The Quick Cut: Best friends harboring a crush for one another continue to navigate the awkward waters of ignoring their chemistry while continuing to try and find romantic relationships with other people... and asking for help from one another.
A Real Review:
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those cute romantic reads you pick up for some light summer fun. I read this one right before bed last night in a couple hours flat, so if you're looking for something easy to enjoy - this will definitely fit the ticket.
Alex and Katie have been best friends for two years. They spend most of their time playing the video game Conquerors of Caroon with their other two teammates, Penny and Trevor. Everything about their lives revolves around Alex's now deceased brother, Jason. Alex harbors a secret crush towards Katie but refuses to act on it knowing that his brother also had intense feelings for her right before he died. Katie also has feeling her Alex, but is getting tired of waiting for him to catch on and finally ask her out instead of his new girl of the week. However, the tables get turned when Alex comes over and asks Katie to help him settle down and find *gulp* a girlfriend.
Let the romantic games begin. In the midst of a Conquerors of Caroon tournament that their team tries desperately to enter, these two continue to pursue their respective dates - Lexi, Katie's next door neighbor and Ben the Barista. Lexi joins the Conquerors team to fill their empty fifth slot in order to make a full team for the tournament and create some needed situations for Alex to attempt to get to know Lexi. As time continues on though, Katie and Alex can't seem to stop getting stuck on their feelings for each other - rather than focusing on other people.
The story here is a little complicated, but it definitely pulls you in with the connections between the game and the brother. The emotional aspect to it and how it pushes our couple to continue forward when it would be easier to just give up really does its job story wise. There is one bone I do have to pick though - its with Ben the Barista. This guy is barely a mention on the storyline highway before he disappears again. Why?!?!?! He had so much potential to be an amazing foil and a total problem for Alex. Instead, Katie ends up ditching him after what feels like one date. Major mistake in my eyes and the story here would have been far better serviced if he stuck around much longer.
With a sweet story that involves a cute couple, a video game tournament, and romantic entanglements to the brim - the book is worth the summer breeze read that it is while enjoying your time on the beach this summer.
My rating: 4 out of 5