A review by bittelillemy
Love and Other Scams by Philip Ellis

2.75

at times funny, but there's too much space and time between the funny bits. In spite of the premise - which I thought sounded fun and thrilling - I couldn't get into this book, I didn't connect with the characters or manage to really care about them at all. The story it self is so-so, not as original and quirky as I hoped it would be, but it would have been enough to entertain IF only I'd felt something for any of the characters. I don't have to like the characters in order to enjoy a book, so the whole villain thing isn't the problem for me. I think maybe I found all the characters a bit under developed and lacking in depth. The rich people were simply rich and spoiled, seemingly without any personality traits beyond having money, and with no "other" sides to them than the shallow one on display. And Cat's story, her past, felt like one big cliché and excuse for being an asshole. as if her asshole-ness is fine because she's not rich? again, I don't usually mind if there's not a good moral to the story, and I don't mind characters having bad sidens to them (i rather find that refreshing) - but I didn't really see Cat at all because everything about her was TOLD and not shown. her actions and behaviours towards people didn't seem to fit her thoughts and feelings and so I just didn't get her. at all.