T H E B O O K
Author: Alex Light
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
It’s been years since seventeen-year-old Becca Hart believed in true love. But when her former best friend teases her for not having a boyfriend, Becca impulsively pretends she’s been secretly seeing someone.
Brett Wells has it all. Being captain of the football team and one of the most popular guys in school, he should have no problem finding someone to date, but he’s always been more focused on his future than who to bring to prom. When he overhears Becca’s lie, Brett decides to step in and be her mystery guy. It’s the perfect solution: he gets people off his back for not dating and she can keep up the ruse.
Acting like the perfect couple isn’t easy though, especially when you barely know the other person. But with Becca still picking up the pieces from when her world was blown apart years ago and Brett just barely holding his together now, they begin to realize they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. When the line between real and pretend begins to blur, they are forced to answer the question: is this fake romance the realest thing in either of their lives?
M Y T H O U G H T S
I think I was in a really good mood when I read this because I ended up loving the book when this would typically make me go "eh" due it being cheesy and predictable. It's also not something new to me because I've seen a lot of tropes thrown to this book (the mean girl, the popular jock, the shy and kinda-nerdy girl, the popular guy and the kinda-nerdy girl getting together and falling in love, fake dating) but something about this pulled me in. I'd say this is a feel-good romance book if you're in need for some light and quick YA contemporary romance read.
However, as much as I enjoyed this during the first read, I wouldn't say this is memorable because it's not, for me. It was just that length of me reading the book where I feel how cute it was but it didn't leave me an impact. Nothing wrong there though. What made me happy was that this book got me interested and well, it was actually sweet. Cheesy, but sweet. And cute. And I'm more than okay with that.
T H E B O O K
Author: Gabby Noone
Publication Date: January 21, 2020
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Add to: Goodreads / Amazon
Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 star)
Two teens, one stuck atoning for her sins and one destined for heaven, fall in love in purgatory in this darkly hilarious and heartfelt rom-com, perfect for fans of The Good Place.
Beatrice Fox deserves to go straight to hell. At least, that's what she thinks. On her last day on Earth, she ruined the life of the person she loves most--her little sister, Emmy. So when Bea awakens from a fatal car accident to find herself on an airplane headed for a mysterious destination, she's confused, to say the least. Once on the ground, Bea receives some truly harrowing news: not only is she in purgatory, but she has been chosen to join the Memory Experience team. If she wants another shot at heaven, she'll have to use her master manipulation skills to help 5,000 souls suss out what's keeping them from moving on.
There's just one slight problem. Bea's first assigned soul is Caleb, the boy who caused her accident, and the last person Bea would ever want to send to the pearly gates. But as much as Bea would love to see Caleb suffer for dooming her to a seemingly endless future of listening to other people's problems, she can't help but notice that he's kind of cute, and sort of sweet, and that maybe, despite her best efforts, she's totally falling for him. And to make matters worse, he's definitely falling for her. Now, determined to make the most of her time in purgatory, Bea must decide what is truly worth dying for--romance or revenge.
M Y T H O U G H T S
I already gave this a short review on Goodreads but I'd just like to add a few more things why this didn't do it for me, aside from how flat the characters are and how they seem to only have one shared personality trait (I called it I’m Stuck In Purgatory And I Kind Of Am Just Going About My Life Until My Flight To Heaven Comes). There's this line I draw everytime I'm dealing with a "mean" main character. They either worm their way to my heart or they remain on my shit list. Bea's on the latter.
I get that this was like the show The Good Place but the execution for this was just too... poor. And I'm really having a hard time believing those mentors(?) or guides(?) in the airport/purgatory/whatever are deserving of heaven. Bea's guide was an example. I really really REALLY loved the idea or concept for this book but it was just poorly done in my opinion.
I don't really like doing 1-star reviews anymore but this was one of the books I was very excited about and I'm bummed that it let me down.
I am very sad about Layoverland. I was excited about that book, but it does seem, that you are not alone in your feelings. I have been seeing many reviews that skew low. I enjoyed Upside. It was just adorable, and I am all about that fluff. I did wish they focused a bit less on the family drama, because I loved the romance, and wanted more.
ReplyDeleteLayoverland had potential but it seemed like Bea didn't have developments outside her selfish behavior until the very end of the book. Which was a total waste to me. We could've gotten more of her slowly changing for the better but nope. Upside was cute but cliche. Still enjoyable I must say.
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