As exciting as the first book, but definitely not on my list of favorites. Unpopular opinion, but I thought the ending worked. The biggest star deductAs exciting as the first book, but definitely not on my list of favorites. Unpopular opinion, but I thought the ending worked. The biggest star deduction was that I don't like most of the characters; not many of them are nice and they always bicker and fight....more
I've played in chess tournaments as a girl and thus couldn't resist this book. Hazelwood got some aspects right, there can be some oddball characters I've played in chess tournaments as a girl and thus couldn't resist this book. Hazelwood got some aspects right, there can be some oddball characters in the chess world; it's a place for socially awkward nerdy men and some of them who become champions can have large egos and act out. But for the fact that Mallory defeated several players rated 2400-2700+, her rating wouldn't be 1900. She can also play online games that are rated to increase her rating. So there are some things that the author got wrong, but I enjoyed the chess parts considerably.
The reduction in stars was because Mallory had very few redeeming qualities. There wasn't anything likeable about her. She lies to her family, sleeps around (even though she's only 18), and is the reluctant hero, who's so reluctant that it becomes annoying. If she'd just face her problems, but she runs away, denies them, and would rather her family become evicted and homeless than play chess, which would easily make an overabundance of money for her family. It didn't appear to be selflessness that caused her to take care of her family but sheer denial and refusal to face her problems.
For the fact that Mallory was such an aggressive player didn't show in her sheepish and timid personality.
There were also many points that the author made that I disagree with, as if she was trying to make a point about how open-minded and holier than thou than others. For instant, her parents were open-minded enough to allow her sleep with multiple people of all different backgrounds. Sleeping around and polyamory doesn't make one "open-minded." That's like saying that her parents allowed her to do drugs because they were open-minded. There are energetic, karmic, and genetic consequences of sleeping around (just as there are consequences to doing drugs), especially with emotions and love are not present. I'm not judging, people can do whatever they want and I'm not going to condemn, but I do want to point out that the way the author presented this was harmful in my view....more
It twas the night before Christmas and they were in a kinky Christmas town. This was like a kinky version of a Hallmark movie. It included lots of chaIt twas the night before Christmas and they were in a kinky Christmas town. This was like a kinky version of a Hallmark movie. It included lots of character growth....more
A cozy romance story about two socially awkward individuals finding each other and falling in love. It wasn't my favorite of Burton's books, but thereA cozy romance story about two socially awkward individuals finding each other and falling in love. It wasn't my favorite of Burton's books, but there were still some small humor in it that had me chuckling....more
True relationship development, with the perfect man as the main character, and two wonderful audiobook narrators. Although, at the end I was getting aTrue relationship development, with the perfect man as the main character, and two wonderful audiobook narrators. Although, at the end I was getting antsy to get back to my fantasy genre, and almost hoping a dragon would pop out of a bush. Plot twist?
No? Okay. . . .
This was more enjoyable than The Stand-In by Lily Chu, but it definitely wasn't an original idea. Who cares, anyway? It's fake dating, a trope we all love.
The narrator, Imani, had a gorgeous voice. The only thing was that she can't do many different voices. The male narrator was flawless, but I didn't picture Tate with his biker-boy voice....more
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