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libertyreads789's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book was a mess for me. In What I’m Looking For, we follow successful financier Kate who has to force her male coworkers to take her seriously and less successful actor/bar tender Will who doesn’t want to sell out on the art he loves by taking film jobs. These opposing characters meet after the final bell one day when Kate joins her coworkers at the bar Will works at.
My main problem with the book (aside from the inherent misogyny that existed in the 1980s) was that I didn’t feel any of this story. The writing just doesn’t sell the reader on what’s happening or the romance at all. I felt like I was kept at arms’ length from what was happening to these characters and so I didn’t care. Also, there were MULTIPLE third act miscommunication problems. Are you fucking kidding me? In the year of our lord *checks notes* 2020, were we not already sick to death of a third act miscommunication? Now we have a double dose of that stupidity? And some of the drama throughout the novel was less dramatic and more embarrassing. We have Kate who doesn’t seem to understand what acting is as well as Will’s big issue with Kate having money and him not. I get that when you don’t have money it’s a touchy subject but he wouldn’t even let her pay for meals without having a huge fight. This book was set in the 1980s so maybe we’re supposed to see it as “that’s just how it was back then” but Will as a character doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would do that. It was so out of character for him.
And I’m just going to say this once because even doing it that many times also feels embarrassing. They are supposed to have this big giant romance with chemistry and fireworks and everything. But I read the most bland kiss or sex scene and Kate’s inner monologue would be talking about it being the best she’s ever had. Oh, honey. I really hope that’s not the case. I think the writer just doesn’t have a way to portray these things for a reader outside of the characters’ inner monologue.
Good things about this one for me are the moments when Kate has to deal with her sexist coworkers and rakes them over the coals. I also love Will as a character. I think he had some problems but he was the most enjoyable character in the whole book. The book does a good enough job at setting this book in the 1980s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Car accident, and Classism