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Review

4.5 stars!

Two books in and this series is already developing into a favourite! With smart, addictive writing that is hilarious and lots of fun, yet deep and emotional when it needs to be, wonderful characters, fantastic dynamics and fun, beautifully heartfelt romance, Sara Ney’s formula just works, and she’s given us another great story with the biggest douchebag of them all.

Zeke Daniels is not just a douchebag; he’s an asshole.

Truer words have never been spoken, and Sara set herself a challenge with hero Zeke Daniels. I didn’t think much of him after his appearance in the first book in the series, and that was reconfirmed the moment I started reading this one and we are re-introduced one-on-one to the mean, angry asshole. Zeke is a miserable bastard with no filter, saying whatever cruel thought comes to his mind without any thought to how his comments will impact others.

My friends call me merciless; they claim cold blood runs through my veins, that I’m impossible to get close to. But I like it that way; I like creating distance. No one needs me, and I need them even less. Happiness is a myth.

And then along comes Violet DeLuca. Allocated to be Zeke’s tutor, shy and sweet Violet is initially terrified of the big mean guy, but their situations lead to them spending time together and a surprising relationship forms. Sort of friends, but sort of not, there’s something about them that works, and slowly things begin to change.

He swears too much.
He isn’t nice.
He isn’t sweet.
He isn’t kind.
Or generous with words. Or affection.
But he’s reliable. Dependable. And he was there for me.

I know she’s selfless, but only to a point. Kindhearted. Quiet. Inexperienced. Stronger than either of us recognize. Too goddamn trusting. Too goddamn sunny for my gloom and doom. Too light for my dark. Too good for my bad. Too everything.

This is such a beautifully progressing relationship. It’s a slow and gradual fall from enemies to friends to more as Violet begins to break down Zeke’s walls, and he lets somebody in for the first time in his life, and watching it happen was absolutely gorgeous.

“You’re not jaded—not like me. I’m a beautiful mess.” Rough thumbs tenderly stroke my cheeks. “You’re just beautiful.”

Perfectly paced, I could feel their shifting emotions as everything changed for them, and it was realistic and believable. They have issues they need to work through, but it works to create a nice sense of drama, and is important to the character development and the story, and I loved watching it all unfold.

“The best part of me is you, Violet.”

I loved this book. It’s the characters that suck you in, and the wonderful dynamics that the author creates between them. In this case, the ultimate asshole who was so awful, I actually wondered whether he could be redeemed. But well done, Sara Ney, she completely turned him around, showing us the sweet, soft-hearted guy underneath all of the snark, and watching him fall in love made me completely fall for him. And Violet is an absolute sweetheart – patient and kind, yet incredibly strong. She’s the perfect match for Zeke and their love story is beautiful.

Again, I listened to this as an audiobook, and again, the narration by Josh Goodman and Muffy Newtown is just perfect. Bringing the characters to life in a way that shows all of their strengths and weaknesses, and giving us a wonderfully entertaining listening experience.

I loved it – 4.5 stars.