Bad Romeo (Leisa Rayven, Macmillan)

Bad Romeo doesn’t quite shake off its Twilight fan-fiction origins, but author Leisa Rayven manages a funny, sexy narrative voice that lifts this book above its peers. Cassie Taylor is cast in a Broadway production against her ex-boyfriend Ethan Holt. Their chemistry still boileth over, but because Cassie was devastated when Ethan left six years ago, she can’t survive the heartache again. Cassie’s first-person, present-tense narration makes for a nail-biting serial, but it’s less effective when read straight through. There’s not much depth to the main characters, and Cassie’s fixation with Ethan provides little room for developing interesting secondary characters and relationships. Their romance relies on stereotypes and assumptions, and it’s a credit to Rayven that she sustains the sexual tension despite this. The language is explicit, yet the love scenes are surprisingly chaste for the most part. Rayven’s interpretation of the modern virgin heroine (inexperienced, but not clueless) versus the tortured hero (tempted, but determined to wait) draws out the climax beautifully. Readers who love the intensity and immediacy of new adult romance will not be disappointed, but seasoned romance readers might be left wanting more.

Kat Mayo edits Booktopia’s Romance Buzz and hosts the Heart to Heart podcast

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews