Sunday, July 5, 2015

~*Review~* Doing It For Love (All About Love #1) by Cassie Mae






Title: Doing It for Love
Author: Cassie Mae
Series or Standalone:  Series Standalone (All About Love #1)
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance, Humor
Rating:  5 Stars 


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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