A review by michellesantiago
Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James
3.0
I finally read the one book by Julie James that I haven't read and now I've read ALL the books she's published. YAY!!
JtSMA is Julie James's debut and it was apparent she was still finding her footing in the genre. Still, it was well-written (even if the hero leaves much to be desired), with the wit and spark that is purely Julie James was very evident.
I did like JtSMA--for me it's impossible *not* to like a Julie James book--but in my mental ranking of her books I'd put JtSMA at the very end of the list. I liked Taylor's character--she was smart, sassy, quick-witted, and she made the Sexiest Man Alive, Jason Andrews, work for it... well, at least until the end when she lost her fire and went after Jason. I was so upset when she gave up her firm's partnership offer to be with Jason. Ugh. Why Taylor why?!?!
As for the Sexiest Man Alive himself, he is most definitely my least favorite of Julie James's heroes, as in he's way last in my mental ranking. I didn't like him at all--I never warmed up to him and thought Taylor could do *waayyy* better. He came off as self-centered, spoiled, and eye-rollingly such a big baby. I finished the book thinking their HEA is only for-now and eventually (hopefully) Taylor will wise up and dump his spoiled actor ass.
Julie James remains one my favorite contemporary romance author, though. I think the reason why I avoided JtSMA for so long was because I knew I wasn't going to like it as much as her other books. But, if you're a Julie James fangirl like I am I still recommend you pick it up. Jason sucks, but the writing is still on-point.
I listened to JtSMA in audiobook and once again I am reminded of how Karen White's narration is the ABSOLUTELY perfect match for Julie James's writing and voice. Karen White's narration even made Jason's character slightly palatable. No one could've done it better than Karen White and her performance is 5/5 stars!
Out of all her books though, JtSMA is the most similar in tone to Practice Makes Perfect, my all-time favorite book by her Practice Makes Perfect, which made me want to reread Practice Makes Perfect for the millionth time. And by "reread" I mean re-listen to the audiobook because Karen White + Practice Makes Perfect = listening GOLD
Overall:
Book/story: 2.5/5 stars
Audibook/narration: 5/5 stars
JtSMA is Julie James's debut and it was apparent she was still finding her footing in the genre. Still, it was well-written (even if the hero leaves much to be desired), with the wit and spark that is purely Julie James was very evident.
I did like JtSMA--for me it's impossible *not* to like a Julie James book--but in my mental ranking of her books I'd put JtSMA at the very end of the list. I liked Taylor's character--she was smart, sassy, quick-witted, and she made the Sexiest Man Alive, Jason Andrews, work for it... well, at least until the end when she lost her fire and went after Jason. I was so upset when she gave up her firm's partnership offer to be with Jason. Ugh. Why Taylor why?!?!
As for the Sexiest Man Alive himself, he is most definitely my least favorite of Julie James's heroes, as in he's way last in my mental ranking. I didn't like him at all--I never warmed up to him and thought Taylor could do *waayyy* better. He came off as self-centered, spoiled, and eye-rollingly such a big baby. I finished the book thinking their HEA is only for-now and eventually (hopefully) Taylor will wise up and dump his spoiled actor ass.
Julie James remains one my favorite contemporary romance author, though. I think the reason why I avoided JtSMA for so long was because I knew I wasn't going to like it as much as her other books. But, if you're a Julie James fangirl like I am I still recommend you pick it up. Jason sucks, but the writing is still on-point.
I listened to JtSMA in audiobook and once again I am reminded of how Karen White's narration is the ABSOLUTELY perfect match for Julie James's writing and voice. Karen White's narration even made Jason's character slightly palatable. No one could've done it better than Karen White and her performance is 5/5 stars!
Out of all her books though, JtSMA is the most similar in tone to Practice Makes Perfect, my all-time favorite book by her Practice Makes Perfect, which made me want to reread Practice Makes Perfect for the millionth time. And by "reread" I mean re-listen to the audiobook because Karen White + Practice Makes Perfect = listening GOLD
Overall:
Book/story: 2.5/5 stars
Audibook/narration: 5/5 stars