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A review by bee_thebibliophile
Bad Cruz by L.J. Shen
2.0
I occasionally struggle with LJ Shen’s standalone stories and Bad Cruz was one I had some trouble finishing. While it’s billed as a rom-com, I found myself not laughing, but feeling pretty uncomfortable and angry.
The only reason I stuck with this book and ended up giving it 2 stars was Dr. Cruz Costello - he was unapologetically himself, urged Tennessee to take control of her life, was the sweetest to Bear and he knew what he wanted. When Tennessee refused to stand up for herself, he refused to be with her, something I can really appreciate. Even though he’s the town’s golden boy, he recognizes that something’s missing from his life and makes an effort to change things, realizing that reputation is not all it’s cracked up to be and doing things he wants to do.
I think Cruz perfectly sums up everything I felt about Tennessee Turner when he tells her “You’re the only person I know who can stand upright without a spine.” I severely disliked her character and spent almost the entire book wishing she’d finally stand up for herself, demand some respect or put the terrible people in her family and the people in town in their place. Tennessee (aka Messy Nessy to everyone in town) is a single mom who puts her all into raising her son, but has allowed people to think poorly of her, belittle her and talk about her behind her back since she got pregnant 13 years ago. She’s allowed her family to walk all over her for fear of them turning their backs on her and Bear, effectively making her a joke and the family doormat.
Their relationship was really problematic - Cruz was all in and made his feelings known, even going as far as to say: “I’m not going to chase you forever. I like you, Tennessee, but I don’t like the way you make me feel, and that’s starting to become a problem.” He was incredibly honest about how he felt and what he hoped for from her, but she didn’t return that kindness. I understand that Tennessee was scared to put her heart out there and to make herself vulnerable after things with Rob, but her refusal to stand up for herself and her relationship with Cruz was infuriating. The resolution of their relationship felt rushed and forced and I definitely feel like Cruz deserved better.
While some of the side characters started to grow on me by the end of the book (Rob and Gabriella), I found myself cringing every time any of the Turner family members (Tennessee’s mother and sister Trinity especially) showed up. They all were terrible people who felt like their opinion and their reputation/appearance around town were the only things that mattered, not the actual humans in their family or their well-being.
Overall, this book didn’t do it for me - I think Cruz was a really interesting character, but Tennessee just drove me crazy for a ton of different reasons and really killed most of my interest in the story and their happily ever after but I stuck it out in hopes that she’d prove me wrong in the end...she definitely didn't.
The only reason I stuck with this book and ended up giving it 2 stars was Dr. Cruz Costello - he was unapologetically himself, urged Tennessee to take control of her life, was the sweetest to Bear and he knew what he wanted. When Tennessee refused to stand up for herself, he refused to be with her, something I can really appreciate. Even though he’s the town’s golden boy, he recognizes that something’s missing from his life and makes an effort to change things, realizing that reputation is not all it’s cracked up to be and doing things he wants to do.
I think Cruz perfectly sums up everything I felt about Tennessee Turner when he tells her “You’re the only person I know who can stand upright without a spine.” I severely disliked her character and spent almost the entire book wishing she’d finally stand up for herself, demand some respect or put the terrible people in her family and the people in town in their place. Tennessee (aka Messy Nessy to everyone in town) is a single mom who puts her all into raising her son, but has allowed people to think poorly of her, belittle her and talk about her behind her back since she got pregnant 13 years ago. She’s allowed her family to walk all over her for fear of them turning their backs on her and Bear, effectively making her a joke and the family doormat.
Their relationship was really problematic - Cruz was all in and made his feelings known, even going as far as to say: “I’m not going to chase you forever. I like you, Tennessee, but I don’t like the way you make me feel, and that’s starting to become a problem.” He was incredibly honest about how he felt and what he hoped for from her, but she didn’t return that kindness. I understand that Tennessee was scared to put her heart out there and to make herself vulnerable after things with Rob, but her refusal to stand up for herself and her relationship with Cruz was infuriating. The resolution of their relationship felt rushed and forced and I definitely feel like Cruz deserved better.
While some of the side characters started to grow on me by the end of the book (Rob and Gabriella), I found myself cringing every time any of the Turner family members (Tennessee’s mother and sister Trinity especially) showed up. They all were terrible people who felt like their opinion and their reputation/appearance around town were the only things that mattered, not the actual humans in their family or their well-being.
Overall, this book didn’t do it for me - I think Cruz was a really interesting character, but Tennessee just drove me crazy for a ton of different reasons and really killed most of my interest in the story and their happily ever after but I stuck it out in hopes that she’d prove me wrong in the end...she definitely didn't.