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The Final Rose
At the ripe age of twenty-seven, Nokomis Reed's love life has come to a screeching halt—which is why when her mother nominates her to be a contestant on a reality TV show, she reluctantly says yes. Nokomis soon finds herself in a strange new world, living in a house with twenty other women, each vying for the attention of the same man. But when it's one of the other contestants, and not the single man who catches her eye, Nokomis is thrown even further from her comfort zone.Smart, sexy, and fun, The Final Rose follows Nokomis as she navigates the Game in search of love.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2016
42 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Lentzski
30 books851 followersEliza Lentzski is the best-selling author of sapphic fiction, romance, and erotica including the Winter Jacket and Don’t Call Me Hero series. A historian by day, Eliza is passionate about telling the stories of marginalized communities.
Born and raised in the upper Midwest—a landscape that often shapes her novels—Eliza now lives in Boston with her wife and their cat, Charley.
Born and raised in the upper Midwest—a landscape that often shapes her novels—Eliza now lives in Boston with her wife and their cat, Charley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 15, 2017
3.5 stars! Good not bad but i'm not a reality tv. connoisseur...risky topic...it was really nice to read honestly,a bit refreshing at times..i'm always intrigue at what this author releases because i'm such a huge fan of her books ...so i'll encourage others to take a look at this you might enjoy it or...
February 26, 2020
“You don’t understand. I like you. And before you say you like me, too, you should know that I like you like you.”
The was such a adorable romance. Nokomis and Lee ware supposed to be competing for Jacob's attention. The girls would be on a date with him and at the first chance these two would go around searching for each other. They had so many squeal worthy moments (really thankful for sunburns btw) My only problem was Candace because of her offensive nicknames for Nokomis but then she melted my heart in her second last scene.
The was such a adorable romance. Nokomis and Lee ware supposed to be competing for Jacob's attention. The girls would be on a date with him and at the first chance these two would go around searching for each other. They had so many squeal worthy moments (really thankful for sunburns btw) My only problem was Candace because of her offensive nicknames for Nokomis but then she melted my heart in her second last scene.
July 23, 2016
I must say I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this. This is the perfect beach read, cute and enjoyable. This is a take off of the Bachelor/Bachelorette TV shows almost to a T. But instead of what normally happens on those shows, boy meets girl, we have girl meets girl.
I really enjoyed the main character Nokomis, a Native Canadian living off a small reservation in Michigan. I like how Lentzski made her sexuality fluid and made no apologies for it.
The romance was sweet, and the sex scenes were very steamy!
This is a fun, quick read, and quite enjoyable. I found it to be well worth the small price tag.
I really enjoyed the main character Nokomis, a Native Canadian living off a small reservation in Michigan. I like how Lentzski made her sexuality fluid and made no apologies for it.
The romance was sweet, and the sex scenes were very steamy!
This is a fun, quick read, and quite enjoyable. I found it to be well worth the small price tag.
August 3, 2016
Quite disappointed as I really like this author. The book was so boring that by the end of the book I was so happy I was done with it!
Nothing made sense to me! As in nothing! No connection between the characters and the story just was so monotonous.
Usually when I read books that I don't end up liking, I look for things that make me feel that I actually didn't waste my time, maybe something new I learnt about a specific topic or sthg to compensate the wasted time. Unfortunately with this specific book, I came out with nothing.
I won't give up on the author though :)
Nothing made sense to me! As in nothing! No connection between the characters and the story just was so monotonous.
Usually when I read books that I don't end up liking, I look for things that make me feel that I actually didn't waste my time, maybe something new I learnt about a specific topic or sthg to compensate the wasted time. Unfortunately with this specific book, I came out with nothing.
I won't give up on the author though :)
December 23, 2022
An interesting premise to be sure, where two contestants on "The Bachelor" end up falling for each other instead of the dude. I do remember hearing that this happened on the actual show years ago (though also fairly sure that was all fake), so I was wondering how Ms. Lentzski would play this out. The story had pretty good flow, but did find some hiccups along the way.
The Pros: Nokomis's background. I loved the Indigenous angle, the culture, the fact her name is also the name of a tiny town in Saskatchewan that I would drive through with my family on our annual relative visiting trip. We do not see near enough indigenous characters in lesfic, so bravo! That being said, Nokomis herself was a little one-dimensional, there was opportunity there for the author to make her complex and interesting, but she felt flat. Minus the loss of her father, we don't really find out who she is, what makes her tick. Lee was a sweetheart, kind, but not fleshed out at all, we didn't get much about her except her career as a teacher and the brief but fantastic sleep-walking angle.
The parts with Jacob, the bachelor, were dry. I was bored, TBH. I ended up skimming/skipping the challenges and light drama in the hopes that the MC connection would build. My interest just wasn't held at all by many of those secondary characters.
So overall it was a light, fun read, I did like it but it didn't have much oomph. 3.25/5.
The Pros: Nokomis's background. I loved the Indigenous angle, the culture, the fact her name is also the name of a tiny town in Saskatchewan that I would drive through with my family on our annual relative visiting trip. We do not see near enough indigenous characters in lesfic, so bravo! That being said, Nokomis herself was a little one-dimensional, there was opportunity there for the author to make her complex and interesting, but she felt flat. Minus the loss of her father, we don't really find out who she is, what makes her tick. Lee was a sweetheart, kind, but not fleshed out at all, we didn't get much about her except her career as a teacher and the brief but fantastic sleep-walking angle.
The parts with Jacob, the bachelor, were dry. I was bored, TBH. I ended up skimming/skipping the challenges and light drama in the hopes that the MC connection would build. My interest just wasn't held at all by many of those secondary characters.
So overall it was a light, fun read, I did like it but it didn't have much oomph. 3.25/5.
December 24, 2017
I love that this happened in real life!
For someone who has never seen a single episode of either shows and has never liked the concept of vying for someone's attention like they are some kind of prize, I ended up really liking this book based on that exact same formula!
I wasn't actually going to read this book at all until I saw that a reviewer (Gabrielle) mentioned that this had actually happened in real life. Being the curious devil that I am I googled the story and sure enough it happened on The Bachelor Australia. Be that as it may I started reading this fully expecting it to still become a DNF but sure enough little by little I started rooting for Noko and Lee. This turned out to be a surprisingly cute read.
For someone who has never seen a single episode of either shows and has never liked the concept of vying for someone's attention like they are some kind of prize, I ended up really liking this book based on that exact same formula!
I wasn't actually going to read this book at all until I saw that a reviewer (Gabrielle) mentioned that this had actually happened in real life. Being the curious devil that I am I googled the story and sure enough it happened on The Bachelor Australia. Be that as it may I started reading this fully expecting it to still become a DNF but sure enough little by little I started rooting for Noko and Lee. This turned out to be a surprisingly cute read.
July 16, 2016
I'm really torn rating this. I Almost gave this a 3 but of course i really like Eliza Lentzskie so i gave this a chance.
You really hafto be patient with this book.
Epilogue saved my rating.
You really hafto be patient with this book.
Epilogue saved my rating.
February 7, 2019
Yea, OK, kept me going & on a superficial level & enjoyed it. Ending too quick leaving a lot of unanswered questions but go with the flow & enjoy. (It feels damned with faint praise but it is more than that. Just!)
February 17, 2021
The Final Rose was surprisingly good and I really enjoyed reading it; all the fluff, sweetness, sappiness, sexiness and the feel good factor - loved it all. Truth be told, I was expecting a lot more bite/bitchiness when you have so many ladies in the house vying for attention from Jacob. Alas I was wrong.... there was just 1 person, one rotten egg. And Candace... what can I say.. Apart from the name calling, who wouldn’t want to have someone like her in your corner.
October 26, 2016
I've read this months ago and I think this book just happened in real life. One of the nicest twist in the history of television shows. Congratulations to the two lovely ladies who were former contestants of The Bachelor Australia competing for Mr. Right but then found love with each other instead. As the title of one of the articles said,
The Bachelor finally creates true love – between two female contestants
. Just like in the book, I'm happy that love wins in the end.
January 30, 2017
Really enjoyable read. I read this book in 2 nights. I had my doubts about buying this due to the storyline, I wasn't sure I'd like it, but boy was I wrong. The writing pulled me in from the beginning and before I knew it, it was 1am in the morning and I was forcing myself to put it down.
The reason I give 4 stars and not 5 is I wasn't so keen on the ending. I would have liked the two main characters to have explored their interest in each other a bit more. To try and stop themselves but not being able to. The ending felt a little rushed so I was left feeling a little...is that it? This also may have been because I didn't want the story to end.
The reason I give 4 stars and not 5 is I wasn't so keen on the ending. I would have liked the two main characters to have explored their interest in each other a bit more. To try and stop themselves but not being able to. The ending felt a little rushed so I was left feeling a little...is that it? This also may have been because I didn't want the story to end.
September 4, 2016
A heartwarming novel of a "The Bachelor" alike reality show, only the ending comes unexpected when Nokomis ended up falling for another contestant rather than the "bachelor". Not one of my favourites from the author but still very enjoyable.
July 28, 2017
This book has been a surprise for me. Not did i expected to be such a good book. Not i expected i would hace enjoyed this much. One part of me wanted to keep reading it to know what happens with Nokomi and Lee. The other part didn't want the story to end.
I have really enjoyed the book. I connected with Nokomi since the start. And the love story was really well written. You know, even though the don't expend that much time together, is well developed. I recommend this book totally.
I have really enjoyed the book. I connected with Nokomi since the start. And the love story was really well written. You know, even though the don't expend that much time together, is well developed. I recommend this book totally.
July 21, 2016
This is a nice enough lesbian romance, set in an interesting situation. The fact that the main characters find themselves attracted to each other within a reality show in which they are looking for a man to marry threw me off a little, but in the end I liked how the author developed the story. Also the way all the female characters acted around each other showing a behind the scene look at a not very feminist tv show was interesting to read.
I enjoyed the point of view of the protagonist, and her being native american was very nice, its time there is some poc representation in lesbian books. Kudos to the author!
I enjoyed the point of view of the protagonist, and her being native american was very nice, its time there is some poc representation in lesbian books. Kudos to the author!
December 24, 2016
I always enjoy Lentzski's books. This one was no exception. The setting was interesting and unusual.
Really liked it!
Really liked it!
January 1, 2017
Its cute that this actually happened in real life recently. This book will remind you that life can give you the most unexpected surprises, especially in love.
September 19, 2017
Very racist treatment of native americans both casually and in terms of the author appropriating native stories. Trash.
June 27, 2022
[Revised rating: 3.5 | Edit: Still feeling some type of way of the portrayal of our indigenous mc was written.]
The bachelor show premise where the contestants fall for each other? Sign me up. I enjoy the gradual attraction, the not fully realised yearning for someone, and unable to keep away trope. I liked the pairing and as characters. The chemistry was fun. However....... The book would've benefited from having a sensitivity reading.
I've been in the same position as Noko, being indigenous, so I can't help but feel discomfort every time Candace continued with the racist nicknames. Sure, there are people like that in real life, but Candace was written as someone you grow to like. But I would have liked (or understood) her if she learned, aware of her racist attitude towards Noko, and sounded her apology after Noko's outburst of frustration. Maybe that's just a me thing. The book does 'somewhat' addresses the ignorant assumptions people make of natives, it doesn't get further beyond the surface from Noko's side. Moreover, Noko notes consistently of the pale skins of others, especially Lee's. But I'm not sure if the author intended for it to be read on how Eurocentric features have been ingrained in non-white people's minds. I know this is not that kind of book, so despite the surface representation and the uneasiness I felt about it (especially the portrayal of her home.), I still enjoyed reading the romance.
Side note: MC mentioned how she doesn't need sunscreen because she's naturally tanned. I'm not sure if mc (or the author) truly believes that or she doesn't put it on to rebel against her mother who wants her skin to not be darker. Her love interest tells her to put it on. Anyway, psa - people still need to put on sunscreen regardless the amount of melanin in your skin.
The bachelor show premise where the contestants fall for each other? Sign me up. I enjoy the gradual attraction, the not fully realised yearning for someone, and unable to keep away trope. I liked the pairing and as characters. The chemistry was fun. However....... The book would've benefited from having a sensitivity reading.
I've been in the same position as Noko, being indigenous, so I can't help but feel discomfort every time Candace continued with the racist nicknames. Sure, there are people like that in real life, but Candace was written as someone you grow to like. But I would have liked (or understood) her if she learned, aware of her racist attitude towards Noko, and sounded her apology after Noko's outburst of frustration. Maybe that's just a me thing. The book does 'somewhat' addresses the ignorant assumptions people make of natives, it doesn't get further beyond the surface from Noko's side. Moreover, Noko notes consistently of the pale skins of others, especially Lee's. But I'm not sure if the author intended for it to be read on how Eurocentric features have been ingrained in non-white people's minds. I know this is not that kind of book, so despite the surface representation and the uneasiness I felt about it (especially the portrayal of her home.), I still enjoyed reading the romance.
Side note: MC mentioned how she doesn't need sunscreen because she's naturally tanned. I'm not sure if mc (or the author) truly believes that or she doesn't put it on to rebel against her mother who wants her skin to not be darker. Her love interest tells her to put it on. Anyway, psa - people still need to put on sunscreen regardless the amount of melanin in your skin.
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December 2, 2022The Final Rose
Eliza Lentzski tells a fun story about love during a reality TV show. The chemistry is strong and vibrant. I love the connection between MCs. I look forward to more books by this author.
Eliza Lentzski tells a fun story about love during a reality TV show. The chemistry is strong and vibrant. I love the connection between MCs. I look forward to more books by this author.
February 14, 2021
The Final Rose is a cute sapphic romance based on the fun concept of a reality show. This was a light, enjoyable read that I mostly enjoyed, although I do have a couple of misgivings over the handling of race.
Protagonist Nokomis Reed isn’t particularly into the Bachelor-esque reality show (which I don’t think is ever named) that her First Nations mother signs her up for. But Mom is a big believer in fortune telling, and her fortune teller has told her that Nokomis will fall in love on TV. So Nokomis finds herself in a mansion with something like 20 other women, to compete for the hand of a man named Jacob, this season’s single person. Instead of Jacob, though, she quickly falls for fellow contestant Lee.
I liked Nokomis and Lee as characters and as a couple—there were some very sweet, caring scenes between the two of them, and some hot sex as well. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get to know Jacob a little better... I think that was kind of intentional (because there were so many girls, none of them got a lot of one-on-one time with him), but he was pretty important to the story, so I wanted a little more of him as a person.
Most of the other characters also weren’t incredibly deep, but I didn’t mind that as much. The one character I sort of had an issue with... and this ties into my misgivings about race... was Candace, a fellow contestant who struck up a... weird(?) friendship(?) with Nokomis.
So, Candace is... really racist. She calls Nokomis “Pocahontas,” and every time they do some kind of activity that could be taken as a stereotypical First Nations “thing” (canoeing, pottery, etc.), she comments on it. Nokomis is uncomfortable with this, and TELLS Candace so... and Candace doesn’t change. And Nokomis still keeps up the friendship. I think characters like Candace are REALISTIC... she’s not a bad person, she’s not intentionally being mean, but she is RACIST. I know it’s hard for people to shake off years and years of ingrained racism overnight, but it would have been nice to see her make an effort. Or, to see Nokomis say “screw you.” ;)
I’m also not sure about the representation of Nokomis’s home on “the Res”. As in, I have no idea if it’s at all accurate or not, because I don’t have that experience either... but it made me feel a little uneasy at times, and it seemed a little odd that she was all like “Oooooh, exotic blonde hair and pale skin!” about Lee and some of the other white girls, when her dad was white and she had 100% certainly known plenty of white people in her life. I’m not really qualified to say “This is problematic,” but... it made me a little uneasy.
The story was cute, even if the end felt a little rushed. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t knock my socks off, and I’d definitely recommend being aware of the racism-related issues and maybe seeking out reviews from Native/First Nations readers before making a decision on whether to read!
4 stars for most of the story, but a big minus one for not resolving the “Candace is racist” subplot(?).
Protagonist Nokomis Reed isn’t particularly into the Bachelor-esque reality show (which I don’t think is ever named) that her First Nations mother signs her up for. But Mom is a big believer in fortune telling, and her fortune teller has told her that Nokomis will fall in love on TV. So Nokomis finds herself in a mansion with something like 20 other women, to compete for the hand of a man named Jacob, this season’s single person. Instead of Jacob, though, she quickly falls for fellow contestant Lee.
I liked Nokomis and Lee as characters and as a couple—there were some very sweet, caring scenes between the two of them, and some hot sex as well. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get to know Jacob a little better... I think that was kind of intentional (because there were so many girls, none of them got a lot of one-on-one time with him), but he was pretty important to the story, so I wanted a little more of him as a person.
Most of the other characters also weren’t incredibly deep, but I didn’t mind that as much. The one character I sort of had an issue with... and this ties into my misgivings about race... was Candace, a fellow contestant who struck up a... weird(?) friendship(?) with Nokomis.
So, Candace is... really racist. She calls Nokomis “Pocahontas,” and every time they do some kind of activity that could be taken as a stereotypical First Nations “thing” (canoeing, pottery, etc.), she comments on it. Nokomis is uncomfortable with this, and TELLS Candace so... and Candace doesn’t change. And Nokomis still keeps up the friendship. I think characters like Candace are REALISTIC... she’s not a bad person, she’s not intentionally being mean, but she is RACIST. I know it’s hard for people to shake off years and years of ingrained racism overnight, but it would have been nice to see her make an effort. Or, to see Nokomis say “screw you.” ;)
I’m also not sure about the representation of Nokomis’s home on “the Res”. As in, I have no idea if it’s at all accurate or not, because I don’t have that experience either... but it made me feel a little uneasy at times, and it seemed a little odd that she was all like “Oooooh, exotic blonde hair and pale skin!” about Lee and some of the other white girls, when her dad was white and she had 100% certainly known plenty of white people in her life. I’m not really qualified to say “This is problematic,” but... it made me a little uneasy.
The story was cute, even if the end felt a little rushed. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t knock my socks off, and I’d definitely recommend being aware of the racism-related issues and maybe seeking out reviews from Native/First Nations readers before making a decision on whether to read!
4 stars for most of the story, but a big minus one for not resolving the “Candace is racist” subplot(?).
November 23, 2017
An oddball but winning romance. A solid 4.5 stars and an enjoyable novel.
Nokomis and Lee are thrown together, by chance or fate, on a TV dating program. Jacob's the purported first prize for the winner. Nokomis narrates her sweet and awkward path to true love/heartbreak. The characters felt real, as each played a part, in this primetime dating drama. Disposable people were brought together, in close quarters, and filmed with lights, microphones and cameras. Pretty women were dolled up to fulfill other people's fairytale imaginations. Contestants paraded before the male gaze and for female wish fulfillment.
As a long time Northwesterner, I enjoyed the book's scenes on Orcas Island. Along with a few typos, I would change the claim that it is the largest island in the San Juans. Oddly enough, San Juan Island is the largest on the Washington State side. In Canada, it's the beautiful Vancouver Island. I admit that it's a small quibble, but I've bicycled all of those islands and they are vividly alive in my memory.
As unlikely as it seems, this excellent writer makes the plot and characters work. Laughs bark and tears fall. I keep coming back to writings by Eliza Lentzski. This book makes fourteen in my collection. It won't be the last.
Nokomis and Lee are thrown together, by chance or fate, on a TV dating program. Jacob's the purported first prize for the winner. Nokomis narrates her sweet and awkward path to true love/heartbreak. The characters felt real, as each played a part, in this primetime dating drama. Disposable people were brought together, in close quarters, and filmed with lights, microphones and cameras. Pretty women were dolled up to fulfill other people's fairytale imaginations. Contestants paraded before the male gaze and for female wish fulfillment.
As a long time Northwesterner, I enjoyed the book's scenes on Orcas Island. Along with a few typos, I would change the claim that it is the largest island in the San Juans. Oddly enough, San Juan Island is the largest on the Washington State side. In Canada, it's the beautiful Vancouver Island. I admit that it's a small quibble, but I've bicycled all of those islands and they are vividly alive in my memory.
As unlikely as it seems, this excellent writer makes the plot and characters work. Laughs bark and tears fall. I keep coming back to writings by Eliza Lentzski. This book makes fourteen in my collection. It won't be the last.
October 5, 2023
I wish there was more
I think this book was okay. I really enjoyed reading about the challenges scenery, and the very staged aspects of the show. But I wish there had been… more from the characters. I felt like we barely scratched the surface of Nokomis, Lee and even Candice. This isn't to say there weren't sweet/cute moments, but I wish there were… more. Or that the development felt deeper. Overall, I did enjoy the premise. I always find these stories interesting, seeing how the author shows the characters falling in love in such a public and staged setting.
I think this book was okay. I really enjoyed reading about the challenges scenery, and the very staged aspects of the show. But I wish there had been… more from the characters. I felt like we barely scratched the surface of Nokomis, Lee and even Candice. This isn't to say there weren't sweet/cute moments, but I wish there were… more. Or that the development felt deeper. Overall, I did enjoy the premise. I always find these stories interesting, seeing how the author shows the characters falling in love in such a public and staged setting.
September 7, 2016
It was okay.
But I really didn't care at all about Lee.
But I really didn't care at all about Lee.
February 28, 2020
I don’t know why I had this book. I don’t remember reading it. But I’m glad someone made it appear in my timeline. It was SOOOOOOOOO good. Just go and read it. Noko is delightful and Lee is a sweatheart.
June 13, 2024
I liked the idea of the plot and I enjoyed some parts of the book. Something about the execution was a little bit lacking in my opinion, and I really don't know how to explain. Overall it was an okay read.
November 16, 2018
You can’t not like this author’s writing..
April 16, 2018
3.5
I expected something very tropey which read like fanfiction and boy I was not disappointed. I've read several stories with this 'plot' and trope before so I knew I would like it. However I haven't read it before with OC's which I loved a lot. The MC is a Native American from Canada and she is sexually fluid which is so cool. Essentially her mother signs her up to be on the bachelor because she went to a psychic and they told her she was going to fall in love on tv. She does and instead of it being the actual bachelor Jacob which was awesome btw scared of insects, listened to Nokomis, she kept him on his toes, she was real with him. All the date ideas were great from laser tag, fishing, coat ride, helicopters all of it was so cool and exactly like the show tbh.
A girl who is Nokomis room mate is sarcastic, funny and basically is rooting for Noko from day 1 helping her win Jacob's heart helping her out with the rules do's and don't. They get on great and in the end she takes the fall for Noko and tells Jacob about another girl being horrible and gets sent home.
Lee captures Noko's heart. It's not straight away it was gradual. We learn more about her, they bond. They chat by the pool, she cares, asks about Noko's family, her history, her language and they become close. I loved their first kiss and the scenes of them sneaking out together. How comfortable and touchy they were with each other. It was so sweet, the hesitancy and uncertainty after they kissed ahh. In the end Noko get's sent home as she didn't kiss Jacob and blew her chances with him as she loves Lee. Lee rushes to Noko's hotel room as she is eliminated and things happen, I really loved how Lee was confident and but then was hesitant like hey er I haven't been with a girl before so ???. Lee then left and went back to the show and Jacob.
Noko went home and watched it all on TV, she assumed that was it, all over. Lee got down to the final two people and declined the ring Jacob presented her. She turned up outside Noko's house with cameras causing all the angst. They fight, run away and really need to talk. Once they talk and realise hey we both want the same thing it was perfect.
The epilogue reunion was so cute, how happy Jacob was for them and how he got back with his ex girlfriend, how they were engaged and just adorable. The reunion between Noko and her room mate was amusing but I'm glad it ended happy for the majority.
A fast paced fun read, I am always down for some lgbt+ tropey story okay!
I expected something very tropey which read like fanfiction and boy I was not disappointed. I've read several stories with this 'plot' and trope before so I knew I would like it. However I haven't read it before with OC's which I loved a lot. The MC is a Native American from Canada and she is sexually fluid which is so cool. Essentially her mother signs her up to be on the bachelor because she went to a psychic and they told her she was going to fall in love on tv. She does and instead of it being the actual bachelor Jacob which was awesome btw scared of insects, listened to Nokomis, she kept him on his toes, she was real with him. All the date ideas were great from laser tag, fishing, coat ride, helicopters all of it was so cool and exactly like the show tbh.
A girl who is Nokomis room mate is sarcastic, funny and basically is rooting for Noko from day 1 helping her win Jacob's heart helping her out with the rules do's and don't. They get on great and in the end she takes the fall for Noko and tells Jacob about another girl being horrible and gets sent home.
Lee captures Noko's heart. It's not straight away it was gradual. We learn more about her, they bond. They chat by the pool, she cares, asks about Noko's family, her history, her language and they become close. I loved their first kiss and the scenes of them sneaking out together. How comfortable and touchy they were with each other. It was so sweet, the hesitancy and uncertainty after they kissed ahh. In the end Noko get's sent home as she didn't kiss Jacob and blew her chances with him as she loves Lee. Lee rushes to Noko's hotel room as she is eliminated and things happen, I really loved how Lee was confident and but then was hesitant like hey er I haven't been with a girl before so ???. Lee then left and went back to the show and Jacob.
Noko went home and watched it all on TV, she assumed that was it, all over. Lee got down to the final two people and declined the ring Jacob presented her. She turned up outside Noko's house with cameras causing all the angst. They fight, run away and really need to talk. Once they talk and realise hey we both want the same thing it was perfect.
The epilogue reunion was so cute, how happy Jacob was for them and how he got back with his ex girlfriend, how they were engaged and just adorable. The reunion between Noko and her room mate was amusing but I'm glad it ended happy for the majority.
A fast paced fun read, I am always down for some lgbt+ tropey story okay!
July 18, 2016
Having been a huge fan of Hunter/Elle pairing in Winter Jacket quadrilogy, I was so excited and giddy to actually get my hands on this one. And it started so good, I LOVED the topic of Reality TV, loved the moments where it was described how the characters behaved under the watchful eye of non-stop camera and filming. But everything lovely and worth reading ends there, which was a huge disappointment to me, because I really like Eliza Lentzski's novels. For instance, during the entire book, I haven't even remotely felt the chemistry between Nokomis and Lee, like other characters in other books had had it - Hunter and Elle in Winter Jacket, Abigail and Charlotte in Bittersweet Homecoming... Here, I kinda had the feeling that the focus was predominantly on Nokomis' feelings development - and the process of her falling in love is in my opinion poorly written, because she never had more interaction with Lee compared to other girls; she might've as well fallen in love with Candace as far as I'm concerned, because there was no difference in chemistry between Nokomis/Lee and Nokomis/Candace.
Never once in the book we get the hint of Lee's feelings, and voila - the moment Nokomis mentions she likes her, she's suddenly all over the moon and head over heels. There is no development of their relationship, no chemistry build-up, and had it not been the witty moments of Nokomis and Candace, and Native parts of the book, which were very nicely written and informative - I would've rated even lower.
Never once in the book we get the hint of Lee's feelings, and voila - the moment Nokomis mentions she likes her, she's suddenly all over the moon and head over heels. There is no development of their relationship, no chemistry build-up, and had it not been the witty moments of Nokomis and Candace, and Native parts of the book, which were very nicely written and informative - I would've rated even lower.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2018
So. Racist.
And I dare anyone to try justifying it with the author being inclusive and diverse and writing about "minorities."
First of all, the main character is little more than tokenized and perfunctory "representation."
Second of all, she is exoticized and hypersexualized in exactly all the ways indigenous women have been forever.
Third of all, the book makes a piss poor attempt at not condoning racial stereotypes and epithets with the "best friend" character. Which is more or less the only expressions of racism this author seems to think exist, so coming only from the, I guess, "grumpily racist but ultimately lovable" character reveals how perfunctory and half hearted this attempt to address microaggressions is.
And I dare anyone to try justifying it with the author being inclusive and diverse and writing about "minorities."
First of all, the main character is little more than tokenized and perfunctory "representation."
Second of all, she is exoticized and hypersexualized in exactly all the ways indigenous women have been forever.
Third of all, the book makes a piss poor attempt at not condoning racial stereotypes and epithets with the "best friend" character. Which is more or less the only expressions of racism this author seems to think exist, so coming only from the, I guess, "grumpily racist but ultimately lovable" character reveals how perfunctory and half hearted this attempt to address microaggressions is.
August 1, 2016
I love the concept of this book and found it really interesting when i started reading. However, I really don't get Lee? Like her character is so underdeveloped. Throughout the story there was no chemistry between her and Nokomis. Like sure Nokomis had feelings but at no point did I ever think Lee recipitate them. And this really annoyed me and down graded my opinion of this book. I think Lee and a lot of other characters really need to be worked on and need more characterisation.
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