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A review by bandherbooks
The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary
5.0
I have been thinking about The Worst Guy pretty much all the time. This romance does the work. it hit me in all the right emotional places - some that hurt a little, some that made me go, hm yes, and some that made me just yell YES.
Stremmel and Shapiro are down right MEAN to each other when they first interact on page for the reader. There's animosity, and it is clear this has been brewing for awhile. Having the dual POV for this story was truly vital, but even in either character's POV you could sense the place of not meanness a lot of the comments were coming from.
As someone who truly has a big, snappy mouth sometimes I appreciated seeing these honest moments that weren't delivered well. That's me sometimes. And sometimes my Sagittarius comes out hard. So I guess that spoke to me in this work.
Also the slow, tiny ways Stremmel demonstrates that he's stupid over Shapiro (from the raisins, to the listening, to the constant thoughts about her hair), I just loved it so much.
Again, this isn't a coherent review, but I've not read anything else that really captures so much of what I love in contemporary romance as this book.
Full review to come, but this hit all my anticipated happy places and more. I've been desperate for Stremmel's book since he was a grumpy babe so many Canterbary tales ago.
CW: eating disorder, in the past, side effects of in the present (discussed). medical procedures, character is sick on page, emesis (on page)
How do I love The Worst Guy? Let me count the ways.
From the sorting of croutons into their different flavors, to the hand at the small of the back, to the smashing of both exam room glass and characters' expectations, foam jousting swords to the heart, pastel pink glasses and teal green velvet chairs, pacing in front of tropical resorts, I Love Yous by actions and words, group chat hijinks to help with the grovel, doctors who say don't doctor me, sick bed scenes, cheerleader fantasies come to life SO MUCH MORE.
I just love this book. I listened on audio, the male narrator was really good, the woman narrator was okay and I settled into her. Her main voice was great, the side characters didn't always work for me.
after my now fourth re-read (it might be more because sometimes i just read a scene or three), i am still firmly in love with this contemporary romance. truly great character work that hits every emotional beat that i want in a mid-heat contemporary. these two are perfect for each other; all their jaggedy parts line up, and I love watching them spin the pieces around until they click in like a korok puzzle in Zelda Breath of the Wild (the girls who get it, get it). Truly hate fucking at its finest that turns into soft love.
Stremmel and Shapiro are down right MEAN to each other when they first interact on page for the reader. There's animosity, and it is clear this has been brewing for awhile. Having the dual POV for this story was truly vital, but even in either character's POV you could sense the place of not meanness a lot of the comments were coming from.
As someone who truly has a big, snappy mouth sometimes I appreciated seeing these honest moments that weren't delivered well. That's me sometimes. And sometimes my Sagittarius comes out hard. So I guess that spoke to me in this work.
Also the slow, tiny ways Stremmel demonstrates that he's stupid over Shapiro (from the raisins, to the listening, to the constant thoughts about her hair), I just loved it so much.
Again, this isn't a coherent review, but I've not read anything else that really captures so much of what I love in contemporary romance as this book.
Full review to come, but this hit all my anticipated happy places and more. I've been desperate for Stremmel's book since he was a grumpy babe so many Canterbary tales ago.
CW: eating disorder, in the past, side effects of in the present (discussed). medical procedures, character is sick on page, emesis (on page)
How do I love The Worst Guy? Let me count the ways.
From the sorting of croutons into their different flavors, to the hand at the small of the back, to the smashing of both exam room glass and characters' expectations, foam jousting swords to the heart, pastel pink glasses and teal green velvet chairs, pacing in front of tropical resorts, I Love Yous by actions and words, group chat hijinks to help with the grovel, doctors who say don't doctor me, sick bed scenes, cheerleader fantasies come to life SO MUCH MORE.
I just love this book. I listened on audio, the male narrator was really good, the woman narrator was okay and I settled into her. Her main voice was great, the side characters didn't always work for me.
after my now fourth re-read (it might be more because sometimes i just read a scene or three), i am still firmly in love with this contemporary romance. truly great character work that hits every emotional beat that i want in a mid-heat contemporary. these two are perfect for each other; all their jaggedy parts line up, and I love watching them spin the pieces around until they click in like a korok puzzle in Zelda Breath of the Wild (the girls who get it, get it). Truly hate fucking at its finest that turns into soft love.