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A review by podanotherjessi
Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Allow me to start this review with a series of bold claims.
1. This is a book about Jewish people, but it isn't for Jewish people.
This book assumes the reader has no idea what Hanukkah is, and very possibly no idea what Jewish life is at all. There's an extended info dump about the Maccabees early in the book, and it's referred back to frequently as if to say "hey, remember what this is about!" And that's just one example of the overexplaining that goes on in the book.
2. These main characters aren't from NYC and have possibly never been there before.
I don't know if Elliot, the author, is from New York. But I don't believe Seth or Abby are. Abby feels like a Hallmark character just because she <i>takes a NYC cab</i>?? They call things the wrong names, and they just feel like they aren't familiar with the city.
3. This relationship isn't going to last.
I do see chemistry between Seth and Abby, which is obviously a plus. But what is their romance even based on? I swear Abby just falls for Seth because he's the first person that's ever been kind to her. So while I could root for them to kiss and want them to find happiness, I just didn't think this was a real HEA, and that just takes a lot of the steam out of a romance for me.
4. Abby isn't just grumpy, she's an absolute jerk.
Maybe this is subjective (or more subjective than any other part of this review). But I love a grumpy character in a romance now and then. But grumpy to me means someone that's a little curt and in a bad mood now and then. Not someone who lacks common courtesy or empathy. And Abby is the latter. She is outright mean to Seth when we see them interact, and it's not because of something he's done that makes her not like him. She's literally just a cruel person.
1. This is a book about Jewish people, but it isn't for Jewish people.
This book assumes the reader has no idea what Hanukkah is, and very possibly no idea what Jewish life is at all. There's an extended info dump about the Maccabees early in the book, and it's referred back to frequently as if to say "hey, remember what this is about!" And that's just one example of the overexplaining that goes on in the book.
2. These main characters aren't from NYC and have possibly never been there before.
I don't know if Elliot, the author, is from New York. But I don't believe Seth or Abby are. Abby feels like a Hallmark character just because she <i>takes a NYC cab</i>?? They call things the wrong names, and they just feel like they aren't familiar with the city.
3. This relationship isn't going to last.
I do see chemistry between Seth and Abby, which is obviously a plus. But what is their romance even based on? I swear Abby just falls for Seth because he's the first person that's ever been kind to her. So while I could root for them to kiss and want them to find happiness, I just didn't think this was a real HEA, and that just takes a lot of the steam out of a romance for me.
4. Abby isn't just grumpy, she's an absolute jerk.
Maybe this is subjective (or more subjective than any other part of this review). But I love a grumpy character in a romance now and then. But grumpy to me means someone that's a little curt and in a bad mood now and then. Not someone who lacks common courtesy or empathy. And Abby is the latter. She is outright mean to Seth when we see them interact, and it's not because of something he's done that makes her not like him. She's literally just a cruel person.