I thought I read the first book in this series, but I have no record of it on my blog, so it must not have happened. But...those characters seem familiar. Whatever.
Stephany recommended Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver and I desperately wanted a light read that I would enjoy and would distract me from 2026. Now this book has some tropes I do not generally care for. Precocious children, a famous person who hates being famous, and horses. Why don't I like horses in a romance novel? Because that usually involves ranching and don't get me started on animal cruelty and how cowboys aren't attractive and blah blah blah. Anyway, somehow Stephany's claim that she thought about the characters all day made me want to read this book despite all that. And despite this really really really really ugly cover.
Skylar Stone has run away from Los Angeles after some bad press and even worse family drama. She finds herself staying in West Belmont's bunkhouse with a sorta tame, sort wild mouse. She finds herself slowly relaxing under the tutelage of West's two precocious children, horses (natch), and West himself and his shirtless ways. What's going to happen with Skylar and West?
Look, I also really liked this book. Skylar is annoying and West is too good to be true. But everyone else in this book is amazing! Ford and Rosalie are super! The kids! I want a novella about Oliver! The whole Sparkly Turquoise Unicorns team! Let me take them out for ice cream!
I don't necessarily think Silver handled the I hate to be famous trope particularly well, but I will let it slide since Skylar is mostly not in the limelight throughout this book. Having West throw her phone in the lake was truly a smart plot vehicle.
Look, I want to read more Silver. Let's do it! 5/5 stars
Line of note:
I read an old bodice-ripper I find on a shelf in West's living room within one day. When it's over, I feel happy and optimistic. Something about that guaranteed happy ending cheers me up. And I realize scrolling my phone never made me feel that way. (page 186)
Isn't this why we read romance novels? Okay, fine. This is why I read romance novels.
Title spotting:
"Those" - he points at my face, fingers flicking from side to side - "are wild eyes." (page 150)
Nice hat (page 124)
Sparkly Turquoise Unicorns hat(s) (page 131, 132, 369, and 378)
beneath her hat (page 132)
brim of her hat (page 134, 175)
sweet new hat (page 143)
team hat (page 174)
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What's the last book you read with a terrible cover? Why are there ugly covers in the year 2026?
Great question- who thought this cover was a good idea??? I believe you that there were good things about this book, but it still sounds too romance-y for me. I did listen to the book podcast you mentioned yesterday, and I like it!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's a straight up romance. Not recommended for you. I do recommend Books Unbound for you!
DeleteI love that you still gave the book 5/5 when the main character was annoying. 5/5 stars to YOU my friend.
ReplyDeleteYour point about horses in books reminds me of a book I read years ago, The Hearts of Horses, by Molly Gloss. It’s about a woman who tames horses using kind, gentle methods, and of course so much more. I reviewed it on my blog, and the author saw my review and commented! AMAZING!
I love it when you say nice things about a book and the author sees it! It's so nice. That happened to me once!
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly that book covers for contemporary fiction are absolutely horrible now. Awful line art that looks like half-assed graffiti. Dismally unappealing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I do NOT watch or read anything even remotely Western. No ranches, cowboys, saloons, any of that. I detest it all.
Gosh, I sound crabby. I'm not, honestly. I guess you just hit a nerve.
You know what? I used to be anti-western, but I read Lonesome Dove and it was great. I also tried to read True Grit and DNFed it lickety split. I've been chasing my Lonesome Dove high for years now. So I'm mostly anti-western.
DeleteI have definitely come across some ugly book covers, but I cannot think of one at the moment. I really like the artistic cover of The Book of Lost Names, which is what I'm currently reading. Your 'I do not like precocious children, and cowboys, etc.' is cracking me up. Glad you read this anyway and liked it. I don't like Westerns, but I do like the movie True Grit.
ReplyDeleteI tried to read True Grit and got super annoyed with it. LOL. I'm pretty sure a movie wouldn't change my mind, but maybe it would?
DeleteI never pay much attention to the covers since most of my books are Kindle reads. That's one of the few things I miss about physical books.
ReplyDeleteIt is a big downside of ebooks. My Kindle doesn't have color, so I miss some of the nuances of covers. Sad face.
DeleteI've long wished for a color version of the Kindle. Maybe someday!
DeleteThe worst cover of all time in my mind is My Brilliant Friend - not just tacky (although also that) but so misrepresents the actual story. I am absolutely guilty of buying books because of (not solely because of, but it tips the balance) nice covers. I am shallow.
ReplyDeleteYES!! All the Europa books have TERRIBLE covers. Can't they afford a decent graphic designer or whoever makes covers? Do better, Europa!
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