Review: All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Thank you Avon Books for my copy of All the Feels! All thoughts are my own.
I wanted to love this book. I had such a fun time reading Spoiler Alert last year so maybe I went in with my expectations too high, but this just didn’t work for me. It took me forever to read and I wasn’t tempted to pick it up whenever I had the chance, which is a huge Red Flag for me that it’s a book I’m just not into.
As a reminder, even when a book doesn’t work for me, that doesn’t mean I don’t recommend it. I LOVED Spoiler Alert, the first book in this series, and I love what Olivia Dade is doing for plus size representation in the romance genre. We need more of it! If you are looking for another romance featuring a plus size character, I recently read and loved The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams! Read my review here.
Synopsis:
“Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Sex appeal. Wealth. Fame. A starring role as Cupid on TV’s biggest show, Gods of the Gates. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he's dogged by old demons, and his post-show future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling.
Enter Lauren Clegg, the former ER therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over handsome but impulsive Alex shouldn’t be especially difficult. But the more time they spend together, the harder it gets to keep her professional remove and her heart intact, especially when she discovers the reasons behind his recklessness…not to mention his Cupid fanfiction habit.
When another scandal lands Alex in major hot water and costs Lauren her job, she’ll have to choose between protecting him and offering him what he really wants—her. But he’s determined to keep his improbably short, impossibly stubborn, and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. And on a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves: anything at all. “ —NetGalley
What I Liked:
A Plus Size Main Character—I’m always happy to see this representation, especially in romance!
The Actor/Hollywood Aspect—I love going behind the scenes and as Game of Thrones fan, I love the subtle digs at how that show turned out.
What Didn’t Work:
The Romance—I really just didn’t root for Lauren and Alex, sadly. I didn’t like how they were brought together or how their story played out.
Alex—Alex really bothered me as a character. I didn’t fall for him and his language just grinded my gears. I didn’t like how he teased Lauren, I don’t know, I just didn’t vibe with him!
Pacing—It was just too slow for me! The banter didn’t move the story along. I usually like when characters are self aware but the constant acknowledgement of tropes just got annoying.
Content Warnings:
Mentions of Domestic Abuse, fatphobia