The Opposite of Nothing by Shari Slade
New Adult
Released: March 20, 2014
Self Published
Reviewed by Mandi
Callie is in college and on the side works as a DJ for the local campus radio station. We learn she had a really bad childhood and she struggles with friendships. People made fun of her, threw trash at her – she is a social pariah. Even in college she has trouble making friends. She feels awkward in the school cafeteria or any other public gathering place. She has her own tiny apartment that is her sanctuary. There is one guy on campus though that she looks forward to seeing.
Tayber has mannnnny friends – maybe not close friends but he hooks up with a lot of women. His good looks and easy charm is a magnet for the female population. While Tayber has an easy going demeanor, he grew up in a strip club with his mother. He doesn’t have any support from his family and craves that. Tayber and Callie have a class together in which they have come to know each other. But Callie is way too shy to ever try to take their relationship to the next level. Instead, she goes online and creates a fake profile. She calls herself ‘Sasha’ and contacts Tayber – Sasha and Tayber start a very steamy online affair – but Tayber has no idea who Sasha really is.
While the structure of this story is presented to us nicely – two broken characters finding one another – the meat is missing from this story. We don’t get a deep look into Callie or Tayber’s past. We are told they have all of these issues, but I wanted to know more of the ‘why.’ Callie had a horrible childhood full of bullying, but why? What specific incidents happened that made her this way? She literally doesn’t have a single friend..ever? Did they all leave for a reason? Tayber grew up in a strip club – what was that like? Did he have a driving influence in his life that got him to college? Too many questions are left answered.
I also thought this book was predictable. I knew right where we were headed the whole time. I didn’t like Callie deceiving Tayber so long with the Sasha routine and knew how it would play out once he found out. I wanted Callie’s love of being a DJ explored more because I think that passion is important to her. Not enough details in this one to satisfy me.
Rating: C-
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