So, I won this book via BookLikes. It took me so long to read due to school/college obligations so, I apologize for that. I wanted to get this up SO much sooner than I did. 

Get Real 's world is both magical and un-magical. Unlike Harry Potter, where the worlds are mostly separate, here everyone knows about each other(that doesn't mean they like each other though). The story focuses on Francesca (a girl who wants to be a boiler/cop but her family wants her go into the family business of healing), Rafael (a guy who really great abilities but his father makes him keep them hidden for the sake of missions; he also has a bad reputation), and Minna (a little girl who has very special abilities that no know really can quite figure and who has anti-magical parents). The romance is between Francesca and Rafael (sometimes called Rafa). 

While I did enjoy the plot and thought it was interesting, the characters as well as the romance gave me a lot of problems. Like, Rafa was the typical "bad boy"/bad personality/a****** character. And for me, I couldn't really make him seem redeemable. In fact, I kind of sort of questioned why Francesca would want to be with him and vice versa even. There's a point where Rafa and Francesca do sexual stuff and the next morning Rafael goes through all of this lamenting that she's in love with him and how it shouldn't be serious and they can't be together. You get the gist. With this scene, or rather the scene before it, I do like how the author didn't have them have PIV sex because they didn't have any type of condoms or protection. Granted there was still unprotected oral sex and hand stuff but I'm still glad they had that convo and stopped rather than soldiering on. He also did a lot of other stuff that annoyed me. For example, going to her mother without her permission and demand that she lets Francesca do what she wants to do (even going so far as threatening to go to his dad--her mom's "boss"--to do it). Like, it's just....ugh.

Now, with Francesca, something about her just rubbed me the wrong way. I can't really call it honestly. But something was nagging me about her. There were two things that kind of happened that I didn't like either. One, after Rafa goes to her mother to say all of this stuff about boiler school and whatnot, Francesca says that he's not telling the truth and that she does want to go into the family business. My problem arose with this was because Francesca takes it further by saying that Rafa tried to get with her and she said no and is now punishing her for this. You should see why I have a problem with this. It was never corrected or righted. Francesca never told Rafa that she apologized for this. Granted, he didn't know. So, maybe it gets resolved later. She never even goes to her parents to say that she didn't tell the truth. They just do the "We see how you look at each other. Forgive him but fight for it" or something similar it seems to me. Which I really, really hate.

And lastly, with their resolution and them getting together, I don't feel right saying too much, just because of how I felt about them and being together in the first place. So, it did come off as rush but I know that's due to how I felt.

The other problems: one of their friends makes a highly transphobic joke. I can't remember the details but I do know it involved "being surprised" and how the friend had a "funny story" that he'd tell later.

There was also the sexism and other things like (see: "boys like"/"boys like him like or want", etc., etc.). And then the other little bits and pieces of sexism.

If you enjoy that typical type of romance hero and heroine, I think you'd like this. But this didn't sit well with me. I've never really liked the "a**hole romances", and I liked them even less the more and more problems that I started to realize where there.

1.5 stars of 5  

Okay. So, I'm not done yet. I'm getting there. I'm getting there. I want to have it done this week/early next week if I could. So, fingers crossed. *crosses fingers* I also was able to finish up two other books, one by Rebekah Weatherspoon and one by Kit Rocha. I'll post the reviews for those after I'm done with this one. 

--

I am kind of liking this it is kind of funny. I don't know if I "ship" the main characters just yet. I don't really like the Rafael yet. He's kind of jerk, and he hasn't been fully, fully redeemable to me...yet. So, it's taking me some time to see if I like him. I feel the same way about Francesca. This is kind of coming off like one of those "they literally hate each other, they're at "opposite ends" of the spectrum of life/school/work but they end up falling in lust/love" type of things. Which I don't mind of those kind of stories but I guess I like it more when I can definitely enjoy the characters and I feel like they're not about to say something kind of gross or just a mean thing to say someone (to use nicer words). So, again, right now, I'm kind of trying to work out how I feel about the both of them. 

I do think the plot it is interesting. I like the idea of magic existing and non-magical people are somewhat aware of it. Granted, a lot of them still hate it but I still like the idea of how this is set up. I do enjoy a lot of the side characters; I think a lot of Francesa's friends are great. 

Another thing I do like the is that author goes ahead and bluntly states a character's ethnicity or race, instead of a) defaulting to white or b) leaving it up to "interpretation". So, that made me really, really happy.

That's all I have for now on it but I will try to make my next update on this the full review. 

Hey, guys, just wanted you to know that I am still reading books. I'm just slightly tied up with some stuff related to college/after college-like stuff. But I am still reading, and I am trying to get reviews and things like that done ASAP. So, just bear with me, please. 

I'm currently working on the book above. 

My thoughts so far are okay. It is kind of funny. I am finding a few things that kind of make me side-eye or cringe slightly but that's JMO. I may just be being nitpicky but I'll bring all of that up when I do the review.

Initial Reaction:

Eeeeeep!
Swoony? Yep
Cute? Uh-huh
Fun? Oh yes!
Cheeky? It's Darling...
Must read? Defo!


A cute & fluffy must read!!

Review:

Get Real is a romantic comedy, urban fantasy whirlwind with sass, sex, and swoon.

Straight up: the book delivers exactly what it promised.
It's got loads of action, sassy characters and swoony romance. And if you loved Darlings previous books, you going to adore this one.

My first coherent thought when I finished: I want more...My second: I think this is Darling's best novel to date. ( I did totally fangirl all over my Goodreads review before I actually could have a coherent thought)

The story-line is super fast- in the best sort of way, Darling throws you into the deep end right from the start. And there is action non-stop. In fact I read this more or less in one reading. It's the kind of novel you don't wanna put down, because something important is always happening.

The romance is sweet and swoony. There is a huge amount of fun banter going around. I definitely could tell this is a Darling book when it comes to those two aspects but I also could tell by the group of friends. Essentially Darling thrives at the cute, sassy and funny thing but also she builds great groups of friends- diverse groups, I could see parallels between this group and the group in the previous books. Not that I mind at all. Mainly because Darling did a good job at character building. Each character is unique and relatable. She really does a good job at bringing in their different backgrounds, their fears and strength. Even though at times they do feel a bit politically correct and a tad cliche. At least I felt like this at the beginning of the book. At the end of it though? I still do think that, but I don't care. Because I grew to love this group of misfits and I seriously do hope there will be loads of more books about them, each one of them.

The writing style is classic Darling: fun, sassy with a seriously good dose of humor. I love her writing style and I honestly can say she is one of my favorite authors in this genre. Very few manage to keep the balance between action, humor and romance- she does. Her books are entertaining and fun, but also they are well written.
While I would say that Darling's strength lies in her humor and her character building....
In Get Real my favorite part was the world building.

Honestly it's fabulous! I totally love the idea. And it's incredibly well done. I love the traveling aspects. And most importantly for me, Darling gets the different locations beyond right. Because New York in get real is still my New York and so is Rome... and all other locations. Which is actually due to Darling's amazing writing, her descriptions of the locations is great, but she conveys the feel of the venues so incredibly brilliant, that I felt like I was there again. I should mention that I've been in most places Darling does describe... So it's not just me imagining how a place should be, but I actually experienced it. And again she just got it right.

So if you looking for a cute & fluffy adventure, that's well written - this is YOUR book.

Magic and Mayhem in Manhattan

Francesca Bellafiore comes from a nice Jewish family -- one that happens to have magical powers. Underneath her good-girl exterior, though, she’s a wannabe badass with dreams of becoming a paranormal detective.

Party boy Rafael Muñoz does everything possible to publicly disappoint his high profile father. Privately, it's a different story. His carefully crafted bad boy reputation masks the fact he’s a master illusionist, forced into solo covert ops. The role is wearing thin and Rafael longs to be part of a team.

When Francesca and Rafael meet, it’s love at first sight… For about five minutes. Rafael is spectacularly attractive—and, Francesca discovers, fully aware of the fact. Rafael knows from experience that girls like Francesca are more trouble than they’re worth.

So it sucks big time when they’re caught in a web of magic, minions, secrets, and enough sexual tension to power NYC. Their only chance to save the city and survive is to team up, trust each other–and maybe even fall in love. Provided they don't kill each other first.

Get Real is a romantic comedy, urban fantasy whirlwind with sass, sex, and swoon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway