Sam's Reading: A Work in Progress

Slow claps....

Rolls up sleeves....

Takes a seat....

These two, if I may be blunt, are two of the dumbest dumbfucks I have ever read about.

So look, I'm a fan of these types of tropes. BFF little sister, friends to lovers, roommate situations. LOVE LOVE LOVE. But this book is an exercise in how weak all those can wind up being when the story isn't crafted well enough.

There's no tension because of the Best Friend's little sister. So who cares (frankly this is the way I prefer it-I actually just like the little hint of oh, shit, this might cause some conflict but you're embedded in my family already so that is handy) It served no purpose here. It was clear the main friendship for both MCs was theirs.

They both basically realize they are attracted to one another, but are putting their friendship above all else, so you know what's a grand idea? Being roommates. Either it will be the height of awkward, you'll end up hating the shit out of each other anyway, or you will fall into bed at some point. Can you guess which happened.

Why is friends-to-lovers so fraught with peril? Because the protagonists put a friendship, though it may be strained, above love. As if it's not an issue to you know love your friend and that's all going to work out. As if deciding to stay friends isn't a decision and a rejection in and of itself that you don't a) trust the other person or b) like them like that.

Both were steady people. No one was crazy. There's no good reason they didn't just say you know what? I 'm kind of falling for you, is that bad? Should I move out? Nah, I'll just move out and neither of us will mention the way things have changed, or were changing. Or that moment when you asked Josie what she was looking for and she said someone who wants her the way she wants them, it was like 30 pages in. Chase could've mentioned it then.

But this: We'll do it constantly, and maybe even date a little bit, and when it's a risk to our legendary friendship, we'll stop. That's not the way it works, you fucks. And if it were, why wouldn't you just fess up to how you are feeling then count on things going back to normal? What.is.the.difference?


But look, it was an easy read, it is why I read these. I give it 2.5 dumbfuck stars, rounded up because it's the holidays and I'm both crabby and feeling generous as a result.

If, however, you are looking for friends-to-lovers with better execution, I suggest you move along. Check out [b:The Hot Shot|29541797|The Hot Shot (Game On, #4)|Kristen Callihan|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489760751s/29541797.jpg|49842497] where they knew the risks walking in and decided they had to be friends instead. Or [b:Sutphin Boulevard|25404499|Sutphin Boulevard (Five Boroughs, #1)|Santino Hassell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1435776893s/25404499.jpg|45158379] for the a long-standing friendship (but prepare to be gutted) or [b:I Temporarily Do|35828620|I Temporarily Do|Ellie Cahill|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501030439s/35828620.jpg|57333389] for a ride on the sweet side.

I'm not very good at keeping up that shelf, apparently.