A review by jamie_reads_stuff
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

I REALLY wanted to like this book. The premise was so fun and I enjoyed the bodyguard tropes. However, there were so many things about this book that I did not enjoy that outweighed the good. First of all, the 4th wall breaking in the writing was incredibly jarring. At times it felt like the 4th wall breakage fit in more for a 90s teen sitcom and not a new adult romance novel. The writing felt incredibly juvenile. Secondly, the humor in this book did not mesh well with me, it was either too corny or punched down to specific women—which brings me to my third point. This book is so weirdly misogynistic; yes I know having a female body guard who is “small and tiny” flips stereotypes but there’s a lot of weird jokes and passive aggressive comments about women who wear too much makeup or have plastic surgery. It’s giving “I’m not like other girls” energy and it’s jarring. Overall, I really really did not enjoy reading this whatsoever. The only reason why it’s not any lower than it is is because the premise is interesting and some of the prose is good. A more spoiler-y review below:

the characterization was kind of misogynistic also. Like Hannah doesn’t have a single female friend and Connie doesn’t count because she’s a mother figure. Like Hannah’s best friend betrays her, Kelly is the stereotypical boy crazy person, and holy shit Kennedy’s characterization was AWFUL. Like the whole scene with the bonfire was giving like mean girl y/n energy it was so bizzare. I literally don’t even remember the main guys name but he’s just like….Chris Evans except he squawks. By the way, the bwok bwok scene?? Horrible
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