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The Race for Riches or Romance #1
Crush in the Cascades
Reality TV, riches, and a race for romance! What’s not to like?
For Easton Cooper, everything—except a chance at one million dollars. Desperate for cash, he’ll even compete on an outrageous action-adventure reality show, and he hates reality TV. As luck would have it, he’s thrust into his element, a series of outdoor challenges in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. But there’s a catch—he’s staring across the meadow at his partner—a tan, hot, out-of-place California girl, wearing heels and a formal dress in the middle of freaking nowhere—and she will not bring him down! Even if he has to drag her across the finish line.
Amity Rose wants an adventure. No one told her that “dress accordingly” meant deck out in hardcore mountain gear. So she wore strappy heels and a fancy dress to the opening scene. So she hates bugs, cold air, tents, campfires—must she go on? Now all the contestants think she’s a pampered princess—and to add to her bad luck, her partner is the worst—a gangly, overconfident, know-it-all mountain trail guide. Did the directors just add a romantic twist to the drama? Sure, why not? Maybe she’ll leave the race with something more valuable than money. Just not with him!
Crush in the Cascades is a full-length contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone. It features an emotionally-charged, enemies-to-lovers romance weaved into an action-packed, fast-moving plot.
For Easton Cooper, everything—except a chance at one million dollars. Desperate for cash, he’ll even compete on an outrageous action-adventure reality show, and he hates reality TV. As luck would have it, he’s thrust into his element, a series of outdoor challenges in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. But there’s a catch—he’s staring across the meadow at his partner—a tan, hot, out-of-place California girl, wearing heels and a formal dress in the middle of freaking nowhere—and she will not bring him down! Even if he has to drag her across the finish line.
Amity Rose wants an adventure. No one told her that “dress accordingly” meant deck out in hardcore mountain gear. So she wore strappy heels and a fancy dress to the opening scene. So she hates bugs, cold air, tents, campfires—must she go on? Now all the contestants think she’s a pampered princess—and to add to her bad luck, her partner is the worst—a gangly, overconfident, know-it-all mountain trail guide. Did the directors just add a romantic twist to the drama? Sure, why not? Maybe she’ll leave the race with something more valuable than money. Just not with him!
Crush in the Cascades is a full-length contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone. It features an emotionally-charged, enemies-to-lovers romance weaved into an action-packed, fast-moving plot.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2022
37 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Lisa S. Gayle
6 books35 followersLisa S. Gayle lives in the beautiful, mountainous Pacific Northwest. She enjoys traveling and all things outdoors, including hiking, camping, and s'mores. She's a soccer mom who loves to take her family on adventures while attempting to keep up with her energetic husband and children.
She specializes in contemporary romance and believes in falling in love with a happily ever after.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
October 28, 2022
За първи път чета книга, която разказва за реалити телевизионно предаване. Такова сред природата с отбори, състезаващи се за доста съблазнителна награда. Лично аз като видя такъв вид предавания по телевизията и не мога достатъчно бързо да сменя канала. Човъркането в човешката психология и показването на не особено приятни черти от характерите на участниците в името на победа и реклама, ми докарват проблем с червата. В Crush On The Cascades картинката не беше по - добра. Но бонусът тук бяха невероятната природа на Каскадните планини в Орегон и романтичната нишка. Честността, с която Lisa S. Gayle описва всеки един от участниците, беше страхотна! Гравитацията на чувствата дори, когато си мислим , че сме влюбени. Особено силната болка от предателството и онази тежка истина, че в една връзка единият винаги обича повече. Лошите шеги,които съмнението, полуистините и недоверието винаги могат да играят на двама влюбени. А когато целта са един милион долара,колко от влюбенoстта и страстта се запазват до финалния кадър?
Никак не ми беше лека тази книга! Защото и никак не се изненадвах на резките обрати в отношенията между Амити и Купър. На война и в любовта всичко е възможно. Явно и в реалити телевизионно предаване за един милион долара!
Изпитвах огромно напрежение след всеки етап от състезанието и след всяка глава. А и се потях все повече с приближаването на края му. Такова приключение не бях изживявала скоро на страниците на книга! Като пред екрана на истинската реалити игра. Страхотна Lisa S. Gayle!!! С тази своя книга тя ми подари запомнящо се усенно преживяване!
Никак не ми беше лека тази книга! Защото и никак не се изненадвах на резките обрати в отношенията между Амити и Купър. На война и в любовта всичко е възможно. Явно и в реалити телевизионно предаване за един милион долара!
Изпитвах огромно напрежение след всеки етап от състезанието и след всяка глава. А и се потях все повече с приближаването на края му. Такова приключение не бях изживявала скоро на страниците на книга! Като пред екрана на истинската реалити игра. Страхотна Lisa S. Gayle!!! С тази своя книга тя ми подари запомнящо се усенно преживяване!
May 9, 2023
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Crush in the Cascades seemed a little familiar to me. Maybe it's because of the whole game show aspect and how I'm knee deep into Survivor. Either way, I was here for it all because of Easton and Amity. Now at first, they were definitely not into each other once they started speaking that is. Then the challenge started to happen, and they were getting closer and closer to one another.
Sure, they bickered like crazy but damn that is my love language. Sarcasm and bantering - what a lovely duo to fall in love with. As for reality tv, eh, it was okay competition wise. I liked seeing them interacting with other contestants, but I was mostly here for their bantering. I'll admit, though, I wasn't a huge fan of everyone assuming the worst about someone or how they lived their lives before coming on the show to compete.
In a way, it worked out though because these two truly did fall for each other. Sure, Cooper was a douche canoe in the beginning, but he came around...eventually. Definitely excited for his sister to compete next. No idea who could be her potential love interest but I'm hoping for some great bantering!
Crush in the Cascades seemed a little familiar to me. Maybe it's because of the whole game show aspect and how I'm knee deep into Survivor. Either way, I was here for it all because of Easton and Amity. Now at first, they were definitely not into each other once they started speaking that is. Then the challenge started to happen, and they were getting closer and closer to one another.
Sure, they bickered like crazy but damn that is my love language. Sarcasm and bantering - what a lovely duo to fall in love with. As for reality tv, eh, it was okay competition wise. I liked seeing them interacting with other contestants, but I was mostly here for their bantering. I'll admit, though, I wasn't a huge fan of everyone assuming the worst about someone or how they lived their lives before coming on the show to compete.
In a way, it worked out though because these two truly did fall for each other. Sure, Cooper was a douche canoe in the beginning, but he came around...eventually. Definitely excited for his sister to compete next. No idea who could be her potential love interest but I'm hoping for some great bantering!
August 6, 2022
“Caring led to falling in love and falling in love meant commitment. It meant being trapped. It meant having to change yourself for a woman.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
This book took me to heaven and back. Amity and Cooper are my favourite romantic pair in all the books I’ve read this year. It’s based on a reality TV show, where contestants compete for 1 million dollars, and honestly I thought from the beginning that the final episode of the TV show would just be that Cooper won both the money and the woman. That is so not what happened. This book was laugh out loud funny, lighthearted and just crazy in a few places.
The plot was really great, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before, and I can’t wait to read more about Hannah in book two. The characters were great, and Lisa Gayle really managed to build up a great picture of their backgrounds throughout the book, although I would have liked to read a bit more about Bria, who also was integral to the great storyline. It was a really original idea for a book, and I recommend to any rom-com or contemporary romance lover.
So let’s talk about the romance… The “heat” level of this book was good. There were two scenes (I think) throughout the book that were smut filled, so it wasn’t overpowering the story which was great. The connection of Amity and Cooper is clear from the first chapter, and their sparring relationship really added to the believability of the romance. Cooper wouldn’t be my choice, but the characters worked well together. Absolutely compelled to read book two when it comes out!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens and Lisa S Gayle.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
This book took me to heaven and back. Amity and Cooper are my favourite romantic pair in all the books I’ve read this year. It’s based on a reality TV show, where contestants compete for 1 million dollars, and honestly I thought from the beginning that the final episode of the TV show would just be that Cooper won both the money and the woman. That is so not what happened. This book was laugh out loud funny, lighthearted and just crazy in a few places.
The plot was really great, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before, and I can’t wait to read more about Hannah in book two. The characters were great, and Lisa Gayle really managed to build up a great picture of their backgrounds throughout the book, although I would have liked to read a bit more about Bria, who also was integral to the great storyline. It was a really original idea for a book, and I recommend to any rom-com or contemporary romance lover.
So let’s talk about the romance… The “heat” level of this book was good. There were two scenes (I think) throughout the book that were smut filled, so it wasn’t overpowering the story which was great. The connection of Amity and Cooper is clear from the first chapter, and their sparring relationship really added to the believability of the romance. Cooper wouldn’t be my choice, but the characters worked well together. Absolutely compelled to read book two when it comes out!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens and Lisa S Gayle.
May 2, 2022
I think I found my new favourite trope… enemies to lovers competing in a reality tv show together! This book was lots of fun and the main characters, Easton and Amity, serve some of my favourite tropes: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, and forced proximity.
Easton and Amity appear to be opposites. Easton is a rugged outdoorsman and Amity shows up to the survivor type competition show in a dress. The two don’t initially hit it off and what follows is tons of angst and pining. The hero also calls the heroine princess… need I say more? Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read and I’m SO excited for Easton’s sisters book! 3.5 stars
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Easton and Amity appear to be opposites. Easton is a rugged outdoorsman and Amity shows up to the survivor type competition show in a dress. The two don’t initially hit it off and what follows is tons of angst and pining. The hero also calls the heroine princess… need I say more? Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read and I’m SO excited for Easton’s sisters book! 3.5 stars
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2022
3 stars ☆ This book is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity rom-com.
In this story, we have Cooper and Amity compete in a reality tv show where they do adventure stuff with a twist of romance.
I like the idea of the book of having this reality tv show vibes and it's refreshing to read about these types of books. But somehow, I couldn't connect with the characters at all even with the whole banter they did in the first half of the book and when they got together in the second half it's just meh. It's still an entertaining read, it's just the romance in this book isn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for this arc !!
In this story, we have Cooper and Amity compete in a reality tv show where they do adventure stuff with a twist of romance.
I like the idea of the book of having this reality tv show vibes and it's refreshing to read about these types of books. But somehow, I couldn't connect with the characters at all even with the whole banter they did in the first half of the book and when they got together in the second half it's just meh. It's still an entertaining read, it's just the romance in this book isn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for this arc !!
May 12, 2022
For this enemies-to-lovers book, I could do with a little more enemies and a little less lovers. I ADORED Amity and the concept of this book. But I did not vibe with Easton, I found him to be very annoying and such an idiot. I will definitely be reading Hannah's book next. (This book also kind of gave me It Happened One Summer vibes). [Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC!]
May 31, 2022
Cooper thought he signed up for Survivor but got stuck on the Oregon Trail dating show from Hell instead.
Amity and Cooper are opposites! He's all ready for this big adventure and really needs to win the money and he sees her over there walking like a duck in the mud in stilletos. He can't deny she's attractive but he's got to keep his head in the game.
They didn't know exactly what they signed up for. If you watch much reality TV, you know they basically sign their lives away for a bit to be portrayed however the producers want and surprised however often they so choose.
They so chose to surprise them and merge a dating show and an active/outdoor competition show. As time goes on, Cooper softens and finds himself looking for Amity. Does he have crush in the Cascades?! Can they get Amity some decent shoes??
This was a cute, fun read overall. Cooper was a little judgy for my taste but I guess the enemies to lovers trope doesn't work without a little smack talk.
Thanks you NetGalley and the publisher! Interested in seeing more from this author for sure.
Amity and Cooper are opposites! He's all ready for this big adventure and really needs to win the money and he sees her over there walking like a duck in the mud in stilletos. He can't deny she's attractive but he's got to keep his head in the game.
They didn't know exactly what they signed up for. If you watch much reality TV, you know they basically sign their lives away for a bit to be portrayed however the producers want and surprised however often they so choose.
They so chose to surprise them and merge a dating show and an active/outdoor competition show. As time goes on, Cooper softens and finds himself looking for Amity. Does he have crush in the Cascades?! Can they get Amity some decent shoes??
This was a cute, fun read overall. Cooper was a little judgy for my taste but I guess the enemies to lovers trope doesn't work without a little smack talk.
Thanks you NetGalley and the publisher! Interested in seeing more from this author for sure.
July 19, 2024
Crush in the Cascades is an enemies to lovers rom-com that takes place on a reality tv show. Easton and Amity, along with the other contestants have to compete in outdoor challenges to win money.
I was excited to start reading this book because the description seemed very interesting but it was so difficult to read. I didn’t connect to any of the characters or feel any emotions towards anything in this book. I absolutely love reading but it just felt painful reading this book and it put me in a reading slump. Amity and Easton really annoyed me this entire book. I felt like all their arguments were useless and like their relationship was forced and just thrown in there. Easton also was annoying, he always said something about Amity that was really rude and then would wonder why she doesn’t like him. I really thought that this would be a great but ended up not loving it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC.
I was excited to start reading this book because the description seemed very interesting but it was so difficult to read. I didn’t connect to any of the characters or feel any emotions towards anything in this book. I absolutely love reading but it just felt painful reading this book and it put me in a reading slump. Amity and Easton really annoyed me this entire book. I felt like all their arguments were useless and like their relationship was forced and just thrown in there. Easton also was annoying, he always said something about Amity that was really rude and then would wonder why she doesn’t like him. I really thought that this would be a great but ended up not loving it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC.
April 29, 2022
dnf at 40%
I always feel bad for dnfing arcs but I just don't want to read this any longer. I was so excited to read this book as the description sounded amazing and I'm always a sucker for a good enemies to lovers. Unfortunately, the characters were so meh that I didn't feel like forcing myself to finish this.
I was not a fan of Easton he was misogynistic and judgemental asf. Throughout the part that I read, Easton kept being like 'why doesn't amity like me?' and in the same chapter, he would insult her a million times and for no reason. Sir Amity doesn't like you because you're acting like my middle school bully.
Amity was a decent character but oh my gosh in one of the first chapters she didn't know what flint was and then acted like Easton was the stupid one. I get it not everyone knows what flint is but why would you join a wilderness survival show if you don't know what it is nor what it looks like? But she did cut off her hair to save their asses which made me respect her a little bit. Still, she wasn't that interesting of a character but she still was better than Easton even if she was talking shit to herself over another girl wearing braided pigtails because it's 'childish' like stfu aren't you an Easton the people acting like 5-year-olds every second over little things?
Anyways this story was very stereotypical and boring. The Miles drama was sorta interesting but it was getting a little repetitive. I went and read the last few chapters and I still don't know if I like Easton or not but I probably would've ended up liking Amity. Overall this story had potential but it fell flat for me. I think that if you want an easy-to-follow romance then this would be a great pick for you but like I said it just didn't personally work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I always feel bad for dnfing arcs but I just don't want to read this any longer. I was so excited to read this book as the description sounded amazing and I'm always a sucker for a good enemies to lovers. Unfortunately, the characters were so meh that I didn't feel like forcing myself to finish this.
I was not a fan of Easton he was misogynistic and judgemental asf. Throughout the part that I read, Easton kept being like 'why doesn't amity like me?' and in the same chapter, he would insult her a million times and for no reason. Sir Amity doesn't like you because you're acting like my middle school bully.
Amity was a decent character but oh my gosh in one of the first chapters she didn't know what flint was and then acted like Easton was the stupid one. I get it not everyone knows what flint is but why would you join a wilderness survival show if you don't know what it is nor what it looks like? But she did cut off her hair to save their asses which made me respect her a little bit. Still, she wasn't that interesting of a character but she still was better than Easton even if she was talking shit to herself over another girl wearing braided pigtails because it's 'childish' like stfu aren't you an Easton the people acting like 5-year-olds every second over little things?
Anyways this story was very stereotypical and boring. The Miles drama was sorta interesting but it was getting a little repetitive. I went and read the last few chapters and I still don't know if I like Easton or not but I probably would've ended up liking Amity. Overall this story had potential but it fell flat for me. I think that if you want an easy-to-follow romance then this would be a great pick for you but like I said it just didn't personally work for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2022
This book is about a group of people on a Reality TV adventure show. I loved the main character Amity. I like how the relationship grew over time and how they also how they misunderstood each other. It kept the book interesting.
April 23, 2022
This book was a difficult one for me to get through, I have to admit. I had a lot of issues with its delivery.
A positive for this book is that I have never read a gameshow adult lit before, which gave it a nice novelty factor and I was intrigued as to how this would be incorporated throughout the book. What I struggled with was that this meant the timeframe was mere days and this made the whole enemies-to-lovers almost thrown in just for the sake of it rather than adding to the plot development.
My biggest problem with this novel was its use of repetitive descriptions throughout the book. I think the word "slender" was used repeatedly to describe the majority of the build of most of the competitors, including both main characters (including Easton who, apparently, splits chunks of wood with ease with an axe - it feels a bit contradictory to describe him as a lumberjack with "rippling muscles" when the characters repeatedly refer to him as slender or thin?).
Throughout the book, Amity and Easton appear to just constantly giggle or laugh out loud to themselves whenever they thought something. A couple of times is one thing, but in every chapter? They must have come across as lunatics to other characters.
This one may just be a personal slight, but the use of "princess" as a sarky term of endearment will always rub me the wrong way, no matter how well a book is written. I feel this is an overdone trope.
I found that the novel did not really have much pacing and the ending just felt shallow and forced and existing only to neatly tie up lots of loose ends. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters despite my personal love of reality TV and romance novels. This novel just didn't really get out of the stalls for me unfortunately.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A positive for this book is that I have never read a gameshow adult lit before, which gave it a nice novelty factor and I was intrigued as to how this would be incorporated throughout the book. What I struggled with was that this meant the timeframe was mere days and this made the whole enemies-to-lovers almost thrown in just for the sake of it rather than adding to the plot development.
My biggest problem with this novel was its use of repetitive descriptions throughout the book. I think the word "slender" was used repeatedly to describe the majority of the build of most of the competitors, including both main characters (including Easton who, apparently, splits chunks of wood with ease with an axe - it feels a bit contradictory to describe him as a lumberjack with "rippling muscles" when the characters repeatedly refer to him as slender or thin?).
Throughout the book, Amity and Easton appear to just constantly giggle or laugh out loud to themselves whenever they thought something. A couple of times is one thing, but in every chapter? They must have come across as lunatics to other characters.
This one may just be a personal slight, but the use of "princess" as a sarky term of endearment will always rub me the wrong way, no matter how well a book is written. I feel this is an overdone trope.
I found that the novel did not really have much pacing and the ending just felt shallow and forced and existing only to neatly tie up lots of loose ends. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters despite my personal love of reality TV and romance novels. This novel just didn't really get out of the stalls for me unfortunately.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2022
Crush in the Cascades follows Amity Rose and Easton Cooper, as they compete on an adventure reality show to try and win a million dollars! While they definitely don't hit it off in the beginning, "The Race for Riches or Romance" leads to more in store for them. I give this book 2 stars, and here's why:
Easton, especially in the beginning, is a really unlikeable character. He makes many sexist comments and clearly has only prioritized himself in his past relationships. Also, considering a couple of the men arrive wearing suits, his judgement of Amity for wearing heels and a dress seems very misogynistic!
I did really like the premise of it being an action-reality show. The challenges were fun to follow, especially if you enjoy similar shows (The Amazing Race fans, looking at you) and the outdoors! However, it led to the romance being quite fast paced, which seems unrealistic for the characters.
Miscommunication was rampant throughout the book, and the main conflicts could have easily been avoided. After everything that happened, I really believe Amity deserved better.
Amity was a fun character! I was rooting for her throughout the book, and was glad she was able to prove herself in different ways. There were a few cute moments throughout the book, and while I did not rank it too high, I was still interested in seeing how the ending played out.
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC!
Easton, especially in the beginning, is a really unlikeable character. He makes many sexist comments and clearly has only prioritized himself in his past relationships. Also, considering a couple of the men arrive wearing suits, his judgement of Amity for wearing heels and a dress seems very misogynistic!
I did really like the premise of it being an action-reality show. The challenges were fun to follow, especially if you enjoy similar shows (The Amazing Race fans, looking at you) and the outdoors! However, it led to the romance being quite fast paced, which seems unrealistic for the characters.
Miscommunication was rampant throughout the book, and the main conflicts could have easily been avoided. After everything that happened, I really believe Amity deserved better.
Amity was a fun character! I was rooting for her throughout the book, and was glad she was able to prove herself in different ways. There were a few cute moments throughout the book, and while I did not rank it too high, I was still interested in seeing how the ending played out.
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC!
May 22, 2022
First of all, I have to confess that enemies-to-lovers is my favorite trope. This book won me after only reading the description!
The book follows Amity and Easton in a reality show called “The Race for Riches or Romance” where the winning team will win 2 million dollars.
Here is Amity who’s in for the adventure and the thrill she would have loved to share with her beloved father, while Easton is ready to win this contest to save his best friends’ life.
I really enjoyed the setup and the idea of an outdoor couple contest. All the ‘legs’, as mentioned in the book, were thrilling. I really liked, that, besides the romance, Lisa really highlighted the importance of team work.
I would have liked to have more enemies in the beginning and less love, because it would have built more their story, but overall, Amity and Easton were super cute. There were some moments where I really disliked Easton as we discovered throughout the book that Amity is a gem of a girl and he was acting really bad towards her, but in the end, they both got the happy ending they deserved!
I’m excited to follow Hannah’s story in the reality show! I think it’ll be amazing!
Thank you NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for the copy of Crush in the Cascades! I really enjoyed the adventure!
The book follows Amity and Easton in a reality show called “The Race for Riches or Romance” where the winning team will win 2 million dollars.
Here is Amity who’s in for the adventure and the thrill she would have loved to share with her beloved father, while Easton is ready to win this contest to save his best friends’ life.
I really enjoyed the setup and the idea of an outdoor couple contest. All the ‘legs’, as mentioned in the book, were thrilling. I really liked, that, besides the romance, Lisa really highlighted the importance of team work.
I would have liked to have more enemies in the beginning and less love, because it would have built more their story, but overall, Amity and Easton were super cute. There were some moments where I really disliked Easton as we discovered throughout the book that Amity is a gem of a girl and he was acting really bad towards her, but in the end, they both got the happy ending they deserved!
I’m excited to follow Hannah’s story in the reality show! I think it’ll be amazing!
Thank you NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for the copy of Crush in the Cascades! I really enjoyed the adventure!
June 20, 2022
This was such a fun, enemies to lovers reality tv romance!!! I requested this book completely on a whim based on the cover and the description and it did NOT disappoint!! Amity and Cooper are two contestants on a Outdoorsy Amazing Race/Survivor style reality show where contestants have to work in pairs for a million dollar prize. Both MCs get off on the wrong foot and people continually underestimate Amity. I REALLY loved how scrappy and skilled she was and the way she just led with her heart. The romance was a bit too instalove form my tastes but I loved these characters too much to care. Recommended for fans of books like The charm offensive or One to watch. I can't wait for the sequel featuring Cooper's sister, Hannah. Much thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advance review copy!! I will definitely be buying a hard copy when the paperback editions become available!
May 10, 2022
I loved this! Yes, it’s an insta-love and yes, it’s a tiny bit unlikely. But I’m an outdoorsy kind of girl and a hopeless romantic.
My back story is that I instantly fell in love with my husband over 14 years ago, so I know its possible. We still run together and are section hikers-backpackers. We want to section hike the PCT. So you can understand how excited I was about this story.
My favorite Survivor episode was with Boston and Amber and I thought this was as precious to read as that. I understood all the emotions and competitions. I loved how they fell for each other. I even adored the side characters. If you have a big imagination for a fun, light enjoyable romance then you’ll love this.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
My back story is that I instantly fell in love with my husband over 14 years ago, so I know its possible. We still run together and are section hikers-backpackers. We want to section hike the PCT. So you can understand how excited I was about this story.
My favorite Survivor episode was with Boston and Amber and I thought this was as precious to read as that. I understood all the emotions and competitions. I loved how they fell for each other. I even adored the side characters. If you have a big imagination for a fun, light enjoyable romance then you’ll love this.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
May 18, 2022
A reality tv show with a kick of romance? Sign me up for it! I was attracted to the blurb and really loved the first few chapters into the story. However, the pacing became somewhat slowed down and there are too much details that i wish wasn't there since it makes the story a bit bland. The characters confuses me at times as i couldnt decipher their personality but thankfully they became a lot relatable towards the end. I actually enjoyed the almost-ending chapters, it's such a shame that the middle of the book drags the plot somehow and i found myself pulling away from the book. Overall, it was a nice fictional reality tv show in a book. If i were in a different mood, i might actually love this book.
May 21, 2022
Received and reviewed a copy of Crush in the Cascades by Lisa Gayle. Thanks to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial. All views are my own
🏕🏕🏕
A romance set against a reality competition show - sign me up! Crush in the Cascades is a delightful romcom that had me wishing to go a on reality show but without the desire to run 13 miles or start a fire 😉 I adored Amity because I too would’ve dressed for the occasion; Cooper took a bit longer for me to warm up to but he got there in the end. Was a great escapist read & look forward to Tangle in the Tropics and the next installment from Lisa 🏕💫
🏕🏕🏕
A romance set against a reality competition show - sign me up! Crush in the Cascades is a delightful romcom that had me wishing to go a on reality show but without the desire to run 13 miles or start a fire 😉 I adored Amity because I too would’ve dressed for the occasion; Cooper took a bit longer for me to warm up to but he got there in the end. Was a great escapist read & look forward to Tangle in the Tropics and the next installment from Lisa 🏕💫
April 30, 2022
This was my last read of April and the day I crossed the 200 books mark in good reads. And what a disappointing book to end this already depressing month with.
Don't get me wrong. The book, for the better part, was written well. It also had the potential to become the best read. But all of this went downhill pretty quickly.
- see, first of all, monologues in your prologue for like 4 pages aren't exciting. I want some action.
- second the main lead Cooper Easton gave me the 'not like other bois' vibes with his judgmental ass constantly judging Amity and everyone.
- third, the sexist dialogues aren't really belong either. I know Easton is like the bad boi who likes to climb mountains, so ✨quirky✨ but I don't like the whole 'look at these women trying to change me. my poor bad boi heart 💔' it's damn annoying
- fourth, the rushed ending. Like what's the hurry, we have wasted 4 hours of our life already, we will waste some more.
- fifth, Cooper Easton. I need to mention him again because this dude here is the reason I hate men. So look he has to win the money (I forgot why he can't just take a loan) but don't worry it's for a good cause. Anywho he doesn't think that Amity is capable enough to win because she likes to wear girly stuff ig??? Idk why tbh. So this bitch here is like imma ditch my GF and choose the 'tough girl' without considering that Amity might need that money as well but just cause she likes girly stuff she can't be poor.
2 stars for Amity for dumping his ass. That's it. This girl has suffered through enough and needs to be happy now. I hope that she dumps his ass again.
Arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. At first, I was like nope, won't publish this because the author was kind enough to provide me an Arc but also I am deeply into books and I can't cheat on them to maintain good relations. But despite that, this review isn't meant to hurt anyone's sentiments rather to put forward my opinions about a book.
Don't get me wrong. The book, for the better part, was written well. It also had the potential to become the best read. But all of this went downhill pretty quickly.
- see, first of all, monologues in your prologue for like 4 pages aren't exciting. I want some action.
- second the main lead Cooper Easton gave me the 'not like other bois' vibes with his judgmental ass constantly judging Amity and everyone.
- third, the sexist dialogues aren't really belong either. I know Easton is like the bad boi who likes to climb mountains, so ✨quirky✨ but I don't like the whole 'look at these women trying to change me. my poor bad boi heart 💔' it's damn annoying
- fourth, the rushed ending. Like what's the hurry, we have wasted 4 hours of our life already, we will waste some more.
- fifth, Cooper Easton. I need to mention him again because this dude here is the reason I hate men. So look he has to win the money (I forgot why he can't just take a loan) but don't worry it's for a good cause. Anywho he doesn't think that Amity is capable enough to win because she likes to wear girly stuff ig??? Idk why tbh. So this bitch here is like imma ditch my GF and choose the 'tough girl' without considering that Amity might need that money as well but just cause she likes girly stuff she can't be poor.
2 stars for Amity for dumping his ass. That's it. This girl has suffered through enough and needs to be happy now. I hope that she dumps his ass again.
Arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. At first, I was like nope, won't publish this because the author was kind enough to provide me an Arc but also I am deeply into books and I can't cheat on them to maintain good relations. But despite that, this review isn't meant to hurt anyone's sentiments rather to put forward my opinions about a book.
May 2, 2022
Thank you to Lisa S. Gayle for allowing me an ARC copy of this book. I can’t even express how much I loved it. The story hits the ground running on page 1; you will not be able to put it down. Lisa S. Gayle hit a home run with this one!
Amity and Easton are both contestants on an outdoor adventure based reality show; The Race for Riches or Romance will award the winning team 2 million dollars. With their own intentions in mind, Amity and Easton find themselves paired as a team for the first challenge. Dressed to impress, Amity doesn’t realize that she will begin the competition immediately…in her dress and heels. Outdoor expert Easton Cooper can’t believe he could potentially be eliminated during the first round due to his clearly pampered partner.
As the competition moves on, Amity and Easton can’t seem to stay away from one another despite being paired with other competitors for various challenges. They are challenged physically and mentally while learning to work with the varying personalities of the other contestants.
Do they trust one another, form an alliance, and fan the sparks that are flying between them? Or is it better to play it safe and stick to their initial intentions? Can you really find true love on a reality TV show anyway? What happens when the cameras turn off?
Without hesitation, this book gets 5 stars. It’s fun, evolves at a great pace, has just the right amount of attention to detail, and allows the reader to experience a variety of emotions.
The characters were so well developed; you’ll enjoy their backstories and personal quirks. Even the secondary characters have clear personalities and hold your attention. The game show premise was new and a little out of the box for me; honestly, it was awesome. It just worked. I could go on and on. Just read it. Then tell all of your bookish friends to read it too. Lisa S. Gayle deserves some love for this one!
Amity and Easton are both contestants on an outdoor adventure based reality show; The Race for Riches or Romance will award the winning team 2 million dollars. With their own intentions in mind, Amity and Easton find themselves paired as a team for the first challenge. Dressed to impress, Amity doesn’t realize that she will begin the competition immediately…in her dress and heels. Outdoor expert Easton Cooper can’t believe he could potentially be eliminated during the first round due to his clearly pampered partner.
As the competition moves on, Amity and Easton can’t seem to stay away from one another despite being paired with other competitors for various challenges. They are challenged physically and mentally while learning to work with the varying personalities of the other contestants.
Do they trust one another, form an alliance, and fan the sparks that are flying between them? Or is it better to play it safe and stick to their initial intentions? Can you really find true love on a reality TV show anyway? What happens when the cameras turn off?
Without hesitation, this book gets 5 stars. It’s fun, evolves at a great pace, has just the right amount of attention to detail, and allows the reader to experience a variety of emotions.
The characters were so well developed; you’ll enjoy their backstories and personal quirks. Even the secondary characters have clear personalities and hold your attention. The game show premise was new and a little out of the box for me; honestly, it was awesome. It just worked. I could go on and on. Just read it. Then tell all of your bookish friends to read it too. Lisa S. Gayle deserves some love for this one!
May 20, 2022
I love reality TV...the drama, the stupidity, the hype. The premise of a reality TV show done in a book format intrigued me. Especially since the show is a crossover of reality TV genres. Think the bachelor meets survivor. I thought the book did a good job living up to reality TV drama/hype but I would have liked to see more of the romance aspect played out in the show. It is called The Race to Romance or Riches but whatever romance occurred happened organically as no aspect of the show promoted romance.
Amity and Easton have to compete with and against each other in a competition to win a million dollars. They get off on the wrong foot but are undeniably attracted to each other in spite of that. Their relationship is definitely insta-romance, which I am not a fan of, especially in an enemies to lovers trope. Their relationship starts out with some healthy boundaries. Easton tells Amity he can't change for her because he would not be happy in the long run, but those boundaries quickly dissolve when he fears he might lose her. The ending was off‐putting to me. I didn't feel like they resolved their conflict in a healthy way.
The spice in this book was practically nonexistent, and probably should have been for how quick and poorly executed their one interaction was.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Amity and Easton have to compete with and against each other in a competition to win a million dollars. They get off on the wrong foot but are undeniably attracted to each other in spite of that. Their relationship is definitely insta-romance, which I am not a fan of, especially in an enemies to lovers trope. Their relationship starts out with some healthy boundaries. Easton tells Amity he can't change for her because he would not be happy in the long run, but those boundaries quickly dissolve when he fears he might lose her. The ending was off‐putting to me. I didn't feel like they resolved their conflict in a healthy way.
The spice in this book was practically nonexistent, and probably should have been for how quick and poorly executed their one interaction was.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my review.
May 2, 2022
A reality TV show offering the chance to win a million dollars is our backdrop for this romance. It relied heavily on the assumptions made by key characters, and while this offered some amusement it felt a little repetitive on occasion.
While there’s a large cast initially taking part, they are whittled down and our attention is - obviously - focused on some key players. The main two are Amity and Easton, both of whom have many redeeming qualities though it takes a bit of time for these to become apparent.
From the outset it was pretty clear that we were going to be watching the romance unfold, while also watching the heavily manipulated drama surrounding the competition.
I enjoyed elements of this a lot. Letting us know the background to Amity and Easton kept us rooting for them as they allowed their own misjudgments to get in the way of their cause. The outdoors setting was a nice distraction, but I found the manipulations of the crew and the rather drawn-out nature of the show frustrating.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.
While there’s a large cast initially taking part, they are whittled down and our attention is - obviously - focused on some key players. The main two are Amity and Easton, both of whom have many redeeming qualities though it takes a bit of time for these to become apparent.
From the outset it was pretty clear that we were going to be watching the romance unfold, while also watching the heavily manipulated drama surrounding the competition.
I enjoyed elements of this a lot. Letting us know the background to Amity and Easton kept us rooting for them as they allowed their own misjudgments to get in the way of their cause. The outdoors setting was a nice distraction, but I found the manipulations of the crew and the rather drawn-out nature of the show frustrating.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.
May 23, 2022
Picture this: you’re a gorgeous sexy woman on a hardcore tactical game show with a sexy mountain man that won’t stop staring at you? Ummm count me in! I knew from the moment I read the synopsis that I would adore this book. The characters, Amity Rose and Easton Cooper had the perfect amount of depth to them. Their relationship is a little strained and at times reminded me of two 13 year olds in a relationship but it got better and better with time! The plot was exciting and engaging with the twists and turns of the game show aspect. The descriptions of the outdoor scenery were picturesque. The miscommunication trope was frustrating but worth it! The ending was adorable and we all need a man like Cooper. I 100% recommended this read.
May 2, 2023
3.5 stars. This is a rom-com set in a "reality" competition show. Even though I steer clear of that genre of TV, I had a good time with this book! Amity and Easton are contestants, and they definitely don't get off to a good start. As the game challenges progress, competition strategies and team alliances clash with their growing attraction to each other. The problem is that both of them make assumptions about the other that might stand in the way of their romance. As with lots of books, it's not always realistic, but I don't mind that at all. The mountain adventures that were part of the competition were described very well and were really fun to read about. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this book.
July 21, 2022
Tropes in this book which I loved:
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Competing while on reality TV
✨Forced proximity
✨Opposites attract
✨Rom-com
Listen I seriously enjoyed this opposites attract, Easton and Amity are competing on a reality TV show together. Easton is this very chilled layback, rugged outdoors manly man and Amity is the type of girl that shows up to a survival completion in a dress. These two initially start as enemies, but the banter and angst between them was absolute hilarious and swoon-worthy in the end.
This book was a lot of fun, quick and highly entertaining.
I am excited to read about Easton’s sisters in the books to come🥰
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Competing while on reality TV
✨Forced proximity
✨Opposites attract
✨Rom-com
Listen I seriously enjoyed this opposites attract, Easton and Amity are competing on a reality TV show together. Easton is this very chilled layback, rugged outdoors manly man and Amity is the type of girl that shows up to a survival completion in a dress. These two initially start as enemies, but the banter and angst between them was absolute hilarious and swoon-worthy in the end.
This book was a lot of fun, quick and highly entertaining.
I am excited to read about Easton’s sisters in the books to come🥰
June 26, 2022
This story is a classic enemies to lovers story but set in a reality game show situation which I found very intriguing and original. The characters were flawed but pulled through in the end, I enjoy when characters show development and growth throughout a story. I particularly liked how they gradually showed how strong Amity truly is and highlights not judging a book by its cover. A sweet, enjoyable read and a little bit different.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 23, 2022
Je vous avouerai que j'ai craqué sur la couverture et l'intrigue m'a ensuite intriguée. Logique non! J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture en compagnie de Cooper et Amity. J'ai aimé le côté original du récit et cet enemies to lovers a su me conquérir.
Bref, je suis contente d'avoir découvert cette romance qui sera vraiment sympathique à lire. L'autrice nous offre un enemies to lovers dans un contexte différent des comédies romantiques habituelles et elle tire donc son épingle du jeu.
Avis complet à lire sur: https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
Bref, je suis contente d'avoir découvert cette romance qui sera vraiment sympathique à lire. L'autrice nous offre un enemies to lovers dans un contexte différent des comédies romantiques habituelles et elle tire donc son épingle du jeu.
Avis complet à lire sur: https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...
April 27, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Lisa S. Gayle for letting me read this book.
A romantic and peppy version of The Hunger Games+ Instant unexplainable chemistry= Binge worthy book you can finish in less than a day!!!
I've got to say that although Instant Chemistry is not my type, I did enjoy this book a lot. Smart, funny and beautiful- Amity has it all. Mountain man, sleek, and slightly rugged, Easton ends up a million dollars richer than before with a Fiancé to brag about! I recommend this book to those facing a book slump.
A romantic and peppy version of The Hunger Games+ Instant unexplainable chemistry= Binge worthy book you can finish in less than a day!!!
I've got to say that although Instant Chemistry is not my type, I did enjoy this book a lot. Smart, funny and beautiful- Amity has it all. Mountain man, sleek, and slightly rugged, Easton ends up a million dollars richer than before with a Fiancé to brag about! I recommend this book to those facing a book slump.
November 8, 2024
This is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance. Cooper and Amity are competing in a reality TV show, taking part in challenges while living in the wilderness. I loved the reality TV show aspect and I enjoyed the idea of the story. Unfortunately, I never really connected with any of the characters.
April 25, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pre-reading:
Seems like standard smooth brain fare.
Thick of it:
Bestie, you're the one using the cooler. If you don’t want it, don’t use it. Oh, everything’s a brand name drop. Okay then. I read Alec Baldwin. This book has super awkward phrasing. Not just harm in general? We are on page 21, and he already wants her naked. She just cut her hair off. Honey, you’re not Mulan. This man is instantly in love with her just because she’s wearing some dry-fit T-shirt. Is she describing spidery arms as an attractive thing? What? I feel like she’s not using riveting correctly. Isn’t running in new shoes bad for you or something? Would you really call a Christmas tree a floral scent? “Bulge in his zipper compartment pants” I honestly can’t tell if she’s trolling. I don’t like her calling it personals. This man is a raging misogynist. She did not just say mad skills. Every comment this man makes is disparaging women. This book is not good, but it is entertaining. I think it would drift into solid two star territory if this man wasn’t so awful, but I just cannot buy him as a viable romantic interest when he’s this awful to women. Amity deserves better. “Of course, being a woman” I gasped. This book is hateful. Why do they call this man a people person? He actively hates people. Have these people showered once? He’s described as having octopus arms, and we’re supposed to be attracted to him? I’m confused. Clits aren’t really soft or inside. Poor typo or is she genuinely confused about personals? No one’s fainting over this. No one in romance books ever knows how to communicate, oh my lord. Yeah, wait a minute, how does he still have a goatee? None of them are shaving. All the girls should have like hairy legs and armpits. Also, how does he wear contacts in the wilderness and then he dives underwater and had to open his eyes? Can you do that with contacts? Wouldn’t they be all gross and filthy? What about like dust behind the contacts? Do Olympics people compete in contacts or do they have like extreme sports glasses? Google says they all get Lasik. An orangutan is not what pops into my head to compare people to. Yeah, I don’t buy them getting together. They both could’ve had 1 million dollars. Maybe like 10K you could let it go but 1 million. Also, I like how a 1 million dollar medical procedure is completely plausible. Fucking America. Oh yeah, she wears lipgloss she must be loaded. What the fuck is this book? This guy is so rude. Oh, she’s not rich so now he doesn’t have to feel guilty about not wanting to give her nice things. 0/10. That’s how it ends what the hell? I feel like it’s hard to live interchangeably at a Homestead because like don’t you have cows and stuff to take care of?
Post-reading:
This book annoys me. Reading about the competition was genuinely interesting. It’s a decent concept of an extreme survivalist reality show romance. The smut is bad. Easton is incredibly unlikable. He’s a misogynistic asshole. Hard to come back from that if it’s supposed to be a romance book. By no means is this book good, but I would’ve given this two stars if they had different inner monologuing for Easton. I feel like it needs a heavy, heavy edit.
Who should read this:
Easy read romance lovers
Do I want to reread this:
No
Similar books:
* Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Merged review:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pre-reading:
Seems like standard smooth brain fare.
Thick of it:
Bestie, you're the one using the cooler. If you don’t want it, don’t use it. Oh, everything’s a brand name drop. Okay then. I read Alec Baldwin. This book has super awkward phrasing. Not just harm in general? We are on page 21, and he already wants her naked. She just cut her hair off. Honey, you’re not Mulan. This man is instantly in love with her just because she’s wearing some dry-fit T-shirt. Is she describing spidery arms as an attractive thing? What? I feel like she’s not using riveting correctly. Isn’t running in new shoes bad for you or something? Would you really call a Christmas tree a floral scent? “Bulge in his zipper compartment pants” I honestly can’t tell if she’s trolling. I don’t like her calling it personals. This man is a raging misogynist. She did not just say mad skills. Every comment this man makes is disparaging women. This book is not good, but it is entertaining. I think it would drift into solid two star territory if this man wasn’t so awful, but I just cannot buy him as a viable romantic interest when he’s this awful to women. Amity deserves better. “Of course, being a woman” I gasped. This book is hateful. Why do they call this man a people person? He actively hates people. Have these people showered once? He’s described as having octopus arms, and we’re supposed to be attracted to him? I’m confused. Clits aren’t really soft or inside. Poor typo or is she genuinely confused about personals? No one’s fainting over this. No one in romance books ever knows how to communicate, oh my lord. Yeah, wait a minute, how does he still have a goatee? None of them are shaving. All the girls should have like hairy legs and armpits. Also, how does he wear contacts in the wilderness and then he dives underwater and had to open his eyes? Can you do that with contacts? Wouldn’t they be all gross and filthy? What about like dust behind the contacts? Do Olympics people compete in contacts or do they have like extreme sports glasses? Google says they all get Lasik. An orangutan is not what pops into my head to compare people to. Yeah, I don’t buy them getting together. They both could’ve had 1 million dollars. Maybe like 10K you could let it go but 1 million. Also, I like how a 1 million dollar medical procedure is completely plausible. Fucking America. Oh yeah, she wears lipgloss she must be loaded. What the fuck is this book? This guy is so rude. Oh, she’s not rich so now he doesn’t have to feel guilty about not wanting to give her nice things. 0/10. That’s how it ends what the hell? I feel like it’s hard to live interchangeably at a Homestead because like don’t you have cows and stuff to take care of?
Post-reading:
This book annoys me. Reading about the competition was genuinely interesting. It’s a decent concept of an extreme survivalist reality show romance. The smut is bad. Easton is incredibly unlikable. He’s a misogynistic asshole. Hard to come back from that if it’s supposed to be a romance book. By no means is this book good, but I would’ve given this two stars if they had different inner monologuing for Easton. I feel like it needs a heavy, heavy edit.
Who should read this:
Easy read romance lovers
Do I want to reread this:
No
Similar books:
* Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Pre-reading:
Seems like standard smooth brain fare.
Thick of it:
Bestie, you're the one using the cooler. If you don’t want it, don’t use it. Oh, everything’s a brand name drop. Okay then. I read Alec Baldwin. This book has super awkward phrasing. Not just harm in general? We are on page 21, and he already wants her naked. She just cut her hair off. Honey, you’re not Mulan. This man is instantly in love with her just because she’s wearing some dry-fit T-shirt. Is she describing spidery arms as an attractive thing? What? I feel like she’s not using riveting correctly. Isn’t running in new shoes bad for you or something? Would you really call a Christmas tree a floral scent? “Bulge in his zipper compartment pants” I honestly can’t tell if she’s trolling. I don’t like her calling it personals. This man is a raging misogynist. She did not just say mad skills. Every comment this man makes is disparaging women. This book is not good, but it is entertaining. I think it would drift into solid two star territory if this man wasn’t so awful, but I just cannot buy him as a viable romantic interest when he’s this awful to women. Amity deserves better. “Of course, being a woman” I gasped. This book is hateful. Why do they call this man a people person? He actively hates people. Have these people showered once? He’s described as having octopus arms, and we’re supposed to be attracted to him? I’m confused. Clits aren’t really soft or inside. Poor typo or is she genuinely confused about personals? No one’s fainting over this. No one in romance books ever knows how to communicate, oh my lord. Yeah, wait a minute, how does he still have a goatee? None of them are shaving. All the girls should have like hairy legs and armpits. Also, how does he wear contacts in the wilderness and then he dives underwater and had to open his eyes? Can you do that with contacts? Wouldn’t they be all gross and filthy? What about like dust behind the contacts? Do Olympics people compete in contacts or do they have like extreme sports glasses? Google says they all get Lasik. An orangutan is not what pops into my head to compare people to. Yeah, I don’t buy them getting together. They both could’ve had 1 million dollars. Maybe like 10K you could let it go but 1 million. Also, I like how a 1 million dollar medical procedure is completely plausible. Fucking America. Oh yeah, she wears lipgloss she must be loaded. What the fuck is this book? This guy is so rude. Oh, she’s not rich so now he doesn’t have to feel guilty about not wanting to give her nice things. 0/10. That’s how it ends what the hell? I feel like it’s hard to live interchangeably at a Homestead because like don’t you have cows and stuff to take care of?
Post-reading:
This book annoys me. Reading about the competition was genuinely interesting. It’s a decent concept of an extreme survivalist reality show romance. The smut is bad. Easton is incredibly unlikable. He’s a misogynistic asshole. Hard to come back from that if it’s supposed to be a romance book. By no means is this book good, but I would’ve given this two stars if they had different inner monologuing for Easton. I feel like it needs a heavy, heavy edit.
Who should read this:
Easy read romance lovers
Do I want to reread this:
No
Similar books:
* Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Merged review:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pre-reading:
Seems like standard smooth brain fare.
Thick of it:
Bestie, you're the one using the cooler. If you don’t want it, don’t use it. Oh, everything’s a brand name drop. Okay then. I read Alec Baldwin. This book has super awkward phrasing. Not just harm in general? We are on page 21, and he already wants her naked. She just cut her hair off. Honey, you’re not Mulan. This man is instantly in love with her just because she’s wearing some dry-fit T-shirt. Is she describing spidery arms as an attractive thing? What? I feel like she’s not using riveting correctly. Isn’t running in new shoes bad for you or something? Would you really call a Christmas tree a floral scent? “Bulge in his zipper compartment pants” I honestly can’t tell if she’s trolling. I don’t like her calling it personals. This man is a raging misogynist. She did not just say mad skills. Every comment this man makes is disparaging women. This book is not good, but it is entertaining. I think it would drift into solid two star territory if this man wasn’t so awful, but I just cannot buy him as a viable romantic interest when he’s this awful to women. Amity deserves better. “Of course, being a woman” I gasped. This book is hateful. Why do they call this man a people person? He actively hates people. Have these people showered once? He’s described as having octopus arms, and we’re supposed to be attracted to him? I’m confused. Clits aren’t really soft or inside. Poor typo or is she genuinely confused about personals? No one’s fainting over this. No one in romance books ever knows how to communicate, oh my lord. Yeah, wait a minute, how does he still have a goatee? None of them are shaving. All the girls should have like hairy legs and armpits. Also, how does he wear contacts in the wilderness and then he dives underwater and had to open his eyes? Can you do that with contacts? Wouldn’t they be all gross and filthy? What about like dust behind the contacts? Do Olympics people compete in contacts or do they have like extreme sports glasses? Google says they all get Lasik. An orangutan is not what pops into my head to compare people to. Yeah, I don’t buy them getting together. They both could’ve had 1 million dollars. Maybe like 10K you could let it go but 1 million. Also, I like how a 1 million dollar medical procedure is completely plausible. Fucking America. Oh yeah, she wears lipgloss she must be loaded. What the fuck is this book? This guy is so rude. Oh, she’s not rich so now he doesn’t have to feel guilty about not wanting to give her nice things. 0/10. That’s how it ends what the hell? I feel like it’s hard to live interchangeably at a Homestead because like don’t you have cows and stuff to take care of?
Post-reading:
This book annoys me. Reading about the competition was genuinely interesting. It’s a decent concept of an extreme survivalist reality show romance. The smut is bad. Easton is incredibly unlikable. He’s a misogynistic asshole. Hard to come back from that if it’s supposed to be a romance book. By no means is this book good, but I would’ve given this two stars if they had different inner monologuing for Easton. I feel like it needs a heavy, heavy edit.
Who should read this:
Easy read romance lovers
Do I want to reread this:
No
Similar books:
* Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
May 11, 2022
3.5/5
Um romance leve, rápido de ler e com todos os ingredientes para dar umas boas gargalhadas.
Quem não adora um belo enemies-to-lovers?!
Easton e Amity são como o cão e o gato, pelo menos à primeira vista.
Gostei imenso do conceito do reality show e das dinâmicas do enredo. Houve alguns momentos mais lentos e parados, mas no geral foi uma boa leitura.
Ideal para quem quer uma leitura leve, divertida, recheada de aventura e bem romântica.
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdbmYk1Lm...
Um romance leve, rápido de ler e com todos os ingredientes para dar umas boas gargalhadas.
Quem não adora um belo enemies-to-lovers?!
Easton e Amity são como o cão e o gato, pelo menos à primeira vista.
Gostei imenso do conceito do reality show e das dinâmicas do enredo. Houve alguns momentos mais lentos e parados, mas no geral foi uma boa leitura.
Ideal para quem quer uma leitura leve, divertida, recheada de aventura e bem romântica.
!! Foi-me cedida uma cópia avançada deste livro em troca de uma opinião honesta.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdbmYk1Lm...
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