remusreads's review against another edition
2.0
I'm so torn with this book. I started reading it and I immediately got into it and started loving it. I was really into the way they had started their relationship - I love a good, funny mishap. It started off well, the writing was good, the characters were mostly really good... and then suddenly it took a nose dive. Or a Stage Dive, if you will.
I got to around the halfway mark and things started to seem a little wrong. The book wasn't fitting as well with me, nor was I enjoying my reading experience as much as I was when I first started. I've read a fair few reviews and this seems to be a common issue, so I'm relieved that it wasn't just me. It suddenly didn't read like a book that I wanted to partake in, and it became quite sluggish to read through. Compartmentalising my thoughts is somewhat a challenge when I'm so disappointed in a book, so I'll try with some quick pointers:
- David was an arse. He was an absolute arse. He was controlling, rude, compulsive, possessive... and not in any good ways. He was likeable at first, but then he showed his true colours and I just couldn't stand him. I wish I had liked him. He seemed sweet at first, wanting to break away from the limelight and just have a normal life - but then came the sordid secrets that he'd been keeping and the "other side" to him that 'bad boy' characters seem to have. He was massively annoying me by the end when he was waiting for her outside of work to take her home, even though she had said she didn't want him to. Meh.
- Ev started off as a character I loved. And then she quickly became a character I couldn't tolerate. She started off powerful, going after what she knew she wanted, determined... and then she turned into a whiny character who i just couldn't stand. It's a shame really because the character had so much promise!
- The sex. It was awkward to read. It was honestly so awkward to read. There was a constant narrative from Ev that she was "in pain" and that she felt "uncomfortable" and that it hurt? I don't understand why that needed to be constantly mentioned. It was just awkward. It was embarrassing to read to be honest. Ev's naivete didn't come across as cute and charming, it came across as embarrassing and cringe worthy. By the end I was completely skipping the sex scenes because I couldn't tolerate another one. I'm not even going to talk about the fact that sex was used as a device to shut Evelyn up, but grrrrr, that annoyed me. If you want a book that's centred around sex but still with some drama, try Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, Samantha Young, Alice Clayton...
- The male standoffish bickering over a woman. Was that necessary?!
- The jealousy. Yes, because of course the woman belongs to you and she cannot ever talk to another male.
- The "she's his ex, I must hate the ugly bitch" behaviour that was present a lot throughout. That just wound me up to no end; there just wasn't any need! It was disappointing more than anything because I hoped that Ev would be a better character than that, but it seems not.
I rated this two stars because the writing was good. I was sucked into the book straight away and, even though it teetered off towards the middle, I really enjoyed the start. I have to give credit where it's due and say that this book had potential, but it just missed the mark for me. I would still recommend it if it sounds like it would be your cup of tea, though, because books like this are colossally subjective and it might be just your taste!
Let's hope I like the rest of the series more than this one, eh? I have high hopes, because authors can grow and develop so quickly.
I got to around the halfway mark and things started to seem a little wrong. The book wasn't fitting as well with me, nor was I enjoying my reading experience as much as I was when I first started. I've read a fair few reviews and this seems to be a common issue, so I'm relieved that it wasn't just me. It suddenly didn't read like a book that I wanted to partake in, and it became quite sluggish to read through. Compartmentalising my thoughts is somewhat a challenge when I'm so disappointed in a book, so I'll try with some quick pointers:
- David was an arse. He was an absolute arse. He was controlling, rude, compulsive, possessive... and not in any good ways. He was likeable at first, but then he showed his true colours and I just couldn't stand him. I wish I had liked him. He seemed sweet at first, wanting to break away from the limelight and just have a normal life - but then came the sordid secrets that he'd been keeping and the "other side" to him that 'bad boy' characters seem to have. He was massively annoying me by the end when he was waiting for her outside of work to take her home, even though she had said she didn't want him to. Meh.
- Ev started off as a character I loved. And then she quickly became a character I couldn't tolerate. She started off powerful, going after what she knew she wanted, determined... and then she turned into a whiny character who i just couldn't stand. It's a shame really because the character had so much promise!
- The sex. It was awkward to read. It was honestly so awkward to read. There was a constant narrative from Ev that she was "in pain" and that she felt "uncomfortable" and that it hurt? I don't understand why that needed to be constantly mentioned. It was just awkward. It was embarrassing to read to be honest. Ev's naivete didn't come across as cute and charming, it came across as embarrassing and cringe worthy. By the end I was completely skipping the sex scenes because I couldn't tolerate another one. I'm not even going to talk about the fact that sex was used as a device to shut Evelyn up, but grrrrr, that annoyed me. If you want a book that's centred around sex but still with some drama, try Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, Samantha Young, Alice Clayton...
- The male standoffish bickering over a woman. Was that necessary?!
- The jealousy. Yes, because of course the woman belongs to you and she cannot ever talk to another male.
- The "she's his ex, I must hate the ugly bitch" behaviour that was present a lot throughout. That just wound me up to no end; there just wasn't any need! It was disappointing more than anything because I hoped that Ev would be a better character than that, but it seems not.
I rated this two stars because the writing was good. I was sucked into the book straight away and, even though it teetered off towards the middle, I really enjoyed the start. I have to give credit where it's due and say that this book had potential, but it just missed the mark for me. I would still recommend it if it sounds like it would be your cup of tea, though, because books like this are colossally subjective and it might be just your taste!
Let's hope I like the rest of the series more than this one, eh? I have high hopes, because authors can grow and develop so quickly.
aishwaryadeengar's review against another edition
1.0
Unrealistic and bleh.
The girl was soo drunk but she had a fair conversation with a guy, got him smitten, had dinner and not only agreed to marry him but even managed to do so in 1 night which happened to be her 21st birthday. The man, a 26 year old rockstar ignored the fact that the girl was clearly drunk but was so distraught the following day on releasing the didn't remember anything.
*rolling my eyes*
And..
She did manage to fall in love with him because of a few hugs and his exceptional looks over a weekend. How shallow.
It would've been much better if it would've been less trite.
● This girl didn't fall on her knees worshipping him so he fell head over heals in love with her.
● He took her to his villa where he hasn't brought any girl but her-because-she-is-the-one.
●The ex tries to take him back and the girl got the wrong message and left heart broken.
It couldn't have been more obvious.
So that's that.
Im glad its over as it made even those cheesy Wattpad stories seem better.
The girl was soo drunk but she had a fair conversation with a guy, got him smitten, had dinner and not only agreed to marry him but even managed to do so in 1 night which happened to be her 21st birthday. The man, a 26 year old rockstar ignored the fact that the girl was clearly drunk but was so distraught the following day on releasing the didn't remember anything.
*rolling my eyes*
And..
She did manage to fall in love with him because of a few hugs and his exceptional looks over a weekend. How shallow.
It would've been much better if it would've been less trite.
● This girl didn't fall on her knees worshipping him so he fell head over heals in love with her.
● He took her to his villa where he hasn't brought any girl but her-because-she-is-the-one.
●The ex tries to take him back and the girl got the wrong message and left heart broken.
It couldn't have been more obvious.
So that's that.
Im glad its over as it made even those cheesy Wattpad stories seem better.
jaywithwhiskey's review against another edition
3.0
Evelyn goes to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday, gets fucked up, and wakes up married to the lyricist and band member, David. She doesn't remember anything.
So like, this was an okay read - everything definitely felt in the same realm as the other Stage Dive books, what with the jealousy, the girls throwing themselves at them, and the other amazing personalities in the band. BUT. My main issue with this book is how pissed off David is that Evelyn doesn't remember the night they got married. He treats her really coldly and after she's thrown into this new world filled with paparazzi and questions, this girl gets no sympathy anywhere. Everyone is just pissed at her or shocked, no one actually offers her any real mental help. And David being a dick isn't exactly charming - I get it, he's hurting - but she's also scared and confused and no longer has privacy or headspace to deal with any of it. I digress. Once you get over that, the story is quite a cut romance.
So like, this was an okay read - everything definitely felt in the same realm as the other Stage Dive books, what with the jealousy, the girls throwing themselves at them, and the other amazing personalities in the band. BUT. My main issue with this book is how pissed off David is that Evelyn doesn't remember the night they got married. He treats her really coldly and after she's thrown into this new world filled with paparazzi and questions, this girl gets no sympathy anywhere. Everyone is just pissed at her or shocked, no one actually offers her any real mental help. And David being a dick isn't exactly charming - I get it, he's hurting - but she's also scared and confused and no longer has privacy or headspace to deal with any of it. I digress. Once you get over that, the story is quite a cut romance.
psychraex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sarahbeth_linke's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars (B & C). This book was fine. Unfortunately, that's all it was.
ladylaurenexplorer's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The cheating aspect of the book wasn’t that big of a deal to me, but I understood why she had a problem with what happened.
The one thing I do wish about this book is that we actually got her memories from when they were in Vegas, because it’s been brought up so many times now. I feel like I missed out because I don’t see it!
The one thing I do wish about this book is that we actually got her memories from when they were in Vegas, because it’s been brought up so many times now. I feel like I missed out because I don’t see it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
audrey_kreiling's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emelymarieft's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25