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A review by ellieafterall
Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler
1.0
I've NEVER wanted to punch a book character more Josh Chester. FUCK THIS GUY.
I honestly wish this book was written in one POV, specifically only Vanessa's just so I didn't have to put up with the horribly misogynistic comments of Josh's POV. At one point, I started skimming his parts because he completely ruined the book for me. I'll just put some quotes here and let them explain themselves (obviously spoilers)-
Vanessa, after having an argument with her parents and feeling sort of torn about her life, confesses her vulnerable state of mind:
"I know what you mean. I need to get out of my parents' house, but it's so hard to make myself. I'm not sure I'm ready."
He laughs. "Christ, K-drama, you still live with your parents? What are you, twelve? Man, you need a new place even worse than I do."
When he walks away, he's still laughing, his shoulders shaking. Asshole. (99)
and the three chapters later, he's like
It's driving me crazy, not knowing what's eating at her, which is dumb; who cares? Anyway, she'll probably bitch and moan about it in the car, whatever it is. Nothing that's my problem. (132)
God, he's just the opposite of a decent human being. Like, not only does he manage to make her feel like absolute shit about revealing her feelings, he also manages to be racist and an asshole.
Let's just talk about why I hated reading from his POV:
"Zoe invited me," she says sweetly, as if I like Zoe any better. She's not even as hot.
Especially since his co-star, Zoe Knight, is semi-hot, and I haven't tapped her yet.
"I will give you a billion dollars to get them the fuck out of here."
She [Vanessa] raises an eyebrow. "What makes you think I'd be able to do that."
"I have no idea. But Ally would be able to, and you're the closest thing I've got since my asshole bestfriend checked on me. Come on. I'm sure some men find you vaguely attractive, in a boy-chested kind of way. Go charm them." Sparks shoot from her eyes. Whoops. "I mean..."
"Oh, shut up," she mutters.
...and Natasha Rivers, who once gave me surprisingly good head in an alley about a mile from here.
My eyes shift from Mini-Jade's tits back over K-drama legs before returning to Royce.
every female character he describes in relation to how hot they are, or how much he would want to bang them. and i'm sure there are guys like this, i just don't want to read their perspective on life. i would literally do anything else but that. it makes me want to throw up. he makes me want to.
like, he's just an absolute dick to Vanessa and she's always like "ugh, whatever" but I'd literally punch him. or never acknowledge his existence again. i don't know why she continues to be around when he acts like this around her??
I'm contemplating calling her again, and of course that's exactly when I hear, "You still PMS-ing, K-drama?"
On top of everything, the writing style isn't great, and it's almost choppy. There's a part where he suddenly likes Vanessa, and then he sees her kiss Bri and then it suddenly disappears again. And the thing is that he's always constantly putting her down in all the chapters leading up to this that it's so weird to think that he has a thing for her. And it also pushes that narrative that "boys tease/bully girls because they secretly like them" when he's just a dick. God. I'm so tired of him.
The one star is for Vanessa and Bri, because I did love them. But I will never read this book again.
I honestly wish this book was written in one POV, specifically only Vanessa's just so I didn't have to put up with the horribly misogynistic comments of Josh's POV. At one point, I started skimming his parts because he completely ruined the book for me. I'll just put some quotes here and let them explain themselves (obviously spoilers)-
Vanessa, after having an argument with her parents and feeling sort of torn about her life, confesses her vulnerable state of mind:
"I know what you mean. I need to get out of my parents' house, but it's so hard to make myself. I'm not sure I'm ready."
He laughs. "Christ, K-drama, you still live with your parents? What are you, twelve? Man, you need a new place even worse than I do."
When he walks away, he's still laughing, his shoulders shaking. Asshole. (99)
and the three chapters later, he's like
It's driving me crazy, not knowing what's eating at her, which is dumb; who cares? Anyway, she'll probably bitch and moan about it in the car, whatever it is. Nothing that's my problem. (132)
God, he's just the opposite of a decent human being. Like, not only does he manage to make her feel like absolute shit about revealing her feelings, he also manages to be racist and an asshole.
Let's just talk about why I hated reading from his POV:
"Zoe invited me," she says sweetly, as if I like Zoe any better. She's not even as hot.
Especially since his co-star, Zoe Knight, is semi-hot, and I haven't tapped her yet.
"I will give you a billion dollars to get them the fuck out of here."
She [Vanessa] raises an eyebrow. "What makes you think I'd be able to do that."
"I have no idea. But Ally would be able to, and you're the closest thing I've got since my asshole bestfriend checked on me. Come on. I'm sure some men find you vaguely attractive, in a boy-chested kind of way. Go charm them." Sparks shoot from her eyes. Whoops. "I mean..."
"Oh, shut up," she mutters.
...and Natasha Rivers, who once gave me surprisingly good head in an alley about a mile from here.
My eyes shift from Mini-Jade's tits back over K-drama legs before returning to Royce.
every female character he describes in relation to how hot they are, or how much he would want to bang them. and i'm sure there are guys like this, i just don't want to read their perspective on life. i would literally do anything else but that. it makes me want to throw up. he makes me want to.
like, he's just an absolute dick to Vanessa and she's always like "ugh, whatever" but I'd literally punch him. or never acknowledge his existence again. i don't know why she continues to be around when he acts like this around her??
I'm contemplating calling her again, and of course that's exactly when I hear, "You still PMS-ing, K-drama?"
On top of everything, the writing style isn't great, and it's almost choppy. There's a part where he suddenly likes Vanessa, and then he sees her kiss Bri and then it suddenly disappears again. And the thing is that he's always constantly putting her down in all the chapters leading up to this that it's so weird to think that he has a thing for her. And it also pushes that narrative that "boys tease/bully girls because they secretly like them" when he's just a dick. God. I'm so tired of him.
The one star is for Vanessa and Bri, because I did love them. But I will never read this book again.