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amyalwaysbooked 's review for:
Keep Me
by Sara Cate
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm sure that there are folks out there that would enjoy this book, but I am not one of them.
This was my first book by Sara Cate and I'm disappointed because I've heard good things about her Salacious Players Club series. I'm hoping this particular title was just a miss for me. I'll be giving Cate another shot.
As for Keep Me...oh where to begin.
Sylvie is a young woman who has moved through life in the shadow of her artist parents. One a trip to Scotland with her boyfriend she comes across Killian, a gruff Scot. The two clash, but after circumstances bring them back together in a marriage of convenience they must learn to live with each other in Killian's ancestral home.
To begin with, both Sylvie and Killian have trauma from situations I do empathize with, but neither are dealt with in a satisfying manner throughout the book. Sylvie has emotionally distant (abusive even) parents. Killian was driving the other car when their parents died due to his father being drunk. Both obviously have reasons to be damaged individuals. Sylvie seeks attention by being reckless. Killian hides himself away in his home. Yet I never felt truly connected to either character. They never gained any depth beyond their trauma and the way they lashed out.
Similarly, the supporting cast is dull. None of them shine. They're either cartoonish tropes or so two-dimensional that they almost disappear.
Because the characters were lacking the story suffered as well. Despite the fact that Sylvie and Killian live together for almost a year, nothing ever really happens. I never felt the chemistry that the text tried desperately to tell me was there between the pair. The third act breakup, while never my favorite, was worse because I never bought that Sylvie and Killian actually cared about each other. They'd say they did, but I never felt it. So all of their drastic, over-the-top decisions felt ridiculous.
One last thing - I had been expecting more kink here. Despite the fact that it involved partner-swapping parties the smut side of the story was pretty boring.
This was my first book by Sara Cate and I'm disappointed because I've heard good things about her Salacious Players Club series. I'm hoping this particular title was just a miss for me. I'll be giving Cate another shot.
As for Keep Me...oh where to begin.
Sylvie is a young woman who has moved through life in the shadow of her artist parents. One a trip to Scotland with her boyfriend she comes across Killian, a gruff Scot. The two clash, but after circumstances bring them back together in a marriage of convenience they must learn to live with each other in Killian's ancestral home.
To begin with, both Sylvie and Killian have trauma from situations I do empathize with, but neither are dealt with in a satisfying manner throughout the book. Sylvie has emotionally distant (abusive even) parents. Killian was driving the other car when their parents died due to his father being drunk. Both obviously have reasons to be damaged individuals. Sylvie seeks attention by being reckless. Killian hides himself away in his home. Yet I never felt truly connected to either character. They never gained any depth beyond their trauma and the way they lashed out.
Similarly, the supporting cast is dull. None of them shine. They're either cartoonish tropes or so two-dimensional that they almost disappear.
Because the characters were lacking the story suffered as well. Despite the fact that Sylvie and Killian live together for almost a year, nothing ever really happens. I never felt the chemistry that the text tried desperately to tell me was there between the pair. The third act breakup, while never my favorite, was worse because I never bought that Sylvie and Killian actually cared about each other. They'd say they did, but I never felt it. So all of their drastic, over-the-top decisions felt ridiculous.
One last thing - I had been expecting more kink here. Despite the fact that it involved partner-swapping parties the smut side of the story was pretty boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment
Minor: Violence, Alcohol