Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by janeeyreheaded
The Bluff by Emma St. Clair
1.0
Thank you so much to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And honest it will be. The suggestions for ARC reviewers is to lead with the good stuff but I can't think of any to lead with. There isn't anything good about this book and I don't write that to be hateful. The writing is as if it came straight from watpad or whatever that low-key porn sight for teenage girls is. The MMC is written not as grumpy but as actually emotionally abusive. I thought it was going to be revealed that he was autistic and that was why he had such aggressive and unacceptable rage outbursts. If this man was dating a friend of mine I would sit her down to talk because I would fear for her safety. This is not a 'grumpy' character. This is a deeply irredeemable character that never should have been written that way. The author REALLY leaned into the cheesy writing and that can be fun but if you took a shot every time they mentioned 'bluffing' in this book (because it's the name of the book- get it??) then you would be drunk by the end of it. I also kept thinking 'ok maybe all this horrible treatment will be worth it because the steam will be the steamiest steam to ever steam' AND IT LITERALLY NEVER STEAMED. YOU HAD THE ONE ROOM TROPE AND NO STEAM??? That was a bigger let down than I care to admit. I am not attached to a single character in this book and that is honestly a pretty impressive accomplishment since there is almost always some random character I cling to to get me through but nope- not this time.
It also felt like the author just kept adding stuff to see what would stick- cheating boyfriend- check. one room trope? check. quirky family dynamics? check. misunderstood best friend? check. and by the end of it it was too much because nothing ever got enough.
And honest it will be. The suggestions for ARC reviewers is to lead with the good stuff but I can't think of any to lead with. There isn't anything good about this book and I don't write that to be hateful. The writing is as if it came straight from watpad or whatever that low-key porn sight for teenage girls is. The MMC is written not as grumpy but as actually emotionally abusive. I thought it was going to be revealed that he was autistic and that was why he had such aggressive and unacceptable rage outbursts. If this man was dating a friend of mine I would sit her down to talk because I would fear for her safety. This is not a 'grumpy' character. This is a deeply irredeemable character that never should have been written that way. The author REALLY leaned into the cheesy writing and that can be fun but if you took a shot every time they mentioned 'bluffing' in this book (because it's the name of the book- get it??) then you would be drunk by the end of it. I also kept thinking 'ok maybe all this horrible treatment will be worth it because the steam will be the steamiest steam to ever steam' AND IT LITERALLY NEVER STEAMED. YOU HAD THE ONE ROOM TROPE AND NO STEAM??? That was a bigger let down than I care to admit. I am not attached to a single character in this book and that is honestly a pretty impressive accomplishment since there is almost always some random character I cling to to get me through but nope- not this time.
It also felt like the author just kept adding stuff to see what would stick- cheating boyfriend- check. one room trope? check. quirky family dynamics? check. misunderstood best friend? check. and by the end of it it was too much because nothing ever got enough.