Sign in with Facebook
Carmen's Reviews > Ride with Me
Ride with Me
by
by
Carmen's review
bookshelves: american-author, fiction, published2022, she-says, traditionally-published, ya
Oct 01, 2023
bookshelves: american-author, fiction, published2022, she-says, traditionally-published, ya
"Whatever. Like I said, I knew you wouldn't understand."
"Why do you keep SAYING that?" I ask as I take a left on Michaela's street.
"Because obviously you've never been in love!" she exclaims. "You're like, eternally single, no commitments to speak of."
"I have a LOT of commitments," I say defensively. "It's just that none of them revolve around dating."
"And what, that makes you special? Because you'd rather be alone?" pg. 21
This book is slated as a romance, but that's not how I would categorize it.
"What is your problem?" Andre says, getting closer, his eyes wide in exasperation.
"Guys like you," I say. "Who only care about getting drunk, and having a good time, when some of us actually want more for ourselves. But why would you worry about that?" pg. 64
Charlie can't wait to get out of the small town she grew up in: Chester Falls, MA. She's working as a driver on an app (called Backseat here, but it's like Uber) and saving every penny. She's a junior, and has dreams of going to Cornell and becoming an architect.
She has two best friends who feel a bit neglected as they are left behind all the time while she works, almost non-stop.
She has two parents who are not acting as fully-functional adults. Honestly, I thought both of them were suffering from some degree of depression. They hold down jobs, but they can't seem to do basic things like pay bills, pay debts, or do household repairs. This annoys Charlie to no end, as does their crumbling relationship that they refuse to address.
One night at a party, Charlie is hired by a drunk guy to give him a ride home. In her haste to hand him a bucket so he doesn't vomit in her car, she rams into Andre's car. Andre is a "hot" lacrosse player known for being a partier and someone who supplies parties with copious amounts of alcohol.
She begs him not to report her infraction to Backseat - she already has one driving violation, and if she gets two, she will be unable to continue working for the app. He agrees - on one condition. She drive him everywhere until his car gets repaired.
...
This isn't so much a love story as a story of two very different people becoming friends and developing a close friendship.
It's also a story that's very focused on belonging, what home means, what community means, what ambition brings you. Etc. Etc.
Also, I am an adult reading a YA book. This is probably my first mistake. I can't relate to YA much anymore, I'm too old. I know tons of people who are adults read YA, but for me, I can't get into it (95% of the time - there's always exceptions for excellent work. Check out my YA shelf if you want examples). I can't relate to agonizing over kissing a guy for the first time, going to prom, if your parents are going to let you go to the big party, etc. etc. etc. Not only can I not relate, but it usually bores and frustrates me unless the book has something special about it.
This is pretty placid. It fails as a romance, because I did not see any romantic or sexual attraction between the two leads. There was just nothing. The story is more about them opening each others worlds a bit and becoming great friends. No sexual or romantic attraction at all, when the author FINALLY had them kiss it was leaving me cold. I wasn't buying it.
Even if I thought they were "into each other," IMO they would be a terrible couple. These two are just not compatible. They would be fine as friends but IMO would make a nightmare of a romantic relationship. They do not fit each other.
Thirdly, Charlie is kind of anti-dating and anti-romance. I wasn't sure why or what the author was getting at. It's not just that she's never dated nor had a boyfriend. She's just not interested in dating or having a boyfriend. She's awkward, very determinedly barreling into her future away from Chester Falls, and immature when it comes to dealing with relationship issues (even minor ones). She's not asexual nor aromantic (at least, according to the author) so I don't exactly know what was going on. She's just not into it. She doesn't gush about boys, she never fantasizes about dating/sex/marriage, she doesn't have crushes. Her main focus is getting out of Chester Falls and into Cornell.
The book is pretty low stakes. There's nothing here to really sink your teeth into nor get passionate about. My most pressing concern during the book was addressing her parents' depression. They seriously needed to get help and even though Charlie confronts them about it many times, they always brush it under the rug and say, "We're the parents, let us parent." Even though they are not fucking parenting at all.
I do my best to smile. "I'm here to buy a manual on toilets."
"What do you need that for?" he asks.
Good question, I think, why am I, a seventeen-year-old girl, buying a manual on toilets, when I live with two adult humans who could do this themselves? Instead, I shrug. "Got a broken toilet." pg. 135
"Thanks, Dad, but I need to do this on my own."
"Why?" my dad asks, and I don't know how to tell him that I'm not sure I can really trust him to help. And I can't have him let me down right now. pg. 180
Keating is a competent writer. Nothing is bad about the writing. Charlie's rather wry observations of human nature can be amusing.
Grant Chase is the captain of the Chester Falls High hockey team. He's also a supreme dickhead, in my personal opinion. At school he can be found cracking jokes in class to undermine the teacher's assignments, at parties he enjoys smashing beer cans into his skull, and his on-ice persona seems to be with a bloody nose and tooth-chipped grin while some guy lies flat out next to the goal. It's like he's watched every bad eighties movie possible on how to be a douche and makes sure to brush up on the weekends. pg. 21
Or what about this one:
I imagine the inside of his brain, a hollowed-out space filled with cobwebs and internet porn. pg. 95
There's both alcohol and drug use (in a book featuring mainly 17-year-olds). It's casual and nothing ever comes of it. Drugs and alcohol are casual, normal, and easy. Maybe too easy, there's a scene in here (not intended to be funny, I'm sure) in which a bartender serves Charlie alcohol basically because she asks nicely and says her friend is having a bad week. As an adult reading this I'm incredulous. Most people want to keep their job and bartenders are not going to be blissfully handing alcohol to high schoolers. Drinking at a house party is one thing, this scene with the bartender I found TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.
If you are reading this for content warnings, there is casual, easy drug and alcohol use but no sex or sexual content at all. Charlie and Andre drink, but never drink and drive and they never do drugs, either, although its mentioned that other people at the parties are using.
TL;DR Keating is calling this a romance, because that's what sells, but this didn't seem like a romance at all to me. No spark between the characters, and they would be a horrible couple anyway. But they do become close friends and open each others worlds a bit. It's more a YA that focuses on knowing yourself, planning for the future, appreciating what you have, and maturing into a more adult person. It was fine. Keating's writing is fine, but the book is so low-stakes and I couldn't get worked up over anything. It's tepid.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
(view spoiler)
"Why do you keep SAYING that?" I ask as I take a left on Michaela's street.
"Because obviously you've never been in love!" she exclaims. "You're like, eternally single, no commitments to speak of."
"I have a LOT of commitments," I say defensively. "It's just that none of them revolve around dating."
"And what, that makes you special? Because you'd rather be alone?" pg. 21
This book is slated as a romance, but that's not how I would categorize it.
"What is your problem?" Andre says, getting closer, his eyes wide in exasperation.
"Guys like you," I say. "Who only care about getting drunk, and having a good time, when some of us actually want more for ourselves. But why would you worry about that?" pg. 64
Charlie can't wait to get out of the small town she grew up in: Chester Falls, MA. She's working as a driver on an app (called Backseat here, but it's like Uber) and saving every penny. She's a junior, and has dreams of going to Cornell and becoming an architect.
She has two best friends who feel a bit neglected as they are left behind all the time while she works, almost non-stop.
She has two parents who are not acting as fully-functional adults. Honestly, I thought both of them were suffering from some degree of depression. They hold down jobs, but they can't seem to do basic things like pay bills, pay debts, or do household repairs. This annoys Charlie to no end, as does their crumbling relationship that they refuse to address.
One night at a party, Charlie is hired by a drunk guy to give him a ride home. In her haste to hand him a bucket so he doesn't vomit in her car, she rams into Andre's car. Andre is a "hot" lacrosse player known for being a partier and someone who supplies parties with copious amounts of alcohol.
She begs him not to report her infraction to Backseat - she already has one driving violation, and if she gets two, she will be unable to continue working for the app. He agrees - on one condition. She drive him everywhere until his car gets repaired.
...
This isn't so much a love story as a story of two very different people becoming friends and developing a close friendship.
It's also a story that's very focused on belonging, what home means, what community means, what ambition brings you. Etc. Etc.
Also, I am an adult reading a YA book. This is probably my first mistake. I can't relate to YA much anymore, I'm too old. I know tons of people who are adults read YA, but for me, I can't get into it (95% of the time - there's always exceptions for excellent work. Check out my YA shelf if you want examples). I can't relate to agonizing over kissing a guy for the first time, going to prom, if your parents are going to let you go to the big party, etc. etc. etc. Not only can I not relate, but it usually bores and frustrates me unless the book has something special about it.
This is pretty placid. It fails as a romance, because I did not see any romantic or sexual attraction between the two leads. There was just nothing. The story is more about them opening each others worlds a bit and becoming great friends. No sexual or romantic attraction at all, when the author FINALLY had them kiss it was leaving me cold. I wasn't buying it.
Even if I thought they were "into each other," IMO they would be a terrible couple. These two are just not compatible. They would be fine as friends but IMO would make a nightmare of a romantic relationship. They do not fit each other.
Thirdly, Charlie is kind of anti-dating and anti-romance. I wasn't sure why or what the author was getting at. It's not just that she's never dated nor had a boyfriend. She's just not interested in dating or having a boyfriend. She's awkward, very determinedly barreling into her future away from Chester Falls, and immature when it comes to dealing with relationship issues (even minor ones). She's not asexual nor aromantic (at least, according to the author) so I don't exactly know what was going on. She's just not into it. She doesn't gush about boys, she never fantasizes about dating/sex/marriage, she doesn't have crushes. Her main focus is getting out of Chester Falls and into Cornell.
The book is pretty low stakes. There's nothing here to really sink your teeth into nor get passionate about. My most pressing concern during the book was addressing her parents' depression. They seriously needed to get help and even though Charlie confronts them about it many times, they always brush it under the rug and say, "We're the parents, let us parent." Even though they are not fucking parenting at all.
I do my best to smile. "I'm here to buy a manual on toilets."
"What do you need that for?" he asks.
Good question, I think, why am I, a seventeen-year-old girl, buying a manual on toilets, when I live with two adult humans who could do this themselves? Instead, I shrug. "Got a broken toilet." pg. 135
"Thanks, Dad, but I need to do this on my own."
"Why?" my dad asks, and I don't know how to tell him that I'm not sure I can really trust him to help. And I can't have him let me down right now. pg. 180
Keating is a competent writer. Nothing is bad about the writing. Charlie's rather wry observations of human nature can be amusing.
Grant Chase is the captain of the Chester Falls High hockey team. He's also a supreme dickhead, in my personal opinion. At school he can be found cracking jokes in class to undermine the teacher's assignments, at parties he enjoys smashing beer cans into his skull, and his on-ice persona seems to be with a bloody nose and tooth-chipped grin while some guy lies flat out next to the goal. It's like he's watched every bad eighties movie possible on how to be a douche and makes sure to brush up on the weekends. pg. 21
Or what about this one:
I imagine the inside of his brain, a hollowed-out space filled with cobwebs and internet porn. pg. 95
There's both alcohol and drug use (in a book featuring mainly 17-year-olds). It's casual and nothing ever comes of it. Drugs and alcohol are casual, normal, and easy. Maybe too easy, there's a scene in here (not intended to be funny, I'm sure) in which a bartender serves Charlie alcohol basically because she asks nicely and says her friend is having a bad week. As an adult reading this I'm incredulous. Most people want to keep their job and bartenders are not going to be blissfully handing alcohol to high schoolers. Drinking at a house party is one thing, this scene with the bartender I found TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.
If you are reading this for content warnings, there is casual, easy drug and alcohol use but no sex or sexual content at all. Charlie and Andre drink, but never drink and drive and they never do drugs, either, although its mentioned that other people at the parties are using.
TL;DR Keating is calling this a romance, because that's what sells, but this didn't seem like a romance at all to me. No spark between the characters, and they would be a horrible couple anyway. But they do become close friends and open each others worlds a bit. It's more a YA that focuses on knowing yourself, planning for the future, appreciating what you have, and maturing into a more adult person. It was fine. Keating's writing is fine, but the book is so low-stakes and I couldn't get worked up over anything. It's tepid.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
(view spoiler)
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Ride with Me.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
September 28, 2023
–
Started Reading
September 28, 2023
– Shelved
September 28, 2023
–
1.0%
"One, it is delicious beyond words, with a layer of molasses-cookie crust, maple custard, and whipped cream,...
Yum. Sounds autumnal."
Yum. Sounds autumnal."
September 28, 2023
–
1.0%
"I enjoy taking long walks in the woods, making trips to the modern art museum in New Winsor to sketch, overthinking my problems to the point of nausea, and listening to all the obscure music I can get my hands on. Sydney prefers to stay at home learning complicated nail design techniques, watching videos of people cooking miniature-sized food, and doing butt sculpting workouts on Instagram Live."
September 28, 2023
–
1.0%
"Sydney looks out the window. "You used to love going to parties," she sighs, like we're a married couple on the brink of divorce."
September 28, 2023
–
3.0%
"Tucker and I kissed once at a party, which is the longest relationship I've ever had. He's cute, and has a heart of gold, but he'll always just be the guy who takes a giant bite of my hamburger before I have any for myself. The guy who lights his farts on fire for a laugh.
This is why I find it hard to relate to YA."
This is why I find it hard to relate to YA."
September 28, 2023
–
3.0%
""Have you ever considered the fact that I wouldn't be such a bitch if you just treated me nicely in the first place?"
And have either of you ever considered the fact that you should've broken up years ago? I think silently to myself. Why do people constantly push their relationships past their expiration date?"
And have either of you ever considered the fact that you should've broken up years ago? I think silently to myself. Why do people constantly push their relationships past their expiration date?"
September 28, 2023
–
3.0%
"Tessa is the daughter of two farmers. She likes fresh-cut flowers, and vintage jeans, and every baby animal on earth."
September 28, 2023
–
3.0%
"Directly next to where Tessa is propped up on the couch is a large taxidermy ostrich, which someone has put a baseball cap on. Beneath our bare feet is a shag rug. Tucker said it would be okay if I took over his Spotify for a bit, and this band I've been listening to from Northampton is floating out of all the speakers in the house. In this moment, in this tiny room with my two best friends, away from the keg"
September 28, 2023
–
4.0%
"I want to chase after him and tell him that, in fact, HE sucks, that he wouldn't know what good taste was if it bit him on his ultra-firm skier's butt, but I have a feeling he wouldn't care. Andre is one of those people whose good mood seems impenetrable. And that might be what annoys me the most."
September 28, 2023
–
5.0%
"The way I felt when I first got behind the wheel of a car, all by myself, took me completely by surprise."
September 28, 2023
–
6.0%
"Grant Chase is the captain of the Chester Falls High hockey team. He's also a supreme dickhead, in my personal opinion. At school he can be found cracking jokes in class to undermine the teacher's assignments, at parties he enjoys smashing beer cans into his skull, and his on-ice persona seems to be with a bloody nose and tooth-chipped grin while some guy lies flat out next to the goal. It's like he's watched"
September 28, 2023
–
7.0%
""Whatever. Like I said, I knew you wouldn't understand."
"Why do you keep SAYING that?" I ask as I take a left on Michaela's street.
"Because obviously you've never been in love!" she exclaims. "You're like, eternally single, no commitments to speak of."
"I have a LOT of commitments," I say defensively. "It's just that none of them revolve around dating."
"And what, that makes you special? Because you'd rather"
"Why do you keep SAYING that?" I ask as I take a left on Michaela's street.
"Because obviously you've never been in love!" she exclaims. "You're like, eternally single, no commitments to speak of."
"I have a LOT of commitments," I say defensively. "It's just that none of them revolve around dating."
"And what, that makes you special? Because you'd rather"
September 28, 2023
–
8.0%
"So I am supposed to believe one negative review in the NYT destroys this guy's career? Or destroys his self-esteem so thoroughly he gives up art forever?"
September 28, 2023
–
9.0%
"If ever I gain consciousness on a weekend and don't know when or where I am, the smell of my dad's apple flapjacks will always get message across. Early on Saturday morning, my nose wakes up before the rest of my body does as the scent of cinnamon and butter wafts gently up the stairs and into my room."
September 28, 2023
–
18.0%
"Tucker is buzzed. I can see it in the redness of his eyes, the openness. Could he BE more into you? I can hear Sydney say. Tucker is handsome, and he's kind, and if I recall, he's also a pretty great kisser. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea to just give him a chance.
But he's still Tucker.
I inhale a deep breath and let it out. Tucker is a great guy, but we've never been on the same page."
But he's still Tucker.
I inhale a deep breath and let it out. Tucker is a great guy, but we've never been on the same page."
September 28, 2023
–
20.0%
"Someone else is surveying the damage, too. At first, all I see is a T-shirt draped over wide shoulders, and olive skin on the back of his neck, a pair of car keys dangling from his fingertips. As he turns, and our eyes meet, I realize whose car I just hit."
September 28, 2023
–
21.0%
""What is your PROBLEM?" Andre says, getting closer, his eyes wide in exasperation.
"Guys like YOU," I say. "Who only care about getting drunk, and having a good time, when some of us actually want more for ourselves. But why would you worry about that?""
"Guys like YOU," I say. "Who only care about getting drunk, and having a good time, when some of us actually want more for ourselves. But why would you worry about that?""
September 28, 2023
–
27.0%
""Anyway, I just mean I'm happy for you about Ava. You haven't really seemed like yourself lately. At first, I was kind of hurt, like maybe you didn't want to be around us. But I see now you're just kind of unsettled. You're seeking something. And really, I just want you to be happy.""
September 28, 2023
–
28.0%
"Chester Falls' biggest party boy has a strong work ethic? I did not expect this."
September 28, 2023
–
30.0%
""Certain parts of our lives aren't meant to be forever. But that doesn't mean that they don't shape who we are. Don't forget that. Okay?""
September 28, 2023
–
32.0%
"I imagine the inside of his brain, a hollowed-out space filled with cobwebs and internet porn."
September 28, 2023
–
33.0%
"I look closer at Andre, who is holding a french fry in his hand as he gestures wildly while he talks. I take in his high cheekbones. His hair, nearly jet black, which is pushed away from his face.
"I guess he does have a nice neck," I say, observing the way it slopes into his sweatshirt. There's a super-thin gold chain just visible above his T-shirt that normally isn't my style, but on him, I like it."
"I guess he does have a nice neck," I say, observing the way it slopes into his sweatshirt. There's a super-thin gold chain just visible above his T-shirt that normally isn't my style, but on him, I like it."
September 29, 2023
–
41.0%
"I sigh. "Have you ever even dated anyone else?"
Andre says nothing for a minute. "I mean, not in a real way, no."
"So how do you even know what you want? How are you so ready to be stuck with someone for the rest of your life when you don't even know what it's like to be with someone else?""
Andre says nothing for a minute. "I mean, not in a real way, no."
"So how do you even know what you want? How are you so ready to be stuck with someone for the rest of your life when you don't even know what it's like to be with someone else?""
September 29, 2023
–
44.0%
"I do my best to smile. "I'm here to buy a manual on toilets."
"What do you need that for?" he asks.
Good question, I think, why am I, a seventeen-year-old girl, buying a manual on toilets, when I live with two adult humans who could do this themselves? Instead, I shrug. "Got a broken toilet.""
"What do you need that for?" he asks.
Good question, I think, why am I, a seventeen-year-old girl, buying a manual on toilets, when I live with two adult humans who could do this themselves? Instead, I shrug. "Got a broken toilet.""
September 29, 2023
–
54.0%
""Totally. I've just been having trouble sleeping, that's all." He avoids eye contact with me when he says this, which isn't like him. I wonder if Andre is completely willing to become engrossed in conversation as long as it has nothing to do with things that are really bothering him."
September 29, 2023
–
55.0%
"And the bartender just serves this 17-year-old girl a drink? Doesn't ask for ID? She just tells him her friend was having a rough week?! I'm not buying it."
September 29, 2023
–
57.0%
""I just wanted something to change. Anything." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I know I'm not really talking about the house, and I wonder if my dad knows it, too.
Yeah, but are her parents ever going to face the fact that they are DEPRESSED and that is affecting their quality of life and that of their daughter?! It's not some small thing."
Yeah, but are her parents ever going to face the fact that they are DEPRESSED and that is affecting their quality of life and that of their daughter?! It's not some small thing."
September 29, 2023
–
58.0%
""Thanks, Dad, but I need to do this on my own."
"Why?" my dad asks, and I don't know how to tell him that I'm not sure I can really trust him to help. And I can't have him let me down right now."
"Why?" my dad asks, and I don't know how to tell him that I'm not sure I can really trust him to help. And I can't have him let me down right now."
September 30, 2023
–
62.0%
"She leans in and whispers, "The tree has come for me."
I cross my arms, feeling unusually bold today. "Like what?"
She notices me. "What?"
"You're saying that everything in your life has fallen apart. So, what exactly has fallen apart?"
Mrs. Porter sniffs. "Well, if you must know. My car broke down on Mountain Road two days ago, all my peonies are dead, and I'm blind in my right eye."
I want to tell Cindi"
I cross my arms, feeling unusually bold today. "Like what?"
She notices me. "What?"
"You're saying that everything in your life has fallen apart. So, what exactly has fallen apart?"
Mrs. Porter sniffs. "Well, if you must know. My car broke down on Mountain Road two days ago, all my peonies are dead, and I'm blind in my right eye."
I want to tell Cindi"
September 30, 2023
–
69.0%
"They are more like good, genuine friends. I'm not really getting a sexual or romantic vibe, even though I know the author is going there."
September 30, 2023
–
72.0%
"I always assumed I'd be better at this stuff, the dating stuff, once I actually cared about it. Apparently I was wrong."
September 30, 2023
–
77.0%
"This girl is just so... awkward? Uptight? IDK. I can't really buy this romance."
September 30, 2023
–
79.0%
""What's so funny?" I ask.
"You. You're so uncomfortable with the idea of dating, you can barely say it out loud.""
"You. You're so uncomfortable with the idea of dating, you can barely say it out loud.""
September 30, 2023
–
81.0%
""Just talk to him," Tessa offers. "Ask him what's up."
I groan. "This is exactly what I wanted to avoid."
"What?"
"Drama. Complications. I have enough stuff to worry about."
"But babe, this is what relationships ARE," Tessa says."
I groan. "This is exactly what I wanted to avoid."
"What?"
"Drama. Complications. I have enough stuff to worry about."
"But babe, this is what relationships ARE," Tessa says."
September 30, 2023
–
82.0%
"She's immature and I just can't with all the (completely unnecessary) drama. Perils of reading YA."
September 30, 2023
–
88.0%
"OK. Even if I DID buy that these two were romantically and sexually interested in each other... which I don't... I don't think they are a good fit. They just do not fit together."
September 30, 2023
–
90.0%
"So Keating is saying AFTER ALL THIS, the mentor isn't perfect and she isn't going to take this amazing opportunity?"
September 30, 2023
–
92.0%
""You always think you have everyone mapped out, but human beings are complex. You need to have more faith in people."
"Do I not normally?"
My mom shrugs. "Not everyone holds themselves to the same standard as you do, babe. You can be kind of tough on people."
I bite my lip. "Yeah, I'm beginning to realize that.""
"Do I not normally?"
My mom shrugs. "Not everyone holds themselves to the same standard as you do, babe. You can be kind of tough on people."
I bite my lip. "Yeah, I'm beginning to realize that.""
October 1, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-4 of 4 (4 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Joe
(new)
Oct 01, 2023 08:08AM
Welcome back, Moneypenny. These fictional characters have been acting out of pocket while you’ve been away and really need some therapy or a lecture. I think readers excuse these types of books because they’re “just” YA or just teen romances, but low stakes might be the #1 fail by an author and unacceptable regardless of what type of story is being told. Also, and I don’t know how it’s handled, but the man in this couple seems manipulative. If someone damages your car, you either report it to their insurer, or use your party supply income to repair your property and cut Charlie a break. Personally, I’d report her. Driving does not seem like a job she’s suited for and next time she gets distracted, someone could get killed. But here I go lecturing her when that’s your expertise.
reply
|
flag
Welcome back, Moneypenny. These fictional characters have been acting out of pocket while you’ve been away and really need some therapy or a lecture. I think readers excuse these types of books because they’re “just” YA or just teen romances, but low stakes might be the #1 fail by an author and unacceptable regardless of what type of story is being told. Also, and I don’t know how it’s handled, but the man in this couple seems manipulative. If someone damages your car, you either report it to their insurer, or use your party supply income to repair your property and cut Charlie a break. Personally, I’d report her. Driving does not seem like a job she’s suited for and next time she gets distracted, someone could get killed. But here I go lecturing her when that’s your expertise.Embrace your inner lecturer, Joseph! You know you want to! Indulge!
LOL Thank you for your kind comment. Of course, his actions are manipulative. And shows signs of toxicity. But the book is so tepid even I can't get worked up about it. It's a non-issue, like so much in this novel. Party supply income LOL. You crack me up.
Such a great review, Carmen. Very fair and honest. I appreciate that. 🤗💕
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "Such a great review, Carmen. Very fair and honest. I appreciate that. 🤗💕"Thank you, Shelley.
