Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Book Title: The Promise of Amazing

Author: Robin Constantine

Release Date: December 31st, 2013

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Standalone

Book Link: Goodreads

Pre-Order Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who’s always done what she’s supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how. 

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

Disclaimer: I received this e-ARC from Balzer + Bray via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Review:

There have been several books recently that have started out super promising and then they slowly disintegrate into a colossal mess. Unfortunately The Promise of Amazing was like that.Initially, I was really liking Wren and she was witty and overall very likeable. Things started to change shortly after she saved Grayson’s life.

Three words: Insta. Freaking. Love. UGH! Seriously why do so many authors take the easy way out and do the insta-love formula? Be different, be dynamic. Don’t follow the exact same formula as so many authors do. Let a friendship develop first and then the romance. The slow burn is often more successful than a red hot fire right off the bat. At least romance wise. I never felt “it” between Wren and Grayson.Their insta-love felt forced which is even worse than smooth sailing insta-love.

Grayson was kind of an asshole and I really didn’t like him. He clearly let Andy and Luke hold way too much power over him which really pissed me off. If you are done stealing shit and “humping and dumping” girls, then tell them. I mean come ON! He didn’t seem to have any remorse for either the term paper thing OR the stealing things just because he could. 

He was also an asshole to his mom and step-dad which really pissed me off. Loyalty in a divorce can be tough but damn neither parent was fighting for Grayson’s allegiance. They both loved him and wanted to be in his life. I don’t think he realized how lucky he was.

So The Promise of Amazing was not amazing at all. It was a big time letdown for me. It started off really cute and promising but it did not stay that way for long.For many reasons, this book will be getting 2 stars from me.

Book Blogger Challenge- Week 14

This challenge comes from Good Books & Good Wine.

This week’s question is a bit of repeat of one that I answered way back at the beginning of my blogging journey. However, I’ll still answer it.

Tell Us Your Deal Breakers

~God/Religion~

This is my number one thing. I am an atheist so it would make no sense for me to read a book about a God that I don’t believe in. I am also not religious at all so anything that so much as HINTS at being religious in any capacity does not get a home on my bookshelf.

~Politics~

This one’s easy. I find politics to be boring and I will not read a book that so much as HINTS at it.However, if it’s a dystopian book, I can overlook the politics. If it’s a contemporary, then no.

~Insta-love/lust~

First of all I am not into that cheesy & corny crap. There is no such thing as insta love. There is such a thing as insta-lust and I wish people would call it that rather than calling it love. You cannot love someone you don’t know and may have never met.

~Bad Author Behavior~

If I hear a story about an author behaving badly to either another author or a blogger like myself,I will NOT pick up their book.To me it would be like rewarding them for behaving badly. No just no.

~Using Sex As The Only Plot Point~

If I have to hear someone say “Well Sex Sells” one more time, I may put my fist through a wall. Yes sex does amp up the book sales but for me if there is nothing else to the story I am going to throw it as far away from my body as possible.Even erotica has to have SOME sort of plot in order for me to read it. If it doesn’t,then I don’t read it. Simple as that.

~Steampunk~

If someone could just explain to me WHAT it is,I’d be greatful. As it is,I don’t get it and don’t understand the appeal.

~Aliens/Zombies/Werewolves & Vampires~

I threw all four of these together because I just don’t get the appeal of any of them. I like a good SciFi book as much as the next person but Aliens? No thank you. I think I’ve seen enough Vampire crap to last me a lifetime. Zombies,um no thank you. There was only one series that I loved a werewolf character and if you are as much of a geek as I am,then you’ll know what I’m talking about.

~Abuse~

Sometimes these stories are done beautifully and they tell the tale of a battered woman escaping from a violent man. But I rarely read them and that’s because usually we are forced to read about the abuse in graphic detail. I will not be okay with that. It’s like abuse is being glorified which makes me sick.

~Cheating~

This is something I don’t accept in my real life.Why should my reading choices be any different.It’s rude,disrespectful and like abuse,it glorifies the act.

~Historical Books~

I hated history in high school,hated it in college so why would I want to read anything with a historical theme? Answer is,I wouldn’t. Historical books of any kind bore the heck outta me and you won’t catch me reading them.There’s one caveat and that is, I will read fictional historical novels if they are set in the time of the Holocaust. I have a very strange fascination with the Holocaust.