Review: While it Lasts by Abbi Glines

Series: Sea Breeze Book #3
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 268
Rating: 3 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Atria

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Low broke Cage’s heart by getting with Marcus in Because of Low. Cage went into a tailspin that ended in a DUI. In order to salvage his baseball scholarship—the one thing he truly valued besides Low—Cage must take a summer job. At a farm. Away from Sea Breeze. With lots of cows, but no hot girls. Maybe that’s what Cage needs to get back on track.

But wait—there’s that hostile daughter of the farm boss. She’s pretty and occasionally sweet, and there seems to be a lot of sadness and mystery behind her anger. Cage is dying to strip her down—physically and mentally—in the back of the barn. But is he prepared for what will happen afterward?

 
Review

Why do I keep doing this to myself? This isn't horrible and is a quick read, but there are so many problematic things. And it's the same issues I've had with other Abbi Glines books. For some reason I keep reading them-maybe because so many people love them.

Cage is a very typical Abbi Glines hero. He's hyper-aggressive and sexual. He also fully embraces the idea that women/girls fit into two categories-virgin or whore. This is the thing that bothers me the most about all the Abbi Glines books I've read-they glorify the idea that certain women are more pure and therefore the only ones worthy of love. Cage is kind of mopey because of parental issues. That was the most interesting thing about him, but it wasn't explored that much.

Eva fell pretty flat. In the beginning she had so much potential, but the moment she met Cage whatever personality she had disappeared. She was very easily influenced by others. And she just goes from being taken care of by one guy to another. She has no agency.

This feels like a really negative review but I'm struggling to give this less than 3 stars. And I will keep reading these because they are fast and I own more in the Sea Breeze series so I might as well.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Because of Low by Abbi Glines

 

Series: Sea Breeze Book #1
Format: Paperback
Pages:
Rating: 3 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Atria

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

layboy Cage owns the apartment, and he hosts a revolving door of people, in and out, at all times. Most of them are long-legged hot girls who are never there more than a night or two. When Cage’s new roommate, Marcus, enters the picture, he’s just looking to nurse a broken heart. But there’s one particular semi-frequent regular who catches his eye.

Willow—“Low”—is the one Cage wants to marry. But the two of them are night and day, and Marcus can’t see how Low puts up with all of Cage’s womanizing. What she really needs is a real man....like good-looking and sensible Marcus. But that’s going to get real complicated and real messy—real fast.

Review

I want to start this by saying I'm very meh about Abbi Glines books. I read them because they are easy to read entertaining in the way a soap opera can be. Sometimes I think there is unfulfilled potential. This was better than the first book, Breathe.

Generally, I lied both Marcus and Low. Marcus is a pretty typical Abbi Glines hero. He's very possessive and dramatic but isn't quite as bad as say Rush. Low was sympathetic and kind. Sometimes she felt a little innocent especially since she would talk about how hard her life was.

The romace was fast but pretty believable. It helped that the physical aspects of the relationship progressed slower than I'm used to. There was some snap judgements by both of them that could have been resolved by being a grown up and using your words. I've come to expect this kind of storytelling.

My big complaint with this and most of Abbi Glines books is the way women are portrayed. Now this is very common so it isn't just her. She often falls into the whore or virgin types. Women can be and are far more complex than that. And, to me, the fact that women slut shame other women is the worst. Low thinks she's so great and constantly tears her sister down which really bothers me. This would've been a four star read for me if this language and behavior wasn't so plentiful.

I will continue to read Abbi Glines books, because for some reason she interests me. So far I do still like the Rosemary Beach books better but hopefully this series will continue to get better.

Thanks for reading!
Holly