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A review by sophisticatedreader
The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane
challenging
fast-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
3.5
CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS!!!
I'd expected this book to be the usual cliché smutty book and it kind of is yeah, the smut felt more forced than real and passionate. very predicatable too.
Troy Osbourne, Erika's love interest who is her pool boy and is also 24 y/o, is sooo 30 years old coded. the author has clearly never ever interacted with a young man in his 20's, troy sounds more like a 30 y/o man who wants to be cool and young but is failing. and idk if this is just me but the whole idea of him being a singer and Erika this edgy songwriter and him becoming a pop star 😛🤘 IS SOOO ASS...everytime they started singing an angel exploded and its feathers went everywhere. the writing is too "easy to read", as if she knows her audience can't read a level higher than a 4th grader.
also I read the architect, which is another book in the Nashville series and I realized that all the characters know each other and live in Nashville and just so yk Erika's neighbor has his own book (good girl I think is the name) with his gf (Cassidy) who is also his son's ex and the architect is about this veterinarian girlboss and her nonchalant cat lover mysterious neighbor AND his friend/her coworker. this ain't Nashville vro this is 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴ville and I'm moving in next 👅
Despite all the cons I mentioned above, I'd just like to say that I really related to Erika's doubts. The book didn't just focus on the freakiness and Troy's "impressive package" but also about the hardships that come along with a relationship like theirs. I also liked and understood Jenna's (Troy's mom and Erika's bff) reaction to their relationship, her reaction is valid asf.
last thing, I'd love to see a book on Erika's ex who cheated on her with his boss (Derrick). I'd like to know how his journey will continue because the thing is, he is not necessarily a bad person but has a lot of struggles. derrick is a bitch for getting back to his wife and leaving Charles (I think was his name). it'd be interesting and I wish the book had focused more on Charles' struggles but ig this book is about Erika and her freaky pool boy
I'd expected this book to be the usual cliché smutty book and it kind of is yeah, the smut felt more forced than real and passionate. very predicatable too.
Troy Osbourne, Erika's love interest who is her pool boy and is also 24 y/o, is sooo 30 years old coded. the author has clearly never ever interacted with a young man in his 20's, troy sounds more like a 30 y/o man who wants to be cool and young but is failing. and idk if this is just me but the whole idea of him being a singer and Erika this edgy songwriter and him becoming a pop star 😛🤘 IS SOOO ASS...everytime they started singing an angel exploded and its feathers went everywhere. the writing is too "easy to read", as if she knows her audience can't read a level higher than a 4th grader.
also I read the architect, which is another book in the Nashville series and I realized that all the characters know each other and live in Nashville and just so yk Erika's neighbor has his own book (good girl I think is the name) with his gf (Cassidy) who is also his son's ex and the architect is about this veterinarian girlboss and her nonchalant cat lover mysterious neighbor AND his friend/her coworker. this ain't Nashville vro this is 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴ville and I'm moving in next 👅
Despite all the cons I mentioned above, I'd just like to say that I really related to Erika's doubts. The book didn't just focus on the freakiness and Troy's "impressive package" but also about the hardships that come along with a relationship like theirs. I also liked and understood Jenna's (Troy's mom and Erika's bff) reaction to their relationship, her reaction is valid asf.
last thing, I'd love to see a book on Erika's ex who cheated on her with his boss (Derrick). I'd like to know how his journey will continue because the thing is, he is not necessarily a bad person but has a lot of struggles. derrick is a bitch for getting back to his wife and leaving Charles (I think was his name). it'd be interesting and I wish the book had focused more on Charles' struggles but ig this book is about Erika and her freaky pool boy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity