lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
The Shameless Hour was so well done! And it was such a strong-themed story.
embug's review against another edition
4.0
*4 stars*
I read this book in the hopes to see the main characters from "The Understatement of the Year", but I was pleasantly surprised by this one as well. It tackled hard topics, like slut shaming, sexual health, STDs and even date rape drugs, and it was also very addicting (I finished it in a day, I swear I was glued to that audiobook). There was some stuff that I didn't like, including less-than-delicate handling of sexual minorities (bisexuals, asexuals, etc.), but that was minimal and the more recent books from this author have much more well-rounded rep so I believe this author has learned from her mistakes.
All in all, very enjoyable and I will probably keep reading books from this series!
I read this book in the hopes to see the main characters from "The Understatement of the Year", but I was pleasantly surprised by this one as well. It tackled hard topics, like slut shaming, sexual health, STDs and even date rape drugs, and it was also very addicting (I finished it in a day, I swear I was glued to that audiobook). There was some stuff that I didn't like, including less-than-delicate handling of sexual minorities (bisexuals, asexuals, etc.), but that was minimal and the more recent books from this author have much more well-rounded rep so I believe this author has learned from her mistakes.
All in all, very enjoyable and I will probably keep reading books from this series!
kelz31's review against another edition
4.0
The (current) last two books of this series are really the strongest of the bunch.
Bella may not be a perfect role model, but her situation is an ugly and highly possible one on a college campus. It's a repulsive culture in some areas that people tend not to talk about, much less stand up for, and I am glad to see a book address it in a mostly realistic manner.
As a book critique, the love interest was a little too perfect and dreamy.
Bella may not be a perfect role model, but her situation is an ugly and highly possible one on a college campus. It's a repulsive culture in some areas that people tend not to talk about, much less stand up for, and I am glad to see a book address it in a mostly realistic manner.
As a book critique, the love interest was a little too perfect and dreamy.
litloulou's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed feelings on this one honestly. But rounding up my 3.5
I thought both characters were portrayed pretty stereotypically for their background. If I were Bella I would not be ok with my family treating like that, even if they were paying my tuition so I didn’t like that about her. And how come she could be hung up on Graham but not make that exception for Rafe.
I liked Bella but I wish if she hadnt called the police, Rafe had. It was my only beef with him. He should have put more together and obviously the way Bella was acting meant things were not consensual. Somehow she needed counseling or someone to help her through besides him IMO. I get he tried to be that person, but it still seemed not quite there. I also thought their project team was dumb and so was his ex’s excuse. I can’t speak for whether it was realistic or not, but it didn’t add anything to the story so I didn’t see a need for it honestly. Maybe that is insensitive of me because I am all about better representations of different people, especially within the romance genre. Still the characters were cute.
Overall, I did like the characters and I thought they were cute with good chemistry. I usually round up if I get through the book pretty quickly and this one I did.
I thought both characters were portrayed pretty stereotypically for their background. If I were Bella I would not be ok with my family treating like that, even if they were paying my tuition so I didn’t like that about her. And how come she could be hung up on Graham but not make that exception for Rafe.
I liked Bella but I wish if she hadnt called the police, Rafe had. It was my only beef with him. He should have put more together and obviously the way Bella was acting meant things were not consensual. Somehow she needed counseling or someone to help her through besides him IMO. I get he tried to be that person, but it still seemed not quite there. I also thought their project team was dumb and so was his ex’s excuse. I can’t speak for whether it was realistic or not, but it didn’t add anything to the story so I didn’t see a need for it honestly. Maybe that is insensitive of me because I am all about better representations of different people, especially within the romance genre. Still the characters were cute.
Overall, I did like the characters and I thought they were cute with good chemistry. I usually round up if I get through the book pretty quickly and this one I did.
beckyschwartz's review against another edition
5.0
I’m *obsessed* with Sarina Bowen. Her writing draws me in and holds me there like no other author I’ve read. Her characters are so fun and likable, yet all so different from each other. None of her books are repetitive, but they’re perfect. This one was no different.
Rafe and Bella are both so darned likable! And their relationship is hot and heavy and they’re so good to each other. They’re different, but that doesn’t seem to get in the way for them. I’ll admit, I was surprised about the lack of usual hockey in this book. But somehow it wasn’t disappointing.
As usual, all of Bowen’s characters delivered perfectly. The problems they faced were both so relatable and so not relatable at the same time. And they were all so good together. Just perfect. There were some typically great moments with the other characters we know and love, too! I miss them all already. On to the next.
Rafe and Bella are both so darned likable! And their relationship is hot and heavy and they’re so good to each other. They’re different, but that doesn’t seem to get in the way for them. I’ll admit, I was surprised about the lack of usual hockey in this book. But somehow it wasn’t disappointing.
As usual, all of Bowen’s characters delivered perfectly. The problems they faced were both so relatable and so not relatable at the same time. And they were all so good together. Just perfect. There were some typically great moments with the other characters we know and love, too! I miss them all already. On to the next.
mssarahbn's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic one night to forever romance. I loved the storyline and the characters especially Rafe, he was just such a great guy. Bella was a complex character and I didn’t really like her in the previous book but in this one I completely changed my mind about her. She was dealt a rough deal in so many ways and that formed her. I didn’t necessarily like the way the story dealt with Alison and her part in the story but too me it wasn’t that big a deal.
ja123's review against another edition
Sadly, I didn't even manage to finish this book which happens to me very rarely and I usually like Sarina's books.
The beginning of the story is very promising as well as the characters, but then everything goes downhill more and more, page by page. The main characters are utterly annoying and infuriating with Bella's constant bitchiness and Rafe's awkwardness. The dialogues are also infuriating and quite stupid. There isn't any single dialogue between them which would make sense or drive out any real emotion other than anguish. I'm not even sure if that's the proper word. The whole plot was a mess and all the characters were weird and unsympathetic. It all felt too unnatural to me and it's a bummer, because I expected much more from Sarina.
The beginning of the story is very promising as well as the characters, but then everything goes downhill more and more, page by page. The main characters are utterly annoying and infuriating with Bella's constant bitchiness and Rafe's awkwardness. The dialogues are also infuriating and quite stupid. There isn't any single dialogue between them which would make sense or drive out any real emotion other than anguish. I'm not even sure if that's the proper word. The whole plot was a mess and all the characters were weird and unsympathetic. It all felt too unnatural to me and it's a bummer, because I expected much more from Sarina.