A LOVE HATE THING

Author(s): Whitney D. Grandison

Stand-alone or Series: stand-alone

Rating: 1/5 stars

I’m a simple girl: I see a cute illustrated cover and I add the book to my tbr. This cover, coupled with the synopsis, hooked me right in and I was prepared to thoroughly enjoy this book.

I was very disappointed.

I sound like a mom scolding her toddler, but it’s true. I went into this book very excited only to feel like I’d gotten slapped in the face. It’s way too long with a lot of repetition. It’s supposed to be romance-focused and not serious, and while I usually like reading those types of books, this one was not enjoyable.

The romance was so confusing. The characters were confusing. Everything did not really make sense. Like Trice is supposed to be emotionally closed off and is prepared to leave Pacific Hills as soon as he turns eighteen but a few weeks in and he’s ready to settle down and forgets this plan, leaving it never to be mentioned again? We spent a good portion listening to him going on and on about how he’s leaving, only for him to just stop thinking about this so abruptly??

Don’t get me started on the “romance” with Nandy. IT WAS AWFUL. Insta-romance that is supposed to be childhood lovers? Please, there is like no chemistry between the two.

There was so much potential but it all got lost in the never ending inner monologue and awkward (I mean it, it’s so unnatural) dialogue.

For me, two things need to be well in a book for me to love it: the characters and the romance. If I don’t have those, then I’m most likely going to hate it. This book had the potential to be a lot with the way the romance was set up, and the friendships that were developed. But it did not live up to that potential. A lot of things just start and happen, then never mentioned again. It was exhausting to read this book.

I hate to rate books by BIPOC low because I know how hard it is for them to get published. I try not to review harshly for any book but I really hated this book. I pushed myself to read, thinking it’ll get better, and then I was too far in to just DNF and I’d rather finish it and count it to my goal.

All in all this isn’t a book I’d recommend.

Thank you for reading and see you next time ❤