Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven Review

Rating: Sanzana: 4.75/5 Stars  Jena: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

     When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time. 
     Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks.

**Received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Review:

Sanzana's Review

      Oh. My. Ever. Loving. God!!!! Where do I even start with this book? When I first heard about this book on Goodreads and read the summary, I was hooked! And suddenly, I was starving for this book and wouldn't settle for anything else. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and was not disappointed with the content in this. There were so many scenes that got my heart beating irregularly and my gasping for breath. And if you know what i'm talking about, well, that shit hurts (a good hurt though). 

This review contains spoilers, but if you want to pre-order this book, links are down below. 

     This book focuses on two characters, Cassandra (Cassie) Taylor and Ethan Holt. It switches back and forth from the present day to six years ago. It starts off in the present where Cassie and Ethan are cast as the two main leads. While Ethan is mesmerized to see Cassie in such a long time, Cassie is wary and still hurt from what Ethan did to her. Cassie and Ethan both attended The Grove as aspiring actors and well, I have to say those two are an interesting pair.
    
     You see, Ethan may come off as hot and sexy, but he is definitely not the manwhore I was expecting to read about. In fact, he really isn't a manwhore at all. Ethan is very reserved and exclusive to his classmates with the occasional "fuck-off" vibe.  And he's very, very intense. Most of my sighs were because of him.

     And Cassie, well, she's just trying to fit in and at the same time keep herself composed while being around Ethan (which of course doesn't work because she literally cannot keep her hands to herself).

     It doesn't help that they're being cast as the main leads to Romeo and Juliet. And when their acting prof asks them to try to do something "realistic but tasteful" and to create the "illusion of nudity" during the marriage scene, well. Cassie may have gotten a taste to how wonderful orgasms can be. 



     Just wow. I can't with these two and their chemistry hitting off the charts. But like I said, their relationship is an interesting one. Ethan holds back from their pending relationship, which drives Cassie crazy, lust crazy or love crazy. Maybe both. Every chance they get to makeout, one backs away. And because of what happened six years ago, Cassie is dead terrified of what Ethan is offering, a second chance. 

     I remember while reading this, I could help but think, "God, I really hope when I date someone, he'll be as intense and loving as Ethan." And even if he was an asshole for a good chuck of the book, it was the end that really got me. 

     Just two words everyone. Ethan's Letters. Everything Ethan didn't say between the six years they had apart was...well, it brought me to tears okay. It made me realize how wonderful Ethan really is and well, it just made me love him even more. If any man wrote the words over and over again like Ethan did, I would just, GOD, I would give my life up for them and just do everything in my existence to be with that one person. My words sound too prettied up, but I am being honest.

     I'm not even sure if I loved Ethan's words or Leisa's because as you all know, I have a thing for words and anything written on paper or text (written beautifully, of course) will be the death of me. Even though the character's on-and-off feelings made me frustrated, this was still a great book. I loved it especially because of the fact that it involved a Shakespearean play because I've read every single one of his playwrights. 

     Just a heads up, Ethan and Cassie's story will be told in 2 books, Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet. There will also be a standalone story that features Ethan's sister, who becomes a close friend of Cassie's when she was in drama school.

     The cliff-hanger in this book, shouldn't be called a cliff-hanger because it does end fairly well and doesn't leave you screaming in agony for more (which, by the way, I really appreciated). 

     Oh and by the way, I would like to note that Ethan comes across Cassie's diary and...let's just say Cassie goes all out with the explict details she'd just love to do to Ethan. Having Ethan read that was a mortifying scene but then, then a couple of chapter's later, Ethan says this one line that has me gasping. 

Hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did!

- Sanzana <3

Jena's Review



     I loved this book. This is like two romance genres in one. You get a little contemporary romance and a little bit of new adult romance. What more could you ask for? For it to be hilarious .... DONE!!! This book is funny. For people who loved Wallbanger, they will love this book. For people who thought Wallbanger was a flop on the humor, they will love this book, because it is so successful.

      Let's just start with the female lead Cassie ... Cassie is hilarious as her adult self. It is so interesting to be able to meet Cassie as an adult then flashback to freshman Cassie and see how much she has changed. She was so innocent and naive and said words like "oh fluffer" .... Hahaha!! But six years later we see how much of a potty mouth she has gained and how much of a transformation she has made. I love it ... let' just take a moment to see some of her humorous lines:

           "He looks at me for a few more seconds before frowning like he’s trying to calculate how many watermelons will fit in a Winnebago."

           "Just thinking about our almost-kiss has my girl parts all excited. I don’t have the heart to tell them we’re going to die without ever experiencing an orgasm. It would depress them too much, and I really can’t afford to have a sad vagina."

           "Just thinking about him sexing me up, pretend or not, is enough to make my vagina start slow-clapping in anticipation."

      But don't worry, the lead, Ethan, is pretty funny himself.

           We stand there for a few seconds before he thrusts one of the cardboard cups at me and says, “Oh, shit. This is, uh … this is for you.”
           I take it and hold it up to my nose. “What is it?”
           “It’s an I’m-a-dick-achino.” I try to stop the smile that lifts the corners of my mouth.
           “Huh. Smells like plain old hot chocolate to me.”
           “Yeah, well, it turns out they were out of dick-achinos. I offered to make some more, but they said I was overqualified.”

     If you want a somewhat damaged asshole guy who falls for a girl; if you want a guy fighting hard for a second chance; if you want to laugh and feel all the feels ... well then this is it!!

      Throughout the story we know that something huge happened that really changed Cassie and hurt her severely and while I don't want to give away any spoilers, you don't find out what it is. It is a cliffhanger. I've never finished a book and went to go turn the page and it never turned on my kindle ... *cue freak out* "WHY WON'T IT TURN THE PAGE!??!?!?!?!" But it's ok. I loved it that much. Because the sexual tension in this book is phenomenal. I've never been so excited by reading about all these kisses. I love it. I. LOVE. IT!!! The towards the end when we Ethan starts giving his spiel ... it is so sweet and just feels so good.

          “Cassie, look at me.” When I hesitate, he puts a finger under my chin and tilts it up until I’m looking at him. “I just need you to know that the second you’re ready to try again with us, I’m going to kiss the hell out of you. I’m going to kiss you until you see stars, and hear angels, and can’t stand up for a week. I hope you realize that.”

          "Is this what being in love feels like? Overwhelming gratitude that the other person is with you as you share something astonishing? Knowing that the most astonishing thing they can share is themselves?"

      So cliffhanger or not this is a book you need to be reading. It's got everything you could need or want! Just be prepared to wait for the next book and some answers. Enjoy!!

      I know this review is full of quotes, but I just can't help it ... I loved all these lines!!! And one more just because ...

           "When I’d finally peeled myself away, I was more confused than a straight guy at a transgender beauty pageant."

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