly university becomes an after thought? Doesn't seem realistic to me. I get that most teenagers would spend ludicrous amounts of money after winning it, but I just can't relate to that because that's not how I would act so maybe that's what contributes to my exasperation with Maddie's character. She also is so incredibly annoying. Let me give you an example:
"Maddie," she said like we spoke all the time. "I hear you're throwing a party."
"What? Who said that?" I asked.
"When someone wins the lottery, they throw a party."
I laughed. "You know a lot of lottery winners?"
"Yes. I know one." She pointed to me. "And she's going to throw a party."
The reasonable answer after this is to say no, right? Like just because someone you don't even know comes up to you and tells you to throw a party, doesn't mean you do right? Wrong. Talk about peer pressure; and she drops over twenty two thousand dollars on this party. I really just wanted to stop the book right there. It was completely preposterous. And Maddie just keeps "helping" everyone around her and doesn't seem to even know the word no. It was so insanely irritating.
The other major issue for me was side characters. Maddie's friends were so boring and one dimensional. They didn't have that much character and could basically be summed up by the thing that they obsessed about. For example, Blaire, Maddie's best friend, would basically only talk about studying and Standford. They added basically nothing to the story and didn't help to develop the relationships that Maddie had. Maddie's family was also a mess. Usually West does family issues well and let's us really see what it is like inside the family life. This time it was just in massive disarray. There was also no real ending or solution to the family problems, we're left hanging as if everything will just right itself on it's own.
Overall, if you couldn't tell, I was really not impressed by this book and quite disappointed. This is not one of West's finer showings and if you're interested in checking out her work I highly recommend trying On the Fence, By Your Side, or P.S. I Like You instead, which display Kasie West's talent for producing cute and fun contemporaries much better.
Another cute one by Kasie West. My favorite character in this was Blair lol. I loved Seth as well and I totally relate to his being Asian woes. I liked Maddie much more when she finally got her shit together. She was really starting to bother me with her impulsiveness and easily influenced by others decisions. Did anyone else feel like they had money to spend while reading this? Lol
Great themes, good characters, and overall pretty decent read. Kasie West always delivers on the cute, swoony romance and this one was no exception, although it definitely felt more slow-burn in comparison to other her titles. It's not my favorite among all of her great works, but I'll always love her heroes, and Seth was particularly lovable.
West is an auto-read author for me, and that fact still remains true.
**Disclaimer: Forever grateful to my KP, Stacee from the wonderfully fabulous Adventures of a Book Junkie, for lovingly hooking me up with an ARC copy. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition (which you should totally go buy).
West is an auto-read author for me, and that fact still remains true.
**Disclaimer: Forever grateful to my KP, Stacee from the wonderfully fabulous Adventures of a Book Junkie, for lovingly hooking me up with an ARC copy. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition (which you should totally go buy).
This is the 1st Kassie West book I havent enjoyed. She wins the money and everuthing goes to shit and she lets everyone run all over her and she spends money on everyone. I also didnt like her. I had to drag myself tonread which isnt the normal for her books.
Lucky in Love by [a:Kasie West|5027236|Kasie West|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1450586450p2/5027236.jpg] is about Maddie, someone who believes hard work is how to earn things in life. But on her 18th birthday, she decides to be impulsive and buy a lottery ticket. And she wins. 50 million dollars. Her life changes, and along with all the money comes an inability to trust anyone. Except Seth, her coworker at the zoo. He doesn't seem to know about her big win, and she doesn't want to tell him.
After reading [b:P.S. I Like You|25486998|P.S. I Like You|Kasie West|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442247987s/25486998.jpg|45261093], I pre-ordered this book and Kasie West's next release. I loved P.S. I Like You, and knew she would become one of my ultimate favourite authors. I definitely wasn't wrong.
My expectations going into this was a cheesy, fun and predictable YA contemporary. And that's what I got.
I love Kasie West's writing, it's nothing lyrical or stunning. But it is just as gripping and makes you want to keep reading, it's just fun.
Seth was such a cute love interest, he was so nice and understanding and amazing and I loved him with Maddie. He was definitely my favourite character of the novel. Maddie was a fun main character too, slightly annoying at times, but nothing I couldn't handle.
As cute as the characters were, I think Kasie West's strongest point is her plots. They're not exceptionally unqiue or anything but just so addicting. Like I said earlier, I expected this to be slightly predictable, and it was. But it didn't ruin my enjoyment at all, since I was expecting that going in.
Although, there was a reveal at the end that I didn't see coming, but it was SHOCKING. I honestly didn't really care, and it seemed like the mc didn't really either to be honest.
After reading a 2.5 star book, this is exactly what I needed. A new favourite.
I know this is so bad, I find it so hard to write about books I love. EVERYTHING IS JUST REALLY GOOD, OKAY? READ IT.
After reading [b:P.S. I Like You|25486998|P.S. I Like You|Kasie West|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442247987s/25486998.jpg|45261093], I pre-ordered this book and Kasie West's next release. I loved P.S. I Like You, and knew she would become one of my ultimate favourite authors. I definitely wasn't wrong.
My expectations going into this was a cheesy, fun and predictable YA contemporary. And that's what I got.
I love Kasie West's writing, it's nothing lyrical or stunning. But it is just as gripping and makes you want to keep reading, it's just fun.
Seth was such a cute love interest, he was so nice and understanding and amazing and I loved him with Maddie. He was definitely my favourite character of the novel. Maddie was a fun main character too, slightly annoying at times, but nothing I couldn't handle.
As cute as the characters were, I think Kasie West's strongest point is her plots. They're not exceptionally unqiue or anything but just so addicting. Like I said earlier, I expected this to be slightly predictable, and it was. But it didn't ruin my enjoyment at all, since I was expecting that going in.
Although, there was a reveal at the end that I didn't see coming, but it was SHOCKING. I honestly didn't really care, and it seemed like the mc didn't really either to be honest.
After reading a 2.5 star book, this is exactly what I needed. A new favourite.
I know this is so bad, I find it so hard to write about books I love. EVERYTHING IS JUST REALLY GOOD, OKAY? READ IT.
This book wasn't horrible, I just got annoyed by the characters and their actions at times. Aside from that, the book read easily and quickly. I was able to finish it in a day, which hasn't happened a lot recently. There were some really cute moments and it was a nice escape in those moments, but I got a little anxious from the way that Maddie was spending her money. The ending is good and there are parts that are interesting, but I just found that I was easily tired of the troubles that Maddie ended up having when I could see how they could have been avoided. Overall this was a book a good read for a single afternoon, but one that I wouldn't reread.
2.5-3 stars the book was an enjoyable typical trope filled book that was exactly what I was looking for to get out of a reading slump.
