Scan barcode
A review by salimah
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is now my third Ashley Poston novel, and it feels safe to say I'm inclined to reach for any offering of hers. That being said, this is my least favorite of the three I've read. It's a 3.5/3.75, but a few things got in the way of it being a runaway hit for me.
The premise of a book within a book necessarily means there are a lot of characters to manage, which also means they get a ton of on-page real estate. In a romance, that almost always means the romantic development between the principals is sacrificed. The connection between Elsy and Anders(on) could have only been improved with more development. And, I don't think the early antagonism between them was needed. I think I understand why the author chose that route, but it felt too contrived.
The premise of a book within a book necessarily means there are a lot of characters to manage, which also means they get a ton of on-page real estate. In a romance, that almost always means the romantic development between the principals is sacrificed. The connection between Elsy and Anders(on) could have only been improved with more development. And, I don't think the early antagonism between them was needed. I think I understand why the author chose that route, but it felt too contrived.