A review by literarylocd
Final Offer by Lauren Asher

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

i’ll write something better in the morning but jesus christ, if we can’t portray addiction properly and respectfully, why do it at all??


Right, let’s talk about what I liked. The kid was cute. And Cal was trying. 

Everything else was garbage. 


We know lauren asher don’t push pen like that so let’s not even go into that too tough. But the characters are bland, the setting is bland. There’s nothing connecting you to the story or the characters.

 Nothing happens until about 70% into the book. No one has particularly strong feelings and they go around in circles. The town calling Cal a pathetic alcoholic for breaking Lana’s heart in the past. It just got excessive. 

  • The scene of the cop (who is the FMC’s besties husband) abusing his power to antagonise and physically restrain the MMC, just to embarrass him  
  • The way in which alcoholism and addiction was handled in general. I don’t know if there were sensitivity readers involved and whether those people were addicts or had intimidate experiences with addiction but it felt so so so off. As in it pained me physically. 
  • Declan Kane. Ew. 
  • Cal being like 20/21 kissing a 17yo (sorry almost seventeen year old) 👀 side eye 
  • There was a line about Cal’s ADHD and why it meant corporate life couldn’t be for him and I just hate that sentiment. It’s so rooted in ableism. He could’ve just hated a 9-5. Has nothing to do with having ADHD. 
  • This book spoke about money soooo much it just reminded me that billionaires some of the most disgusting people on earth and i don’t wanna see that again. 


It just wasn’t good. There was no meat to it. The characters didn’t have meaningful conversations with each other so there was no emotional payoff when the characters reached their goal. I just did not give a flying monkeys. 
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