Amanda Abram

My absolute favorite of Amanda Abram (so I actually should give it 4,5 Stars, since I rated "the Cure for Second Lead Syndrome" 4 Stars, but there is one scene - actually two but they are kinda the same - that bothered me too much to give it more than 4 stars...).
I loved the characters, how they and their relationship evolved, the background story, the banter, the insecurities...
It got a biiiit cheesy in the end, but it's a teen romance, so it was kind of expected...

Emma was just great and she didn't change too much over the book.

About Logan - do these guys exist? Guys who are disgustingly shallow and superficial and likewise sweet, funny and caring? I guess not, but what are books for..?

What I didn't like was the whole bikini situation because why does Emma have to show herself nearly naked? And what would Logan have thought if she hadn't this "hot body"?
I could have done without the two scenes and I think his feelings would have seemed a bit more profound.
It actually stuck with me a while and it turned something sweet, real and deep into something much more shallow and immature and this is what kept me from giving more than 4 Stars.

Other than that I only missed a good explanation why their friendship changed. Was it because he took his sorrow about his mother dying out on her? There were a few hints why he started being so mean but we never really learn why.

But in all I actually loved the book and couldn't put it down. It's a reread for me.… (altro)

A really fun read! Some cringy moments but I really enjoyed it and I liked the main characters which is always very important in romances IMO. No bitchy best friend like in many YA books I've read, even the "competition" seems nice, even though we don't get to know her that well.

The plot seemed kind of new. The "geeky" girl helps the cute but not too popular guy get his love interest. So I liked that it wasn't the usual player and "breathtakingly hot guy" helping out the shy girl and that Bria is like genuinely nice and wants to help, even when she realizes she likes Caleb and doesn't think he likes her back or that she would end up with him.

So not too cheesy or exaggerated "love of life" kind of stuff even if I think the awkward laughter after Paiges and Calebs kiss because "friends = no romantic feelings" came a bit sudden and too easy after he pined for her for a long time.

I like that there where no broken hearts at all, so I can overlook that it was a bit unrealistic after Paige and Caleb were both very jealous.

Definitely enjoyed it, might reread… (altro)

3,5 Stars, but tending more to 3 than 4.

The positive first: I really liked the banter and tension between the F & MMC and that it's NOT about a makeover and looks (at least not primarily...).
It's a really quick and fun read, I did a lot of smiling and chuckling, even if some discussions didn't seem really authentic.

BUT ... it's only 3 Stars for a reason.
My main reason is probably Trish, aka the worst best friend ever...
She is superficial and judgmental, she want's to decide what Lexi does and thinks Lexi, her alleged BFF, has to dress differently to be worthy of a guy and that Lexi can't compete with other girls because of her looks.. Just NO, who needs friends like this??? Alone for this awful person I had to remove a Star and it's not like she changes, apologizes or whatever to make it a bit better...

I also didn't like the epilogue either (maybe this contains SPOILERS for someone, but I think it's quite obvious from the beginning who will end up with who, soo...)
So about the epilogue - Why stay friends with Jeffrey and his GF with whom he cheated??? Their interaction is just super cringy and they don't seem remorseful at all...
And Trish and Eric? I already told you my opinion of Trish - Eric is just waaaay to good for her.

Also I wasn't completely happy how the MCs ended up together because I think there are a few thinks still to talk about. Like Jakes looks toward Kelly or the question of dating around or finding the right person as a teen...
The ending was a bit abrupt because I felt there were unfinished discussions but it was okay I guess and not too cheesy...… (altro)

I liked most of the characters, there was no one I totally disliked and even Elijah behaved like a ... from time to time, he wasn't completely unlikeable or a bad fit.
Tension built up quite well and I really didn't want to put the book down.

The end was a bit anti climactic and a bit lame.. The solution was just too easy and "everybody is happy and loves everybody". Too cheesy and after all the drama it came quite sudden and wasn't that believable.

There was a lot of chemistry but characters were too one dimensional for me to really get why Dylan liked Cassie, Hannah Elijah and so on.

Liked reading the book a lot but the ending made it to a non reread for me.

* Didn't really like the whole "pretend marriage" plot. Could have been any project for Dylan and Cassie to work together really...… (altro)