A review by bookishwelshie
Hopeless by Elsie Silver

2.0

Ugh, Beau’s nickname for Bailey - 'Sugar Tits' is a major ick, and the age gap between them both really highlights the difference in maturity levels and life-experience (Bailey is 22, Beau is 35). Whilst I was reading it at the beginning, I did like Bailey’s character, and had <b>*some*</b> hopes for her. But the more the story went into her and Beau’s budding relationship, the more bored I sadly became. This was a surprise, because Beau was an interesting side character in the previous books, so the reader would feel excited about a book when he is the male main character. The Author should have delved more into Beau’s PTSD from his traumatic time in the army, the side of him that we know he would be trying to heal. It could have been a powerful story about finding love after going through harrowing times… but it was not this. Where was the depth?!
The spicy scenes were often awkward because of the way Bailey’s virginity was written. There didn’t seem to be much of a connection between this couple. The “fake relationship/fiancè” storyline-trope felt tired here.
Elsie Silver’s writing pace is quick, I will give her that. I was able to sit with this and finish pretty much all of it within an hour or two.
This is definitely the weakest book in the Chestnut Springs series, which is sad because this was the last book of my buddy ready with my GR, Fable friend, angelpompom 💖