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A review by melaniebopp
The Ashford Place by Jean Copeland
1.0
I really wanted to like this story, but the characters were pretty awful and unrelatable, and there were moments where they were treated with such disdain, that I wonder why the author wanted to tell their story at all.
Some examples of this disdain I'm talking about:
"U-haul lesbian" - I guess because Belle was ready to jump into her previous relationship wiih both feet?
"Lesbian hiatus" - because you have to break up 3 times before it sticks, apparently
"met your lesbian-drama quota" - does it have to be lesbian drama? Why not relationship drama? Or just drama?
"I want you to have your gay happily-ever-after" - IT'S JUST A HAPPILY EVER AFTER! JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A LESBIAN DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO SPECIFY!!!!!
*sigh*
But let me talk about the characters for a moment. First, we have Belle, who is our point-of-view character. Belle is fresh off a relationship that ended with an actual eviction notice when her ex refused to move. Belle is impulsive but hard-working, traits I usually really appreciate and enjoy, but it's coupled with a 40-year-old woman who acts like she's 14. When Ally, our love interest, mentions getting home to "Chloe," Belle immediately thinks Ally's got a girlfriend, then thinks wife, and then, when Ally goes to kiss her (because of the ridiculous amount of flirting that has happened up until the past 30 seconds), Belle is all "oh no you don't, cheater" without ever actually asking "who is Chloe?" Just a thought, but is there a reason we are back to the "talking is for chumps" trope?
And speaking of Ally, how is "mildly bitchy with a dash of indifference" at all appealing for a romantic relationship? The end result is what seems like a complete lack of interest. There's nothing romantic about indifference. There's just not.
Finally, I really want to stress there is a complete lack of trust between these two women, from beginning to end. The relationship is completely unbelievable as a result. Lust sure, but lasting love? Nope.
Some examples of this disdain I'm talking about:
"U-haul lesbian" - I guess because Belle was ready to jump into her previous relationship wiih both feet?
"Lesbian hiatus" - because you have to break up 3 times before it sticks, apparently
"met your lesbian-drama quota" - does it have to be lesbian drama? Why not relationship drama? Or just drama?
"I want you to have your gay happily-ever-after" - IT'S JUST A HAPPILY EVER AFTER! JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A LESBIAN DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO SPECIFY!!!!!
*sigh*
But let me talk about the characters for a moment. First, we have Belle, who is our point-of-view character. Belle is fresh off a relationship that ended with an actual eviction notice when her ex refused to move. Belle is impulsive but hard-working, traits I usually really appreciate and enjoy, but it's coupled with a 40-year-old woman who acts like she's 14. When Ally, our love interest, mentions getting home to "Chloe," Belle immediately thinks Ally's got a girlfriend, then thinks wife, and then, when Ally goes to kiss her (because of the ridiculous amount of flirting that has happened up until the past 30 seconds), Belle is all "oh no you don't, cheater" without ever actually asking "who is Chloe?" Just a thought, but is there a reason we are back to the "talking is for chumps" trope?
And speaking of Ally, how is "mildly bitchy with a dash of indifference" at all appealing for a romantic relationship? The end result is what seems like a complete lack of interest. There's nothing romantic about indifference. There's just not.
Finally, I really want to stress there is a complete lack of trust between these two women, from beginning to end. The relationship is completely unbelievable as a result. Lust sure, but lasting love? Nope.