One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin Publisher: Spencer Hill Press on February 10, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
Heat:
Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She'll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she's sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be a lady while the guys move on without her.
Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni’s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine’s Rent-A-Gent Service.
But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends--the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she's built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love.
At A Glance
Started out great but went downhill.
The Good
I have a soft spot for tomboys and friends-to-more type stories, so One of the Guys was a no brainer. It started out great. Toni is a total tomboy with a close group of guy friends. But one prank takes them on different paths and tests their friendships and futures.
This one has a major teenager feel. It’s very coming of age with petulant teenagers in all their glory. Toni was pretty awesome though. She was whiney but I always sympathized with her. It sucks when you lose touch with friends and Toni tried so hard to keep her group solid. Even going as far as starting a kinda-sorta dating service business so the guys would be lured into working close with her. But people grow apart. Toni even changes as she finds her love for girly things.
But I think it’s Emma who steals the show. Emma is Toni’s first girl friend and she is just plain awesome. She pulls Toni out of her basketball-shorts shell and into a world of lip gloss and dating. Emma is so fun and positive, you wouldn’t be able to hold a smile in with her around. She makes a room sparkle with her constant enthusiasm.
The Bad
I get that this book is about the journey but I wanted more romance. It only peeks out at the end and that just wasn’t enough for me. Toni was in so much denial. Lock was even worse. I got over their drama real fast.
I got a little bored about 40% in and the book never reeled me back in. Too much of ‘not much’ going on.
Toni got crapped on by the guys so many times I wanted to throw something. One guy in particular. I just didn’t understand why everything was Toni’s fault? Why was she always apologizing when other people were being a-holes? Annoying!
There was a lot unaddressed at the end. It did not feel that satisfying. I think the point was that real life is like that, we don’t get all the answers and situations aren’t perfect. But after spending so much time with these characters, I wanted a more substantial ending and I felt gypped.
The Snuggly
The snuggly was almost non-existent. Just some kissing.
Final Thoughts
Even though it was a decent read, I wouldn’t recommend it. Nothing special here. Just a very generic coming of age read with a few good moments.
Quotes
“We know it’s last minute. But we both think you’re responsible enough to take care of the house while we’re gone.”
Maybe SHE thinks that, but Brian looks pale at the thought of leaving a (gasp!) teenage girl alone in a house. He believes a teenage girl to be the equivalent to an in-heat hyena. Like I’ll stain the couch with my hormones or something.
My blood runs cold.
His lips are close to her skin. His fingers in her hair. Her eyes locked with his, her small body folding into him like a missing puzzle piece.
“Do you know that guy or something?” Kevin asks, scratching at his loin cloth.
“I thought I did.”
Stacey Brutger
What a bummer. I really wanted to read this one, too, but something held me off from buying it. Now I’m glad. Good review!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
And it started out so good too. Ugh.
kindlemom1
Darn! this looked so cute. I was really hoping it would be one of those sweet put a smile on your face type of reads.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I really needed a good, sweet read, So sad.
Melissa (Books and Things)
Yea, if you are wanting something from a book and it really is about something else, it usually doesn’t resonate. Hope your next book does!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I hope so too, thanks.
Christy LoveOfBooks
Oh lordy, she’s an apologizer? Noooooo! That drives me nuts. I think I bought this when it was on sale, but I’m so not feeling the teen drama.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Sooooooo much teen drama! Even teens would throw up a little in their mouths.
Anna
I was a tom boy until high school and still am in some ways. Life is more interesting when hanging upside down. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
LOL, you are so cute. I was a mixture of a tom boy and girly girl.
Melliane
Ah sory it wasn’t a bit more
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Majorly sucks!
Braine
Sounds boring
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
It was!
Jaclyn Canada
So I’m not big on Contemps but I did read two not that long ago that I enjoyed so it can happen. This one though I’ll pass on. It doesn’t look like much going on and I would probably get bored. Great review!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
Yeah, I was so excited to see you try contemps!
Olivia Roach
I saw this book around but after reading some reviews for it, I decided it wasn’t one for me. I just wasn’t that interested in the whole fake dates appeal. But it sounds like that aspect of it wasn’t too interesting really… I just don’t think this is a book I am going to enjoy. I’m skipping over it.
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)
I should have totally skip this one too.