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A review by the_cover_contessa
Aimee and the Heartthrob by Ophelia London
3.0
I want to thank Entangled for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. There's just something about a sappy romance that gets me every time. I was expecting it, though not at the level it was presented, and it made me happy to have it once I was engaged with the book.
Interestingly enough, this book is told in third person dual point of view. I am not usually a fan of third person. I don't think it's necessary in a love story, to be honest, but it kind of worked for this book. I still would have liked to really been in Aimee and Miles head more while reading this and I think this distracted me a bit. It took away from my ability to really connect with the characters on a deeper level. Don't get me wrong, I really liked them both, I just didn't feel all the emotions I needed to feel to have my heart wrenched by this book as it should have been.
Aimee is an interesting character. She's smart and savvy, yet she radiates this innocence that I can see being totally attractive to guys. When she's forced into a situation, she doesn't let it become awkward, but seems to actually take it in stride. So after not having seen Miles for two years, and believing her crush was finished, she jumps right into being friends with him. Of course the fine line of her wanting him still exists, even if she tries her hardest to deny it.
I really like Miles. He's presented to the world as this heartthrob who likes to play the field. But in real life, he's just a teenage guy trying to find his way in the world while being shoved in the public eye. You can see he struggles to maintain his image. Because the heartthrob and player are just not what he is about. But he's never more aware of that struggle as much as he is when he's around Aimee. For her, he wants to be the romantic, the down to earth guy she would want to date. And he will do anything to prove it to her.
Of course a teen romance wouldn't be a teen romance without some misunderstanding and drama. What I really loved about how London chose to do this is that she didn't drag it out. Sure, we get a bit where the two have their own thoughts about what happened between them. But it is closer to the end of the book, and lasts a very short time. This really made the book more endearing to me.
I will say that I got a bit annoyed in the first 25% of the book as Aimee totally and completely swooned over Miles, while trying her hardest not to do so. She kept mentioning how she definitely wasn't crushing on him, and how he couldn't possibly like her. And even after he admits to her that he enjoys spending time with her and basically tells her he wants to be with her, she doesn't seem to see it. It was like she had these blinders on, which I couldn't understand because it's not like Miles was keeping it from her!
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing in this book. I will say the first half was a bit slow for me, but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down (didn't want to, really). All I wanted to do was see how things would work out between these two star struck lovers in the end. And London did not disappoint. I'm not good with books that leave open endings, especially with love stories. Thankfully, London tied it up nicely, with just the right amount of understanding between the two characters at the end.
If you're looking for something to read along the lines of Jennifer E. Smith or Kasie West, this ones for you!
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. There's just something about a sappy romance that gets me every time. I was expecting it, though not at the level it was presented, and it made me happy to have it once I was engaged with the book.
Interestingly enough, this book is told in third person dual point of view. I am not usually a fan of third person. I don't think it's necessary in a love story, to be honest, but it kind of worked for this book. I still would have liked to really been in Aimee and Miles head more while reading this and I think this distracted me a bit. It took away from my ability to really connect with the characters on a deeper level. Don't get me wrong, I really liked them both, I just didn't feel all the emotions I needed to feel to have my heart wrenched by this book as it should have been.
Aimee is an interesting character. She's smart and savvy, yet she radiates this innocence that I can see being totally attractive to guys. When she's forced into a situation, she doesn't let it become awkward, but seems to actually take it in stride. So after not having seen Miles for two years, and believing her crush was finished, she jumps right into being friends with him. Of course the fine line of her wanting him still exists, even if she tries her hardest to deny it.
I really like Miles. He's presented to the world as this heartthrob who likes to play the field. But in real life, he's just a teenage guy trying to find his way in the world while being shoved in the public eye. You can see he struggles to maintain his image. Because the heartthrob and player are just not what he is about. But he's never more aware of that struggle as much as he is when he's around Aimee. For her, he wants to be the romantic, the down to earth guy she would want to date. And he will do anything to prove it to her.
Of course a teen romance wouldn't be a teen romance without some misunderstanding and drama. What I really loved about how London chose to do this is that she didn't drag it out. Sure, we get a bit where the two have their own thoughts about what happened between them. But it is closer to the end of the book, and lasts a very short time. This really made the book more endearing to me.
I will say that I got a bit annoyed in the first 25% of the book as Aimee totally and completely swooned over Miles, while trying her hardest not to do so. She kept mentioning how she definitely wasn't crushing on him, and how he couldn't possibly like her. And even after he admits to her that he enjoys spending time with her and basically tells her he wants to be with her, she doesn't seem to see it. It was like she had these blinders on, which I couldn't understand because it's not like Miles was keeping it from her!
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing in this book. I will say the first half was a bit slow for me, but then it picked up and I couldn't put it down (didn't want to, really). All I wanted to do was see how things would work out between these two star struck lovers in the end. And London did not disappoint. I'm not good with books that leave open endings, especially with love stories. Thankfully, London tied it up nicely, with just the right amount of understanding between the two characters at the end.
If you're looking for something to read along the lines of Jennifer E. Smith or Kasie West, this ones for you!