A review by sarnacle
Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jen and Sarah made me do it! 

That’s romance critic, Jen Prokop and author, Sarah MacLean of the Fated Mates podcast. I’m not a devoted listener because 1) I’m too busy reading romance and 2) I like to go in blind when I’m reading, so I would want to read the books they cover before I listen. Anyway, long story short. They had an episode devoted to books they wish they could read again for the first time and this one was one of them. 

Along with going into a book blind, another one of my personal rules is  to read the books in a series in order. Luckily, I’d already read Beautiful Bastard. I’d also decided I wasn’t going to continue the series. It wasn’t for me. Over the top, unrealistic, and improbable are just a few of the words I’d use to describe that book. I liked it just fine, but the who and the what and the where (the stairwell? really???) were… beyond my ability to suspend reality? Also, was this not the book where he rips more than one pair of La Perla lingerie? I don’t care if you have the money to replace it. That’s just wasteful! 

Ok, I’m losing the thread. So the point is, I was not going to continue the series. But then I listened to Fated Mates and how could I not? And I read it. And you know what? I rather enjoyed it. Was it also ott? Yeah. But I liked these characters and their story and I just really dug it. Also, it goes down real easy. That writing is so easy to digest. It’s fun. It’s engaging. You don’t have to think too hard. It’s pure entertainment. And sometimes that’s all it takes.