Here’s a round up of books that I started but didn’t work for me.
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade – I was so excited about this book. The cover is gorgeous. And I am 100% here for fat people finding the love they desire. But this book was a terrible let down for me. I made it 40% and I just felt so disconnected from the story. For me, the beginning being so steeped in the world of fan fiction, particularly a fictional version of Game of Thrones, which I don’t watch. For me, this was a hindrance and the reason I think I did not connect with the story or feel invested in their HEA.
Tail for Two by Mara Wells – Y’all know I LOVE a secret baby book. And this is a second chance at love for a previously married couple. But it just did not work for me. When the male main character finds out about the secret baby, he was far too understanding for my liking. And the rationale of the female main character for keeping the baby a secret was weak at best. I wasn’t buying it. I was mad on behalf of the man. So I had to move on from this one.
Feels Like Falling by Kristy Woodson Harvey – At least one of my Instagram friends said they read this and really liked it, so I figured it was worth a shot. The promo pages before the actual story kept calling Woodson Harvey a great Southern Fiction novelist and I can’t really explain it but it had me feeling some sort of way. Like what exactly is Southern Fiction? Is it so different than Northern Fiction? What about Midwest Fiction? Who’s writing that? What about Mid Atlantic Fiction? It’s just weird. Anyway, back to the book. I tried to keep an open mind, but in 2020 I’m not very interested in reading about a wealthy white lady who’s life gets turned upside down and she becomes a better person after she realizes poor people are humans too. Maybe that isn’t the actual plot and it’s just me being a judgey mcjudgerson, but that is how it felt. So I noped out and moved on with my life.
After Hours Redemption by Kianna Alexander – The cover on this is STUNNING. But the story started and I immediately felt like I was missing something. I read like three chapters and still didn’t really know what was happening. I have determined that category romances are hard for me to read due to their shorter nature. I like backstory and set up and there can’t be a lot of that in categories. I may try this one again some time.
Louisiana Lucky by Julie Pennell – I love a good story about people who win the lottery (hello Chance of a Lifetime series by Kate Clayborn) but on like page two the main characters’ ages were noted, the oldest one was 29 and I felt like this wasn’t going to be for me.
I am sure all of these books are fine and good and will work for someone who is not me.
What have you not finished recently?
It’s great that there are novels out there for all tastes. This is a good example. I’m not into fan fiction, but that didn’t put me off reading Spoiler Alert. I loved the fact that a man I would have expect to be only skin deep had the depth to see the heroine was beautiful inside and out—he found her sexy. Period. I also loved that as messed up as she was about being a size that she’d been harassed about, the heroine allowed herself to be vulnerable and fall in love with someone she didn’t think could ever love her. The story was a sweet read.
I enjoyed Spoiler Alert, but I frequently do not finish books. In many cases, I think that because I have an abundance of choices, I’m quick to give up on a book that does not immediately grab me. I didn’t finish Ashley Gardner’s Blood of a Gladiator (Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries Book 1) even though I read 140 pages. Some might better know this author as Jennifer Ashley. Last night I put aside Ilona Andrews’ Emerald Blaze after reading half a dozen pages.
I didn’t finish Spoiler Alert either. I think it was for the same reason as you. I just couldn’t get into the world. I keep thinking one day I’ll try again. I say the same thing about The Hating Game.