Photo Credits: Mabel Amber (pixabay), Jean-Pierre Pellissier (pixabay) Edited by Vaishali Title: The Chase Author: Elle Kennedy Series: Briar U #1 Publisher: Self-published Year of Publication: 2018 Format: E-book copy/kindle app Genre/Themes: NA Romance/Adult Fiction, Contemporary romance, College Romance, New Adult, Sports/hockey Review of The Chase... I emerge bearing a crescendo of contrary contemplation for The Chase. As an expected four or five star read, I can't say that this reader isn't gutted that It comes to you decorated with three. While those three stars do come flush with great book energy, strong readability and charactered by an effective college setting with fun, age-appropriate characters, its soaring potential meets a rising resistance that sabotages what I dare to say could have been a sublime romance of high place and steep ground. Excuse the dramatic nature of what I'm about to say but how deeply I planned to love the lifeblood out of this book. Initially I did have a lot of affection for the story - like I mentioned, the readability is positively page-turning and I was ready to root for an irresistible, dynamic, opposites-attract college courtship - but both its impact and what is supposed to be the centrepiece of any romance falls dormant with its inability to reach the heights it could have. Through perhaps 70% of The Chase's length I was in a commiserating state of mind, and in a fit of long-length pique, I felt exasperated with a romance that seems to sit on its own potential and squanders it in unison. Still, by comparison, my next point might seem presumptuous, premature and obnoxious as I three star this and additionally confess to now considering myself an Elle Kennedy appreciator who's itching to wolfishly browse through her backlist but that string of events did indeed happen. Like clockwork they did, and I share that I'm definitely untroubled by this offshoot. While the ambivalence was fierce, so now is my feeling remarkably adrenalised in the same breath, because I'm nothing short of trusted that Kennedy's collection of NA romance will hold something for me. I have a sixth sense sensation that the right pick will sashay its way onto my favourites list. The author seems to have seemingly, surreptitiously lit me up with interest, and I'm hereby regarding The Chase as an invitation to keep up the Kennedy chase. And I'm quite pleased by the semi-conquest in this stealthy turn of events. College romance isn't my usual fare but after reading this I know I've been missing out. Elle Kennedy gave me the introduction I never knew I wanted, and although I admittedly come prepped with mixed opinions, the story, for the most part, reads effortlessly. Let's talk about the romance. Fitz really did have dynamic hero written all over him. With who I thought would be a cross-breed sort of love interest (athlete, artist, introvert and gamer) definitely felt more my speed. Unfortunately, this leading man wastes so much of his own leading man potential, the story's time and the relationship space that the romance didn't receive the opportunity to thrive. His reservations are defensible, and introvert that I also am his denial, withdrawal, passivity and aversion to widespread visibility had some relatable beginnings which resonate with the introverted profile (as much as they speak to a man beheld by childhood trauma and his own fear). The relatability doesn't take long to recast itself into exasperation though. Fitz was full of feelings without wanting to act on his feelings and often wastes his capability at every given opportunity. He was very much all thought and acted at the bare minimum for a strong three quarters of the book. Much like the romance felt 'all desire, little action.' Where Summer gives chase, Fitz is good at giving a millimeter, if we're lucky, but barely gives an inch. His continued lack of action and lack of pursuit becomes quite unappealing, and his reasoning starts to feel disproportionate to the resulting resistance that stands the test and the length of the entire book. Does that sound exhausting? It definitely felt exhausting. Like Summer, I wasn't asking for a recital on his entire emotional history nor immediate commitment from the earliest beginnings, just to see him make some moves forward of his own accord. Like me, I believe she would have been content to see him put his desire into action. It pains me to say this in relationship to a story with talent but the romance both unnecessarily catastrophises itself and immobilises itself by default. Fitz was so affronted by his own feelings that he never quite becomes the Fitz we need him to be. It's not easy to like, love or root for someone who fights the attraction every step of the way. The long-haul resistance was quick to court a long-haul sense of irritation, and I had to exhale more than just a few deep sighs of frustration. Although my personality is strictly more Fitz than Summer, I largely preferred The Chase's heroine to the hero. The author spends a long time stretching out the assumptive push and pull and long-haul miscommunication (which concedes to a romance that dawdles more than it does), and in that time I kept wondering over all the exciting ways the author could have used the valuable relationship space to navigate a more engaging introvert/extrovert dynamic in lieu. Everything is a force of defiance, stubbornness and opposition when these two have insane levels of desire for each other, and that was all the fuel they really needed. Impervious to his own behavioural faults, Fitz is unable to see how complicit his own responses and reactions play part to the continued conflict between them. It wasn't just that he became his own obstacle and did little to remove himself from himself, his obliqueness in acknowledging his own errors and thus typically perspectivising Summer as the stereotype to save his own feelings and validating his own hibernation doesn't register well. Rather than actually taking the time to get to know her firsthand (which would have complemented the slow burn, his introversion and his emotional difficulties) and working through whatever his perceived impressions were, he uses Summer's image to evidence his own rationale and defaults to holding her accountable without fail, quick to rally any defense against her. He clearly struggles with communication and self-expression but fails to see how his behaviour can lend itself to both a lack of interest in Summer and the very mixed messages she's left to deal with. His longing felt like a private secret no-one else was allowed to know, not even the one he longed for, and even though there was an obvious knowing, the private desire wore on me. If Fitz had put as much effort into a slow-going, at-his-pace pursuit as he does privatising his feelings, (and released his denial earlier on) this romance could have had a more satisfying turnaround. Even at the 70% mark it's really summer who (again) initiates the turnaround. Summer was the predominant pursuer but Fitz doesn't return chase as much as I wanted him to. If the author's aim was work with a resistance-wed hero to indulge the chase, perhaps it would have been better received if the resistance had earlier dispensed itself as opposed to what results in a lot of wasted energy between the couple had they marshalled even an inch of their stubbornness in the right direction. As it was, it was easy to feel discouraged by the romance. Post-resistance Fitz? I liked him very much. He was still gorgeous, endearing, worth the swoon (In places) and final-quarter Fitz was, for obvious reasons, my favourite Fitz. Mere mortal that I concede to being, I won't contest to feelings some feels from him since he does show up for Summer come the final division. And ok, I can't overlook his obvious quietly-confident tatted appeal. I would have liked to see him do more to earn his way back into Summer's favour however, but as it is the latter part of this romance still feels a smidge superficial relationship-wise, even as I liked where they were heading. Fitz does have some character development and I did appreciate him by the end, but it still pains me to say that he was the disappointment I didn't want to be disappointed by. I could have resonated with his inner conflict but he does little to challenge it and doesn't quite reach his depth in character. Regarding his personal life, his fraught relationship with his parents is given some commentary, but even though he eventually shares with Summer his parent's disastrous marriage and the ramifications of it all, the thread is left open without a follow-up; In how he might later shift the way he relates to them. Along with that point, there were a few other subplot pieces that felt Incomplete. Initially, the supporting sexual harassment plot did feel non-essential but I eventually appreciated the way it developed, moreso In the realistic inner conflict it produces in Summer (and the many, many girls who have been in her position) and how she becomes determined to expose the misconduct. It felt relevant, even if a little out of place. What is a romance without some good tension? There's head-butting, hitting walls, tense run-ins, sexual frustration and a complementary helping of sexual tension. The steam, the sexual angst and chemistry combined became a tasty buffet I wanted seconds from 24/7. As I mentioned though, the long-winded traction can be drawn out to its detriment and the romantic tension doesn't always work to success. I struggled with how desperate the ache was between these two and how their relationship instead becomes the cost and the sacrifice rather than the highlight. Thus the untapped nature of the romance left me wanting. Where romances can often come hyper-focussed on the romance sans all else, I respected that both Summer and Fitz have their own lives outside of each other. The college setup was great. I loved the secondary character engagements and the dialogue. Fun, light and witty, with excellently placed exceptions of glee and humour. It does bear repeating that the story coverage can and does lose its focus in places. There's a lot of created space for a supporting cast as they make their introductions for what will clearly pre-empt their forthcoming stories but by dallying in those places, it can divest the book of its central romance, which does seem to fall behind. There is a quasi-love triangle at play here but nothing legitimately worrisome since it's clear from the outset who the hero is and who the heroine really wants. Fitz is the main attraction for Summer. Even still, it was nice to have that interplay with Hunter, especially since Fitz was, you know, busy being brooding Fitz. I whisper-confess that I may have sometimes very secretly desired for Hunter to be Summer's love interest. Oops. The pace itself does suffer in large part to the prolonged phase of denial, and the indecision on both parts meddles with story's stride. The subplots and intervening themes both did and didn't always make the best out of the story. There's a relevant theme that challenges common stereotypes the entire way through, and Summer's the recipient of several biases for being the beautifully unreachable, privileged rich girl. Both with elder gen side characters bearing their own complexes and people from her own peer group. For all frankness, I think the author could have played more tactfully with the social messaging over typecasting because as much as Summer does engage in admirable dialogue over feministic values and viewpoints, her arguments can be inconsistent as much as they slump in on themselves. For the most part, she was great fun. She's so engaging that maybe I was in her 'orbit' too. See Fitz? This is how you appreciate someone. Segueing into The Chase's heroine, I can easily say that Summer was the entertaining, likeable and very-fun-to-read-from protagonist I didn't know she was going to be. She made me smile on many occasions. She's very endearing. She thrives on socialisation, excited by all that excites her and enjoys the finer things in life afforded to her by a very affluent family. She's something of a social kaleidoscope, a Summer celebration, and always ready to make merry with a night of fun. Still, there's a purity of character she brings to the role: if Summer thought it you know she believed it, if she felt it, we believed it too and she behaves in ways that always feels very true to Summer. Summer was as Summer she could be and does exactly what Summer wants to do. I loved that she was herself. I loved that she made a best friend within a day, I loved that she was candid without twice a thought and shared what she felt just because she felt it. I won't say her characterisation was perfectly put together. She wasn't always the best decision maker but she's driven by impulse, honesty and feeling more than anything, and that lends itself believably to a sincere character. Thrilled by all things fashion, pop culture and the convivial lifestyle she loves to live, It's likely because of Summer that this story arrives with as much spunk and energy as it does. All the guys want her and all the girls hate her or want to be her. She comes heated with a spotlight wherever she goes, and truthfully for Fitz, that's not the place he wants to be. Where fiction can often defame the stereotype and materialise her personality to a few oversimplified earmarks, I appreciated where the author wanted to take her characterisation. I can't say she was completely consistent but I liked her style. Some of Summer's arguments aren't always supported by her actions but I can admire a heroine who goes after what she wants, even if it's so far from her usual, and that's exactly what she does with Fitz. Even as she became the main pursuer, we can relent that she acts from a place of candour and that trait in and of itself reads truthfully to her own desire. Still, some honesty from me here - she was sometimes too desperate, even when she perceived Fitz's lack of interest, and I can't say I didn't huff and puff from the mounting umbrage. I liked her humanness, especially where Kennedy digs into the fragility over her learning disability and her long-standing struggle and sensitivity with academia. Summer finds herself challenged by her scholastic ability and hampered by her ADHD, and I really resonated with what the felt experience was like for her regardless of the ways she was always celebrated and encouraged by her parents. The personal experience of not performing well educationally is a really personal feeling that can make us see the worst of ourselves, and that was portrayed well. In the stead of observing the smarts she so obviously has, it's hard for her to see herself as anything other than scatterbrained and witless, the only Di-Laurentis of the family who doesn't level up with a very accomplished family. Since there's also the uncertainty of finding a passion that fits and sticks for Summer, and the ‘unknownness’ of not knowing what kind of career path she wants to take, it would have been nice if by the end she'd have had some idea of what she wanted to work towards with her college career. Set in Elle Kennedy's college hockey world, this spin off to a series of enormous popularity commences with a spunky socialite and a private Briar athlete, her very opposite who wants anything but to be beheld by the attraction. Hoping to share a new year's kiss with the long-time crush she can't seem to stay away from, Summer decides that tonight is the night to seduce. But overhearing the apple of her eye reducing her to nothing but a few shallow adjectives, listing every reason why she isn’t dating material spoils her night and her plans. It isn't music to her ears. His judgement a light to her deeper insecurity, Summer finds herself lip-locking his roommate instead. The semester's sure to bring about some drama though. Summer wishes she could say the rest is history, but ousted by her sorority house upon her fresh arrival to Briar, three hockey players are about to become her roomies for the foreseeable future. One is the brooding stud she didn't get to kiss, one is her new year's kiss she did kiss and the other is someone she'd likely never kiss. But she's expected to be on her best behaviour as a new transfer. Warned by the assistant dean that no further transgression will be tolerated lest she face another expulsion (and who'll be keeping a close and personal eye on her performance), an improper professor who makes her skin crawl, worrying over her course credentials for the term, living with a trio of attractive Briar bachelors, thinking through her future prospects and trying to walk the girl power walk, her life is full of the interpersonal day to day of a college-aged goer. The Chase does exist in a place of readable potential. It brings a big college setting, great personalities, excellent humour, well-timed wit, fun dialogue, boy/girl drama and a slew of sexy sportsman energy. I'm sure there’s going to be an athlete for everyone. The potential is big, but as much as I adore a slow burn, the relationship was too slow burn for me. The relationship pains did give me phantom pains and found me inexhaustibly exhaustible but still fresh, fun and youthful, the reading was effortless which says wonderful things about the prose potential. My mixed feelings gave rise to parent more mixed feelings but I was nonetheless collar-pulled to keep up with the chemistry. A reading friend kindly informed me that I definitely should have backtracked and started with the Off Campus series and worked my way up to this particular romance. Because I'm good at inserting myself in between a series and enjoying any romance as long as it stands alone, truth be told, I could have loved this as the standalone spin off series starter it was. I'm confronted by how thoughtlessly remiss it was of me, however, to bypass her OG series and make my entry at the doorstop of her spin off collective. I'll be sensibly circling back to what I likely should have done to begin with and read The Deal, hopefully supported by the burning reader love and glowing reviews. Hockey games, college parties, fun-loving college students, this campus romance keeps up with social lives, personal lives, love lives and academic lives of their college peers and friends. If you want a sportsman to swoon over, the series likely has someone for you. I've already added Elle Kennedy's backlist to my wishlist! I gave this book 3 stars - Content Listing/Warning: Drinking. Profanity. Drugs, scenes including drugs and drug taking. Sexual harassment/sexual assault. A few bedroom scenes. Female animosity. Violence. Misogyny. ADHD. Feministic values and female attitudes. --------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------- 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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