Title: Doing It for Love
Author: Cassie Mae
Series or
Standalone: Series Standalone (All About Love #1)
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance,
Humor
Review:
If
there’s one thing I know I’m guaranteed when I pick up a Cassie Mae book, it’s
that I will need to take breaks while reading from the sheer loss of breath I
experience from laughing too hard.
Whether
it be a novel written in the YA realm, or one such as this one that branches
into the New Adult, the response is always the same.
Right
from the first page, there’s evidence of this when the female lead, Liz, compares
her relationship (or more specifically, their sexual one) with boyfriend,
Landon, in terms of food. And not just any food, but the part of your dinner
you’re most likely to either eat last or discard altogether.
Peas
and Carrots.
Okay
so I lied, maybe it’s just me that does that.
Either
way, it was the perfect jumping off point for what would become one of the
funniest books I’ve read this year, and what I was desperately in need of after
spending so much time writing the gut wrenching stuff.
What
jumped out at me most about this book can be summed up with one simple
statement.
One of
these things is not like the other.
Where
most romances are based solely around the couple facing insurmountable odds in
order to be together, this book comes at it from a different take. The couple
that have gone through everything to be together, are together and this is what
is affectionately referred to as what comes after the happily ever after. And
it was perfect.
I
don’t like to use the word perfect often, because nothing is ever truly
perfect, but Liz and Landon, and the way their relationship is, right from the
first page, straight up until the end was as close to perfect as I can imagine
it gets and there was nothing perfect about these people at all. What they had
though, it worked because at the end of the day, when you close your eyes and
you step away from the story, you’re living their life.
Maybe
you’re not living it exactly, but the way Liz gets irritated with Landon’s
socks on the floor, even if the item in question is different, if you’ve ever
lived with someone long term, and been in love with them, you’ve lived this
relationship.
Cassie
Mae has always had the ability to write a book drenched in reality. Whether its
two awkward teenagers forging their way through daily life and pubescent
awkwardness in order to end up together, or two adults in a long term
relationship just looking to spice things up after falling into a rut, every
step of the way through their journey is very, very real.
Which
I suppose makes Cassie Mae “The Real Thing” huh? Lol
Okay,
joking aside, this book drew me in on page one and never let up, not once
straight up until the end. I laughed so much I cried, I may have stopped
breathing at one point, and I straight up pulled my hair out at others based on
Landon’s behavior and sometimes even Liz’s. So if this book does nothing else,
I can assure you that it will make you feel. Pissed off, swooning, and laughing
your ass off or just plain giddy happy, you will feel by the time you turn the
very last page and for this writer/reader, that’s what makes the reading world
go round.
The
character development here was insane. You got to know these people as if they
were from your actual life and the pacing was fantastic, with not one instance
where I felt the book dragged or there was information given that didn’t in
some way further the story toward its end. This book was the perfect
combination of humor laced with romance with a dash of realism thrown in, along
with a whole lot of dessert references.
Now
before I taper off into the end of this review, I want to make mention of one
more thing before I go. As I read deeper into this story, quotes resonating
with me throughout, there was one quote that seemed to speak to me more than
any others because with what I’ve already said about realism, I feel as though
we got to see a real glimpse into the author as well. Or at least how I believe
her to be when she sits down to write the stories that she does so well.
“I
want…” he starts then his eyebrows pull in as a set look of determination takes
over. “I want to make people smile. I want to tell an epic story…with laughter.
I want to change the way people view the world. I want life to stop being so
damn dramatic all the time.”
That quote
is Cassie Mae to me (even if Landon said it). It’s a Cassie Mae book to me and
quite frankly, is exactly why I am glad authors like her, and characters like
the one’s she’s brought to life, exist. Because what Landon wants, is what she
has given this reader and it’s a beautiful thing.
So to
wrap this up…this story was great and should definitely be read by all. Whether
you’re all about that romance or you’re not, there’s something here for you. If
you like to laugh, if you like to smile, then you won’t be disappointed with
this.
Add
everything I’ve already said to the rest of the ensemble cast in this hilarious
tale of what comes after the HEA and it’s probably one of the most well rounded
and all around great books I’ve read thus far this year and a complete treat to
read.
You
know, a treat of the cheesecake variety ;)
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