Photo credits: Free-Photos (pixabay), AnnaliseArt (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: Let's Get Textual Series: Texting series #1 Author: Teagan Hunter Publisher: Self published Year of Publication: 2017 Format: E-book/kindle app Genre/Themes: Contemporary romance, Adult fiction, Rom-com, Humour, New Adult, Women's fiction Review... ➜ Lots of text talk ➜ Heroine-only POV ➜ Virtual meet-cute ➜ A goat adored by everyone ➜ Sass, snark and humour aplenty ➜ A hero/heroine unfazed by their oddities Life's most brilliant adventures are half (or wholly in my case) had on page but some of life's best conversational interplays are best had hidden behind fast fingers, phone screens and kept alive by the simplest desire to fire back with swift wit, comical snubs and wonderful one-liners that keep two people delighted to come back to the other. An inventive easy-on-the-eyes shameless developer hero and a homebody heroine with and bold and barefaced personage have such a deliciously madcap utterly complementary-to-each-other courtship in Let's Get Textual. I choose to relinquish a need to stitch together a colourful collection of descriptors and instead rely on a simple statement: I had a such a blast with this Hunter-humoured rom-com. Be prepared to enjoy quirky humans with quirky interchanges and a quirky human courtship. There's a goat, an escapist nerd haven, always -peckish appetites and lots of taunting text talk. As a love-struck comrade of the romance reading community, It's no surprise to me that we're all devoted to great and grand love stories, and while this genre adopts a plethora of interchangeable styles, themes and tropes, I don't believe that a romance has to be grand to be great. Some romances are grand just because they make for a great for-the-moment read. Let's Get Textual isn't fashioned from a complex narrative with complex personalities that traverses a labyrinthine channel towards epic love. But here's what it is: Such. Simple. Great. Fun. Teagan Hunter brings the wealthy hero trope back down to earth with an easy spin that's truly resonant to Zach's character. Sometimes Hunter's hero is all swaggering ego, sometimes he's adorably nerdy, lovably boyish, zany Zach or all saucy mischief but he's all kind at heart. And he's also the perfect complement to Delia's equally imperishable individuality that's endearingly beyond bashfulness. It's also a bit of a nod to modern meet-ups and contemporary courtships (despite it being completely incidental in this case) since most real-life partnerships begin as virtually virtual in this age, and I really loved that spin on it - to develop a brilliantly unshrinkable digital camaraderie to meeting post-daily texts. With no disturbing surprises, a face to face makes it all real and nothing changes between our couple. There's such a simple easement about this that made me want to ease into it without poking at seams and prodding at potholes. I did prefer the initial bulk of the story to the final portion of the book; the route taken didn't quite sustain the initial thrill I had, the confrontation scene seemed inattentive and I prefer a romantic resolution that takes its time without tying its laces too quickly. Delia's distrust and her accusation factored in, I honestly think Zack overlooked the situation she found herself in, which was a very big deal. He could have given her the benefit of the accusation or even looked into the incident himself. The twist was actually a tad unsuspecting for me too having brought into the idea of the 'the brother' situation throughout so there was a clever bit of misdirection there. Within a genre that tends toward demonising exes as the evil and/or problematic ex-lovers they're meant to play, I really loved that Caleb was the antithesis to that. Both he and Delia split up at the beginning of the book and he remains to be a friend who really comes to her aid when the conflict arises and within the conflict resolution. Teagan Hunter challenges the typecast with that one. As for the evil-doer, the surprise was less surprising. What I am surprised over is the fact that said evil-doer gets his own book. Perhaps some readers will have a more forgiving perspective but this side character's unforgivable violation both abuses a fundamental invasion of privacy and heeds the culture of toxic entitlement. It could have had major implications for Delia; that sort of mark on a woman isn't easily removed. He also doesn't show an iota of apology for his offense or how he both treats and relates with women. I don't doubt that he'll be redeemed enough in some way to be to be in a position of attracting his own story, but I didn't find anything about him even slightly likeable. I'm not sure how I feel about him deserving his own book but comeuppance or hero potential? Only the consensus will tell. The book does mention some consequences for what he did but it's not clearly detailed. Delia and Zach are both down to earth characters who give as good as they get and still represent value. They've got humour but it doesn't aim to showboat. It's just them, it's easy and it's natural. Their ability to drop a guard and feel free to be themselves partway emblazons the playful charm. There's "textual" chemistry, conversational chemistry, personalised chemistry and some sexual chemistry but I would have liked a bigger, better chemistry in places (not excluding their first in-person meet up). What I really love about the romance is that a commitment to each other isn't the default, relied upon obstacle - it's Delia's reluctance to move forward too fast and brave a physical meeting that makes her balk. But even that doesn't hold her back the more they mingle. As I mentioned, there's a place for simplicity, there's a place for sophistication and then there's a place to air the playfulness we all have within us, and it's that class of romance that's as profoundly connectable in my plebeian opinion. Not a multi-faceted piece of romantic fiction but a single-sided slice of simple joy. Readers will enjoy this rom-com where both leads are as untroubled by their comical kinks as fashionably as they don that light-hearted snark like everyday wear. I had such a fun time being a part of this story for more than a few days. My smile was rarely thwarted and I was taken back to semi-similar chat thread where I embodied more of Zach and Delia than my texting partner in crime - text conversations we've all had, hidden to all, known to and cherished only by us and circling through the highways of cyberspace. A sassy hero/heroine pairing are given a story in Let's Get Textual. A heroine who loves her quiet nights in but is far from a shrinking violet and a hero who shares a humour as great as hers. Short, playful repartee, swift snark and comical comebacks, exciting exchanges and a pair evenly matched swaddle this romance that initiates the Texting series. The simplest joy swaddled me too and I had mini butterflies every time a text exchange awaited. A strangers-to-texters-to-lovers romance that one-lined me into immediate surrender. Every time. I gave this book 4 stars - Note: While I'm known for collecting bookish quotes, and as many favourites as I had in this read, I decided not to add a quotes section so any and all curious readers can enjoy all the fun upon cracking open the book for themselves :D Content Warning: Drinking, swearing and a few steamy scenes. Past parental deaths, mentions grief counselling and there's a violation of privacy involving a intimate selfie. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- ________________________________________________________ R E L A T E D P O S T S: ● BOOK REVIEW: Cheesy On The Eyes by Teagan Hunter ________________________________________________________ I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk about |
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