Review: Better Than Perfect by Simone Elkeles

Title: Better Than Perfect.
Series: Wild Cards, #1.
Author: Simone Elkeles.
Publication Date: August 14th, 2014.
Publisher: Bloomsbury.
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult.
Format: Paperback, 344 pages.
Source: Provided By Publisher.
My Rating:

A lot can happen when you're not looking for love...

Ashtyn's life just got complicated. Her boyfriend is being distant and her sister's back at home after ten years - with a stepson in tow!

Derek has a perfect body, the sexiest smile and a car - Ashtyn's only way to escape from her crazy life. But Derek likes to play by his own rules and is keen to take Ashtyn on a ride she'll never forget. As they spend more and more time alone together, will Derek's flirty games drive Ashtyn wild?

 

Review

Better Than Perfect was an interesting book, but I’m in two minds on how I really feel about it. On one hand Simone Elkeles’ writing is funny and interesting and wonderfully scripted, and on the other I really wasn’t sure how I felt about the romance and I definitely didn’t like one of the characters. I also didn’t realise that there would be so much football talk/football related content involved – or any at all for that matter. Too much sport mentioned in novels is a big turn off for me, as I’m really not a fan of it, so it usually just soars clean over my head and starts to irritate me. I usually tend to avoid these types of books because of this, but oh well! Better Than Perfect is told in the dual perspective of our male and female main characters, which I always love as you get to see both sides of the story and get to know both characters on different levels.

Derek is our main male protagonist in Better Than Perfect and I loved his character! He’s cocky, funny and sarcastic and doesn’t pretend to be anything but himself even when he’s being an ass. Even though his character is supposed to be a bad boy, I didn’t see him that way at all. Derek is a sweetie, he may be a bit hot headed, but he cares a lot and isn’t afraid to show it at times - through actions or words. The only thing about Derek that irritated me was his constant use of the phrase ‘Sweetie Pie, It drove me absolutely nuts! It was so degrading and cringe-worthy, and irked the hell out of me. Other than that small issue though, I really did love his character.

Ashtyn is our female protagonist in the novel, and to be perfectly honest, I didn’t like her one bit! Ashtyn is a tomboy who loves to play football, but also has a girly and sexy side to her; the fact that her personality was so different from everyone else was her only redeeming quality. But she was also bitchy, immature, selfish, cruel, rude, needy and clingy – everything she claimed she’d never be! Ashtyn ran so hot and cold throughout Better Than Perfect, one minute she’s saying how much she hates Derek, and in the same paragraph she’s daydreaming about kissing him. Make up your mind, girl! I hated how she thought she could change Derek, and how, even though he’s been nothing but honest with her, she acts like the news of him being a player is a shock.

Overall I enjoyed Better Than Perfect, but it was far from an amazing and flawless book. I wasn’t fond of the romance that occurred and the relationship Derek and Ashtyn had. There just wasn’t any chemistry between them and there was way too much fighting and bickering between the two of them to make it enjoyable. If Simone’s writing wasn’t as great as it was, and if I didn’t like Derek’s character as much as I did, I’m pretty sure I would have put down Better Than Perfect rather than finishing it. It’s hard to say who I’d recommend this book too, but I do know that I will be reading more from Simone Elkeles in the future, as I love her writing style and character development. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from her; it’s just a shame that I wasn’t that keen on this particular book.

Quotes

"I told you it wasn't her," Vic says. "She doesn't have the balls to do it."
That is so insulting. "I have balls, Vic!"
"I knew it!" Jet wags his eyebrows and reaches for my waistband. "Let me see 'em, Ash."
I roll my eyes and slap his arm away. - Page 77.

"I told you not to play, but no! Your ego got in the way of your brain and those shaved balls of yours."
"I didn't say I shaved them. I trim."
She looks at me as if I'm nuts. "Same difference." - Page 99.

I know this dream won't last forever and a part of me will always want him as a permanent fixture in my life.
"You own a piece of me," He murmurs as he holds me afterwards.
"Good," I tell him. "And just so you know...I'm never giving it back." - Page 316.