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Hair Pulling Frustrating

    Chick LitContemporary RomanceNew AdultReviewsSpeculative FictionUrban Fantasy

    When Gracie Met The Grump

    written by Dísir
    When Gracie Met The GrumpWhen Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata
    Published by Mariana Zapata on 16th September 2022
    Pages: 570
    Buy on Amazon
    Goodreads
    two-half-stars

    Of all the things that could have landed in her yard… it had to be him.
    For most people, finding a half-naked superbeing in their yard might be a dream come true.

    Unfortunately for Gracie Castro, it’s the exact opposite.

    Especially when he’s grouchy, rude, and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon.
    But when a hero of mankind needs you, you do what you have to.
    Even if it compromises everything you know.

    And totally changes your life.

    ‘When Gracie met the Grump’ felt almost like a Thor-retelling (the very first movie), with several tweaks in between—except that you’ve got a heroine trying to keep her neck above water at all costs, and a superhero whose words are so scarce and whose attitude is so stinky that you start to wonder at the congruity of the pairing.

    Mariana Zapata’s take on there-are-aliens-livine-amongst-us-in-plain-sight is a fun but long, long one—and they’re people who loom to far above humanity it seems, with their wealth, limitless power and their ancestry on a different planet. I would have loved to know more about that particular aspect of her world-building, but came off rather disappointed when it becomes background knowledge that’s used as a cursory explanation for the superhero family that Gracie finds herself inserted in. Why is there such a super-power that exists? How did that come about? Why are some more powerful than others?

    Too many questions, too few answers found.

    Gracie is quite the stereotypical Zapata-heroine here: fluttery, with a tendency toward cringey verbal diarrhoea, often overthinking and over-apologising, and too self-aware of her own gutless responses at times while actually remaining as dense as she wilfully can be. Written solely in her POV, we often get that same, narrow perspective of things around her, of her rambling thoughts and through her ‘denseness’; as a result, there’s this very distant image of the superhero Alex for the reader—who remains mysterious, grumpy (and mean), saying very little throughout until it all comes right out in the last 5 percent of the book…also quite par for the course for a Zapata-hero, come to think of it.

    It’s a story that started out great for me but eventually flat-lined because of the merry-go-round repetition, the lack of a proper forward-momentum and the odd, bewildering use of juvenile language that just seemed out of character for both Alex/Gracie when these moments pop up. They talk at each other (more Gracie than Alex), but their conversations don’t necessarily pierce through the thick fog of Gracie’s ramblings and wandering, anxious thoughts and by the end of it, I wasn’t entirely convinced of their attraction or deep connection to each other because of this. In all, a rather disappointing read but maybe I’d expected entirely too much here.

    two-half-stars
    When Gracie Met The Grump was last modified: September 21st, 2022 by Dísir
    29th September 2022 0 comment
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  • Chick LitContemporary RomanceNew AdultReviewsSports

    Everything for You by Chloe Liese

    by Dísir 25th July 2022

    Everything for You by Chloe Liese Series: Bergman Brothers, #5, #5 Published by Chloe Liese on 10th May 2022 Pages: 385 Buy on Amazon Goodreads Gavin We’ve been teammates for…

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  • Advanced Reader CopyContemporary RomanceNetgalleyNew AdultReviews

    For You & No One Else by Roni Loren

    by Dísir 30th May 2022

    For You No One Else by Roni Loren Series: Say Everything #3 Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on 5th July 2022 Pages: 336 Buy on Amazon Goodreads Eliza Catalano has the…

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  • Contemporary RomanceNew AdultReviews

    The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka

    by Dísir 31st March 2022

    The Roughest Draft by Austin Siegemund-Broka, Emily Wibberley Published by Berkley Books on 25th January 2022 Pages: 336 Buy on Amazon Goodreads They were cowriting literary darlings until they hit…

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  • Advanced Reader CopyChick LitContemporary RomanceNetgalleyNew AdultReviews

    On the Same Page by Penelope Janu

    by Dísir 10th March 2022

    On the Same Page by Penelope Janu Published by Escape Publishing on 1st April 2022 Pages: 368 Buy on Amazon Goodreads By day Miles Franklin, named after the famous author,…

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  • Advanced Reader CopyHistorical RomanceMystery/CrimeNetgalleyReviewsSpeculative Fiction

    A Treacherous Trade by Kerrigan Byrne

    by Dísir 3rd March 2022

    A Treacherous Trade by Kerrigan Byrne Series: The Fiona Mahoney Mysteries, #2, #2 Published by Gnarly Wool Publishing on 8th March 2021 Pages: 247 Buy on Amazon Goodreads “Forgive me…for…

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  • Contemporary RomanceNew AdultReviews

    Running Wild by K.A. Tucker

    by Dísir 24th February 2022

    Running Wild by K.A. Tucker Series: Wild, #3, #3 Published by K. A. Tucker on 25th January 2022 Pages: 370 Buy on Amazon Goodreads Veterinarian Marie Lehr knows unrequited love…

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