Sam's Reading: A Work in Progress

DNF at 35%
The book is densely populated with exposition (and holy metaphors in there too!), so much so that we know the hero whose name may or may not be Shane is definitely an addict times three. And we know the heroine was just the type he likes. Insta-lust and he needs a girlfriend for tour.
This characters meet based on a set up by Shane’s manager—based on all those criteria that Shane find attractive. Fancy that, she fits the bill perfectly, like a turquoise-eyed goldilocks who likes his music but, you know, not too much. But Delaney has a secret too. Both characters are pretty broken and have absolutely no issue letting the readers know it in the first 10% of the book.

This plot line echoed [b:Lead|19286623|Lead (Stage Dive, #3)|Kylie Scott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1396467599s/19286623.jpg|26116272] in the sense that Jimmy had a sober companion. That is where the similarities to the other authors referenced in the blurb ends. Delaney is hired to be a stand in girlfriend that is encouraged to participate in a sexual relationship with the hero.

“Why me?” a question my favorite heroines rarely ask. And if they do, maybe not right up front. In the case of this book, it’s due to insta-lust. Isn’t that clear? You’re hot. Then you said no.

Oh, but the exchange:

“Why me?”
“why not you?”
“I asked the question first”
“I asked second.”

This isn’t a reasonable conversation for twenty-somethings. *pinches bridge of nose, closes eyes.* I’m at 25%.

Shane has been following Delaney around, getting into her space/putting hands on her after being asked not to, and advancing on her when she says no. He basically coerced her into working with him/living with him through the job. He’s the kind of alpha-hole I don't care for. And when the heroine can’t match him, something else has got to make me want to continue reading. This isn’t the set up for a romance, it’s the set up of a horror novel. For me, this isn’t take-charge alpha sexiness, it’s manipulative.

At the point the heroine called herself worse than groupies: an idiot, tease, and a prude, I’m done. I was going to attempt to finish, but a weak heroine vs a manipulative alpha hole isn’t one of the things I’m willing to tolerate. I’ll save my rockstar fix for heroines able to handle them.

Thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for the copy of this book.