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Bad Idea #1
Bad Idea
Repeat after me: stay away from the hot girl. The beautiful girl. The f**king ray of sunshine in the middle of your delivery route.
Layla Barros is everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I'll never have.
She's an innocent young student.
I'm a convicted felon.
She's rich girl from a nice family.
I've got nothing but a broken home.
But if I'm an addict, she's my drug. I can't stay away, even though I know I'll ruin her in the end.
She might be the girl of my dreams, but I was always a bad idea.
Layla Barros is everything I never knew I wanted. Everything I'll never have.
She's an innocent young student.
I'm a convicted felon.
She's rich girl from a nice family.
I've got nothing but a broken home.
But if I'm an addict, she's my drug. I can't stay away, even though I know I'll ruin her in the end.
She might be the girl of my dreams, but I was always a bad idea.
350 pages, ebook
First published November 8, 2017
1940 people are currently reading
2065 people want to read
About the author
Nicole French
46 books1,225 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Nicole French is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She's also a hopeless romantic, low key fashion addict, and total bookworm.
Keep up with Nicole French and receive your FREE copy of one of her books when you subscribe to her newsletter: bit.ly/NicoleFrenchNewsletter
When not writing, she is hanging out with her family, playing soccer with the rest of the thirty-plus crowd in Seattle, or going on dates with her husband. In her spare time, she likes to go running or practice the piano, but never seems to do either one of these things as much as she should.
www.nicolefrenchromance.com
Follow her on Facebook for weekly snippets and other news about her newest projects:
www.facebook.com/authornicolefrench
Other social media links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfrenchauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornicol...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nfrenchauthor/
Nicole French is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She's also a hopeless romantic, low key fashion addict, and total bookworm.
Keep up with Nicole French and receive your FREE copy of one of her books when you subscribe to her newsletter: bit.ly/NicoleFrenchNewsletter
When not writing, she is hanging out with her family, playing soccer with the rest of the thirty-plus crowd in Seattle, or going on dates with her husband. In her spare time, she likes to go running or practice the piano, but never seems to do either one of these things as much as she should.
www.nicolefrenchromance.com
Follow her on Facebook for weekly snippets and other news about her newest projects:
www.facebook.com/authornicolefrench
Other social media links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfrenchauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authornicol...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nfrenchauthor/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
March 24, 2018
2.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: **WARNING: THIS ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER AND IS PART OF A SERIES** . I have no idea how I missed that. I felt like it was really slow in some parts and it had some scenes that didn't really make sense, but when I got to the end I was still shocked that it didn't actually end 🤦🏻♀️! It was as if the author stretched it out and just threw in some drama in the epilogue to make at least two books out of it. Not my favorite tactic by authors for sure. I think it could've been better if those unnecessary scenes were cut out and it was made into one book tbh. I liked the H, but the h was not my kind of h -- AND after reading reviews of the next book, it cemented my decision to not continue the series because it seems like she only gets worse. My eyes were definitely rolling during the epilogue at her situation/dialogue . I'm bummed because reviewers seemed to really like this and said that it tapped into their emotions, but sadly the only emotion it brought out for me was my frustration.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Layla and Nico's story. Layla starts her new part-time job at a law office when they meet because it's on Nico's fed-ex route. Sparks fly the instant they meet, but there is an obvious age difference between them that has both of them holding off. Eventually they go out and connect instantly. There are some big obstacles in their way, some hot sexy times, a separation, and some sweet moments...and it ends on a cliffhanger for the next book.
POV: This alternated between Layla and Nico's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. It felt slow at times. There were scenes that after I read them was wondering "why was that even relevant?", but after getting to the cliffhanger it made sense like the author was trying to stretch out the story. I skimmed some of the slower h scenes and some of the sexy times too.
Instalove: Kind of. They have an instant strong attraction/connection that they build upon.
H rating: 4 stars. Nico. I liked him. He made the book for me, and was probably the main reason I continued reading when it felt slow. He was a great mixture of sweet, alpha, loyal, protective and sexy!
h rating: 2 stars. Layla. I struggled with her character. After a nights sleep and some reflection when writing this review, I realized that I simply didn't like her. She was immature, judgmental, and dumb at times to where I thought that the H deserved better.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up once or twice, but no tissues were needed.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends on a cliffhanger. The next book, Lost Ones, has already been released. I'm not happy with the cliffhanger at all because it just seems to add drama to draw this into a multi-book series
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: **WARNING: THIS ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER AND IS PART OF A SERIES** . I have no idea how I missed that. I felt like it was really slow in some parts and it had some scenes that didn't really make sense, but when I got to the end I was still shocked that it didn't actually end 🤦🏻♀️! It was as if the author stretched it out and just threw in some drama in the epilogue to make at least two books out of it. Not my favorite tactic by authors for sure. I think it could've been better if those unnecessary scenes were cut out and it was made into one book tbh. I liked the H, but the h was not my kind of h -- AND after reading reviews of the next book, it cemented my decision to not continue the series because it seems like she only gets worse. My eyes were definitely rolling during the epilogue at her situation/dialogue . I'm bummed because reviewers seemed to really like this and said that it tapped into their emotions, but sadly the only emotion it brought out for me was my frustration.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Layla and Nico's story. Layla starts her new part-time job at a law office when they meet because it's on Nico's fed-ex route. Sparks fly the instant they meet, but there is an obvious age difference between them that has both of them holding off. Eventually they go out and connect instantly. There are some big obstacles in their way, some hot sexy times, a separation, and some sweet moments...and it ends on a cliffhanger for the next book.
POV: This alternated between Layla and Nico's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. It felt slow at times. There were scenes that after I read them was wondering "why was that even relevant?", but after getting to the cliffhanger it made sense like the author was trying to stretch out the story. I skimmed some of the slower h scenes and some of the sexy times too.
Instalove: Kind of. They have an instant strong attraction/connection that they build upon.
H rating: 4 stars. Nico. I liked him. He made the book for me, and was probably the main reason I continued reading when it felt slow. He was a great mixture of sweet, alpha, loyal, protective and sexy!
h rating: 2 stars. Layla. I struggled with her character. After a nights sleep and some reflection when writing this review, I realized that I simply didn't like her. She was immature, judgmental, and dumb at times to where I thought that the H deserved better.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up once or twice, but no tissues were needed.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends on a cliffhanger. The next book, Lost Ones, has already been released. I'm not happy with the cliffhanger at all because it just seems to add drama to draw this into a multi-book series
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
July 5, 2018
4 SOLID STARS!
Layla is a typical 19 year old NYU student, struggling to balance her life. Her parents may be well-off, but they don't believe in handouts. They'll only pay her tuition, which means she's on her own for the rest. At her new part-time job, she meets the FedEx guy - who's drop-dead gorgeous.
Nico has spent his entire life taking care of his mother and 3 younger siblings. Now at 26, he's finally going to do something for himself by getting out of New York, a city that's slowly sucking the life out of him . . . until he meets the new receptionist at one of the stops on his route.
And so begins their tumultuous relationship.
I loved the way Layla was portrayed so true-to-life as a young adult. All of her questionable actions/thoughts and self-doubt really rang true to me.
But in swoon-worthy fashion, Nico steps up when things become more serious between them.
I also loved how both Layla and Nico thought, said, and did things that made them seem more human, more vulnerable, more real. It takes a good author to balance her characters' imperfections and flaws with what makes them likable.
Which brings us to the main theme of the story, cultural identity.
Layla, who is half Brazilian, has struggled with who she is her whole life, while Nico, on the other hand, who was raised by a Puerto Rican single mother, has no problem with it.
As you guys know, I love it when an author has something to say, and this story hit especially close to home for me because my daughter is half Latina.
Bad Idea was dense. This review barely scratches the multi-faceted surface of all the themes that are contained within its pages. It was a bit overwhelming honestly.
And it definitely needed another round of editing to pare down some of the repetitiveness. Plus, the writing was a little bit 'heavy handed' every once in a while, telling me what I should be thinking instead of showing me.
But come on, I'm not complaining - at all. This is what self-publishing is all about!!!!
I'm off to read book 2 - and me paying full-price for a sequel? It's the best recommendation I can give.
I'm just a pit stop on the way to her future. She knows it, and I know it.BIG SMILE! Bad Idea was a wonderful breath of fresh air!!
Layla is a typical 19 year old NYU student, struggling to balance her life. Her parents may be well-off, but they don't believe in handouts. They'll only pay her tuition, which means she's on her own for the rest. At her new part-time job, she meets the FedEx guy - who's drop-dead gorgeous.
Nico has spent his entire life taking care of his mother and 3 younger siblings. Now at 26, he's finally going to do something for himself by getting out of New York, a city that's slowly sucking the life out of him . . . until he meets the new receptionist at one of the stops on his route.
And so begins their tumultuous relationship.
"You guys come from completely different worlds."EVERYTHING may be stacked against them, but there's a spark between them that neither can deny.
I loved the way Layla was portrayed so true-to-life as a young adult. All of her questionable actions/thoughts and self-doubt really rang true to me.
I don't want him to look at me like that again, like I'm a child. Some kind of forbidden fruit.She's understandably wary of Nico, but she faces the idea of dating him head-on with all the enthusiasm that youth brings.
It might have started a little like a game, just like it always does when you first meet someone. But by the time we were sitting across the table from one another, neither one of us were playing anymore. We were just trying to keep up with what was happening.In contrast, Nico was older and wiser, and has serious misgivings about dating Layla. She's young, rich, and 'white', and he's . . . not.
But in swoon-worthy fashion, Nico steps up when things become more serious between them.
I'm not going to let the chip on my shoulder fuck things up.I gotta say that I LOVED the gritty, blue collar feel that he brought to the story. Under no circumstances was he portrayed as a saint, but his confidence and protective, giving tendencies had my heart all aflutter quite a few times.
I also loved how both Layla and Nico thought, said, and did things that made them seem more human, more vulnerable, more real. It takes a good author to balance her characters' imperfections and flaws with what makes them likable.
Which brings us to the main theme of the story, cultural identity.
Layla, who is half Brazilian, has struggled with who she is her whole life, while Nico, on the other hand, who was raised by a Puerto Rican single mother, has no problem with it.
As you guys know, I love it when an author has something to say, and this story hit especially close to home for me because my daughter is half Latina.
"Layla, a lot of immigrants don't want their kids to learn English like a second language. And if their kids can pass as white, like you, their lives are just easier."So where are the 5 STARS?
I think about my dad, about how he's always cursing his accent, which he can never quite get rid of. How he would always refuse to teach me Portuguese [...]. The way he won't let anyone call him or me Latino[...].
"Would you do it?" I ask. "Keep your kids from learning Spanish?"
He looks up in surprise. "Of course not. I love my culture. I wouldn't want them to lose out on knowing that side of themselves."
Bad Idea was dense. This review barely scratches the multi-faceted surface of all the themes that are contained within its pages. It was a bit overwhelming honestly.
And it definitely needed another round of editing to pare down some of the repetitiveness. Plus, the writing was a little bit 'heavy handed' every once in a while, telling me what I should be thinking instead of showing me.
But come on, I'm not complaining - at all. This is what self-publishing is all about!!!!
I'm off to read book 2 - and me paying full-price for a sequel? It's the best recommendation I can give.
November 8, 2017
Wow, I have no words to describe how much I love this book. But since I reeeally want to write this review, I better find some.
So I'll go straight to the point. This book was so different in atmosphere than the author's previous ones and, if possible, I loved it even more. The portrayal of NY is spot on. It's not an idealization à la "Sex and the City". THIS NY is gritty, real, loud, and doesn't smell like roses. And yet it couldn't be more charming. Living now in this crazy city, it was a joy for me to find and discover known and new places.
The stereotype about people in New York is that they're mean, but that's wrong. It's just that there are certain social codes everyone here knows -- codes like "don't stand like an idiot in the middle of a busy sidewalk," "don't stand in front of the subway car doors during rush hours if you're not getting off at the next stop," and "never, ever drive your car through a crosswalk when pedestrians are present."
"I'm walking here!" is a real saying. I've used it myself. In a city of almost eight million people stuffed into a few small boroughs, no one has the patience for those who don't know the rules."
Maybe that's why I became obsessed with New York when I visited in high school with my parents. It's a city full of in-betweens. Of people like me.
(Ain't that relatable? At least for me that's spot on.)
Now onto the romance. What. A. Romance. It was epic, hands down, from the very first moment. I don't want to call it insta-love not to bulk this book with Alexa Rileys and all those other "I saw you, now you belong to me" books. No, it was not insta-love, but from the first time they see each other the attraction is palpable. But very realistically, they don't jump into it right away, instead dancing around each other for a while, testing their new feelings, getting acquainted with them. I always find Nicole French's romances really relatable especially for the way she makes her character behave exactly like normal people would. You know, in that thing called real life? And in the end it adds a level of depth to the story that you can rarely find in romance nowadays.
Nico hugs me closer, draping one heavy leg over mine and slipping a lean, muscled arm around my waist so he is curved completely around the back of my body. He fits there. We fit, like two crooked pieces of the crazy jigsaw puzzle of this city, with its eight million other parts.
Still, I don't want you to think that because it's very real-life-oriented, it's not epically romantic. This is the story of 26 years old Nico Soltero, a half-puertorican from Harlem, FedEx employee extraordinaire and occasional bouncer, falling madly in love with a 19 years old NYU student from a rich family. You may think you've read this before, bad boy falls for the prim and proper girl. Think again.
"I'm Nico. Your friendly neighborhood FedEx delivery man."
What. The Fuck. Your friendly neighborhood FedEx delivery man? I sound like Mister Rogers with this shit. This girl is gonna thing I'm an idiot.
Nico may look like a Bad Boy but his heart is made of gold. His whole family depends on his and for his whole life he's been the person people could rely one, and now all he wants is to do something just for himself, something to set him free of the cage he's been living in. He's goofy, beyond handsome, a complete sweetheart, but with the occasional Alpha male streak.
I still get the shivers when I think to a particular scene... but I'll give you a quote for it.
"Next time you tell that motherfucker you got a man,"
Out of context it may not seem so hot but believe me, in that moment I was all kinds of flustered.
And Layla is in a situation, with her mixed heritage and her parent's beliefs, that makes her very relatable. She comes from money, sure, but she is more broke than Nico. Her parents are not supporting her but for her tuition and believe me, NY is crazy expensive. Even surviving here costs more than being a big spender elsewhere. I loved the little details French put into the book about how Layla has sometimes to choose between breakfast or lunch, or going out for a night of partying and groceries. The struggle is real, folks.
Ugh, I hate it when these kinds of guys do this, start to play that stupid geography game just because I have dark hair and a bigger butt that you average Connecticut trust-funder. Like they all jerked off watching Aladdin too many times as kids, and not they want to sleep with Princess Jasmine.
I'm not going to go deeper into the story because I want you to buy this book, and laugh and cry and dream and swoon with it. I can tell you that I could barely detach my eyes from it because I was addicted to the story, to the characters and their love.
I snuggle up against his warm chest and he folds me close, using one hand to cradle my head and run his fingers through my loose curls. It's a gesture he does a lot, one that makes me feel so loved and cherished. One that makes my heart open to the love I feel too.
Something I particularly appreciated was how the author really took the time to develop their relationship and having the characters interact in many different ways with each other. We see them on cloud nine, and then fighting, and then making up and going on dates. We get to witness the full scope of their relationship. A 360 panorama on what it means to be Nico Laya (#Layco)
On a side note, this book was H.A.W.T. Like, wow, somebody pass me the fan!
In conclusion, it was definitely one of my top reads this year. It contained all the things a reader could possibly wish for and that this particular reader finds priceless in a romance. I was Layla and I was Nico. I felt with them, the desperation of their love and the utter strength of it. This book truly captivated me and kidnapped me from reality and the feelings it channeled through me... I couldn't help but experience them like a layer of skin had been peeled off my soul. This book was not all smooth sailing, but it was powerful.
Now I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next book to be out. I need my next Soltero fix.
So I'll go straight to the point. This book was so different in atmosphere than the author's previous ones and, if possible, I loved it even more. The portrayal of NY is spot on. It's not an idealization à la "Sex and the City". THIS NY is gritty, real, loud, and doesn't smell like roses. And yet it couldn't be more charming. Living now in this crazy city, it was a joy for me to find and discover known and new places.
The stereotype about people in New York is that they're mean, but that's wrong. It's just that there are certain social codes everyone here knows -- codes like "don't stand like an idiot in the middle of a busy sidewalk," "don't stand in front of the subway car doors during rush hours if you're not getting off at the next stop," and "never, ever drive your car through a crosswalk when pedestrians are present."
"I'm walking here!" is a real saying. I've used it myself. In a city of almost eight million people stuffed into a few small boroughs, no one has the patience for those who don't know the rules."
Maybe that's why I became obsessed with New York when I visited in high school with my parents. It's a city full of in-betweens. Of people like me.
(Ain't that relatable? At least for me that's spot on.)
Now onto the romance. What. A. Romance. It was epic, hands down, from the very first moment. I don't want to call it insta-love not to bulk this book with Alexa Rileys and all those other "I saw you, now you belong to me" books. No, it was not insta-love, but from the first time they see each other the attraction is palpable. But very realistically, they don't jump into it right away, instead dancing around each other for a while, testing their new feelings, getting acquainted with them. I always find Nicole French's romances really relatable especially for the way she makes her character behave exactly like normal people would. You know, in that thing called real life? And in the end it adds a level of depth to the story that you can rarely find in romance nowadays.
Nico hugs me closer, draping one heavy leg over mine and slipping a lean, muscled arm around my waist so he is curved completely around the back of my body. He fits there. We fit, like two crooked pieces of the crazy jigsaw puzzle of this city, with its eight million other parts.
Still, I don't want you to think that because it's very real-life-oriented, it's not epically romantic. This is the story of 26 years old Nico Soltero, a half-puertorican from Harlem, FedEx employee extraordinaire and occasional bouncer, falling madly in love with a 19 years old NYU student from a rich family. You may think you've read this before, bad boy falls for the prim and proper girl. Think again.
"I'm Nico. Your friendly neighborhood FedEx delivery man."
What. The Fuck. Your friendly neighborhood FedEx delivery man? I sound like Mister Rogers with this shit. This girl is gonna thing I'm an idiot.
Nico may look like a Bad Boy but his heart is made of gold. His whole family depends on his and for his whole life he's been the person people could rely one, and now all he wants is to do something just for himself, something to set him free of the cage he's been living in. He's goofy, beyond handsome, a complete sweetheart, but with the occasional Alpha male streak.
I still get the shivers when I think to a particular scene... but I'll give you a quote for it.
"Next time you tell that motherfucker you got a man,"
Out of context it may not seem so hot but believe me, in that moment I was all kinds of flustered.
And Layla is in a situation, with her mixed heritage and her parent's beliefs, that makes her very relatable. She comes from money, sure, but she is more broke than Nico. Her parents are not supporting her but for her tuition and believe me, NY is crazy expensive. Even surviving here costs more than being a big spender elsewhere. I loved the little details French put into the book about how Layla has sometimes to choose between breakfast or lunch, or going out for a night of partying and groceries. The struggle is real, folks.
Ugh, I hate it when these kinds of guys do this, start to play that stupid geography game just because I have dark hair and a bigger butt that you average Connecticut trust-funder. Like they all jerked off watching Aladdin too many times as kids, and not they want to sleep with Princess Jasmine.
I'm not going to go deeper into the story because I want you to buy this book, and laugh and cry and dream and swoon with it. I can tell you that I could barely detach my eyes from it because I was addicted to the story, to the characters and their love.
I snuggle up against his warm chest and he folds me close, using one hand to cradle my head and run his fingers through my loose curls. It's a gesture he does a lot, one that makes me feel so loved and cherished. One that makes my heart open to the love I feel too.
Something I particularly appreciated was how the author really took the time to develop their relationship and having the characters interact in many different ways with each other. We see them on cloud nine, and then fighting, and then making up and going on dates. We get to witness the full scope of their relationship. A 360 panorama on what it means to be Nico Laya (#Layco)
On a side note, this book was H.A.W.T. Like, wow, somebody pass me the fan!
In conclusion, it was definitely one of my top reads this year. It contained all the things a reader could possibly wish for and that this particular reader finds priceless in a romance. I was Layla and I was Nico. I felt with them, the desperation of their love and the utter strength of it. This book truly captivated me and kidnapped me from reality and the feelings it channeled through me... I couldn't help but experience them like a layer of skin had been peeled off my soul. This book was not all smooth sailing, but it was powerful.
Now I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next book to be out. I need my next Soltero fix.
November 9, 2017
Let me start off by saying, WTH with that ending. Like a mad woman, I kept tapping my tablet like NO THIS CAN'T BE IT!!!
Now moving on, Layla & Nico had me giving my thighs a workout with the sexual tension these two had. Just when I thought yes relief is coming then BAM it stopped! Well in essence that added to their story and how much I fell in love with them.
But I will admit that there were MANY times that I wanted to knock some sense into Nico because he was frustrating the mess out of me. Yes-I want to be with her, No-I'm no good for her and I'm leaving, Yes/No.....
Layla was not only strong spirited but she was resilient and knew that Nico was no good for her because he would not be there for her in the end and she was willing to let him go in the end.
These two beautiful souls fell head over heels yet their paths threatened to separate them, could their love be stronger than fate? Would they find their way back to each other? Be prepared because this ends in a CLIFFHANGER!! So know I am patiently waiting to see what their end results is. ~5 Amazing Stars
Now moving on, Layla & Nico had me giving my thighs a workout with the sexual tension these two had. Just when I thought yes relief is coming then BAM it stopped! Well in essence that added to their story and how much I fell in love with them.
But I will admit that there were MANY times that I wanted to knock some sense into Nico because he was frustrating the mess out of me. Yes-I want to be with her, No-I'm no good for her and I'm leaving, Yes/No.....
Layla was not only strong spirited but she was resilient and knew that Nico was no good for her because he would not be there for her in the end and she was willing to let him go in the end.
These two beautiful souls fell head over heels yet their paths threatened to separate them, could their love be stronger than fate? Would they find their way back to each other? Be prepared because this ends in a CLIFFHANGER!! So know I am patiently waiting to see what their end results is. ~5 Amazing Stars
March 10, 2018
"The energy I feel with this girl in every other place is like the way the air feels right before a thunderstorm. Sparks everywhere."
Bad Idea was my first book by Nicole French and it really took my by surprise. It's a story so full of deep and honest love, loss and letting go, it broke my heart several times.
"All that electricity that's been building for the last two weeks finally sparked, and now it's full-fledged fire."
The story progression is pretty slow, but this way we get to know Nico and Layla with the same intensity and pace they get to know each other. I fell hard for both of them for all the same reasons they fell for each other.
"One breath, and it's like I've never had oxygen. One look at your blue eyes, and water never existed. Fuck, Layla, I don't just want you. I need you."
Even though I think Nico is quite selfish in many situations and I hate him for that, he does so many things right. The way he takes care of her, the way he makes her feel and sways her of her feet and steady her the same time. Nicole did a great job transferring the mixed feelings of the want to follow your dreams and true love. I hate that Nico made decisions that broke Layla's heart more than once, but at the same time I understood why he did it. And I totally could see and feel, why he could never let her actually go.
"...when you love someone, really love them and need them, to live without them is to live without water or air."
Layla is a strong heroine. You might not see it right away and she might not see it herself, but falling in love with Nico changed her and made her even stronger than she already was. The way she believes in Nico is simply wonderful and stunning. The most selfless decision Layla made was letting him go even though it broke her almost beyond repair. She saw something in him and would never let him sacrifice his dreams and the possibility of finding himself not even for her true love she felt for him.
"She might be the best thing that ever happened to me, but I was always a bad idea."
Bad Idea is a very emotional read full of angst and great chemistry. It will tear you apart with its cliffhanger and leaves you wanting more. This story, about Nico and Layla who are from different sides of the tracks with completely different upbringings is pretty captivating and goes straight to your heart.
Bad Idea was my first book by Nicole French and it really took my by surprise. It's a story so full of deep and honest love, loss and letting go, it broke my heart several times.
"All that electricity that's been building for the last two weeks finally sparked, and now it's full-fledged fire."
The story progression is pretty slow, but this way we get to know Nico and Layla with the same intensity and pace they get to know each other. I fell hard for both of them for all the same reasons they fell for each other.
"One breath, and it's like I've never had oxygen. One look at your blue eyes, and water never existed. Fuck, Layla, I don't just want you. I need you."
Even though I think Nico is quite selfish in many situations and I hate him for that, he does so many things right. The way he takes care of her, the way he makes her feel and sways her of her feet and steady her the same time. Nicole did a great job transferring the mixed feelings of the want to follow your dreams and true love. I hate that Nico made decisions that broke Layla's heart more than once, but at the same time I understood why he did it. And I totally could see and feel, why he could never let her actually go.
"...when you love someone, really love them and need them, to live without them is to live without water or air."
Layla is a strong heroine. You might not see it right away and she might not see it herself, but falling in love with Nico changed her and made her even stronger than she already was. The way she believes in Nico is simply wonderful and stunning. The most selfless decision Layla made was letting him go even though it broke her almost beyond repair. She saw something in him and would never let him sacrifice his dreams and the possibility of finding himself not even for her true love she felt for him.
"She might be the best thing that ever happened to me, but I was always a bad idea."
Bad Idea is a very emotional read full of angst and great chemistry. It will tear you apart with its cliffhanger and leaves you wanting more. This story, about Nico and Layla who are from different sides of the tracks with completely different upbringings is pretty captivating and goes straight to your heart.
October 13, 2017
Obviously this is my own review, but I love these characters so much. This story is REALLY close to my heart. A lot of comes from lived experience of my life and people I've known. Layla and Nico aren't based on ideal people I've imagined in my head, but real, living humans that exist in this world. They aren't billionaires, models, magically beautiful people whose only purpose in life is to love each other.
I didn't set out to write a book about social issues––about the disparity that happen because of racial differences, class differences, language differences, and so forth. And really, the book isn't about those things, although they do come into play. The book is, like all my stories, a love story about two people who just happen to come from very different worlds and love each other anyway. But they do love, and they love hard, as you'll see if you read it.
My favorite line from the book is this one:
"He kisses me then, and he tastes like chocolate––the bitter kind that’s not quite sweet. It’s not a kiss agitating in a frenzy of desire, but one that swims around in something much more potent. Something a little dark. Something a little painful. Just like love."
I didn't set out to write a book about social issues––about the disparity that happen because of racial differences, class differences, language differences, and so forth. And really, the book isn't about those things, although they do come into play. The book is, like all my stories, a love story about two people who just happen to come from very different worlds and love each other anyway. But they do love, and they love hard, as you'll see if you read it.
My favorite line from the book is this one:
"He kisses me then, and he tastes like chocolate––the bitter kind that’s not quite sweet. It’s not a kiss agitating in a frenzy of desire, but one that swims around in something much more potent. Something a little dark. Something a little painful. Just like love."
July 3, 2018
Urgh.... just slay me now! Screw class divides, ethnicities, preconceived notions and all the other bullshit that goes on in this world and in this country. I thought this book was a little too slow for my liking at first but it grew emotionally and having lived in New York for part of my childhood and part of my 20's I so got Nico and Layla and all the social divides and haves and have nots and how we're really not supposed 'to mix'. (Bullshit)
Nico is a mid 20's Puerto Rican/ Italian Fed Ex guy from Hell's Kitchen - once the home of the Irish have nots (and mob) and the Puerto Ricans and other various immigrants. Never an ideal neighborhood in Manhattan even if it is in midtown. He comes from an impoverished, bottom of the barrel class level and life has not been a fair ride for him.
Layla is attending NYU from Seattle where she comes from a well to do family with a white Californian mom and a very well to do Brazilian father whose a leading plastic surgeon but refuses to embrace his latin roots or groom Layla to be anything but the white side of herself.
Nico and Layla end up meeting when he's delivering fed ex packages to the glitzy law firm Layla's interning at. From the second they meet it is fireworks on both sides. Needless to say, they end up falling into a relationship and in love and for the first time in his life, Nico is seen by someone as just that, Nico. Not Puerto Rican, not immigrant, not blue collar. But the gorgeously perfect human being with an absolutely heart of gold that he is. Layla is not your typical privileged girl and even though she may be 19 while he's 26, it isn't her age that makes her look past social, socioeconomical brackets and class politics - it's just who she is.
Screw all that crap! These two people WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER. And the author just slayed me with where it had to go and the crap that kept popping it's head up. And the worse part is: I can't even be mad at for this because she didn't make this shit up. There's Manhattan for you. The haves, the have nots and the two that never shall meet.
I'm seriously ready to throw an epileptic fit right now. Nico is heartbreakingly good and worthy and Layla's love for him so unconditional and where this book ends off could send me into a tizzy. Actually, I think writing this crap out, I'm already in one....
I can't believe this. It's 2:57 am in the morning and I have a date tomorrow and I simply cannot go to bed without something else happening before I close my eyes and go to bed or I won't sleep.
Screw racist bullshit, screw the categories we throw each into in society! Love is Love is Love. And that should be good enough. Anyone that doesn't like it isn't worth knowing!
Nico is a mid 20's Puerto Rican/ Italian Fed Ex guy from Hell's Kitchen - once the home of the Irish have nots (and mob) and the Puerto Ricans and other various immigrants. Never an ideal neighborhood in Manhattan even if it is in midtown. He comes from an impoverished, bottom of the barrel class level and life has not been a fair ride for him.
Layla is attending NYU from Seattle where she comes from a well to do family with a white Californian mom and a very well to do Brazilian father whose a leading plastic surgeon but refuses to embrace his latin roots or groom Layla to be anything but the white side of herself.
Nico and Layla end up meeting when he's delivering fed ex packages to the glitzy law firm Layla's interning at. From the second they meet it is fireworks on both sides. Needless to say, they end up falling into a relationship and in love and for the first time in his life, Nico is seen by someone as just that, Nico. Not Puerto Rican, not immigrant, not blue collar. But the gorgeously perfect human being with an absolutely heart of gold that he is. Layla is not your typical privileged girl and even though she may be 19 while he's 26, it isn't her age that makes her look past social, socioeconomical brackets and class politics - it's just who she is.
Screw all that crap! These two people WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER. And the author just slayed me with where it had to go and the crap that kept popping it's head up. And the worse part is: I can't even be mad at for this because she didn't make this shit up. There's Manhattan for you. The haves, the have nots and the two that never shall meet.
I'm seriously ready to throw an epileptic fit right now. Nico is heartbreakingly good and worthy and Layla's love for him so unconditional and where this book ends off could send me into a tizzy. Actually, I think writing this crap out, I'm already in one....
I can't believe this. It's 2:57 am in the morning and I have a date tomorrow and I simply cannot go to bed without something else happening before I close my eyes and go to bed or I won't sleep.
Screw racist bullshit, screw the categories we throw each into in society! Love is Love is Love. And that should be good enough. Anyone that doesn't like it isn't worth knowing!
Read
July 2, 2024Well damn. I was really liking where this was going, until I read other reviews and realized this is a trilogy and at one point, the couple breaks up for an extended length of time. That's a hard no for me. This review is the one that gave me enough info to know that I wouldn't like where this was going....
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 23, 2017
Wow!! What an angst filled ride... my favorite kind of read!! I devoured Bad Idea and loved Layla and Nico together. Two people who come from opposite sides of the tracks, but were made for each other. Nicole French had you FEELING everything they were feeling. Their attraction, their emotions, their love story. When they met, BAM, fireworks. Then as the story plays on, you fall in love just as they do. That ending though... hmmm, not so sure I like the way it went down, but I can't wait for book 2!
July 1, 2018
For some inexplicable reason, I find it difficult to express my thoughts on this book & why I loved it. Maybe it was the slow burn, or the conflicts within each of their separate families or maybe it's the overwhelming emotions these two characters feel when they are together & the ache when they are apart. Layla, 19, grew up near Seattle, Washington, her mother, a white wealthy California girl & her father, from Brazil, became a very successful plastic surgeon. He fought to lose his accent, feeling it would hold him back from opportunities, so much so that he refused to teach his daughter the language or about the culture of his homeland. And he was the ruler of the household. Layla, needing her independence chose to cross the country to study at NYU.
Nico, 26, Spanish, works for Fed-Ex in NYC during the day & security for clubs in the evening. He loves his family, crazy as they sometimes can be & supports them financially whenever he is able. A single parent & illegal immigrant, his mother relies on him to make repairs around her tiny apartment, run errands and fix the family dynamics when tensions arise. In all her years living in the USA she has not learned the English language.
To earn much needed spending money, Layla works part-time as a receptionist at a law office (her father believes one needs to work hard to get extras & pays only the bare minimum for her schooling) & this is where she meets Nico, delivering packages to her desk.
I love both of the main characters but Nico is the true hero of this story. He has sacrificed his dreams to care for his family, works so hard to please everyone but at the same time he is no push-over. A true gentleman towards Layla, the chemistry is instantaneous, they converse with ease & a heart-wrenching love for each other develops over a very short period of time. This story ends in quite the cliffhanger & I can't wait to read what comes next.
Nico, 26, Spanish, works for Fed-Ex in NYC during the day & security for clubs in the evening. He loves his family, crazy as they sometimes can be & supports them financially whenever he is able. A single parent & illegal immigrant, his mother relies on him to make repairs around her tiny apartment, run errands and fix the family dynamics when tensions arise. In all her years living in the USA she has not learned the English language.
To earn much needed spending money, Layla works part-time as a receptionist at a law office (her father believes one needs to work hard to get extras & pays only the bare minimum for her schooling) & this is where she meets Nico, delivering packages to her desk.
I love both of the main characters but Nico is the true hero of this story. He has sacrificed his dreams to care for his family, works so hard to please everyone but at the same time he is no push-over. A true gentleman towards Layla, the chemistry is instantaneous, they converse with ease & a heart-wrenching love for each other develops over a very short period of time. This story ends in quite the cliffhanger & I can't wait to read what comes next.
October 31, 2017
3.5 Stars-Too Long of a Read for NO ENDING
When I read Bad Idea it was in an ARC form on my Kindle, so I don't know the page number, but I do know the total location and it's HIGH. 7024 to be exact, which equals a lot of pages to me. Too many pages for a book to not have an ending. Granted I didn't see this was Vol. 1 when I took it for review. The beginning was an homage to New York city before we even get appreciate Nico and Layla, then I felt cheated-big time with that cliffhanger ending.
The book starts out slow, like I said, more about the city than the characters. I was ready to tap out, but around the 35% mark things started to get interesting. I ended up really liking Nico and what a stand up guy he turned out to be. Layla, eh not so much, she really had to grow on me.
In the blurb you get the gist of what is going on with Nico and Layla. She is new to the city and he is ready to leave, a horrible time to meet and possibly fall in love. That is where the good angsty stuff comes into play. The clock ticking down the days when everything is going to fall apart for this May/December couple. Nicole French let that clock tick until the 98% mark and didn't finish thier story. It was too much. I was instantly turned off from this book and these characters.
The book drags in the beginning, the middle is good and the end should have been in a book of this length. Of course there's an epilogue, which is nothing but a HUGE tease. I'll probably take a pass on it out of spite. Immature, I know.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
When I read Bad Idea it was in an ARC form on my Kindle, so I don't know the page number, but I do know the total location and it's HIGH. 7024 to be exact, which equals a lot of pages to me. Too many pages for a book to not have an ending. Granted I didn't see this was Vol. 1 when I took it for review. The beginning was an homage to New York city before we even get appreciate Nico and Layla, then I felt cheated-big time with that cliffhanger ending.
The book starts out slow, like I said, more about the city than the characters. I was ready to tap out, but around the 35% mark things started to get interesting. I ended up really liking Nico and what a stand up guy he turned out to be. Layla, eh not so much, she really had to grow on me.
In the blurb you get the gist of what is going on with Nico and Layla. She is new to the city and he is ready to leave, a horrible time to meet and possibly fall in love. That is where the good angsty stuff comes into play. The clock ticking down the days when everything is going to fall apart for this May/December couple. Nicole French let that clock tick until the 98% mark and didn't finish thier story. It was too much. I was instantly turned off from this book and these characters.
The book drags in the beginning, the middle is good and the end should have been in a book of this length. Of course there's an epilogue, which is nothing but a HUGE tease. I'll probably take a pass on it out of spite. Immature, I know.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog.
November 5, 2017
Okay, first of all, Nicole French is the queen of cliffhangers. I'm just saying, I feel like I'm still holding my breath after reading the ending of Bad Idea since last night! I thought a good nights sleep would shake the feeling of "I Need To Know What Happens Next". Nope, did not help. Bad Idea will stay in your head long after you see "The End". When I saw that this was volume 1, I told myself I can handle it .... Ha yeah right. I need more ASAP!
Layla is finally living for herself in NY and going to school. She is a temp at a law firm and that is where Nico finds her. He can never stay away. But his dreams of getting out of NY is black cloud that is always hovering around these two. No doubt, the passion, the chemistry, and love are there for Layla and Nico. Layla loves hard and never once judged Nico for his dark past. Bad Idea is the perfect title to this story. This book has angst and is a roller coaster ride for your emotions. In this case, love sets these two onto different paths.
Like I said, the ending was just crazy! I need to know if these two can find the same path they were once on. I am hoping Layla is okay, and hoping Nico can save her. I want and need them to be together and into each others lives. Not just as friends, but as lovers. I will sit here with my leg jumping up and down until Part 2 is released with hopes and dreams for these two <3 Book Friends, Bad Idea is a book you need to get your hands on!
Layla is finally living for herself in NY and going to school. She is a temp at a law firm and that is where Nico finds her. He can never stay away. But his dreams of getting out of NY is black cloud that is always hovering around these two. No doubt, the passion, the chemistry, and love are there for Layla and Nico. Layla loves hard and never once judged Nico for his dark past. Bad Idea is the perfect title to this story. This book has angst and is a roller coaster ride for your emotions. In this case, love sets these two onto different paths.
Like I said, the ending was just crazy! I need to know if these two can find the same path they were once on. I am hoping Layla is okay, and hoping Nico can save her. I want and need them to be together and into each others lives. Not just as friends, but as lovers. I will sit here with my leg jumping up and down until Part 2 is released with hopes and dreams for these two <3 Book Friends, Bad Idea is a book you need to get your hands on!
November 8, 2017
Angst doesn’t even begin to cover what This book is full of! Lust, hope, desire, hate, and most of all love! Those are some of the emotions you’ll feel while reading this beautiful book!
Nico is a man who has worked his butt off for his family! He doesn’t have much but he definitely has his charm! Layla was raised by a family with money yet she’s far from a rich girl. She works to afford her life in New York while also being a full time student. Neither one expected the spark that grew when they met but they also can’t fight it forever! Can they get past their differences to find a way to make it work?
I absolutely LOVE Nico! He’s unlike any other character I’ve come across! His life has been full of obstacles but he’s still standing and has made his way in life and more than anything he has found a love within himself that he never knew possible!! Layla is someone I wish I could pull from the book and hug! She struggles to make a life for herself while still being young! She had no one who knows her deepest secrets and her fears yet with one look she knows Nico holds her heart unlike any other.
This story has a cliffy so be warned but I suggest to still read because you won’t be disappointed! Nicole definitely never disappoints!!
Nico is a man who has worked his butt off for his family! He doesn’t have much but he definitely has his charm! Layla was raised by a family with money yet she’s far from a rich girl. She works to afford her life in New York while also being a full time student. Neither one expected the spark that grew when they met but they also can’t fight it forever! Can they get past their differences to find a way to make it work?
I absolutely LOVE Nico! He’s unlike any other character I’ve come across! His life has been full of obstacles but he’s still standing and has made his way in life and more than anything he has found a love within himself that he never knew possible!! Layla is someone I wish I could pull from the book and hug! She struggles to make a life for herself while still being young! She had no one who knows her deepest secrets and her fears yet with one look she knows Nico holds her heart unlike any other.
This story has a cliffy so be warned but I suggest to still read because you won’t be disappointed! Nicole definitely never disappoints!!
November 10, 2017
For my full review go to: https://goo.gl/AUqxa6
This book was full of so many emotions and I loved every minute of it!!! There is absolutely nothing that Nicole writes that I won't pick up. She slays my life with every freaking book she writes and I can't help but chomp at the bit every time she announces a new book. And for very good reason. If you have read anything by Nicole then WHAT are you doing with your life?
Not only does Nicole tackle issues that really do happen in real life she make sure that she gives you a journey all the way through the book. Whether that journey is hope, despair, love, sex, angst, or just down right beautiful writing, it is all there.
Nico is the hardest working person who will do absolutely anything for his family even if it means working two jobs that he doesn't really care for, just so that they can make ends meet. But that main job at Fed Ex gets even better when he walks into one of the law firms he delivers to and sees Layla sitting there. He knows its a bad idea to get involved with someone who looks so young like she does because he is almost 27 but he cant help how she makes him feel. She gives him the spark he has been looking for and he doesn't want to let that go.
Layla is in college and interning at a law firm so that her resume looks good when she applies for law school. But as she is sitting there on her first day in walks a FEDEX delivery guy that everyone is talking about, and after seeing him she sees why. Not only is he super hunky but he has an accent she cant help but like when he asks her where she is from. She knows that its a bad idea to get involved with someone who is his age and she is surprised when he doesn't bat an eye when she tells him how young she is. But 19 is still an adult, right? So this decision shouldn't be this hard should it? It couldn't hurt to have a little fun?
Nico has so much I admire in a man that it only makes it that much easier to love him more and more the longer you read this book. He works hard for everything he has and understands the difference between having it all and working your fingers to the bone to make sure you have everything you need. Not always what you want but it is always what is needed. He loves his family and his city more than anything! Nico has went through ups and downs but that hasn't stopped him from working his butt off and having a little fun along the way!
Layla has always had everything she ever needed and has worked very hard to make sure that she isn't the stereotypical rich kid. She moved from Washington to New York so that she could go to school and fulfill her fathers dreams for her of becoming a lawyer. Even though she could be anything she wants to make a difference. Layla may be young but she has her secrets that no on knows and she knows that Nico holds her heart like no other ever will.
Disclaimer: I received this book from Inkslinger PR, Nicole French and Raglan Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own and not influenced by the exchange.
This book was full of so many emotions and I loved every minute of it!!! There is absolutely nothing that Nicole writes that I won't pick up. She slays my life with every freaking book she writes and I can't help but chomp at the bit every time she announces a new book. And for very good reason. If you have read anything by Nicole then WHAT are you doing with your life?
Not only does Nicole tackle issues that really do happen in real life she make sure that she gives you a journey all the way through the book. Whether that journey is hope, despair, love, sex, angst, or just down right beautiful writing, it is all there.
Nico is the hardest working person who will do absolutely anything for his family even if it means working two jobs that he doesn't really care for, just so that they can make ends meet. But that main job at Fed Ex gets even better when he walks into one of the law firms he delivers to and sees Layla sitting there. He knows its a bad idea to get involved with someone who looks so young like she does because he is almost 27 but he cant help how she makes him feel. She gives him the spark he has been looking for and he doesn't want to let that go.
Layla is in college and interning at a law firm so that her resume looks good when she applies for law school. But as she is sitting there on her first day in walks a FEDEX delivery guy that everyone is talking about, and after seeing him she sees why. Not only is he super hunky but he has an accent she cant help but like when he asks her where she is from. She knows that its a bad idea to get involved with someone who is his age and she is surprised when he doesn't bat an eye when she tells him how young she is. But 19 is still an adult, right? So this decision shouldn't be this hard should it? It couldn't hurt to have a little fun?
Nico has so much I admire in a man that it only makes it that much easier to love him more and more the longer you read this book. He works hard for everything he has and understands the difference between having it all and working your fingers to the bone to make sure you have everything you need. Not always what you want but it is always what is needed. He loves his family and his city more than anything! Nico has went through ups and downs but that hasn't stopped him from working his butt off and having a little fun along the way!
Layla has always had everything she ever needed and has worked very hard to make sure that she isn't the stereotypical rich kid. She moved from Washington to New York so that she could go to school and fulfill her fathers dreams for her of becoming a lawyer. Even though she could be anything she wants to make a difference. Layla may be young but she has her secrets that no on knows and she knows that Nico holds her heart like no other ever will.
Disclaimer: I received this book from Inkslinger PR, Nicole French and Raglan Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own and not influenced by the exchange.
November 8, 2017
5 EXHILARATING STARS!
If you want a book that hooks you from the first page then you need to check out BAD IDEA by Nicole French. I fell so deep into this book that I couldn't find my way out!! The characters, the setting and the storyline were just dazzling.
There are 3 main characters in this story: Nico, Layla and New York City. You are in for a ride the minute Layla meets Nico. Your heart will be stolen and there is no coming back.
Layla is a college student who is away from home for the first time--she's hard working, focused and has her path paved towards law school.
Nico is a hardworking older man who has always had to take care of his family. He has put his own desires and dreams on hold. Never asking for anything, blindly taking care of everyone.
They come from different worlds, want different things, but can't stay away from each other.
There journey across NYC will have you understanding the concept of soulmates.
This is an emotional 5 star read! One of my favorite books of 2017!
I can not wait for the second part!
#ERRNA
If you want a book that hooks you from the first page then you need to check out BAD IDEA by Nicole French. I fell so deep into this book that I couldn't find my way out!! The characters, the setting and the storyline were just dazzling.
There are 3 main characters in this story: Nico, Layla and New York City. You are in for a ride the minute Layla meets Nico. Your heart will be stolen and there is no coming back.
Layla is a college student who is away from home for the first time--she's hard working, focused and has her path paved towards law school.
Nico is a hardworking older man who has always had to take care of his family. He has put his own desires and dreams on hold. Never asking for anything, blindly taking care of everyone.
They come from different worlds, want different things, but can't stay away from each other.
There journey across NYC will have you understanding the concept of soulmates.
This is an emotional 5 star read! One of my favorite books of 2017!
I can not wait for the second part!
#ERRNA
September 16, 2018
Shittttt! I hate cliffhangers!!! And this one has a serious cliffhanger! Oh my God! Why?!
I liked this book. I really did. But the last 10% of it made me lose my mind!
Nico and Layla were such a strange couple. And it’s not because of their age, but because they made their relationship seem impossible when it really wasn’t.
I felt like the perfect song for this book was Entertainer by Zayn. I listened to this song on repeat while reading the last part of the book.
Favourite quotes:
“One breath, and it’s like I’ve never had oxygen. One look at your blue eyes, and water never existed. Fuck, Layla, I don’t just want you. I need you.”
That when you love someone, really love them and need them, to live without them is to live without water or air. Because to need someone that much... hurts a little, you know? The fear that you’ll lose them is always there. And so maybe there’s a part of you that wishes you didn’t need them so badly.”
I liked this book. I really did. But the last 10% of it made me lose my mind!
Nico and Layla were such a strange couple. And it’s not because of their age, but because they made their relationship seem impossible when it really wasn’t.
I felt like the perfect song for this book was Entertainer by Zayn. I listened to this song on repeat while reading the last part of the book.
Favourite quotes:
“One breath, and it’s like I’ve never had oxygen. One look at your blue eyes, and water never existed. Fuck, Layla, I don’t just want you. I need you.”
That when you love someone, really love them and need them, to live without them is to live without water or air. Because to need someone that much... hurts a little, you know? The fear that you’ll lose them is always there. And so maybe there’s a part of you that wishes you didn’t need them so badly.”
Want to read
January 24, 2025💝 FREE on Amazon today (3/11/2018)!💝
November 8, 2017
A fantastic romance that is grounded and raw and with enough grit and substance to turn love on its head...
Nicole, you minx, we are going to have words. I am slightly unhinged at the prospect of having to wait for the next book in the Bad Idea series. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. Nicole French is relatively a new author to me, I only read the Spitfire series earlier this year and yes, I loved it. I'm beginning to sense that Ms. French is going to be one of those authors that I can count on to make me lose myself in their stories. For me Bad Idea was romance perfection. I'm not going to say that the ending was what I was expecting, or that it's ideally what gets me going. However, what makes this book standout to me is the realness of the circumstances surrounding the characters and the decisions those characters make. I'd be lying if I said that this story at times didn't leave me frustrated. I'm trying my best explain what's going in my head, and I feel like I'm making a complete mess of it. What I'm trying to say is that the twists and turns that this story takes are so far from perfect that they leave you in knots and they make you angry at times with the characters, however when it all comes together it's like the most enthralling tapestry. I hope that makes sense.
If you haven't guessed it yet, I loved this book. I liked that it presented all the obvious social dilemmas that have been written about time and again and it didn't use them as a way of conjuring pity and empathy toward the characters. These are just cold hard facts. That's the hand that Nico and Layla have been given. What makes this story special is that it really is just a love story. It's a story about two people loving each other so fiercely that they are willing to hurt on the long run, rather than walking away from each other. This plot is so far from your generic happily ever after. I don't want to give anything away, because it would be sadistic of me to deprive others of the beautiful experience I got. You know, when I started this book I assumed it was going to be another poor boy meets rich girl and they take on the world so that eventually it bends to their stubborn will and love, and they end up around a bonfire with their 2.4 kids singing Kumbaya. Turns out that it's so much more. I read a lot of romances, and a lot of the time they focus on all the things that love makes you do. They romanticise the idea of love, rather than the reality of it. That's exactly what Nicole did with Bad Idea, she made love in it's raw and unforgiving form romantic. There aren't these unrealistic grand gestures that only filthy rich fictional characters can seem to pull off. Layla and Nico are just two everyday people, like me and you and my neighbour next door, that have a normal working life. For me that's what made this book so fantastic. This plot is grounded and raw. It has grit and substance. It really is imperfectly perfect.
The cast for this book is a little long, but to be honest it doesn't feel it when you're reading the story. Aside from Nico and Layla you have two groups of characters— the secondary characters like Quinn, Jamie, Shama, Flaco and K.C. and then you have background characters that are used to give insight into the back stories or set a scene like Blake and his mates and even Layla's parents. Although these characters impact the story, they aren't a big part of it. You don't see that much of them and when you do they just push the snowball that will create the avalanche. If that makes sense. They're instigators, seed planters, eye openers... In fact K.C. is somewhere in between a background and secondary character. He's in the plot quite a bit even if just from a distance. Then there's Flaco and although you don't get to know him in depth, his interactions with Nico say a lot about him and man did I love him. He's like the clown friend that jokes aside offers insight and clarity in many ways he is the stark opposite to Quinn. She's got this thing where she only sees the bad in a situation, a real negative trait that in many ways offers Layla the same things that Flaco offers Nico. I'd really love to see more of these two in the upcoming book Lost Ones. Although Jamie and Shama are in a lot of this book, I don't feel like they do as much as Quinn, but that may be down to the fact that she's a bit like the Queen or rather Quinnie. What I love about this cast is that it never takes the spotlight away from Nico and Layla. They are the stars of the show. Period. I really loved both of these characters— Nico is sweet and charming and he has this bad boy thing about him with his background, however that is never something that is magnified in this book. Yes, there is that undertone of their clashing upbringings and there are times where it does impact their interactions with one another, but it is never massive thing. What is a massive thing and what made me fall in love with Nico was his openness and kindness. I'm not saying that he doesn't have his flaws, I mean his temper at times gets the better of him, but he always has good intentions. Everything he does is with making things better for them regardless of what they are. Not to mention that when his wild side comes out to play, he is downright sexy and delicious and wowzers. He's got GAAAAAAAAAAAAAME! Now, Layla is whole other ball game. I really wasn't expecting her. I was expecting the age gap to make a difference in how she and Nico saw things, however she handled herself so well. Not that Nico is in anyway immature, he's not. I actually think in many ways he is wise beyond his years as is Layla. I really liked that the age gap thing wasn't a massive play on their story. I liked that they were on a level with one another. For me what made me love Layla was her ability to see beyond feelings. She's so grounded and although she wants certain things so badly, she knows when to let go. If that makes sense. Don't get me wrong there were times when I wanted to give her a piece of my mind and tell her just to go with it, however her determination to guard her her heart is what made her so real to me. I understood her and I empathised with her. I liked that as a heroine she was strong and bold and sure of herself. I'd really love to see more heroines like her.
This is such an exciting start to this series. I really hope I don't have to wait much longer for the next book, especially with the cliffhanger that Nicole left me with. Bad Idea has literally left me on tenterhooks waiting for the Lost Ones. I can pretty much hear the clocks ticking around me and I'm already beginning to feel withdrawal symptoms from these characters. Now I'm wishing I could skip Christmas altogether and just get to 2018 so I can carry on with this series!
Nicole, you minx, we are going to have words. I am slightly unhinged at the prospect of having to wait for the next book in the Bad Idea series. I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. Nicole French is relatively a new author to me, I only read the Spitfire series earlier this year and yes, I loved it. I'm beginning to sense that Ms. French is going to be one of those authors that I can count on to make me lose myself in their stories. For me Bad Idea was romance perfection. I'm not going to say that the ending was what I was expecting, or that it's ideally what gets me going. However, what makes this book standout to me is the realness of the circumstances surrounding the characters and the decisions those characters make. I'd be lying if I said that this story at times didn't leave me frustrated. I'm trying my best explain what's going in my head, and I feel like I'm making a complete mess of it. What I'm trying to say is that the twists and turns that this story takes are so far from perfect that they leave you in knots and they make you angry at times with the characters, however when it all comes together it's like the most enthralling tapestry. I hope that makes sense.
If you haven't guessed it yet, I loved this book. I liked that it presented all the obvious social dilemmas that have been written about time and again and it didn't use them as a way of conjuring pity and empathy toward the characters. These are just cold hard facts. That's the hand that Nico and Layla have been given. What makes this story special is that it really is just a love story. It's a story about two people loving each other so fiercely that they are willing to hurt on the long run, rather than walking away from each other. This plot is so far from your generic happily ever after. I don't want to give anything away, because it would be sadistic of me to deprive others of the beautiful experience I got. You know, when I started this book I assumed it was going to be another poor boy meets rich girl and they take on the world so that eventually it bends to their stubborn will and love, and they end up around a bonfire with their 2.4 kids singing Kumbaya. Turns out that it's so much more. I read a lot of romances, and a lot of the time they focus on all the things that love makes you do. They romanticise the idea of love, rather than the reality of it. That's exactly what Nicole did with Bad Idea, she made love in it's raw and unforgiving form romantic. There aren't these unrealistic grand gestures that only filthy rich fictional characters can seem to pull off. Layla and Nico are just two everyday people, like me and you and my neighbour next door, that have a normal working life. For me that's what made this book so fantastic. This plot is grounded and raw. It has grit and substance. It really is imperfectly perfect.
The cast for this book is a little long, but to be honest it doesn't feel it when you're reading the story. Aside from Nico and Layla you have two groups of characters— the secondary characters like Quinn, Jamie, Shama, Flaco and K.C. and then you have background characters that are used to give insight into the back stories or set a scene like Blake and his mates and even Layla's parents. Although these characters impact the story, they aren't a big part of it. You don't see that much of them and when you do they just push the snowball that will create the avalanche. If that makes sense. They're instigators, seed planters, eye openers... In fact K.C. is somewhere in between a background and secondary character. He's in the plot quite a bit even if just from a distance. Then there's Flaco and although you don't get to know him in depth, his interactions with Nico say a lot about him and man did I love him. He's like the clown friend that jokes aside offers insight and clarity in many ways he is the stark opposite to Quinn. She's got this thing where she only sees the bad in a situation, a real negative trait that in many ways offers Layla the same things that Flaco offers Nico. I'd really love to see more of these two in the upcoming book Lost Ones. Although Jamie and Shama are in a lot of this book, I don't feel like they do as much as Quinn, but that may be down to the fact that she's a bit like the Queen or rather Quinnie. What I love about this cast is that it never takes the spotlight away from Nico and Layla. They are the stars of the show. Period. I really loved both of these characters— Nico is sweet and charming and he has this bad boy thing about him with his background, however that is never something that is magnified in this book. Yes, there is that undertone of their clashing upbringings and there are times where it does impact their interactions with one another, but it is never massive thing. What is a massive thing and what made me fall in love with Nico was his openness and kindness. I'm not saying that he doesn't have his flaws, I mean his temper at times gets the better of him, but he always has good intentions. Everything he does is with making things better for them regardless of what they are. Not to mention that when his wild side comes out to play, he is downright sexy and delicious and wowzers. He's got GAAAAAAAAAAAAAME! Now, Layla is whole other ball game. I really wasn't expecting her. I was expecting the age gap to make a difference in how she and Nico saw things, however she handled herself so well. Not that Nico is in anyway immature, he's not. I actually think in many ways he is wise beyond his years as is Layla. I really liked that the age gap thing wasn't a massive play on their story. I liked that they were on a level with one another. For me what made me love Layla was her ability to see beyond feelings. She's so grounded and although she wants certain things so badly, she knows when to let go. If that makes sense. Don't get me wrong there were times when I wanted to give her a piece of my mind and tell her just to go with it, however her determination to guard her her heart is what made her so real to me. I understood her and I empathised with her. I liked that as a heroine she was strong and bold and sure of herself. I'd really love to see more heroines like her.
This is such an exciting start to this series. I really hope I don't have to wait much longer for the next book, especially with the cliffhanger that Nicole left me with. Bad Idea has literally left me on tenterhooks waiting for the Lost Ones. I can pretty much hear the clocks ticking around me and I'm already beginning to feel withdrawal symptoms from these characters. Now I'm wishing I could skip Christmas altogether and just get to 2018 so I can carry on with this series!
March 2, 2018
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
Bad Idea is book one in the Bad Idea series by Nicole French and it is not a bad idea to read this, in fact you should read it!!! There was just something about this book that kept me reading and not wanting to put it down and the ending is WOW!!!!!!!!
This was not a typical story for me. Yes, romance is romance and who doesn't love a good romance book? BUT its the story as a whole and lesson of life that speak out. Two people just trying to make it in this world. Coming from very different backgrounds or different sides of the track. Then throwing in your own hangups, and trying to "get out" and find yourself isn't easy, but when you find someone you just can't walk away from and that whole opposites attract thing can get interesting.
Layla,is in her second year of college. Trying to keep afloat, because even though her parents have it all, they only have given her money for her education.
Nico, whose many years older than Layla, has been raised in Hell's Kitchen and wants just to survive and get. He has put all his dreams aside for the sake of family.
When the elevelator doors open and he locks eyes with Layla, both theirs lives are about to change. But can they survive the differences, age, education, jobs, and all the other things that life throws at them? That's all your getting from me because I don't want to spoil anything. Just go read it!!!!
My only concern for this book was the length, but it is more that I needed to see what was going to happen and just wanted to get to the end faster.
4 Stars
*** Review by Lisa, Late Night Reviewer for Up All Night with Books***
Bad Idea is book one in the Bad Idea series by Nicole French and it is not a bad idea to read this, in fact you should read it!!! There was just something about this book that kept me reading and not wanting to put it down and the ending is WOW!!!!!!!!
This was not a typical story for me. Yes, romance is romance and who doesn't love a good romance book? BUT its the story as a whole and lesson of life that speak out. Two people just trying to make it in this world. Coming from very different backgrounds or different sides of the track. Then throwing in your own hangups, and trying to "get out" and find yourself isn't easy, but when you find someone you just can't walk away from and that whole opposites attract thing can get interesting.
Layla,is in her second year of college. Trying to keep afloat, because even though her parents have it all, they only have given her money for her education.
Nico, whose many years older than Layla, has been raised in Hell's Kitchen and wants just to survive and get. He has put all his dreams aside for the sake of family.
When the elevelator doors open and he locks eyes with Layla, both theirs lives are about to change. But can they survive the differences, age, education, jobs, and all the other things that life throws at them? That's all your getting from me because I don't want to spoil anything. Just go read it!!!!
My only concern for this book was the length, but it is more that I needed to see what was going to happen and just wanted to get to the end faster.
4 Stars
*** Review by Lisa, Late Night Reviewer for Up All Night with Books***
May 8, 2020
Yeah, I just couldn't. THIS WAS SO PAINFUL to read. I made it to about 30% and could no read a page more.
Believe me, it had potential. Older hero, and not your rich, arrogant one either, but an average, fed ex worker, 5'10. yada yad.. it's the heroine who ruined it. Maybe the writing too.
The heroine comes from a rich family. She is brazilian yet comes off as racist in a way, I just could not stand it. She comes from money yet starves herself because she is having a pity party and doesn't want to ask for money or take a hand out, BITCH get over yourself! You must not be hungry enough if you're not letting anyone feed you!
This was a disaster!
Believe me, it had potential. Older hero, and not your rich, arrogant one either, but an average, fed ex worker, 5'10. yada yad.. it's the heroine who ruined it. Maybe the writing too.
The heroine comes from a rich family. She is brazilian yet comes off as racist in a way, I just could not stand it. She comes from money yet starves herself because she is having a pity party and doesn't want to ask for money or take a hand out, BITCH get over yourself! You must not be hungry enough if you're not letting anyone feed you!
This was a disaster!
November 8, 2017
Reviewed on behalf of Reading Through Her Eyes
What happens when you meet someone but it's all wrong? Meet 19 year old Layla Barros, a college student in New York originally from Washington state. Meet 26 year old Nico Soltero, a fed-ex guy and club doorman. Layla has dreams of being a Lawyer but hasn't figured out her major yet. Nico has dreams of leaving the city and finally trying to make something of himself rather than carrying the burden of supporting his family. Three months before he's supposed to leave for LA he meets Layla, their attraction to one another is instantaneous. What happens next? You'll have to read to find out!
Overall Thoughts: Nicole French tells an amazing story about meeting the wrong person at the wrong time. When racial (we all have people in our lives who do judge those we date), class, language, education, jobs, and age differences affect many of your choices or your friends opinions on who you're dating. When you're dreams want to take you away from the one you care about or you don't want to hold them back, would you force them to stay with you or would you let them pursue their dreams? I absolutely loved this story, it had it all! I cried, laughed, cursed and swooned. I could relate to the characters struggles because I've been in their shoes before. This is a book I would recommend.
What happens when you meet someone but it's all wrong? Meet 19 year old Layla Barros, a college student in New York originally from Washington state. Meet 26 year old Nico Soltero, a fed-ex guy and club doorman. Layla has dreams of being a Lawyer but hasn't figured out her major yet. Nico has dreams of leaving the city and finally trying to make something of himself rather than carrying the burden of supporting his family. Three months before he's supposed to leave for LA he meets Layla, their attraction to one another is instantaneous. What happens next? You'll have to read to find out!
Overall Thoughts: Nicole French tells an amazing story about meeting the wrong person at the wrong time. When racial (we all have people in our lives who do judge those we date), class, language, education, jobs, and age differences affect many of your choices or your friends opinions on who you're dating. When you're dreams want to take you away from the one you care about or you don't want to hold them back, would you force them to stay with you or would you let them pursue their dreams? I absolutely loved this story, it had it all! I cried, laughed, cursed and swooned. I could relate to the characters struggles because I've been in their shoes before. This is a book I would recommend.
July 12, 2018
Can't wait to read the next installment and continue with Nico's and Layla's story..
April 14, 2019
4 stars
November 7, 2017
I’m speechless. So kudos for only having to type out my review and not having to say it out loud. Before Bad Idea, I knew Nicole French was a good author (and by good, I mean a total bad ass talented AF indie author) but after reading this book... pssh... I now know she’s phenomenal.
Bad Idea will be one of my top reads this year! It’s so good. So many emotions and push/pull and sexiness and love, this book owns it all! And I say owns because Nicole French OWNS you while you read this.
My favorite things about Nico and Layla are that they’re real. There is no fluff or unnecessary drama - they just ARE. They’re real people with real life problems who own it and deal with it and just want to be happy at the end of the day and live the lives they were meant to live. People you can admire.
The only Bad Idea is not reading this book for yourself. Seriously, if Ms. French keeps writing books the way she does she’ll become one of the greats.
5 super sexy, delivered on time Stars!!! <3
Bad Idea will be one of my top reads this year! It’s so good. So many emotions and push/pull and sexiness and love, this book owns it all! And I say owns because Nicole French OWNS you while you read this.
My favorite things about Nico and Layla are that they’re real. There is no fluff or unnecessary drama - they just ARE. They’re real people with real life problems who own it and deal with it and just want to be happy at the end of the day and live the lives they were meant to live. People you can admire.
The only Bad Idea is not reading this book for yourself. Seriously, if Ms. French keeps writing books the way she does she’ll become one of the greats.
5 super sexy, delivered on time Stars!!! <3
November 8, 2017
Ms. French is the queen of angsty love and Bad Idea does not disappoint! Layla comes from a wealthy family but acts nothing like a spoiled brat. She works hard to live life on her own in New York and attend school full time. Nico is the boy from the wrong side of the tracks but he has made himself the man his family needs. His charm is endearing and character commendable. Layla knows Nico is the one for her from the moment they meet but will she let her fears and secrets keep them apart?
If you are looking for a story with hope, love, hate and angst, get your copy today. Be warned there is a cliffhanger that will leave you with a book hangover for days.
If you are looking for a story with hope, love, hate and angst, get your copy today. Be warned there is a cliffhanger that will leave you with a book hangover for days.
October 29, 2017
Well I just finished this book, and I am still sitting here. As soon as you open up this book to read it be prepared to lose hours in your life because you cannot stop reading it. When two amazing people from different parts of the world meet so many emotions come into the picture; love, anger, sadness, acceptance, and forgiveness. Layla is trying to fulfill her dream of living in New York not yet sure where her path would take her, and then she meets Nico a man seven years older in number but several years older in experience. Nico has plans to change his life, change what he deals with on a day to day basis but when he meets Layla his thoughts start to change. When happiness and love are in front of you, will you be able to grab for both or will something change it? Thank you for allowing me to read this mesmerizing book full of surprises and so many emotions.
October 31, 2017
Nicole French has out done herself again. She has taken me on yet another ride, this book has love, lust and all kinds of emotions rolling through it. I loved it. Can’t wait for the sequel, although this one hasn’t been officially released yet....as I received this one as an ARC to review.
October 29, 2017
Wow this was the first book that I’ve read from Nicole French, The story starts out fast pace and moving and slows down a little but it is a hard book to put down once you start reading. This book will have your emotions all over the place. You will be mad one minute then laughing or crying. Get ready for a ride of emotions and you will love this book. This is a fantastic read that tells POV for each other during the story.
October 30, 2017
This book pulled at all of my emotions and had me so invested in the story I completely tuned out to everything around me. I can't wait to read more of these characters, the emotion in the pages of this story was heartbreakingly beautiful and left me hanging by a loose thread. Loved it!!!
October 31, 2017
This author is new to me. I really enjoyed this book! Great flow to the story and characters. A fast paced read as well. Will be reading more books by this author for sure!
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