Sometimes I read because I am too tired and too stressed to do anything else. In that frame of mind, a book like Sarina Bowen’s Rookie Move is perfect.
We met Leo Trevi in Bowen’s all most entirely excellent Ivy Years series. He is the big brother of the unfortunate DJ, whose book is not to be mentioned. He is a nice guy, and a nice character with whom to spend 300 pages. We briefly met Georgia in the book that shall not be named. She’s fine. I wasn’t enamoured with her entrance – tottering on heels she wasn’t accustomed to wearing. I hate the notion that a powerful woman has to be balanced out by being a klutz, or socially awkward. Frankly, it doesn’t go with her “amazing athlete” persona that’s developed later in the book. Oh god! I’m doing the thing. I’m thinking too much and the rest of this review is going to be me picking at weaknesses in the book. Fine! Fine.
Sarina Bowen has not turned out any books as good as the first three novels and novella in the Ivy Years series. She writes well, so I enjoy reading most of her books. Maybe she needs to slow down and churn out fewer books. As I have ranted about before, she’s too in love with the idea that men are the real victims here. It’s not as egregious in Rookie Move as it was in Steadfast, but it’s a pattern and I really don’t like it, now that I’m thinking about it. I would love it if she got it out of her system.
Ok. I’m going to stop now. It’s a fine mindless time waster of a book if you want some pining and emotional drama without stakes and some sexy times.
I don’t think I’ve tried any of Bowen’s books yet. Men as victims, though? Ouch.
I beat up on Bowen because her first 4 or so books were so very good. Mrs. Julien’s review will guide you to the ones you should read and the ones you should avoid. https://mrsjulien.com/2015/07/15/the-ivy-years-series-by-sarina-bowen/
As both Mrs. Julien and your attorney, I recommend following emmalita’s advice.
Agreed. The first four installments of the Ivy Years series almost made me reconsider my general dislike of New Adult fiction. None of her stuff since, though.
I still haven’t been able to finish this one. I just couldn’t care. And now, since Good Boy, she’s on my actively avoid list I don’t see myself reading any further anytime soon. She once held such promise…
Yes. She’s fallen from my must buy/read last rather quickly.
It’s crazy, right? I feel like we are Tyra Banks: “WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!”
EXACTLY!
I keep giving her all kinds of rationalizing latitude:
1. You’re as good as the best thing you ever did and Blind Date is a classic, so she gets helping helpings of Benefit of the Doubt
2. Maybe she had a large back catalogue that is just coming out now.
3. I can’t blame her for pumping out books and striking when the iron is hot
She’ll keep getting chances from me, but, like Sarah McLean, I am ending up with more disappointments than not.
https://media.tenor.co/images/ae491e0f9703b89510177adc1c84c84a/tenor.gif
I bought this in an e-book sale at some point, but will not exactly rush to get it read. Especially since I am having trouble motivating myself to read anything at all (thank you, audio books for helping me out of this tight spot). But Kristen Callihan has a new Game On book out tomorrow, and Julie James’ new contemporary, which I’ve already heard a lot of advance buzz on, so I’m hoping they will help me get some of my reading mojo back.
I revisited much of The Game Plan this weekend and am SO EXCITED for the new Callihan.