(audiobook+ebook) Wow it started with a bang. Literally. While we’ve seen Vance and Rose in previous books in the series, they only meet each other for the first time during Jackie and Flynn’s wedding. They sleep together right away, not knowing who the other is. And they keep running into each other–of course, they have common friends. Until they decide to have a friends with benefits relationship.
Both characters were quite interesting. Rose is a twenty one year old billionaire, with money but no purpose. She does whatever she wants at the time, often offending people with her outrageous behavior. It seemed consistent with the young socialite we imagine her to be. But she also cares a lot, and does things for people. Her caring also means she’s critical of herself. She’s more than just a shallow young woman, like many people think. It becomes even more obvious when she discovers she’s pregnant with Vance’s baby.
She has quite an age gap with her romantic interest, who’s in his mid thirties. The fact that Vance is Native American was important for the character. He’s struggled to get where he is–he’s an astronaut. His past has resulted in a fear of commitment that Rose is going to challenge in many ways.
I loved that despite all their differences–of life experience, of maturity, of taste, of family, of struggles…–they get each other. They see what others don’t, go deeper into the other’s personality, even though their relationship is supposed to be of the no strings attached kind. And together, they were fire!
We’re going back to space–at least virtually–with this installment in the series, and the nerd in me liked that a lot. Vance’s work as an astronaut is also an important plot device. It’s the reason why he doesn’t want to commit to someone, even Rose; the reason why he starts the whole friends with benefits thing, since he’s leaving soon on a mission and it’s kind of a deadline for their relationship.
Though I loved a lot of aspects of this book, it felt a little bit off. Rose is definitely over the top, yet she isn’t as funny as she thinks she is, and Vance is way too serious. So despite a couple of absurd situations, this book was less funny than the others, in my opinion. I enjoy serious romances, but I was expecting laughs and I didn’t get them. Not enough, at least.
Not the fault of the narrators. The female narrator gives all her energy to Rose, while the male narrator’s composed voice is perfect for Vance. A very good audiobook, just not the hilarious romcom I was waiting for.
Quickie
- Series: Space #5 (but can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #romcom #space romance #age gap #interracial romance #Native American #surprise pregnancy
- Triggers: past death
- Main couple: Rose West & Vance Bodaway
- Hotness: 5/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + Vance’s Native American family culture
- – what a stupid hangup, Vance