Christina Mandelski

Alex Koviak or as his lacrosse buddies call him "Kov" appears to have everything. He is popular, rich, but he has no idea what he wants to do with his life once he graduates high school. He never thought he would met his challenge at the express check out lane at Publix. Bailey pushes him to be a better man. Challenges him at every turn. But no one knows they are friends. She visits his house after work to watch movies and eat dinner together. It is the best part of his entire day. But at school, he is the popular super jock and she is the nerdy A/V girl who is trying to win a film scholarship to NYU.
Bailey enjoys her little moments with Alex even if he has an overly inflated ego that Bailey enjoys deflating. Bailey is a planner. She has a goals board with the next five years of her life planned out. She encourages Alex to make plans for his future even when he is sabotaging himself by throwing large parties at his house for his parents' attention. His parents love Bailey since she is such a positive influence on their son. Bailey is uncomfortable around them and Alex's lifestyle since their family lives in a McMansion complete with a ballroom and a room filled with formal dresses from Alex's grandmother.
Their relationship is put to the test when Bailey asks Alex for help with a promposal for her film documentary about Prom traditions. She wants Alex's help since he is constantly being promposed to in very elaborate ways. Ironically, Alex has never needed nor wanted to prompose ...until this year. He had planned out how he was going to ask Bailey to the prom. But not in an elaborate promposal way since that is not something Bailey would want. But yet she is asking him to help her do just that for Tex--another lacrosse player. Is she asking him for the film documentary or for a long term boyfriend? Alex has a reputation for being a player. Bailey doesn't deserve someone like that which is why Alex is re-thinking everything about his life.
How can Alex help plan her promposal while also sabotaging it? Can he really sabotage Bailey's dream? If she follows through with the promposal where does that leave him?… (meer)

"At the door, I peek through the glass to make sure there really isn’t a girl outside waiting for me with a gassy mythological creature."

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

DNF at 53%

Firstly, I had no idea this was the second book in a series. However, the book read well as a standalone, and I was never confused by the story. Secondly, I have a hard time when a single honest conversation can solve everyone's problems. Bailey and Alex like each other but constantly fight their connection because they don't think the other person feels the same way. I was okay with their dance for the first half of the book, but I really thought things would change after they kissed.

Things did not change after they kissed. Instead, everything became more awkward, and they looked for more reasons to justify their silence while wallowing in self-pity. He would make assumptions about her and she would do the same to him. After awhile, I just couldn't do it anymore.

The story was enjoyable (except for the lack of communication), and the characters were interesting. I originally thought Alex would get on my nerves, but he was a decent guy trying to do the right thing. Bailey is hardworking and determined to reach her goals, while simultaneously trying to navigate her friendship with Alex. They made a good team, so it was even more frustrating when they refused to admit their feelings for one another.

I also wish the secondary characters had been more involved in the story, because I found a few of them to be really interesting (maybe they have a bigger focus in the previous book?). I enjoyed the setup and the idea of promposals, but the lack of communication really bugged me.

For a second opinion, check out Sam's (We Live and Breathe Books) review on Goodreads!


Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Bloglovin' | Amazon | Pinterest… (meer)