Author: Tina Reber
Series: (Love #1)
Published: Published March 6th 2010
Publisher: Self-Published
Categories: Realistic, Contemporary, Romance
 

I almost DNF-ed this book. The first quarter of the book was boring. When Taryn saved Ryan from the paparazzi and treated him nonchalantly even though he’s this huge Hollywood star, I have a weird feeling from the pit of my stomach (or probably from something I ate that day) that their actions were contrived. She was being cool because this will make her stand out from his fangirls. I liked that she’s different but it looked fake to me. The only thing that made her different from other girls (his fan) was she didn’t treat him like a celebrity.

But as I progressed I’m starting to like the story. I don’t love it but it was ok. Taryn remained unnatural throughout the story, she’s just too perfect. She won his heart because she embraced the ugly side of Ryan’s work. She won his parents, friends and some people close to him from the get-go because she’s really nice and has this strange ability to please them. It felt to me that the story was convincing me that she’s so good for him. Perfect for him. But her actions came robotic and emotionless. She’s too good to be true. And I kinda dislike that part of her. But I don’t hate her, it just waaaay too forced to my liking.

Their relationship was moving really steady, only when the book approached its ending when their problems arise. In retrospect I liked that it wasn’t really a rollercoaster, hate/love kind of story. I was pleased how Ryan and Taryn worked things out instead of jumping into conclusion (though she did ‘jump into conclusion’ at the later part but then again I couldn’t blame her since their relationship was on the rocks and it was hard to think straight coming from a huge trauma). It’s not really easy dating a celebrity (more so a huge star such as Ryan). There’s the gossip, the paparazzi following them around. And the fans. The fans are scary people when they try to. Sometimes these people are too obsessed to realize they’re disrespecting the person they idolized. What I didn’t like though that Ryan has small to no inclination to his fans. I mean without them he’s not where he is now. But I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt since I read how his fans mobbed him like he’s not a person, and more like a property. But he shouldn’t be that callous though.

Getting back to their almost-no-drama-llama relationship, it wasn’t smooth but it wasn’t up and down either (which I’m thankful for). They tried to sort things out as best as they could. Although it dragged a bit because there were things in the story that could have been deleted (I think I read the book the entire day. Yep, that long.) some of it felt repetitive. I’m quite uncertain how it wrapped up. The problem showed how little they know each other and how fragile their bond yet. It spiced up the story, true, but it was too generic for my taste (the person who like the girl, and the person who like the boy joined forces to bring them down. I think I read that plot plenty of times before). But it was ok, I can overlook that. Besides, it made their relationship much stronger.

I will read the second book. I like the story enough to continue. Hopefully it’s not that long.