syndi3's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story begins with Jack proposition to Kacey, his childhood friend and his ex, to be his fake fiancee for the sake of his sick grandma. I thought this story is about Jack and Kacey. But then, enter Travis. Travis is Jack's older brother. Travis is also the one who hold candle for Kacey since 8 years old.
So it becomes a love triangle. No angst. Just humor. Some flirting part and sentences are so funny. I let out a few giggle here and there. So why the 3 stars?
Its the immaturity of the characters. Except the grandma. I think this book is better to be category as Young Adult. So it makes sense the immaturity of the characters. I found it very hard to believe that both Jack and Travis are millionaire, with their immaturity behavior.
It is a light and funny read.
So it becomes a love triangle. No angst. Just humor. Some flirting part and sentences are so funny. I let out a few giggle here and there. So why the 3 stars?
Its the immaturity of the characters. Except the grandma. I think this book is better to be category as Young Adult. So it makes sense the immaturity of the characters. I found it very hard to believe that both Jack and Travis are millionaire, with their immaturity behavior.
It is a light and funny read.
lit_editions's review
4.0
The story was cute. I felt like it was a predictable and for the most part I love the back-and-forth banter. Oh my God grandma, was absolutely hilarious.Jake got on my damn nerves but overall I didn't appreciate him being a friend at the end. It was good that Travis and Kasey finally got together and they were going to make a life with each other. I don't How I felt about the parents though because they didn't really see Jake and Kasey for what the relationship really was. Overall it was a cute story I'll give it four stars.
heatherjane86's review
4.0
Great book
The past is called the past for a reason. If you are constantly looking behind you , your eyes aren’t on the road ahead. You don’t drive a car that way, so why would you live your life that way? Isn’t life more important than driving that beat-up Subaru
The past is called the past for a reason. If you are constantly looking behind you , your eyes aren’t on the road ahead. You don’t drive a car that way, so why would you live your life that way? Isn’t life more important than driving that beat-up Subaru
joyagoffney's review
1.0
Travis swore. Jake swore. Grandma swore. Everybody fucking swore. If you're gonna swear then do that shit! Just do it.
This is the first one star that I've given in a while. But I think I can confidently say that there wasn't much going for this book. Sorry.
The only thing that I'd say was done well was the physical attraction/sexual encounter scenes. Rachel is good at describing how a body moves inside and out when aroused. Other than that, no.
The Bet was actually a minor detail about the book. The Bet was supposed to make this book cute. Awwww two brothers fighting over a girl and betting who will marry her first. That's cute. But it didn't do it for me. It was corny. No, the book was more about the deal rather than the bet--the deal between Kacey and Jake.
So let's start there: the deal. In the beginning when Jake was propositioning Kacey, I was so confused--not at what was happening, but at what she was feeling. She was being so dramatic about how much she was not enjoying being in his presence, and I didn't know enough about their relationship to sympathize. I was just... confused. And apparently, her biggest motivation for going was to see Grandma, but that urgency was not conveyed well enough.
Going off that, reading this book felt like Rachel didn't know her characters, their motivations, goals, desires. This book felt like a second draft. Like, had it been evaluated a little deeper, it might have actually been good. Had she gotten to know her characters, there wouldn't have been so many missed opportunities. For example, the zoo scene. That didn't make sense to me. That would have been a good opportunity for Travis to show Kelsey that he knew her best--take her to her actual favorite place. I mean, really? He took her to the spider exhibit to make her laugh? It wasn't deep at all. It fell flat. Maybe he could have taken her to the tree house and gave her some cookies? Or shown her the restaurant? Or some other place that actually meant something to her.
This book felt evasive. Like it wouldn't let me in. It wouldn't let me get to know the characters and their habits. It kept information from me, left me confused half the time. The introspection felt explanatory--like 'this is why she is the way she is.' Like Rachel had to come up with a reason for why homegirl was doing what she was doing, rather than learning from her characters.
My suspension of disbelief did not show up for this book, could not show up. The scenes were far-fetched. Everything happened so conveniently. Somehow Rachel found a way to get her characters to rub oil on each other and shower together--and it not be on the set of a porno. The whole time reading this felt like I was reading about disney characters who got away with having sex with each other. It was corny. Corny. That's all. Corny and unbelievable and SO MELODRAMATIC. Usually melodramatic characters point to flat characters. And they were, oh so flat.
Also, really, he chases her down on a motorcycle? And proposes to her in the end? After ONE weekend together? All so convenient. And cheesy and cliche.
This is the first one star that I've given in a while. But I think I can confidently say that there wasn't much going for this book. Sorry.
The only thing that I'd say was done well was the physical attraction/sexual encounter scenes. Rachel is good at describing how a body moves inside and out when aroused. Other than that, no.
The Bet was actually a minor detail about the book. The Bet was supposed to make this book cute. Awwww two brothers fighting over a girl and betting who will marry her first. That's cute. But it didn't do it for me. It was corny. No, the book was more about the deal rather than the bet--the deal between Kacey and Jake.
So let's start there: the deal. In the beginning when Jake was propositioning Kacey, I was so confused--not at what was happening, but at what she was feeling. She was being so dramatic about how much she was not enjoying being in his presence, and I didn't know enough about their relationship to sympathize. I was just... confused. And apparently, her biggest motivation for going was to see Grandma, but that urgency was not conveyed well enough.
Going off that, reading this book felt like Rachel didn't know her characters, their motivations, goals, desires. This book felt like a second draft. Like, had it been evaluated a little deeper, it might have actually been good. Had she gotten to know her characters, there wouldn't have been so many missed opportunities. For example, the zoo scene. That didn't make sense to me. That would have been a good opportunity for Travis to show Kelsey that he knew her best--take her to her actual favorite place. I mean, really? He took her to the spider exhibit to make her laugh? It wasn't deep at all. It fell flat. Maybe he could have taken her to the tree house and gave her some cookies? Or shown her the restaurant? Or some other place that actually meant something to her.
This book felt evasive. Like it wouldn't let me in. It wouldn't let me get to know the characters and their habits. It kept information from me, left me confused half the time. The introspection felt explanatory--like 'this is why she is the way she is.' Like Rachel had to come up with a reason for why homegirl was doing what she was doing, rather than learning from her characters.
My suspension of disbelief did not show up for this book, could not show up. The scenes were far-fetched. Everything happened so conveniently. Somehow Rachel found a way to get her characters to rub oil on each other and shower together--and it not be on the set of a porno. The whole time reading this felt like I was reading about disney characters who got away with having sex with each other. It was corny. Corny. That's all. Corny and unbelievable and SO MELODRAMATIC. Usually melodramatic characters point to flat characters. And they were, oh so flat.
Also, really, he chases her down on a motorcycle? And proposes to her in the end? After ONE weekend together? All so convenient. And cheesy and cliche.
rremer's review
3.0
Was kinda a messy? book emotionally for the characters. Which made it seem realer. Timeline wise it took place over three days but since there was so much history for the characters it didn't seem too crazy rushed. Quick for romance, yes, but not unbelievable.
khawk89's review
3.0
It was a quick and easy read. I was cheering for Travis from the start. I feel Kacey and Jake could have been more developed and rounded than they were. Jake seemed to be made out to be the bad guy, with no redeeming qualities other than he had loved her at the time and was scared.
I love the grandmother, even if she is a bit of a stereotype. That's one cliche that I love.
The writing was confusing in places. 1 example: I minute I gathered from the dialogue and prose that Travis knew what went down between Jake and Kacey and the next he is saying that he doesn't know.
The dialogue was a little unrealistic and didn't flow in a few places which threw me off a little. Another downside was the repetitiveness of some aspects. It felt like I was reading the same scene, worded a little differently again and again.
I would have preferred if Travis and Kacey actually finished the sex scenes sooner, rather than be interrupted again and again. For me that killed the chemistry as they had done far to much talking about his feelings for the "Will they, won't they" to last.
All in all. I enjoyed it. Probably won't be reading again though.
clairelynn's review
1.0
I think I stopped reading around the point where Kacey tackles Travis at the table and stuffs pie into his face? What is wrong with these people. I'd like to point out that they're adults, since the author didn't seem to grasp that.
howardsgirl1's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Alright this was a really enjoyable read. Grandma had me cracking up!
kendalanne07's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5