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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
I have two major criticisms of this book, each with several sub-criticisms:
1. Consent is practically nonexistent in this book.
2. The inaccuracies of the presidential campaign depicted was incredibly distracting, especially in an election year.
Eli frequently goes continues with intercourse while he is sober and Meridith is drunk. When she is drunk, she *cannot* give consent. This is notable on their first interaction -- the infamous lap dance -- and especially the first time they have sex, which is Meredith's first time having sex ever! If my memory is correct, there are no words spoken between when Meredith bursts into his hotel room drunk and Eli penetrating her. That's not okay! I get that "it's a trope of the genre, you just need to get over it" but also this kind of casual endorsement of sex without consent enables and perpetuates rape culture.
Now for the fun stuff! And by fun stuff I mean the most unrealistic portrayal of a political campaign I have ever seen in my life. First, Eli is 36 and has never held elected office -- how in the world did he get the backing of a major political party? Or did he? His political stance is never mentioned and it's never made clear if he is a Dem/Rep or the most successful third party candidate in US history. Second, why is he only starting to campaign in earnest in May? US presidential campaigns are usually at least eighteen months in the making, not four months. I also don't understand how is running an entire campaign with one employee and a busload of journalists. Are there fifty policy advisors behind the scenes who don't get screen time because they aren't trying to fuck Eli and are just doing their jobs? Unclear.
Apparently, I lied because I actually have a third major criticism of this book. Meredith is the world's worst journalist (and I am including Amber from Netflix's The Christmas Prince in this ranking). Straight out of journalism school she gets to work on a US presidential campaign -- AKA the career opportunity of a lifetime -- and she spends the entire time being like "boo hoo I can't party in Bali". Get it together, girl! And how as a journalism student does she not know what a US presidential nominee looks like? That is too much suspension of disbelief.
Maybe if I were not the political bitch I am I might have enjoyed this more. In a parallel universe where I did not live in and was not traumatized by America, perhaps. The sex-scenes were steamy I guess, if men and a lack of consent are your kind of thing.
Alas.
I have two major criticisms of this book, each with several sub-criticisms:
1. Consent is practically nonexistent in this book.
2. The inaccuracies of the presidential campaign depicted was incredibly distracting, especially in an election year.
Eli frequently goes continues with intercourse while he is sober and Meridith is drunk. When she is drunk, she *cannot* give consent. This is notable on their first interaction -- the infamous lap dance -- and especially the first time they have sex, which is Meredith's first time having sex ever! If my memory is correct, there are no words spoken between when Meredith bursts into his hotel room drunk and Eli penetrating her. That's not okay! I get that "it's a trope of the genre, you just need to get over it" but also this kind of casual endorsement of sex without consent enables and perpetuates rape culture.
Now for the fun stuff! And by fun stuff I mean the most unrealistic portrayal of a political campaign I have ever seen in my life. First, Eli is 36 and has never held elected office -- how in the world did he get the backing of a major political party? Or did he? His political stance is never mentioned and it's never made clear if he is a Dem/Rep or the most successful third party candidate in US history. Second, why is he only starting to campaign in earnest in May? US presidential campaigns are usually at least eighteen months in the making, not four months. I also don't understand how is running an entire campaign with one employee and a busload of journalists. Are there fifty policy advisors behind the scenes who don't get screen time because they aren't trying to fuck Eli and are just doing their jobs? Unclear.
Apparently, I lied because I actually have a third major criticism of this book. Meredith is the world's worst journalist (and I am including Amber from Netflix's The Christmas Prince in this ranking). Straight out of journalism school she gets to work on a US presidential campaign -- AKA the career opportunity of a lifetime -- and she spends the entire time being like "boo hoo I can't party in Bali". Get it together, girl! And how as a journalism student does she not know what a US presidential nominee looks like? That is too much suspension of disbelief.
Maybe if I were not the political bitch I am I might have enjoyed this more. In a parallel universe where I did not live in and was not traumatized by America, perhaps. The sex-scenes were steamy I guess, if men and a lack of consent are your kind of thing.
Alas.
This book was part of the book Addiction. I absolutely loved being able to read this book. Meredith is thrown onto the campaign bus for the upcoming election. Little does she know that the person she is following around the country is the same person she gave a lap dance to at a party. Nobody seemed this coming but it is right there in front of them. I absolutely loved the pull and tag between her and Elijah. It made this book very enjoyable for me. There was great chemistry between these two right from the beginning. Enjoyable highly recommend.
The smut was just not good and it made it all awkward to me
A chance meeting, a taboo romance. Vivian Wood does it again. This is a book that can not be put down.
Elijah and Meredith are super hot and the emotions are off the charts.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Elijah and Meredith are super hot and the emotions are off the charts.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I couldn't finish it. I've now made a New Year's resolution: if I can't connect, I'm not going to force it. I enjoyed the author's writing so I know I'll be reading something else from her when I get the chance, it's just that these characters didn't call to me.