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A review by amanda_reads13
Hands Down by Mariana Zapata
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Bianca and Zack grew up together but lost touch. 10 years later they are back in each other's lives.
I really wanted to love this one. I did like Zac and Bianca for the most part and the overall premise, but there were just too many issues with the book.
Bianca drove me a little crazy to be honest. She is very outgoing, funny and goofy around her family, but half of the book is her spiralling into these moments when she doesn't feel "worthy" or is feeling like she is a burden. She has a victim mentality, where she has convinced herself that people don't want to be around her. She makes assumptions about people instead of communicating with them.
Why the hell would she give her ex all her money? She just rolled over and gave him everything? What the hell?
What happened between her and Zac was so strange to me. If I couldn't get ahold of my really good friend after messaging and calling a few times, I would try another way or reach out to a mutual friend. It seems weird to me that you just give up, but I guess it goes along with her "woe is me" mentality.His jealous ex changes their phone numbers in each other's phones.
I liked Zac, but he was very flaky. I hated how he called her kiddo, it gave me the ick. While I really liked their friendship, I didn't feel a romantic connection between them. He definitely loves her like a friend and family, but there really aren't signs throughout the book that he is in love with her. I think part of the problem is that we only get her POV so I cannot really pinpoint when his feelings change or if he felt them all along.
I felt as though this could have been a little shorter as it was very repetitive and the whole "my YouTube page was hacked" part didn't add anything to the plot.
Tropes: second change, best friend, football, slow burn
I really wanted to love this one. I did like Zac and Bianca for the most part and the overall premise, but there were just too many issues with the book.
Bianca drove me a little crazy to be honest. She is very outgoing, funny and goofy around her family, but half of the book is her spiralling into these moments when she doesn't feel "worthy" or is feeling like she is a burden. She has a victim mentality, where she has convinced herself that people don't want to be around her. She makes assumptions about people instead of communicating with them.
What happened between her and Zac was so strange to me. If I couldn't get ahold of my really good friend after messaging and calling a few times, I would try another way or reach out to a mutual friend. It seems weird to me that you just give up, but I guess it goes along with her "woe is me" mentality.
I liked Zac, but he was very flaky. I hated how he called her kiddo, it gave me the ick. While I really liked their friendship, I didn't feel a romantic connection between them. He definitely loves her like a friend and family, but there really aren't signs throughout the book that he is in love with her. I think part of the problem is that we only get her POV so I cannot really pinpoint when his feelings change or if he felt them all along.
I felt as though this could have been a little shorter as it was very repetitive and the whole "my YouTube page was hacked" part didn't add anything to the plot.
Tropes: second change, best friend, football, slow burn
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Abandonment