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A review by upturnedroots
Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren
4.0
I hate the title and cover art of this book with the blazing hellfire of Hades.
It is truly misleading. Give me a cute illustrated contemporary cover that Berkley started the trend for any day over this. Real people on book covers is NEVER necessary.
That being said, I do believe Christina Lauren balances steam with great characterization better than any other authors I've read in the more explicit books within the romance genre so far. I will say this book has way more steam than plot, and my preferences skew more towards plot than steam, which is more in line with The Unhoneymooners ala other women's fiction I like reading.
But the reason this particular story worked so well for me, and didn't have me clutching at my pearls or fainting like a Victorian grandma, is that there is genuine characterization for Mia and Ansel on their own and in the way they learn about each other and how their relationship grows. I loved this. Most romance stories abide by the genre convention that there are 3 story arcs to follow: the heroine, the hero, and the relationship itself - and C.Lo does this superbly well in all the books I've read by them. I love the way the convey strength, intelligence, honesty, wit and humor in their characters and show us all the little things you have to learn about each other for a relationship to succeed.
ALSO, ANSEL. My heart. Dude was very dumb sometimes. But love this adorable puppy still.
It is truly misleading. Give me a cute illustrated contemporary cover that Berkley started the trend for any day over this. Real people on book covers is NEVER necessary.
That being said, I do believe Christina Lauren balances steam with great characterization better than any other authors I've read in the more explicit books within the romance genre so far. I will say this book has way more steam than plot, and my preferences skew more towards plot than steam, which is more in line with The Unhoneymooners ala other women's fiction I like reading.
But the reason this particular story worked so well for me, and didn't have me clutching at my pearls or fainting like a Victorian grandma, is that there is genuine characterization for Mia and Ansel on their own and in the way they learn about each other and how their relationship grows. I loved this. Most romance stories abide by the genre convention that there are 3 story arcs to follow: the heroine, the hero, and the relationship itself - and C.Lo does this superbly well in all the books I've read by them. I love the way the convey strength, intelligence, honesty, wit and humor in their characters and show us all the little things you have to learn about each other for a relationship to succeed.
ALSO, ANSEL. My heart. Dude was very dumb sometimes. But love this adorable puppy still.