It's been a while since my teenage years but the Backstage Pass series took me back there for a brief visit. First crush, first love, first heartbreak are all relived though the pages of this awesome series. Talk about living vicariously. I'm not ashamed to admit Aimee, Mia, Daisy, Anya and Abby had me wishing for those days of carefree fun.
This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews.
Chris has had the big O, just never from anyone else besides herself. Despite multiple attempts, no guy has managed to please her. After Allie, her best friend jokingly posts a Craigslist ad look for a talented man to liberate Chris that goes viral, Chris is swept away in a MTV offer to make a reality show about The Orgasm Virgin. From there she meets eleven men and four women willing to try to rock her world the way no one before them has. She also meets Scott, the completely hot (and completely off limits) production assistant. With each day that passes forcing Chris to consider these people and the reality of getting busy with one of them (and NOT Scott), the more she wonders if signing up for a reality show was really her best idea. Will she finally find the big O with some else, or will she head back home to her library just as unsatisfied as she arrived?
I loved Chris almost immediately. She’s somewhat deprived, spending her days in a library rather than carousing with the “normal” people and mostly she likes it that way.
But there are moments when hearing about Allie’s sexscapades make Chris incredibly jealous and that’s something I can always relate to. That’s the same feeling I get when I read those romance novels where couples go at it consistently. Food, hydration, work, normal life are all apparently not as important as going one more round. I’m always awed and a little jealous of those fictional worlds. It was nice to read about a heroine who was out of the loop for once instead of the party girl. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that she is a librarian. I was not determined enough to get a masters of library science, but I have to admire those who do. Where would be we without them? It saddens me that they are becoming a little obsolete in this digital age. ANYWAY, Chris is that best friend who is a bit more straight laced than her friends. She seemed more of a normal girl character, but a realist one, not the ideal one we get fed in a lot of novels. I was immediately rooting for her to find her magical orgasm…and hopefully a nice boyfriend too. I wasn’t disappointed.
I didn’t love Scott immediately. I felt like he was risking A LOT just to sleep around with Chris and I didn’t know if that was justified. I mean, the boy has worked towards getting his own show for a while and now, on the cusp of that dream becoming a reality, he is willing to throw it all away to sleep with this one girl? I mean, I get attraction and lust and all that, but really, is it that preposterous to think that he couldn’t have waited 2 weeks for the filming to be over to go after her? Maybe that’s just me, but I felt like his interest was a little too much too quickly. Beyond that, though, he is sweet and thoughtful and does everything to help Chris through this mess she has gotten herself into. He laughs at her jobs, cracks ones of his own, and does everything he can to support Chris and lighten her load on the show. He is always there with advice and alcohol (because, really, there is no way for a shy-ish librarian to get through this without copious amounts of booze) in the background for the taking.
What I really loved about this was the humor. This is laugh out loud funny, with awkward moments, dirty sex jokes, and even a few smart jokes tossed in just to throw you off. Page one will have you snorting, page two will garner a laugh, and things escalate from there. I don’t think I stress enough how important comedy is in novels, but it really is a necessity. I hope I see more novels like this. I need more erotica that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The only thing I didn’t like was that this felt too short. An argument can be made that a well written (and entertaining) novel always feels too short, but this felt especially….clipped? I would have liked to have seen more of the interactions with the contestants and rounded that side out. We know pretty early on where this is going to go and who Chris fancies, but I just felt like some scenes where cut short or a bit more explanation would have helped. Or even just added fluff to allow me time to digest what I’ve read. It was just one thing straight after another with little space between to really get a feel for what just happened. Leaving me wanting more is definitely the best probably to have in any novel, so I guess I can’t complain too much, right?
This is the second novel I’ve read this year labeled erotic comedy and I hope this becomes the next big trend because I definitely need more of this in my life. I know dark romance and new adult is all the rage right now and there are great, but don’t we need something a little lighter? Isn’t there room for more fluff? I certainly hope so. This novel was everything I expected it to be and more. I must admit that when I initially read Burstein’s Sneaking Candy, I never expected her to actually write Candy Sloane’s book, but I’m incredibly glad she did! This novel has the humor and the heart to keep me begging for me. I will happily continue to devour anything else Candy (and Lisa) decides to write!
****Thank you to Lisa Burstein and WordSmith Publicity for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review****
I nearly read all the books I set out to this week. Except I am not done withThe Shadow Master - Craig Cormick yet. The reason simply: I haven't had the time for just reading, just drowning in a book..that's what the Shadow Master needs in my opinion. It is well written, but it's very detailed when it comes to world building and plot, it has multiple POVs and though there is a lot happening it's also kinda slow build. I am 36% in, and still trying to find my footing. Nothing wrong with all of that, except I want to enjoy the genius little detail and really be able to concentrate on it. Hence I have kept pushing it aside. I will try and find some time this coming week. But work, personal life and travel plans might get in the way... We'll see.
Still I read all of the other books I planned and a few more
Mia and the Bad Boy (Entangled Crush) (Backstage Pass) - Lisa Burstein
A cute & fluffy that's worth reading. It's smashing if you like Boybands. 3 Stars
The Veil: A Devil's Isle Novel - Chloe Neill
I loved the world building, but am not so sure how I feel about Liam and Claire...3.5 Stars
Full review to follow
So I am not sure how to rate this
I was for more than 80% of the book annoyed by Clara.
And then I felt for her and I am not sure how I feel about the end.
I would have dnfed this if it wasn't an arc... But I am so glad I finished it.
Ten Things Sloane Hates About Tru - Tera Lynn Childs
Super cute, quirky and surprisingly different! A must read for this autumn! My favorite read this week
4.5 Shining stars and a full review in the week
Finding Perfect - Kendra C. Highley
Finding Perfect is the perfect cute & fluffy.It's an easy read, with lots of feels and loads and loads of cutness. 4 Stars Full review to follow...
Better When He's Brave: A Welcome to the Point Novel - Jay Crownover
I found it really hard to get into this one.Somehow it didn't work for me.. Am not even quite sure why. It's well written as one would expect- but somehow it felt preachy? Again I can't explain why.
I really struggled through the first half... The second half kept getting better.. And in the end I was much happier with this than halfway through 2.5 Stars
A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin - Sophie Jordan Just what I felt like.
A fun cute historical with lots of feels and plenty of sizzle 4Stars
I got quite a few reviews to write after this week, which I shall try get done in the coming week.
Right now I am off to decided what's on my TBR for Week 35 :D
What was your favorite book this week?
Happy Sunday everyone!
xo
So I had the brilliant idea to start listing books that I am planning to read around 10days ago.
I had made a list of 6 ARCs and new releases that I was planning to read.
And I actually found it really helpful- and well decided to write a weekly list.
The books above are what I am planning to read in the coming week. Some have been on my TBR for yonks, some are newer releases and then there is an ARC as well.
Oh and there is a Crush novel as well. *winks* Obsessions shall be indulged after all.
Being a sucker for lists - well writing them- and finding it kinda helpful and even therapeutic I decided to write these every Sunday night or Monday morning. I think it would also make sense to do a recap of what I actually read, which I shall do every Sunday. You can find my post about the last ten days here -und the the title : The List Thingy: Shelved Week 33
What are you planning to read this week?
Log in with Facebook 
