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Romancing the Bookworm
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel. It's spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas. Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she's wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick's Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational's organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her. Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he's concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he's convinced it's a risk worth taking. What he hasn't planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier's scheme. Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2013
13 people are currently reading
1830 people want to read
About the author
Kate Evangelista
15 books876 followersKate Evangelista is a young adult writer, creative writing teacher, and a mother to six rambunctious cats. Born in the Philippines, she attended college in De La Salle University – Manila and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Literature and a Master’s in Creative Writing. She got her start publishing with small presses like the now defunct Crescent Moon Press until she moved on to medium presses like Entangled Teen and eventually being selected as part of Swoon Reads’ third season of authors. Her debut novel, TASTE, even became an Amazon bestseller. Her latest novel, THE BOYFRIEND BRACKET (Swoon Reads, 2018), was well received by NPR and is now in the running for a movie adaptation with the A&E Network.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
September 2, 2013
See, I really liked this book, but it kind of affected me, why? I saw myself in that bookworm.
I always have my kindle, and probably a paperback with me, ALL THE TIME.
The heroine pissed me off, shockers. But it's because I don't think our hero was bad, in fact, he was indeed very romantic.I mean, look at my updates:
08/12 page 9 "OMG I CAN'T BREATHE!! This girl is so damn funny!! XD"
08/12 page 16 "If she doesn't stop her stupidity soon I might pass out too, what the heck, running from a guy she said looked like a god? Ugh."
08/12 page 31 "She slapped Roni, I can't believe this bitch. She's the one who needs a good damn bitch slap across her face!!"
It was weird seeing myself in that characted, I'm not kidding, the resemblance was scary, but I do have a social life and I do spend most of my day at work, and even though I read 1 book a day, it's because I'm fast.
Nevertheless, this book made me realize a lot of things.
Will I still read like the end is here? Yes. But this time I won't let other stuff pass by unnoticed :)
Love and Rockets! M.
I always have my kindle, and probably a paperback with me, ALL THE TIME.
The heroine pissed me off, shockers. But it's because I don't think our hero was bad, in fact, he was indeed very romantic.I mean, look at my updates:
08/12 page 9 "OMG I CAN'T BREATHE!! This girl is so damn funny!! XD"
08/12 page 16 "If she doesn't stop her stupidity soon I might pass out too, what the heck, running from a guy she said looked like a god? Ugh."
08/12 page 31 "She slapped Roni, I can't believe this bitch. She's the one who needs a good damn bitch slap across her face!!"
It was weird seeing myself in that characted, I'm not kidding, the resemblance was scary, but I do have a social life and I do spend most of my day at work, and even though I read 1 book a day, it's because I'm fast.
Nevertheless, this book made me realize a lot of things.
Will I still read like the end is here? Yes. But this time I won't let other stuff pass by unnoticed :)
Love and Rockets! M.
October 15, 2016
3.5 stars
Imagine meeting a guy who looked like someone straight out of of the romance books you read, interested to get to know you, and willing to do things for you to like them. Too good to be true, right? And then later you find out that all your meetings and scenes were all his doing, it wasn't coincidence, nor destiny, just him, wanting you. Sure, it sounds stalkerish and creepy trying to get to you but I believe that with all the efforts, it actually sounds sweet for a guy to make efforts, as actions weren't much seen these days. Which is why I didn't get Tamara running away and shutting down the guy, Xavier that is, when she knew it was all planned. Surely it wasn't that bad, right? Especially when she really has no social life, I mean, it's all about her ever since the beginning. I can sometimes relate to Tam's feelings but I really didn't get that part. Anyways, this is still a good read if you're looking for a sweet chicklit read.
July 14, 2013
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Romancing the Bookworm by Kate Evangelista
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: July 9, 2013
Rating: 1 star
Source: eARC from the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel.
It's spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas. Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she's wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick's Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational's organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her.
Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he's concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he's convinced it's a risk worth taking. What he hasn't planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier’s scheme.
Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?
What I Liked:
I... I don't know what to say for this part. There is always some redeeming quality in a book, no matter how, um, AWFUL, it is, right? But I was so frustrated with this book - it's a VERY surprising thing that I finished it.
What I Did Not Like:
Where to start. There is so much I want to say. I have it outlined in front of me, I have my Kindle open for spots in the book that I want to point out. HOWEVER. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the author (whom I adore, and love her other two books), or to the publishing team that worked hard to make the book a book. But these are my thoughts, and I'm not going to mince words because I like the author or the publisher.
I'm going to start with Tamara, the female protagonist of the story. Not only did I completely NOT relate to her AT ALL, but I found her whiny, reclusive, passive, and air-headed. All Tamara is interested in is reading. Now, chances are, if you're reading this review, you really like reading as well. So, we should understand this, right? NO. Tamara has ZERO life - social life, love life, whatever. She whines non-stop when her friend and roommate Ronni drags her off to Maverick Bay, to help wait tables AND to have a vacation during spring break. Who wouldn't want that, bookworm or not?
That covers whiny and reclusive. How about passive. Well, I did just say that she whined about having to go with her friend to the beach. I also said, who wouldn't want to go to the beach for spring break?! BUT, here's the thing: if Tamara had any backbone at all, she would have put her foot down and said, "NO, I'm not going to the beach with you. If I want to waste away reading books, that's MY choice, not yours, Ronni." Well, Tamara never says this, and she totally lets Ronni do whatever.
Air-headed. Oh boy. What I wouldn't give to just slap Tamara, if she were a real person. She and I would NOT be friends. I hate air-headed people. Tamara is so NOT real. She has no depth to her personality. For a fellow book lover, I expected her to be a little more intelligent. I almost stopped reading at 8% of the book (well, I almost stopped reading at a lot of places in this book). At 8% of the book, we meet Xavier in Tamara's point-of-view. Or rather, we don't meet him yet. She SEES him. Check this out:
"The thought came with a blush, the heat of which I felt all the way between my thighs. I'd read about guys who were sex on two legs before, but to actually be in the presence of one felt unreal. If he touched me now, I'd spontaneously combust."
and
"The dizzy spell I'd felt building in me since he got out of the water took over now. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as my legs collapsed beneath me."
Oh, really? Would you? Are you not human, then? And. What. In. The World. You're going to tell me that you see some guy that is SOOOOOO hot, and you faint? Seriously, people, I left out most of the descriptions of Xavier. He's godlike, and perfect, and chiseled, and oh-so-yummy, and blah blah blah BLAH. NO. Just... NO. I don't buy Tamara's reaction to Xavier for one second. She's so air-headed and ditsy and all she sees is one male who might be remotely good-looking and she spins the whole thing out of proportion and faints. Do you see how ridiculous that is?
And then, throughout the book, she goes to great lengths, great PAINS, so she does not have to see him, or talk to him. WHAT?! You think this guy is crazy hot and lick-able and then you just shut down and ignore him? Last time I checked, that wasn't how it worked. If you see a guy that is smoking hot and he's not a criminal or drug addict or some other negatively seen type of person, shouldn't you be turning on your girl charm and trying to get with him? Or at least, get to know him better? What. The. Heck.
So, I hated Tamara. I also didn't liked Xavier, by association. What he saw in her, I have no idea. Why he went to all those lengths to please her, I don't know. Doesn't he see that one, his idea could blow up in his face and two, she's a complete stranger? Whatever.
I didn't particularly like Hudson or Ronni, the siblings. Both supporting character were flat and one-dimensional and oh-my-gosh-so-freaking-annoying. All Ronni cared about was Zander (Xavier's brother who broke her heart), and all Hudson cared about was making sure Xavier's plan didn't go wrong, and making sure Zander didn't hurt Ronni. But Hudson seemed to flat as a character, and I did not care about him AT ALL.
Zander is the only passably decent character, and it's funny, because he is the "villain" of the story. At least he acknowledges the fact that he screws up, that he's not perfect, that he's not all that (though he may act like it). He might be the only real character in the book. But whatever to him. Didn't care enough about him, either.
The next thing that totally irritated me is something that I know is a touchy subject for people (don't understand why, but it is). Tamara is at least a size fourteen female. The author makes it known that it clear from the beginning that Tamara is not skinny, and that she is a big girl. Okay, great. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is in the next breath, the author makes Tamara seem pixie-light. Xavier carrying her with ease. Tamara surfing. Tamara wearing little, tiny, clothes. I'm sorry, but could you be consistent? Pick. One.
The plot. Oh my gosh, the plot. Well, it starts with Ronni taking Tamara to the beach to live in Hudson's house while vacationing and working. Then Tamara and Xavier play cat-and-mouse, Zander comes around and ruins everything, they have a big surfing competition, the end. I still can't believe I finished this book. The plot is so pointless and so trivial and so... uninteresting! I don't make it a habit of not finishing books (I have never not finished a book I started), but this one was just so awful, in plot ALONE, that I had a hard time actually getting through the book.
The climax is the surfing competition, which really comes down to Xavier and Zander. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that was the climax. I mean, I understood that the surfing competition was one of the reasons why everyone was at Maverick Bay for that weekend. But seriously? How anticlimactic. I could have cared less is Zander or Xavier or someone drowned while in the competition. That would have at least made it more interesting. Put one of them - and me - out of my misery.
Did I already talk about the romance? Not really. Okay, so we know that Tamara is attracted to Xavier. We also know that Xavier orchestrated this entire week for Tamara because he saw her and watched her for a long time, and he finally wanted to meet her. First of all, what?! Who does that?! That's so weird. Second, I couldn't really understand HOW Tamara and Xavier's relationship was developing throughout the book. It seemed like Tamara was constantly running away from Xavier, and Xavier was constantly saving Tamara from face-planting or something. And then they'd meet at random and totally convenient times, and practically grow "steamy" chemistry between the two of them. The chemistry was just sickening.
Well. I did NOT find their relationship stable or developed or progressive, and I certainly did not find their romance steamy or hot or sexy. I kind of just wanted to shake Tamara, tell her to go home and forget everything. Then, kick Xavier where it hurts, because he's creepy.
But, all is well that ends well. What a kumbaya. let's-hold-hands-and-sing ending. Barf.
Would I Recommend It:
NONONONONONONO. If you read this book and liked it, great. Good for you. I read it and hated it, and I wouldn't inflict this on anyone (no offense). I loved Ms. Evangelista's other two books - Taste and Reading Me Softly - but not this one.
Rating:
1 star - but I'd give it zero if possible. I'm sorry to say that Ms. Evangelista's attempt at New Adult contemporary romance was a complete flop for me, and I highly doubt I'll pick up any of her other New Adult contemporary romance novels. Paranormal books? Sure. She's good with those. But not New Adult contemporary romance.
Romancing the Bookworm by Kate Evangelista
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: July 9, 2013
Rating: 1 star
Source: eARC from the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel.
It's spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas. Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she's wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick's Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational's organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her.
Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he's concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he's convinced it's a risk worth taking. What he hasn't planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier’s scheme.
Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?
What I Liked:
I... I don't know what to say for this part. There is always some redeeming quality in a book, no matter how, um, AWFUL, it is, right? But I was so frustrated with this book - it's a VERY surprising thing that I finished it.
What I Did Not Like:
Where to start. There is so much I want to say. I have it outlined in front of me, I have my Kindle open for spots in the book that I want to point out. HOWEVER. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the author (whom I adore, and love her other two books), or to the publishing team that worked hard to make the book a book. But these are my thoughts, and I'm not going to mince words because I like the author or the publisher.
I'm going to start with Tamara, the female protagonist of the story. Not only did I completely NOT relate to her AT ALL, but I found her whiny, reclusive, passive, and air-headed. All Tamara is interested in is reading. Now, chances are, if you're reading this review, you really like reading as well. So, we should understand this, right? NO. Tamara has ZERO life - social life, love life, whatever. She whines non-stop when her friend and roommate Ronni drags her off to Maverick Bay, to help wait tables AND to have a vacation during spring break. Who wouldn't want that, bookworm or not?
That covers whiny and reclusive. How about passive. Well, I did just say that she whined about having to go with her friend to the beach. I also said, who wouldn't want to go to the beach for spring break?! BUT, here's the thing: if Tamara had any backbone at all, she would have put her foot down and said, "NO, I'm not going to the beach with you. If I want to waste away reading books, that's MY choice, not yours, Ronni." Well, Tamara never says this, and she totally lets Ronni do whatever.
Air-headed. Oh boy. What I wouldn't give to just slap Tamara, if she were a real person. She and I would NOT be friends. I hate air-headed people. Tamara is so NOT real. She has no depth to her personality. For a fellow book lover, I expected her to be a little more intelligent. I almost stopped reading at 8% of the book (well, I almost stopped reading at a lot of places in this book). At 8% of the book, we meet Xavier in Tamara's point-of-view. Or rather, we don't meet him yet. She SEES him. Check this out:
"The thought came with a blush, the heat of which I felt all the way between my thighs. I'd read about guys who were sex on two legs before, but to actually be in the presence of one felt unreal. If he touched me now, I'd spontaneously combust."
and
"The dizzy spell I'd felt building in me since he got out of the water took over now. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as my legs collapsed beneath me."
Oh, really? Would you? Are you not human, then? And. What. In. The World. You're going to tell me that you see some guy that is SOOOOOO hot, and you faint? Seriously, people, I left out most of the descriptions of Xavier. He's godlike, and perfect, and chiseled, and oh-so-yummy, and blah blah blah BLAH. NO. Just... NO. I don't buy Tamara's reaction to Xavier for one second. She's so air-headed and ditsy and all she sees is one male who might be remotely good-looking and she spins the whole thing out of proportion and faints. Do you see how ridiculous that is?
And then, throughout the book, she goes to great lengths, great PAINS, so she does not have to see him, or talk to him. WHAT?! You think this guy is crazy hot and lick-able and then you just shut down and ignore him? Last time I checked, that wasn't how it worked. If you see a guy that is smoking hot and he's not a criminal or drug addict or some other negatively seen type of person, shouldn't you be turning on your girl charm and trying to get with him? Or at least, get to know him better? What. The. Heck.
So, I hated Tamara. I also didn't liked Xavier, by association. What he saw in her, I have no idea. Why he went to all those lengths to please her, I don't know. Doesn't he see that one, his idea could blow up in his face and two, she's a complete stranger? Whatever.
I didn't particularly like Hudson or Ronni, the siblings. Both supporting character were flat and one-dimensional and oh-my-gosh-so-freaking-annoying. All Ronni cared about was Zander (Xavier's brother who broke her heart), and all Hudson cared about was making sure Xavier's plan didn't go wrong, and making sure Zander didn't hurt Ronni. But Hudson seemed to flat as a character, and I did not care about him AT ALL.
Zander is the only passably decent character, and it's funny, because he is the "villain" of the story. At least he acknowledges the fact that he screws up, that he's not perfect, that he's not all that (though he may act like it). He might be the only real character in the book. But whatever to him. Didn't care enough about him, either.
The next thing that totally irritated me is something that I know is a touchy subject for people (don't understand why, but it is). Tamara is at least a size fourteen female. The author makes it known that it clear from the beginning that Tamara is not skinny, and that she is a big girl. Okay, great. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is in the next breath, the author makes Tamara seem pixie-light. Xavier carrying her with ease. Tamara surfing. Tamara wearing little, tiny, clothes. I'm sorry, but could you be consistent? Pick. One.
The plot. Oh my gosh, the plot. Well, it starts with Ronni taking Tamara to the beach to live in Hudson's house while vacationing and working. Then Tamara and Xavier play cat-and-mouse, Zander comes around and ruins everything, they have a big surfing competition, the end. I still can't believe I finished this book. The plot is so pointless and so trivial and so... uninteresting! I don't make it a habit of not finishing books (I have never not finished a book I started), but this one was just so awful, in plot ALONE, that I had a hard time actually getting through the book.
The climax is the surfing competition, which really comes down to Xavier and Zander. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that was the climax. I mean, I understood that the surfing competition was one of the reasons why everyone was at Maverick Bay for that weekend. But seriously? How anticlimactic. I could have cared less is Zander or Xavier or someone drowned while in the competition. That would have at least made it more interesting. Put one of them - and me - out of my misery.
Did I already talk about the romance? Not really. Okay, so we know that Tamara is attracted to Xavier. We also know that Xavier orchestrated this entire week for Tamara because he saw her and watched her for a long time, and he finally wanted to meet her. First of all, what?! Who does that?! That's so weird. Second, I couldn't really understand HOW Tamara and Xavier's relationship was developing throughout the book. It seemed like Tamara was constantly running away from Xavier, and Xavier was constantly saving Tamara from face-planting or something. And then they'd meet at random and totally convenient times, and practically grow "steamy" chemistry between the two of them. The chemistry was just sickening.
Well. I did NOT find their relationship stable or developed or progressive, and I certainly did not find their romance steamy or hot or sexy. I kind of just wanted to shake Tamara, tell her to go home and forget everything. Then, kick Xavier where it hurts, because he's creepy.
But, all is well that ends well. What a kumbaya. let's-hold-hands-and-sing ending. Barf.
Would I Recommend It:
NONONONONONONO. If you read this book and liked it, great. Good for you. I read it and hated it, and I wouldn't inflict this on anyone (no offense). I loved Ms. Evangelista's other two books - Taste and Reading Me Softly - but not this one.
Rating:
1 star - but I'd give it zero if possible. I'm sorry to say that Ms. Evangelista's attempt at New Adult contemporary romance was a complete flop for me, and I highly doubt I'll pick up any of her other New Adult contemporary romance novels. Paranormal books? Sure. She's good with those. But not New Adult contemporary romance.
December 8, 2014
Read this if you've ever wanted to be transported into your favorite romance book.
I have to admit that the title is what originally drew me to this book but then the synopsis intrigued me. I had to read this at some point and I am so glad I read this when I did. I was burned out on other stories and didn't think I would ever find one that captured my attention and reminded me why I started reading in the first place.
We meet Tamara, our heroine and fellow avid reader, as she and her best friend, Ronni, go to Maverick Bay to help Hudson at The Shack. Hudson being her best friend's brother. Tamara gets off the bus, meets Hudson, and asks if he's for real. If I was met with all the gorgeousness that is Hudson I may have asked that question myself. But he isn't the hero in this story, Xavier is. Xavier is perfection on two legs. He is gorgeous, smart, funny, and an amazing man on top of it all. Do I want an Xavier for my own?
I love Tamara and Xavier's interactions. They are hilarious, honest, sweet, adorable and just a heaping pile of sugar on top of a candy store of sweetness. The first time Tamara sees Xavier he is . Now do you see why I want one for my own??? I would love to find one in my stocking (or prostrate under my Christmas tree). And Tamara faints at the first sight of that amazing maleness up close and personal. And lets be honest, who wouldn't when confronted with that?
The plot was fun. You can predict where the story goes to some extent but it is still a great story. All of the secondary characters are well written and fully developed and I wouldn't mind reading their stories, especially Hudson. I can understand the reasoning behind Xavier's actions and it is sweet but I might be a little peeved if anyone did that to me.
Read this book. You will not regret it.
I have to admit that the title is what originally drew me to this book but then the synopsis intrigued me. I had to read this at some point and I am so glad I read this when I did. I was burned out on other stories and didn't think I would ever find one that captured my attention and reminded me why I started reading in the first place.
We meet Tamara, our heroine and fellow avid reader, as she and her best friend, Ronni, go to Maverick Bay to help Hudson at The Shack. Hudson being her best friend's brother. Tamara gets off the bus, meets Hudson, and asks if he's for real. If I was met with all the gorgeousness that is Hudson I may have asked that question myself. But he isn't the hero in this story, Xavier is. Xavier is perfection on two legs. He is gorgeous, smart, funny, and an amazing man on top of it all. Do I want an Xavier for my own?
I love Tamara and Xavier's interactions. They are hilarious, honest, sweet, adorable and just a heaping pile of sugar on top of a candy store of sweetness. The first time Tamara sees Xavier he is . Now do you see why I want one for my own??? I would love to find one in my stocking (or prostrate under my Christmas tree). And Tamara faints at the first sight of that amazing maleness up close and personal. And lets be honest, who wouldn't when confronted with that?
The plot was fun. You can predict where the story goes to some extent but it is still a great story. All of the secondary characters are well written and fully developed and I wouldn't mind reading their stories, especially Hudson. I can understand the reasoning behind Xavier's actions and it is sweet but I might be a little peeved if anyone did that to me.
Read this book. You will not regret it.
August 11, 2013
*This copy was given in exchange for an honest review, and may contain spoilers*
Tammara, would rather spend her time reading rather then going out and being social. In fact some days she can finish 3 novels. It's her escape. Books don't cause her pain, they are always there for her when she needs them.
This is why I'd rather read! Real people come with too much bullshit.
Ronni, her best friend decides it's time Tammara gets her nose out of her books and starts living at little. And now is the perfect time to do it, spring break. So being the best friend that she is she convinces Tamara, to spend spring break with her in Maverick Bay.
And it just so happens that the Maverick's Surf Invitational, takes place at the same time. A surfing competition that is organized by a fellow college student, Xavier, who's had his eye on Tammara for a few weeks now. An eye that she's never noticed because of her getting lost in her books.
So of course I could relate to Tammare being a huge bookworm myself, and well I also enjoy the company of the written word over most people. But she's a little more extreme them me. One conversation where she can narrow down a scene in a book by the page number seemed a tad bit much. I like how she is the average woman physically, and she doesn't try to make herself to be anything but.
And I have to admit that there was a little bit of creep factor going on, I won't lie. But it was kinda cute and romantic at the same time. But hey if a guy went out of his way for me like that I think it would be pretty darn cool.
Romancing the Bookworm for me was a very humorous take on all of us crazy readers out there. With sayings like "sexy times". But other then the bookworm aspect I enjoyed seeing Tammara, branching out and wanting to do other things besides sit in her room reading.
Tammara, would rather spend her time reading rather then going out and being social. In fact some days she can finish 3 novels. It's her escape. Books don't cause her pain, they are always there for her when she needs them.
This is why I'd rather read! Real people come with too much bullshit.
Ronni, her best friend decides it's time Tammara gets her nose out of her books and starts living at little. And now is the perfect time to do it, spring break. So being the best friend that she is she convinces Tamara, to spend spring break with her in Maverick Bay.
And it just so happens that the Maverick's Surf Invitational, takes place at the same time. A surfing competition that is organized by a fellow college student, Xavier, who's had his eye on Tammara for a few weeks now. An eye that she's never noticed because of her getting lost in her books.
So of course I could relate to Tammare being a huge bookworm myself, and well I also enjoy the company of the written word over most people. But she's a little more extreme them me. One conversation where she can narrow down a scene in a book by the page number seemed a tad bit much. I like how she is the average woman physically, and she doesn't try to make herself to be anything but.
And I have to admit that there was a little bit of creep factor going on, I won't lie. But it was kinda cute and romantic at the same time. But hey if a guy went out of his way for me like that I think it would be pretty darn cool.
Romancing the Bookworm for me was a very humorous take on all of us crazy readers out there. With sayings like "sexy times". But other then the bookworm aspect I enjoyed seeing Tammara, branching out and wanting to do other things besides sit in her room reading.
July 16, 2013
This was my sort of read so I gobbled it right up. A really great chick lit beach read. The character of Tamara is loveable with a capital L. I know that if this is your genre, she will get an A+ for character creation. Amen! A girl who loves to read and has her nose in a book. I think millions of us can agree that is relateable. I think it helped from the start to identify with Tamara.
The part of the story focusing on surfing was cool. I love to watch it and being in California, it is everywhere. So I adore something I can relate to.
Tamara is not the sexy I need a little mascara and lip gloss girl. She is a typical average sized woman! So it has a few good men, namely Ronni, Zander and Xavier. They are all equally loveable. They make you shut down and enjoy. There really is nothing better than good characters that engross you. Xavier and his plan were one of my favorite parts of the book. I won't give away any of that, but he wants someone........
Overall this was a really great summer beach read! There were a few naughty parts, but nothing over the top. We all want sex but for the story purpose of course LOL. So grab it and enjoy something light, romantic and fluffy. If you have friends like Tamara say a little thank you and value them.
The part of the story focusing on surfing was cool. I love to watch it and being in California, it is everywhere. So I adore something I can relate to.
Tamara is not the sexy I need a little mascara and lip gloss girl. She is a typical average sized woman! So it has a few good men, namely Ronni, Zander and Xavier. They are all equally loveable. They make you shut down and enjoy. There really is nothing better than good characters that engross you. Xavier and his plan were one of my favorite parts of the book. I won't give away any of that, but he wants someone........
Overall this was a really great summer beach read! There were a few naughty parts, but nothing over the top. We all want sex but for the story purpose of course LOL. So grab it and enjoy something light, romantic and fluffy. If you have friends like Tamara say a little thank you and value them.
July 21, 2013
When I first read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. A love story about a bookish girl and a hot surfer guy? Count me in!
Tamara always has her nose stuck in a book. She is curvy and not ashamed of that fact, which I really admired. She didn’t obsess over her weight, but she did know that she wasn’t completely comfortable flaunting her curves on the beach in a bikini. Tight clothing made her uncomfortable and tried to hide behind flowy, loose fitting dresses and clothing. I really liked that her best friend Ronni, had confidence in her and wanted her to show off her body. She told her to stop hiding because she really did look good. And Xavier? He found her to be beautiful and didn’t bother hiding his lust for her!
Tamara was a somewhat complex character. I liked her but most of the time I wanted to throttle her. At times she acted quite ridiculous and was definitely a bit of a spaz around Xavier. At the beginning she is constantly referring to scenarios in her romance novels: she doesn’t see the point in bothering with the real thing because what happens if it doesn’t satisfy you? At least with her books, she will never be disappointed and can take care of the “job” herself. She tends to get so lost in her books that she doesn’t focus on reality. She inadvertently shut out her best friend when she needed her to pay attention to her and even though her friend didn’t outwardly show it, it really did hurt her feelings.
Xavier, on the other hand, is a surfer who from the get-go makes it clear he’s interested in Tamara. He knows about her obsession with books and therefore concocts this whole big plan to reenact romantic scenes from her books to get her to notice him. However, nothing ends up going his way and he’s afraid that the plan is going to fail because he can’t seem to get his act together around her. Hudson, Xavier’s best friend and Ronni’s older brother, is also in on this plan to get Tamara to notice him. I have to admit, the beginnings of their relationship are so awkward you don’t know whether to laugh or groan. I felt so bad for Xavier. He’s a good guy, he’s attracted to her, and really wants to get to know this girl without coming on too strong. Tamara is so oblivious to everything, but it’s not lost on her how hot he is.
What I really struggled to understand was why Tamara was so paranoid around Xavier. Clearly, this guy is interested in you- why are you freaking out? Sure, I can understand the first few times, but after awhile, it did become a bit irritating.
Ronni, as I said, is Tamara’s best friend and desperately wants her to come out of her shell. She sees how beautiful Tamara is and she doesn’t want her friend wasting her life away, hiding in her books. She’s completely missing out on life: building friendships, exploring relationships. Ronni wants to change that and so she thinks this spring break trip could be the game changer for Tamara.
One major point of conflict is Xavier’s stepbrother, Zander. Zander is reckless- his drinking and drug use have gotten him into trouble before and Xavier is not happy that he showed up to surf in the Invitational. Xavier feels a responsibility to his stepbrother, which is why he hasn’t completely said the hell with him. Zander knows exactly how to push his brother’s buttons and is not afraid to do so multiple times throughout the book. Zander is the one person Xavier loses control with and I hate the tension between these two. Zander also broke Ronni’s heart and is still a sore spot for her. She is constantly sucked back into his web, even though she knows it won’t end well, despite her secretly wishing it would.
I really felt that Evangelista did a good job with pacing- I read through this quickly and felt it flowed quite well. Overall, I found it be a likeable read, minus a few issues with the characters’ behavior and the rather abrupt ending. (I did feel the book ended at an awkward point and I would have rather seen a bit more plot resolution. ) This was the first book I’ve read by Evangelista and am interested in checking out some of her other books.
*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Tamara always has her nose stuck in a book. She is curvy and not ashamed of that fact, which I really admired. She didn’t obsess over her weight, but she did know that she wasn’t completely comfortable flaunting her curves on the beach in a bikini. Tight clothing made her uncomfortable and tried to hide behind flowy, loose fitting dresses and clothing. I really liked that her best friend Ronni, had confidence in her and wanted her to show off her body. She told her to stop hiding because she really did look good. And Xavier? He found her to be beautiful and didn’t bother hiding his lust for her!
Tamara was a somewhat complex character. I liked her but most of the time I wanted to throttle her. At times she acted quite ridiculous and was definitely a bit of a spaz around Xavier. At the beginning she is constantly referring to scenarios in her romance novels: she doesn’t see the point in bothering with the real thing because what happens if it doesn’t satisfy you? At least with her books, she will never be disappointed and can take care of the “job” herself. She tends to get so lost in her books that she doesn’t focus on reality. She inadvertently shut out her best friend when she needed her to pay attention to her and even though her friend didn’t outwardly show it, it really did hurt her feelings.
Xavier, on the other hand, is a surfer who from the get-go makes it clear he’s interested in Tamara. He knows about her obsession with books and therefore concocts this whole big plan to reenact romantic scenes from her books to get her to notice him. However, nothing ends up going his way and he’s afraid that the plan is going to fail because he can’t seem to get his act together around her. Hudson, Xavier’s best friend and Ronni’s older brother, is also in on this plan to get Tamara to notice him. I have to admit, the beginnings of their relationship are so awkward you don’t know whether to laugh or groan. I felt so bad for Xavier. He’s a good guy, he’s attracted to her, and really wants to get to know this girl without coming on too strong. Tamara is so oblivious to everything, but it’s not lost on her how hot he is.
What I really struggled to understand was why Tamara was so paranoid around Xavier. Clearly, this guy is interested in you- why are you freaking out? Sure, I can understand the first few times, but after awhile, it did become a bit irritating.
Ronni, as I said, is Tamara’s best friend and desperately wants her to come out of her shell. She sees how beautiful Tamara is and she doesn’t want her friend wasting her life away, hiding in her books. She’s completely missing out on life: building friendships, exploring relationships. Ronni wants to change that and so she thinks this spring break trip could be the game changer for Tamara.
One major point of conflict is Xavier’s stepbrother, Zander. Zander is reckless- his drinking and drug use have gotten him into trouble before and Xavier is not happy that he showed up to surf in the Invitational. Xavier feels a responsibility to his stepbrother, which is why he hasn’t completely said the hell with him. Zander knows exactly how to push his brother’s buttons and is not afraid to do so multiple times throughout the book. Zander is the one person Xavier loses control with and I hate the tension between these two. Zander also broke Ronni’s heart and is still a sore spot for her. She is constantly sucked back into his web, even though she knows it won’t end well, despite her secretly wishing it would.
I really felt that Evangelista did a good job with pacing- I read through this quickly and felt it flowed quite well. Overall, I found it be a likeable read, minus a few issues with the characters’ behavior and the rather abrupt ending. (I did feel the book ended at an awkward point and I would have rather seen a bit more plot resolution. ) This was the first book I’ve read by Evangelista and am interested in checking out some of her other books.
*Received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*
July 17, 2013
Bookworm Tamara Winters reluctantly agrees to accompany her best friend Ronnie to Maverick Bay for the summer. Little does Tamara realize that Xavier Solomon, a man whose reputation for being a player, has set the wheels in motion for her visit.
Xavier has a plan to woo Tamara, just like the characters in her books. Everything is falling into place or perhaps not, Xavier seems to put his foot in his mouth frequently, his heroine faints, misunderstands, and has one of the most unusual reactions to a kiss he has ever witnessed. When his unruly brother enters the scene, his plans continue to unravel as his focus cannot solely be on the girl of his dreams.
Charming story, this is a must read for romance lovers. I thought this was fantastic and the ultimate romantic book lover read. Xavier has a plan to get Tamara to notice him, she does but not in the way he is wanting. It was like every misstep you could take, Xavier raised his hand high to accept. Highly entertaining.
Xavier has a plan to woo Tamara, just like the characters in her books. Everything is falling into place or perhaps not, Xavier seems to put his foot in his mouth frequently, his heroine faints, misunderstands, and has one of the most unusual reactions to a kiss he has ever witnessed. When his unruly brother enters the scene, his plans continue to unravel as his focus cannot solely be on the girl of his dreams.
Charming story, this is a must read for romance lovers. I thought this was fantastic and the ultimate romantic book lover read. Xavier has a plan to get Tamara to notice him, she does but not in the way he is wanting. It was like every misstep you could take, Xavier raised his hand high to accept. Highly entertaining.
April 7, 2015
I read the blurb and had to read this which got my hopes up which was failed shortly 'cause the book sucks no matter what the numerous reviewers say.
It's supposed to be a new adult one but the guy seemed more mature and the girl more childish than their respective ages. That girl is stupid and that guy is creepy.
There were so many flaws that I almost lost my footing in the acknowledgments part when the author stated that this book is way too different than her first draft and is in its best possible shape. I wonder how horrific that first draft was and show my condolence to those who had to read that.
Got a problem with my harsh review? Move your lazy ass and suck it to somewhere else.
It's supposed to be a new adult one but the guy seemed more mature and the girl more childish than their respective ages. That girl is stupid and that guy is creepy.
There were so many flaws that I almost lost my footing in the acknowledgments part when the author stated that this book is way too different than her first draft and is in its best possible shape. I wonder how horrific that first draft was and show my condolence to those who had to read that.
Got a problem with my harsh review? Move your lazy ass and suck it to somewhere else.
November 28, 2013
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I was pretty excited to read this book after seeing the description since the main character is a major bookworm and it seemed a bit different from the new adult books I've read.
My feelings after reading this book: I liked the storyline, but I didn't like how vague the author was about key things in the book for the majority of the story. I felt like some of secrets/plans needed to be known a little earlier. Overall, this book is great if you're looking for a light read because it's a fast read.
The one thing I hated about this book was the ending. It was so abrupt, out of no where, and really didn't provide much closure.
I was pretty excited to read this book after seeing the description since the main character is a major bookworm and it seemed a bit different from the new adult books I've read.
My feelings after reading this book: I liked the storyline, but I didn't like how vague the author was about key things in the book for the majority of the story. I felt like some of secrets/plans needed to be known a little earlier. Overall, this book is great if you're looking for a light read because it's a fast read.
The one thing I hated about this book was the ending. It was so abrupt, out of no where, and really didn't provide much closure.
June 3, 2013
A really sweet beach read! I love that the heroine is a size 14, not a size 4. And I think we can all relate to just wanting to stick our heads in a book for the rest of our lives, but it's great when we have friends to pull us out from time to time. And if a hottie surfer wants to re-create some of our favorite books in order to woo us? All the better.
Kate does a great job making the sport of surfing seem dangerous and sexy and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat during a few scenes! This is a fun book to read by the beach (or pool, or lake, or sprinkler...), light and sweet and great for summer.
Kate does a great job making the sport of surfing seem dangerous and sexy and exciting. I was on the edge of my seat during a few scenes! This is a fun book to read by the beach (or pool, or lake, or sprinkler...), light and sweet and great for summer.
July 20, 2013
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
This book should be labeled a romantic comedy. Or at least come with a warning label that says "May cause sporadic bouts of Laughing Out Loud, Uncontrollable Giggles, and Secondhand Embarrassment, reader discretion is advised." All three of those happened to me. Repeatedly. I like to read at home but I also read while waiting at the pharmacy or at the doctor's clinic. Two places that are never empty and I'm a very "expressive" reader.
Tamara is a totally bookworm. She would much rather spend her spring break reading a good romance novel, so when her best friend Rony drags her along on a vacation, Tamara feels it's a waste of precious reading time. Until she sees Xavier Solomon, a fellow schoolmate and known womanizer. Everything in Tamara warns her to stay away from him but Xavier has other plans. Tired of Tamara ignoring him and more than a little desperate to get her to go out with him, Xavier makes a last ditch effort to win Tamara. He is reenacting scenes from her favorite romance novels. It works beautifully but as they grow closer, Xavier realizes that the truth might push her away. As if that wasn't enough, his drug addict stepbrother suddenly shows up and starts causing problems. Suddenly his easy-as-pie plan turns into something infinitely more complicated.
There's so much to talk about with this book but first, can I thank author Kate Evangelista for making Tamara a size 14 instead of a size 4? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind thin heroines at all but I do like a little size diversity now and again. Besides, if you've ever seen a size 14 woman before, you'll know that's in no way "overweight." I myself am a size 11 and definitely don't look like the stereotype presented in the media. So props to her for creating a very realistic heroine.
Tamara is awkward and at times lacks a verbal filter which lead to the reactions mentioned above. She can be a bit short sighted in the real world, sometimes not paying attention to Rony or what's happening around her and it at times makes her look like a selfish friend. She isn't though, she's just, well, a bookworm. Bookworms don't pay much attention to anything once they start a good book. The world could end and they wouldn't even notice! She is definitely a true representation of a bookworm. Tamara may prefer to have her nose in a book but that doesn't mean she's timid, just unused to actively participating in the real world.
Xavier is a good guy. He's a bit cocky in everything he does and at first he's so sure his plan to win Tamara will work, but after awhile he becomes less sure of himself and more vulnerable. That made him more of a hero in my eyes. No one likes an infallible character. The way he treats Tamara is a mixture of respect, lust, playfulness and genuine affection. Once they got to know each other, they were not only lovers, but great friends who laughed and communicated well with each other.
The supporting cast is quite entertaining as well. Hudson and Rony are your typical siblings with not so typical good looks and good hearts. At times they provide the comedy in the form of bickering and/or basically steamrollering over Xavier and Tamera's objections.
Romancing the Bookworm is what I'd like to read in any kind of romance novel, whether it's contemporary, paranormal, historical, adult or New Adult. The characters are enjoyable, the dialogue is witty and the pace is smooth and quick, no droning on and on until the reader is almost comatose. While I'm still not going to be a regular New Adult reader, I will make an exception for Kate Evangelista. She impressed me with her YA novel Taste and she continues to do so with Romancing the Bookworm.
This book should be labeled a romantic comedy. Or at least come with a warning label that says "May cause sporadic bouts of Laughing Out Loud, Uncontrollable Giggles, and Secondhand Embarrassment, reader discretion is advised." All three of those happened to me. Repeatedly. I like to read at home but I also read while waiting at the pharmacy or at the doctor's clinic. Two places that are never empty and I'm a very "expressive" reader.
Tamara is a totally bookworm. She would much rather spend her spring break reading a good romance novel, so when her best friend Rony drags her along on a vacation, Tamara feels it's a waste of precious reading time. Until she sees Xavier Solomon, a fellow schoolmate and known womanizer. Everything in Tamara warns her to stay away from him but Xavier has other plans. Tired of Tamara ignoring him and more than a little desperate to get her to go out with him, Xavier makes a last ditch effort to win Tamara. He is reenacting scenes from her favorite romance novels. It works beautifully but as they grow closer, Xavier realizes that the truth might push her away. As if that wasn't enough, his drug addict stepbrother suddenly shows up and starts causing problems. Suddenly his easy-as-pie plan turns into something infinitely more complicated.
There's so much to talk about with this book but first, can I thank author Kate Evangelista for making Tamara a size 14 instead of a size 4? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind thin heroines at all but I do like a little size diversity now and again. Besides, if you've ever seen a size 14 woman before, you'll know that's in no way "overweight." I myself am a size 11 and definitely don't look like the stereotype presented in the media. So props to her for creating a very realistic heroine.
Tamara is awkward and at times lacks a verbal filter which lead to the reactions mentioned above. She can be a bit short sighted in the real world, sometimes not paying attention to Rony or what's happening around her and it at times makes her look like a selfish friend. She isn't though, she's just, well, a bookworm. Bookworms don't pay much attention to anything once they start a good book. The world could end and they wouldn't even notice! She is definitely a true representation of a bookworm. Tamara may prefer to have her nose in a book but that doesn't mean she's timid, just unused to actively participating in the real world.
Xavier is a good guy. He's a bit cocky in everything he does and at first he's so sure his plan to win Tamara will work, but after awhile he becomes less sure of himself and more vulnerable. That made him more of a hero in my eyes. No one likes an infallible character. The way he treats Tamara is a mixture of respect, lust, playfulness and genuine affection. Once they got to know each other, they were not only lovers, but great friends who laughed and communicated well with each other.
The supporting cast is quite entertaining as well. Hudson and Rony are your typical siblings with not so typical good looks and good hearts. At times they provide the comedy in the form of bickering and/or basically steamrollering over Xavier and Tamera's objections.
Romancing the Bookworm is what I'd like to read in any kind of romance novel, whether it's contemporary, paranormal, historical, adult or New Adult. The characters are enjoyable, the dialogue is witty and the pace is smooth and quick, no droning on and on until the reader is almost comatose. While I'm still not going to be a regular New Adult reader, I will make an exception for Kate Evangelista. She impressed me with her YA novel Taste and she continues to do so with Romancing the Bookworm.
July 14, 2013
If there was ever a story tailor made for booklovers, it would be Kate Evangelista’s Romancing the Bookworm. Protagonist and self-proclaimed bookworm, Tamara, has spent years with her nose in a book, preferring to escape reality by getting lost in the land of fiction. Tamara quickly shot to the top spot as my new favorite heroine, not just because of her intense love of books, but because when she finds herself starring in her very own romance novel, she seizes the opportunity to live a life she could have only previously imagined.
Romancing the Bookworm is told through dual perspectives, alternating between Tamara and her not-so-secret admirer, Xavier Solomon, who has taken it upon himself to organize a Spring Break trip with the intention of drawing the curvy beauty out of her shell. Tamara has zero experience with members of the opposite sex and is thus unprepared for her instant attraction to Xavier. From their first meeting, when Tamara glimpses Xavier in all his swoon-worthy, half naked glory, she turns into a rambling jumble of nerves. Xavier is an interesting mix of sweetness and sexiness, one minute completely confident and self-assured and the next bumbling in his attempts to woo Tamara.
I’m not sure what I found more enjoyable – watching Xavier scramble to impress Tamara or waiting to see what outrageous line would spout from Tamara’s mouth whenever she was in the vicinity of Xavier’s physical perfection. Tamara is both brazen and innocent, providing a fun and entertaining contrast to Xavier, whose impossibly good looks fail to protect him from social awkwardness. There were many instances where I laughed and even cringed at some of the situations they find themselves in, tiptoeing around their explosive chemistry.
Romancing the Bookworm is a sweet, well-written romance, featuring a sexy new hero to fall in love with, and a captivating heroine with whom readers can identify. With her extensive literary knowledge of romance, Tamara isn’t the typical virginal heroine, making for some steamy love scenes. Tamara’s journey of self-discovery finds her transitioning from an introverted bookworm to someone willing to take a chance on love and life. I enjoyed getting to know Xavier and Tamara and well as their close friends and family, who I hope to see in the next installment to this series.
Romancing the Bookworm is told through dual perspectives, alternating between Tamara and her not-so-secret admirer, Xavier Solomon, who has taken it upon himself to organize a Spring Break trip with the intention of drawing the curvy beauty out of her shell. Tamara has zero experience with members of the opposite sex and is thus unprepared for her instant attraction to Xavier. From their first meeting, when Tamara glimpses Xavier in all his swoon-worthy, half naked glory, she turns into a rambling jumble of nerves. Xavier is an interesting mix of sweetness and sexiness, one minute completely confident and self-assured and the next bumbling in his attempts to woo Tamara.
I’m not sure what I found more enjoyable – watching Xavier scramble to impress Tamara or waiting to see what outrageous line would spout from Tamara’s mouth whenever she was in the vicinity of Xavier’s physical perfection. Tamara is both brazen and innocent, providing a fun and entertaining contrast to Xavier, whose impossibly good looks fail to protect him from social awkwardness. There were many instances where I laughed and even cringed at some of the situations they find themselves in, tiptoeing around their explosive chemistry.
Romancing the Bookworm is a sweet, well-written romance, featuring a sexy new hero to fall in love with, and a captivating heroine with whom readers can identify. With her extensive literary knowledge of romance, Tamara isn’t the typical virginal heroine, making for some steamy love scenes. Tamara’s journey of self-discovery finds her transitioning from an introverted bookworm to someone willing to take a chance on love and life. I enjoyed getting to know Xavier and Tamara and well as their close friends and family, who I hope to see in the next installment to this series.
July 23, 2013
Romancing the Bookworm was absolutely delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When Tamara's friend Ronni dragged her to Maverick Bay for spring break, little did she know what would be in store for her there. She would much rather live in her world of books where she could escape everything and everyone, rather than deal with the real world. Nevertheless, she gives in and agrees to go with her perfect size 2 best friend. The last thing she expected was to find herself in a whirlwind relationship with the uber hottie surfer god, Xavier Solomon, and little did she know this was all part of Xavier's plan. Whether "the plan" helps or hurts Xavier's cause remains to be seen. She soon finds Xavier her mind and senses far more that any hero she has read about in her novels. When Xavier's brother Zander shows up on the scene, it really throws a wrench into things, but sometimes things need to get a little off course to help you see how you really feel.
I loved the premise of Romancing the Bookworm. Kate Evangelista couldn't have written a more entertaining and fun summer read, especially for those of us who are book fans, like Tamara. I really loved Tamara. She wasn't perfect, but I so admired the fact that she was comfortable with herself, and her size. I also liked that Xavier, the hottie that he was, didn't fall into the mold of only liking girls who were bean poles with boobs, and despite everything he screws up, he does truly have the best intentions, so I couldn't help but root for him. Ronni and her brother Hudson were great secondary characters also, and I was even happy to see where things went with Zander in the end. The romance was sweet and steamy, but also had some serious moments, and there was plenty of humor to boot. Overall, Romancing the Bookworm is totally enjoyable, lighthearted, and fun, and if you are looking for the perfect read for the summer, then this is one book you should definitely pick up.
I loved the premise of Romancing the Bookworm. Kate Evangelista couldn't have written a more entertaining and fun summer read, especially for those of us who are book fans, like Tamara. I really loved Tamara. She wasn't perfect, but I so admired the fact that she was comfortable with herself, and her size. I also liked that Xavier, the hottie that he was, didn't fall into the mold of only liking girls who were bean poles with boobs, and despite everything he screws up, he does truly have the best intentions, so I couldn't help but root for him. Ronni and her brother Hudson were great secondary characters also, and I was even happy to see where things went with Zander in the end. The romance was sweet and steamy, but also had some serious moments, and there was plenty of humor to boot. Overall, Romancing the Bookworm is totally enjoyable, lighthearted, and fun, and if you are looking for the perfect read for the summer, then this is one book you should definitely pick up.
July 15, 2013
OMG CAN YOU SAY BEACH READ! Kate Has done it again with another story to blow you away. I am all about the summer loves and summer beach reads. I love to go to the beach and read and watch people flirt like crazy! It is so funny how the girls try to get the guys attention and the guys try and get the girls attention. I have been to some WILD beach parties recently and I must be getting old because some of the things that were worn or lack of and some of the things that were displayed but holy freaking PDA!
SO here we have a girl after my own heart Tamara who loves to read. She rather spend her time going to classes and reading than doing anything else. So spring break is here and her best friend Ronni has something up her sleeve for her and Tamara. Instead of beach hopping they are going to wait tables and go to a surfers invitational. What Tamara does not know is that Xavier the schools man whore or so it is said about him is the organizer of this event. And olalala when Tamara sees him coming out of the water in all his luscious gorgeousness she wants to run for the beach because what she is feeling is just not right. He has a bad reputation on campus and she wants to stay as far away as possible but it is looking like that is not possible because Xavier wants her.
Xavier has a bad rep but he is trying to put that behind him because he likes Tamara. He wants to get her and keep her but one problem. She does not notice him or his attempts at getting her attention at school. So he devises a plan with her friend to get her attention and just as they are starting to get close Xaviers brother comes into the picture and tries to ruin it all for him. Will Xavier get Tamara? Will Tamara get her head out of the books? This is a summer MUST READ!
SO here we have a girl after my own heart Tamara who loves to read. She rather spend her time going to classes and reading than doing anything else. So spring break is here and her best friend Ronni has something up her sleeve for her and Tamara. Instead of beach hopping they are going to wait tables and go to a surfers invitational. What Tamara does not know is that Xavier the schools man whore or so it is said about him is the organizer of this event. And olalala when Tamara sees him coming out of the water in all his luscious gorgeousness she wants to run for the beach because what she is feeling is just not right. He has a bad reputation on campus and she wants to stay as far away as possible but it is looking like that is not possible because Xavier wants her.
Xavier has a bad rep but he is trying to put that behind him because he likes Tamara. He wants to get her and keep her but one problem. She does not notice him or his attempts at getting her attention at school. So he devises a plan with her friend to get her attention and just as they are starting to get close Xaviers brother comes into the picture and tries to ruin it all for him. Will Xavier get Tamara? Will Tamara get her head out of the books? This is a summer MUST READ!
November 2, 2013
*Author donated a copy in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed "Romancing the Bookworm"! This was such a sweet story that really gives hope to all of us bookworms out there! Tamara would rather read a book than really almost anything..wouldn't we all? She has had so much hurt in her life that she really uses her books for her escape from life.
Ronni, her best friend, drags her out to Maverick Bay for spring break; to get her out and help her to live a little. There, she meets Xavier, which is a family friend of Ronni and Hudson (Ronni's brother). Xavier is a hottie surfer, and Tamara can't help but be attracted to him. Little does she know that her friends have all concocted the whole trip for Xavier to get to know Tamara, with him planning little things along the way to get her to fall for him, like scenes from the books she reads. I thought it was really sweet, but when Tamara finally found out the truth, she was less than happy.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters in the story, such as Ronni, Hudson, and even Zander, although he was a real jerk through the whole thing. I was kinda disappointed in the way the story ended. I was hoping for an ending with a little more "finality" to it, if that makes sense. I really wish there was an epilogue to the story just to give that little bit of "extra something" that I was hoping for.
All in all, its really cute, and I have Xavier to add to my list of book boyfriends!
I really enjoyed "Romancing the Bookworm"! This was such a sweet story that really gives hope to all of us bookworms out there! Tamara would rather read a book than really almost anything..wouldn't we all? She has had so much hurt in her life that she really uses her books for her escape from life.
Ronni, her best friend, drags her out to Maverick Bay for spring break; to get her out and help her to live a little. There, she meets Xavier, which is a family friend of Ronni and Hudson (Ronni's brother). Xavier is a hottie surfer, and Tamara can't help but be attracted to him. Little does she know that her friends have all concocted the whole trip for Xavier to get to know Tamara, with him planning little things along the way to get her to fall for him, like scenes from the books she reads. I thought it was really sweet, but when Tamara finally found out the truth, she was less than happy.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters in the story, such as Ronni, Hudson, and even Zander, although he was a real jerk through the whole thing. I was kinda disappointed in the way the story ended. I was hoping for an ending with a little more "finality" to it, if that makes sense. I really wish there was an epilogue to the story just to give that little bit of "extra something" that I was hoping for.
All in all, its really cute, and I have Xavier to add to my list of book boyfriends!
August 4, 2013
Contains small spoilers:
What a wonderful story by Evangelista. It has so many aspects that made me fall in love with the plot and the characters. Tamara was my absolute favorite however. She would have me giggling during her internal monologs and then I would get so embarrassed for her when she would open her mouth and say something insane to Xavier. I would have to put down the book and walk away because I was so embarrassed. There is a time where she is thinking that she would like to lick Xavier dry after he got out of the shower but then he responds and she realizes that she didn’t say it in her head, she said it out loud.
I wanted to worship the ground that Xavier walked on because he was sex on a stick (or a surfboard) but didn’t give into the thought that only beautiful women are size zero. He is very much into Tamara once he gets to know her and immensely intrigued by her. *le sigh* When the book starts out, you know there was a plan hatched to get Tamara there but you really don’t know why until the very end. I was hoping that it was not hatch maliciously and was very pleased when I found out it wasn’t.
The only thing I can say negatively about Romancing the Bookworm is that I wanted a few more chapters at the end when the drama settled down. Also, as a side note, the waxing the surfboard scene was so sexy!
What a wonderful story by Evangelista. It has so many aspects that made me fall in love with the plot and the characters. Tamara was my absolute favorite however. She would have me giggling during her internal monologs and then I would get so embarrassed for her when she would open her mouth and say something insane to Xavier. I would have to put down the book and walk away because I was so embarrassed. There is a time where she is thinking that she would like to lick Xavier dry after he got out of the shower but then he responds and she realizes that she didn’t say it in her head, she said it out loud.
I wanted to worship the ground that Xavier walked on because he was sex on a stick (or a surfboard) but didn’t give into the thought that only beautiful women are size zero. He is very much into Tamara once he gets to know her and immensely intrigued by her. *le sigh* When the book starts out, you know there was a plan hatched to get Tamara there but you really don’t know why until the very end. I was hoping that it was not hatch maliciously and was very pleased when I found out it wasn’t.
The only thing I can say negatively about Romancing the Bookworm is that I wanted a few more chapters at the end when the drama settled down. Also, as a side note, the waxing the surfboard scene was so sexy!
July 16, 2013
I received an ARC of this book for my honest review; my review is based on content only. The copy provided to me was not the final copy.
Tamara spends her life caught up in her romance books; she is so oblivious to everything around her she doesn't notice Xavier keeps trying to get her attention. Xavier concocts a plan to get her to Maverick Bay and have her notice him. Once Tamara is there it seems that nothing will go as planned, even with everything going wrong the two of them manage to get to know one another, but what will happen when she finds out that what Xavier planned? I liked this book, it was a good easy read, yes parts of it were kinda cheesy but that's ok I like a little bit of that ever now and then. Xavier seems to be the guy who has it all, girls want him, he is a great surfer and he has money. However, he feels responsible for his alcoholic drug addict step brother and the only girl he wants is Tamara. Tamara is a beautiful girl, but she spends all her time reading books and doesn't connect with people. The two of them fit together well and it was sweet how both of them opened up to each other. The secondary characters, Zander, Hudson and Ronni added some conflict and at times much needed support for the two main characters. Romancing the Bookworm is a good quick read, the perfect cure for a book hangover.
Tamara spends her life caught up in her romance books; she is so oblivious to everything around her she doesn't notice Xavier keeps trying to get her attention. Xavier concocts a plan to get her to Maverick Bay and have her notice him. Once Tamara is there it seems that nothing will go as planned, even with everything going wrong the two of them manage to get to know one another, but what will happen when she finds out that what Xavier planned? I liked this book, it was a good easy read, yes parts of it were kinda cheesy but that's ok I like a little bit of that ever now and then. Xavier seems to be the guy who has it all, girls want him, he is a great surfer and he has money. However, he feels responsible for his alcoholic drug addict step brother and the only girl he wants is Tamara. Tamara is a beautiful girl, but she spends all her time reading books and doesn't connect with people. The two of them fit together well and it was sweet how both of them opened up to each other. The secondary characters, Zander, Hudson and Ronni added some conflict and at times much needed support for the two main characters. Romancing the Bookworm is a good quick read, the perfect cure for a book hangover.
July 29, 2016
4 Start!
As an avid reader myself her love for books was amazing. The story revolves around Tamara and Xavier, and well her love for books! It takes place over the span of a week, which seems super short but it really works for this books and I loved it.
Now some books really annoy me when I feel like it takes me one day to read well one day in the book, that's just way to long, but this books had such a good flow I really enjoyed it.
I mean I get why she was angry that no one told her the secret as to why she was there but i mean I would've been flattered like hell he tried to recreate all her favorite books just to impress her, If my boyfriend did that ughhh just ughhh.
The only thing I did't get was all the slapping, I mean there was A LOT of slapping, some of it I didn't quite understand why we were smacking each other in the face, and Houston seemed a little bit older than he was supposed to be, almost like a parental figure but like to the max.
I hope there's a second book to Tamara and Xavier only because well they really didn't get together in the end they're like starting over? Where's the love! I need more from them their relationship and the cuteness factor between them was amazing and I would love to see more!!
I would definitely recommend this book!
*ARC provided by the author.
As an avid reader myself her love for books was amazing. The story revolves around Tamara and Xavier, and well her love for books! It takes place over the span of a week, which seems super short but it really works for this books and I loved it.
Now some books really annoy me when I feel like it takes me one day to read well one day in the book, that's just way to long, but this books had such a good flow I really enjoyed it.
I mean I get why she was angry that no one told her the secret as to why she was there but i mean I would've been flattered like hell he tried to recreate all her favorite books just to impress her, If my boyfriend did that ughhh just ughhh.
The only thing I did't get was all the slapping, I mean there was A LOT of slapping, some of it I didn't quite understand why we were smacking each other in the face, and Houston seemed a little bit older than he was supposed to be, almost like a parental figure but like to the max.
I hope there's a second book to Tamara and Xavier only because well they really didn't get together in the end they're like starting over? Where's the love! I need more from them their relationship and the cuteness factor between them was amazing and I would love to see more!!
I would definitely recommend this book!
*ARC provided by the author.
November 4, 2013
I was given this book by the author for an honest review!
My honest review??? I loved it! I thought it was a sweet/classic love story!
In a way I can relate to Tamara being so involved in her books where you get lost and the outside world doesn't exist, its like an escape to you!
Xavier was a sweetheart, I think the best guy for a first boyfriend! He was sweet and romantic and how he got her to pay attention to him, so ROMANTIC! (dont want to give it away)
I would have so loved it if a guy romanced me like that! What I liked about it, is that it gives hope to other girls who are not as skinny that there is someone out there waiting for you! He might even be right under your nose and you are not paying attention.
I can't wait to read about Zander and Ronnie, with Zander's personality it is going to be epic and also with the little hints in the book about the two of them I know it will be worth the wait.
Hudson I hope that you get a book to.... (just a thought)
Kate thanks for the opportunity to read this book, I hope to read many more of your books.
Definitely definitely will recommend to anyone who believes in love.
My honest review??? I loved it! I thought it was a sweet/classic love story!
In a way I can relate to Tamara being so involved in her books where you get lost and the outside world doesn't exist, its like an escape to you!
Xavier was a sweetheart, I think the best guy for a first boyfriend! He was sweet and romantic and how he got her to pay attention to him, so ROMANTIC! (dont want to give it away)
I would have so loved it if a guy romanced me like that! What I liked about it, is that it gives hope to other girls who are not as skinny that there is someone out there waiting for you! He might even be right under your nose and you are not paying attention.
I can't wait to read about Zander and Ronnie, with Zander's personality it is going to be epic and also with the little hints in the book about the two of them I know it will be worth the wait.
Hudson I hope that you get a book to.... (just a thought)
Kate thanks for the opportunity to read this book, I hope to read many more of your books.
Definitely definitely will recommend to anyone who believes in love.
November 3, 2013
This book was provided for an honest review. Wow. I have to say out of all the books that I have read this one was just special on an entirely different level. I feel like I related to Tamara on a lot of different levels. The only thing that I didn't like about Tamara was her need to analyze everything down to the last letter.
I thought what Xavier planned was extremely sweet and romantic. I even enjoyed the story we learned about with Ronnie and Zander. I'm really hoping that Hudson gets a story of his own...It's just something about him. Mainly what I loved about the story is that it doesn't just appeal to women of "double-digit-sizes." Like Tamara, at times I like to spend my time reading rather than living my life and having fun. This book gave me hope that one day I might meet my very own Xavier. I'd absolutely recommend this book.
I thought what Xavier planned was extremely sweet and romantic. I even enjoyed the story we learned about with Ronnie and Zander. I'm really hoping that Hudson gets a story of his own...It's just something about him. Mainly what I loved about the story is that it doesn't just appeal to women of "double-digit-sizes." Like Tamara, at times I like to spend my time reading rather than living my life and having fun. This book gave me hope that one day I might meet my very own Xavier. I'd absolutely recommend this book.
July 29, 2016
Romancing The Bookworm is a nice pool/ beach side read. The plot of the book is based around the beach, and a surfing event. I liked the fluffiness of the book. It was something I could pick up and read when I wanted something light to read.
The characters of this book were college students. I thought it was cool that one of the main characters in this book was a bookworm. I love that the author reference everything that the main character said to a book she read!!
This book has a great plot, and characters. The characters felt so real. I actually wanted to join the characters on the beach. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a great beach or pool side read!!!
(Book provided by author for review.
The characters of this book were college students. I thought it was cool that one of the main characters in this book was a bookworm. I love that the author reference everything that the main character said to a book she read!!
This book has a great plot, and characters. The characters felt so real. I actually wanted to join the characters on the beach. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a great beach or pool side read!!!
(Book provided by author for review.
October 16, 2014
Very different plot from most chick lit I read. Xavier was perfection. I don't think anyone like him exists, his plan was so thought out, he really cared about Tamara which was creepy and romantic. Tamara was brave and confident about who she was yet her obvious giggling and attraction to him made it too easy for this whole thing to happen. I completely understood Tamara's reaction to the plan, but Xavier was a really nice guy. This was a very enjoyable read and it was adorable and funny, realistic characters yet very unrealistic scenarios in a way. It was different,exciting, manipulative, creepy at times but all for a good cause.
September 21, 2013
This book was utterly terrible. I have no idea why I was eager to read this in the first place
June 17, 2014
Liked the idea, disliked the delivery. End of story.
I don't feel like going into explicit detail if only because I don't want to hate on the author. So I'm refraining.
I don't feel like going into explicit detail if only because I don't want to hate on the author. So I'm refraining.
March 6, 2015
Got me laughed at the beginning but the ending is mehh
March 26, 2019
I actually didn't enjoy this as much as I did last time. It was still enjoyable though, although the creepiness of the whole set up was a bit too much for me!
November 17, 2013
*Received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
"I had my spring break already planned out. One whole week of having the dorms to myself and a buttload of the trashy romance novels I was hopelessly addicted to. My personal version of heaven." -Tamara
Romancing the Bookworm tells the story of a girl who never thought romance could exist outside her books and the boy who will stop at nothing to show her just how real it can be. With its humor, romance, and an array of complex characters, this book was hard to put down and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Though the book is about Tamara's and Xavier's journey of falling in love, I feel that there's different messages that are woven within the book. One being a message of letting go of insecurities and fear and just to live a little. Sometimes we can be so contempt with what's comfortable that we end up missing out on life changing events that we will later regret not experiencing. This book also shows that despite our shape or size, we all deserve and have the opportunity of experiencing the knee melting and heart racing love that we read in romance books. We just have to be brave and courageous enough to take it.
"In my senior year of high school, I'd used reading as a shield; it helped me pretend not to notice the pitying stares. No one bothered me when I had my nose in a book, and I became the quiet orphan girl." -Tamara
TAMARA
A bookworm who learns about life through books instead of experiencing life for herself. Books become her coping mechanism and an escape from life. Losing her parents within a short time frame really took its toll on her. In order to avoid any further pain that may be thrown her way, she lost herself in imaginary worlds where happy endings are inevitable and a romance she didn't think she'd experience was just a page turn away. Unbeknownst to her, she was about to be thrown into one heck of a ride. Through some coercion from her best friend, her spring break plans are thrown out the window and she is forced to spend it waiting tables at Maverick Bay. A beautiful setting, straight out of a romance novel, where adventure and romance await her. On her first day there she meets Xavier for the first time and her whole world turns upside down. From that day on, despite not wanting to because of his reputation as a player, she can't stop thinking about him and more specifically, about being with him. As she and Xavier spend more time together, we see her become more confident about herself as she finally lets go and experiences life for the first in a while. Tamara finds out that despite appearances, she and Xavier have quite a bit in common. She's finally found someone who truly understands her and what she's been through. Her feelings towards him change from physical to emotional and she can't help but fall in love with him. During her time in Maverick Bay, she experiences a lot of firsts and while her spring break didn't turn out the way she planned, it turned out to be even better.
"I miss them everyday, but I know that they loved me and each other. I think that's one of the reasons why I love those books. The love my parents shared was the forever kind. When I read them, they make me believe that forever love is possible." -Tamara
"The great Xavier Solomon, the slayer of women everywhere. Don't think I don't know you by reputation, mister. You and that brother of yours." -Tamara
XAVIER
A handsome rich surfer who despite his easy going nature has gone through some pretty heavy stuff. As the oldest, a lot of responsibility has been put on his shoulders. And with a younger step brother whose self-destructing ways are leading him one step closer to death, his life is far from easy. Despite not having a good relationship with his step brother because of the things he's done, Xavier always has his back and is always there to rescue him. By helping his brother he's unfortunately accumulated quite a reputation and by association he's seen as a womanizer just like his brother even though its far from true. Always being there to help others, Xavier is finally doing something for himself; going after Tamara. He comes up with a plan to get Tamara to Maverick Bay and with the help of his friends and scenarios that could be straight out of one of her books, he hopes to get her heart as well. As Tamara arrives at Maverick Bay, his plan is already starting off bad and is starting to crumble but he doesn't let that stop him. Not even when she recognizes him by reputation and seems repulsed does it damper his determination. It just made him want to try harder to show her who he really is and just how good they'd be together. Unfortunately with the arrival of an unexpected guest, his step brother, showing Tamara the time of her life gets a whole lot trickier to accomplish. Despite all of the bumps along the way, they all seem worth it to him as along the way they both open up and get to know each other at a more intimate level. He realizes that he's fallen hard as she takes up residence in his every thought and becomes a distraction when he's working on things for the invitational. As his feelings for her only get stronger day after day, the thought of losing her at he end of spring break tears him up and he can't fathom not having her in his life. More than ever he's determined to make her his.
"...I'm willing to take the time to show you how I feel, even if it takes reenacting every romantic scenario I can find." -Xavier
Overall, Romancing the Bookworm is an adorable read that all romance book lovers would enjoy. One of my favorite things about this book is how relatable Tamara is. Im pretty sure I'm not the only one who would agree that sometimes getting stuck inside a book is more appealing than going out. As a bookworm myself I totally understood her anticipation of getting lost in a good book and escaping life for a little while. I really enjoyed getting to know Tamara and Xavier and I hope there'll be a novella or another book on Xavier and Tamara. I'd love to see where they go from here.
Other Favorite Quotes
"I blamed the stupid tent she was wearing. No one should wear that much material when at the beach, for Christ's sake. She looked like she was begin eaten alive by fabric." -Xavier
"I had to get back to campus and lock myself away with my books. They never hurt me and there would always be a happy ending." -Tamara
"I followed her with my eyes, rooted to the spot where she'd left me. Women. Just when you thought you had them figured out, they did something completely weird." -Xavier
"…He thought I was crazy for doing this, and some days maybe I was, but I had to try. If I didn't, I'd regret it for the rest of my life." -Xavier
"My gaze dropped to Tamara's face. The calm sweetness there took my breath away. I couldn't believe she was actually here, and in my arms. Forget fries and beer being heaven. This just went to the top of the list..." -Xavier
"I had my spring break already planned out. One whole week of having the dorms to myself and a buttload of the trashy romance novels I was hopelessly addicted to. My personal version of heaven." -Tamara
Romancing the Bookworm tells the story of a girl who never thought romance could exist outside her books and the boy who will stop at nothing to show her just how real it can be. With its humor, romance, and an array of complex characters, this book was hard to put down and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Though the book is about Tamara's and Xavier's journey of falling in love, I feel that there's different messages that are woven within the book. One being a message of letting go of insecurities and fear and just to live a little. Sometimes we can be so contempt with what's comfortable that we end up missing out on life changing events that we will later regret not experiencing. This book also shows that despite our shape or size, we all deserve and have the opportunity of experiencing the knee melting and heart racing love that we read in romance books. We just have to be brave and courageous enough to take it.
"In my senior year of high school, I'd used reading as a shield; it helped me pretend not to notice the pitying stares. No one bothered me when I had my nose in a book, and I became the quiet orphan girl." -Tamara
TAMARA
A bookworm who learns about life through books instead of experiencing life for herself. Books become her coping mechanism and an escape from life. Losing her parents within a short time frame really took its toll on her. In order to avoid any further pain that may be thrown her way, she lost herself in imaginary worlds where happy endings are inevitable and a romance she didn't think she'd experience was just a page turn away. Unbeknownst to her, she was about to be thrown into one heck of a ride. Through some coercion from her best friend, her spring break plans are thrown out the window and she is forced to spend it waiting tables at Maverick Bay. A beautiful setting, straight out of a romance novel, where adventure and romance await her. On her first day there she meets Xavier for the first time and her whole world turns upside down. From that day on, despite not wanting to because of his reputation as a player, she can't stop thinking about him and more specifically, about being with him. As she and Xavier spend more time together, we see her become more confident about herself as she finally lets go and experiences life for the first in a while. Tamara finds out that despite appearances, she and Xavier have quite a bit in common. She's finally found someone who truly understands her and what she's been through. Her feelings towards him change from physical to emotional and she can't help but fall in love with him. During her time in Maverick Bay, she experiences a lot of firsts and while her spring break didn't turn out the way she planned, it turned out to be even better.
"I miss them everyday, but I know that they loved me and each other. I think that's one of the reasons why I love those books. The love my parents shared was the forever kind. When I read them, they make me believe that forever love is possible." -Tamara
"The great Xavier Solomon, the slayer of women everywhere. Don't think I don't know you by reputation, mister. You and that brother of yours." -Tamara
XAVIER
A handsome rich surfer who despite his easy going nature has gone through some pretty heavy stuff. As the oldest, a lot of responsibility has been put on his shoulders. And with a younger step brother whose self-destructing ways are leading him one step closer to death, his life is far from easy. Despite not having a good relationship with his step brother because of the things he's done, Xavier always has his back and is always there to rescue him. By helping his brother he's unfortunately accumulated quite a reputation and by association he's seen as a womanizer just like his brother even though its far from true. Always being there to help others, Xavier is finally doing something for himself; going after Tamara. He comes up with a plan to get Tamara to Maverick Bay and with the help of his friends and scenarios that could be straight out of one of her books, he hopes to get her heart as well. As Tamara arrives at Maverick Bay, his plan is already starting off bad and is starting to crumble but he doesn't let that stop him. Not even when she recognizes him by reputation and seems repulsed does it damper his determination. It just made him want to try harder to show her who he really is and just how good they'd be together. Unfortunately with the arrival of an unexpected guest, his step brother, showing Tamara the time of her life gets a whole lot trickier to accomplish. Despite all of the bumps along the way, they all seem worth it to him as along the way they both open up and get to know each other at a more intimate level. He realizes that he's fallen hard as she takes up residence in his every thought and becomes a distraction when he's working on things for the invitational. As his feelings for her only get stronger day after day, the thought of losing her at he end of spring break tears him up and he can't fathom not having her in his life. More than ever he's determined to make her his.
"...I'm willing to take the time to show you how I feel, even if it takes reenacting every romantic scenario I can find." -Xavier
Overall, Romancing the Bookworm is an adorable read that all romance book lovers would enjoy. One of my favorite things about this book is how relatable Tamara is. Im pretty sure I'm not the only one who would agree that sometimes getting stuck inside a book is more appealing than going out. As a bookworm myself I totally understood her anticipation of getting lost in a good book and escaping life for a little while. I really enjoyed getting to know Tamara and Xavier and I hope there'll be a novella or another book on Xavier and Tamara. I'd love to see where they go from here.
Other Favorite Quotes
"I blamed the stupid tent she was wearing. No one should wear that much material when at the beach, for Christ's sake. She looked like she was begin eaten alive by fabric." -Xavier
"I had to get back to campus and lock myself away with my books. They never hurt me and there would always be a happy ending." -Tamara
"I followed her with my eyes, rooted to the spot where she'd left me. Women. Just when you thought you had them figured out, they did something completely weird." -Xavier
"…He thought I was crazy for doing this, and some days maybe I was, but I had to try. If I didn't, I'd regret it for the rest of my life." -Xavier
"My gaze dropped to Tamara's face. The calm sweetness there took my breath away. I couldn't believe she was actually here, and in my arms. Forget fries and beer being heaven. This just went to the top of the list..." -Xavier
April 26, 2020
Good lord where do I even start... It feels like this book was written by an actual alien who has never ever interacted with a human being and based his perception of humans on bad fan fiction written by a frantic 12 year old he read while being high on cocaine.
The first chapters is already a disaster. I thought "ok maybe it is a bit quirky and weird for the sake of introducing us to the characters", but no, the whole book is a train wreck.
Dear author, THIS IS NOT HOW HUMAN BEINGS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. All of the dialogue, all of the narration is INSANE. We get NO explanation why Xavier is so into her (at least till chapter 16), so EVERY SINGLE LINE feels so predatory it's honestly disturbing.
I've read some crazy unrealistic books, but this one takes the cake by a long shot. None of what is written could happen in the real word, NONE. At this point Harry Potter seems like less of a fiction than this book.
The main character is SO unrelatable, and this is coming from a ex ~14 size socially inept bookworm who wishes for a fairy tale prince. I was so excited to read this, I had to jump though hoops to get this book and the disappointment I'm feeling is on par with Game of Thrones ending.
The premise showed so much potential, it could have been a hilarious YA rom com with witty characters and a good message at the end of it all, but no. A part of me wishes to re-write it all.
I cannot believe this book has so many good reviews. If you think it's well written, realistic and has a positive message you need to rethink your life.
The first chapters is already a disaster. I thought "ok maybe it is a bit quirky and weird for the sake of introducing us to the characters", but no, the whole book is a train wreck.
Dear author, THIS IS NOT HOW HUMAN BEINGS INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. All of the dialogue, all of the narration is INSANE. We get NO explanation why Xavier is so into her (at least till chapter 16), so EVERY SINGLE LINE feels so predatory it's honestly disturbing.
I've read some crazy unrealistic books, but this one takes the cake by a long shot. None of what is written could happen in the real word, NONE. At this point Harry Potter seems like less of a fiction than this book.
The main character is SO unrelatable, and this is coming from a ex ~14 size socially inept bookworm who wishes for a fairy tale prince. I was so excited to read this, I had to jump though hoops to get this book and the disappointment I'm feeling is on par with Game of Thrones ending.
The premise showed so much potential, it could have been a hilarious YA rom com with witty characters and a good message at the end of it all, but no. A part of me wishes to re-write it all.
I cannot believe this book has so many good reviews. If you think it's well written, realistic and has a positive message you need to rethink your life.
March 23, 2015
Saffron - This book was such a great read! I had never heard of Kate and was really surprised how much I liked this book!
Jillian - I got sucked into this book right from the beginning. This story was so good!
Noemi - I absolutely loved this book. It had me hooked from the beginning
Saffron - Well, we are bookworms! But I'm pretty certain I wasn't as bad as Tamara.
Jillian - I was just going to say the same thing. We are bookworms as well so we could for sure relate with her.
Noemi - Tamara and I are kindred spirits lol. I'm guessing that I read as much as she does lol
Saffron - I might have some of Ronni in me though too. Which parts, I'm not telling.
Noemi - (raising hand and waving) I know which ones lol
Jillian - Ronni was a good friend. She made me laugh a lot. I would cut her if she stole my books and threw them away though. Just saying.
Noemi - Ronni means well. She really wants the best for Tamara.
Saffron - Oooh yeah! No throwing away books!
Jillian - That and she was just doing what she was told....
Noemi - Alright let’s get to when she sees Xavier for the first time. Boy did he really make an impression.
Saffron - Yeah, the whole "plan"... I didn't know if I loved it or hated it. A bit of both I guess.
Jillian - Oh Man! Coming out of the water looking like sex on a stick....
Saffron - Xavier sounded hot!
Jillian - Right.....
Noemi - I kind of loved that fact that he wanted to get to know her so bad that he put the plan together. But of course we know what happens to best laid plans lol
Saffron - He definitely had some hot moves. On his surfboard, I mean. *ahem*
Jillian - He wanted to get to know her so bad that he came up with the "plan" and nothing went as planned.... How about the bonfire?
Saffron - I like bonfires.
Noemi - Oh the bonfire......they sure heating things up there.
Jillian- In more ways than one. The kiss was very nice!
Saffron - But then he started thinking about his stupid plan. And what happens next with Ronni and Tamara kinda had me laughing.
Jillian - CATFIGHT!!!!
Saffron - LOL! Those two were too funny! And Ronni's brother, Hudson, that poor guy having to reel her in all the time.
Noemi - Hudson really had his work cut out for him watching Ronni and Xavier.
Jillian - Poor Hudson he always had to play the babysitter.
Saffron - He was definitely a good friend to Xavier. Especially when that unexpected surfer showed up!
Noemi - You mean Zander???? Boy I was dying to know more about his story.
Jillian - Yes, and the way he found Zander was pretty interesting.
Saffron - Zander spelled trouble from the beginning!
Noemi - He certainly knew how to push everyone's buttons.
Jillian - He played everyone just right even Tamara. He got her to like him and feel bad for him.
Saffron - Him and his little entourage. BARF
Jillian - The Skank Hoes?
Noemi - He's whole crew were jerks and users.
Saffron - Yeah, not just the skanks, but the other gross losers.
Jillian - They all just wanted his drugs and whatever else his money could buy them.
Saffron - That is true. Those rich boys can't win can they?
Noemi - Ok I have to bring up the first "bathroom" scene. I about died laughing when he walked in.
Saffron - OMG! Tamara had to be mortified!
Jillian - Wouldn't you be?....at first at least lol
Saffron - Absolutely I would be! It's not like she could say, "Hey, wanna give me a hand?"
Jillian - Well she could but she wouldn't.
Noemi - I'm sure he was ready to ask her that question lol
Jillian - Things for sure got interesting once Xavier moved into Hudson's house for a little while. Oh you know he was
Saffron - Definitely interesting when he started living there! I'd probably be in the bathroom a lot or finding an excuse to go in his room.
Jillian - I think there were a lot of times she was hoping he would keep walking in on her in the bathroom. Which he did. Lol. Not always on accident I might add
Noemi - Well he wanted to make sure he made an impression on her.
Saffron - It was cute how Xavier kept trying to stick with his plan. Like with the night walk.
Noemi - But like always it didn't work out the way he thought it would. When they called Tamara and Zander as a pair Xavier just about lost it.
Jillian - He tried so hard but it never went as "planned". Zander sure did surprise both of them that night
Noemi - I think he even surprised himself.
Saffron - I hate the dark! He could've been a real dick to her too.
Noemi - Yup he could have but he didn't. Zander really looked out for her and get her out of there and to "safety".
Jillian - He could have but he helped her all the way through
Noemi - Jinx lol
Jillian - We are always jinxing lol
Saffron - I wonder what was going through his head... could be a good deleted scene!
Jillian - Oh for sure. The Surfboard scene had me fanning myself for sure. I won't look at a surfboard the same way again I can tell you that right now.
Saffron - I've never waxed a surfboard before. What are the chances it'll go something like that?
Jillian - Puts a whole new meaning to sex wax
Noemi - Oh heck ya that was hot!!! I'll never be able to look at a surfboard and not think of that scene. Road trip and surf lessons ladies???
Jillian - Sign me up!
Saffron - HAHA! Sex wax!
Jillian -That's what it's called lol
Saffron - I totally forgot about that! That scene could've been a good happily ever after for sure! hehe! But man, I wasn't sure how the book was going to end! Every bookworm wants a happily ever after, right?
Jillian - It got a little rocky there at the end didn't it? I know I am a sucker for a happily ever after myself.
Noemi - It did but I really liked the way things worked out for everyone. I'm really hoping there will be another book.
Saffron - I agree! I think there could be more to the story
Jillian - Couldn't agree more. I was very happy with the ending. If I do remember correctly I did see her mention something about a Zander and Ronni story at the end of the book. I am looking forward to that one.
Noemi - It's a big 5 stars for Romancing from me. I really enjoyed it.
Jillian - Oh yes! I also give this one a Big 5 Star Rating. I loved this book!
Saffron - I gave it 4 stars. I didn't absolutely love it, but I really liked it!
Jillian - I got sucked into this book right from the beginning. This story was so good!
Noemi - I absolutely loved this book. It had me hooked from the beginning
Saffron - Well, we are bookworms! But I'm pretty certain I wasn't as bad as Tamara.
Jillian - I was just going to say the same thing. We are bookworms as well so we could for sure relate with her.
Noemi - Tamara and I are kindred spirits lol. I'm guessing that I read as much as she does lol
Saffron - I might have some of Ronni in me though too. Which parts, I'm not telling.
Noemi - (raising hand and waving) I know which ones lol
Jillian - Ronni was a good friend. She made me laugh a lot. I would cut her if she stole my books and threw them away though. Just saying.
Noemi - Ronni means well. She really wants the best for Tamara.
Saffron - Oooh yeah! No throwing away books!
Jillian - That and she was just doing what she was told....
Noemi - Alright let’s get to when she sees Xavier for the first time. Boy did he really make an impression.
Saffron - Yeah, the whole "plan"... I didn't know if I loved it or hated it. A bit of both I guess.
Jillian - Oh Man! Coming out of the water looking like sex on a stick....
Saffron - Xavier sounded hot!
Jillian - Right.....
Noemi - I kind of loved that fact that he wanted to get to know her so bad that he put the plan together. But of course we know what happens to best laid plans lol
Saffron - He definitely had some hot moves. On his surfboard, I mean. *ahem*
Jillian - He wanted to get to know her so bad that he came up with the "plan" and nothing went as planned.... How about the bonfire?
Saffron - I like bonfires.
Noemi - Oh the bonfire......they sure heating things up there.
Jillian- In more ways than one. The kiss was very nice!
Saffron - But then he started thinking about his stupid plan. And what happens next with Ronni and Tamara kinda had me laughing.
Jillian - CATFIGHT!!!!
Saffron - LOL! Those two were too funny! And Ronni's brother, Hudson, that poor guy having to reel her in all the time.
Noemi - Hudson really had his work cut out for him watching Ronni and Xavier.
Jillian - Poor Hudson he always had to play the babysitter.
Saffron - He was definitely a good friend to Xavier. Especially when that unexpected surfer showed up!
Noemi - You mean Zander???? Boy I was dying to know more about his story.
Jillian - Yes, and the way he found Zander was pretty interesting.
Saffron - Zander spelled trouble from the beginning!
Noemi - He certainly knew how to push everyone's buttons.
Jillian - He played everyone just right even Tamara. He got her to like him and feel bad for him.
Saffron - Him and his little entourage. BARF
Jillian - The Skank Hoes?
Noemi - He's whole crew were jerks and users.
Saffron - Yeah, not just the skanks, but the other gross losers.
Jillian - They all just wanted his drugs and whatever else his money could buy them.
Saffron - That is true. Those rich boys can't win can they?
Noemi - Ok I have to bring up the first "bathroom" scene. I about died laughing when he walked in.
Saffron - OMG! Tamara had to be mortified!
Jillian - Wouldn't you be?....at first at least lol
Saffron - Absolutely I would be! It's not like she could say, "Hey, wanna give me a hand?"
Jillian - Well she could but she wouldn't.
Noemi - I'm sure he was ready to ask her that question lol
Jillian - Things for sure got interesting once Xavier moved into Hudson's house for a little while. Oh you know he was
Saffron - Definitely interesting when he started living there! I'd probably be in the bathroom a lot or finding an excuse to go in his room.
Jillian - I think there were a lot of times she was hoping he would keep walking in on her in the bathroom. Which he did. Lol. Not always on accident I might add
Noemi - Well he wanted to make sure he made an impression on her.
Saffron - It was cute how Xavier kept trying to stick with his plan. Like with the night walk.
Noemi - But like always it didn't work out the way he thought it would. When they called Tamara and Zander as a pair Xavier just about lost it.
Jillian - He tried so hard but it never went as "planned". Zander sure did surprise both of them that night
Noemi - I think he even surprised himself.
Saffron - I hate the dark! He could've been a real dick to her too.
Noemi - Yup he could have but he didn't. Zander really looked out for her and get her out of there and to "safety".
Jillian - He could have but he helped her all the way through
Noemi - Jinx lol
Jillian - We are always jinxing lol
Saffron - I wonder what was going through his head... could be a good deleted scene!
Jillian - Oh for sure. The Surfboard scene had me fanning myself for sure. I won't look at a surfboard the same way again I can tell you that right now.
Saffron - I've never waxed a surfboard before. What are the chances it'll go something like that?
Jillian - Puts a whole new meaning to sex wax
Noemi - Oh heck ya that was hot!!! I'll never be able to look at a surfboard and not think of that scene. Road trip and surf lessons ladies???
Jillian - Sign me up!
Saffron - HAHA! Sex wax!
Jillian -That's what it's called lol
Saffron - I totally forgot about that! That scene could've been a good happily ever after for sure! hehe! But man, I wasn't sure how the book was going to end! Every bookworm wants a happily ever after, right?
Jillian - It got a little rocky there at the end didn't it? I know I am a sucker for a happily ever after myself.
Noemi - It did but I really liked the way things worked out for everyone. I'm really hoping there will be another book.
Saffron - I agree! I think there could be more to the story
Jillian - Couldn't agree more. I was very happy with the ending. If I do remember correctly I did see her mention something about a Zander and Ronni story at the end of the book. I am looking forward to that one.
Noemi - It's a big 5 stars for Romancing from me. I really enjoyed it.
Jillian - Oh yes! I also give this one a Big 5 Star Rating. I loved this book!
Saffron - I gave it 4 stars. I didn't absolutely love it, but I really liked it!
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