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What's In A Name?
What's In A Name?
Pat Henshaw | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What’s in a name? by Pat Henshaw is a short novella about a Barista by the name of Jimmy Patterson who gets dumped at a bar on his birthday by his boyfriend Alex. The burly bartender who we first know as Alex 2 then later as “Guy”, comes in to save the day when Jimmy gets drunk off his backside and finds himself in the bathroom with his head over the toilet bowl. All Jimmy wants is to know the bartender’s first name. The story starts unfolding when “Guy” makes a deal with Jimmy. He has seven days to guess “Guy”’s first name; one guess each day.

While each day for the next week, Jimmy and Guy’s relationship becomes deeper to the point where they end up falling in love and do find their HEA, there is so much more to this story than just your typical boy meets boy, boy falls in love with boy, they live happily ever after type scenario. Jimmy and his co-owner of Penny’s coffee shop learn that not everything is going to be a bed of roses as thriving business owners when someone ends up trashing their mall branch shop. Jimmy and Guy have their own issues that they need to work out through the week that they’re together as well.

What I found interesting as well as refreshing about What’s in a Name? is that right from the very beginning the book had a fairytale feel to it. First there was the feel of a Rumpelstiltskin story in so far as having to guess Guy’s name and getting seven guess’s to figure out out. I’m not going to give away the ending of the book or the answer in this regards but the fairytale overlays continue throughout the book.

There were quite a few twists and turns to What’s in a Name along with unexpected surprises that pop up throughout the read such as Jimmy’s ex boyfriend Alex, who we meet at the beginning of the book, showing up later. There was some mystery to this story as well and the person we thought was the culprit wasn’t the one “Who done it” after all.

The one big downfall that I found while reading the story was that “Guy’s” first name became predictable by at least the middle of the story for me. Luckily that wasn’t the main plot otherwise there was a good chance I would have lost interest in the book. There were quite a few underlying and overlying aspects to What’s in a name that it kept me coming back to see what happened between the two men. What’s in a name is a quick read that I got through in a day and it took me that long only because it was during the weekend when I had other things going on. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.
  
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Stephen (210 KP) rated Muriel's Wedding (1995) in Movies

Mar 1, 2019 (Updated Mar 2, 2019)  
Muriel's Wedding (1995)
Muriel's Wedding (1995)
1995 | Comedy, Romance
10
9.7 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Euphoria... To The Tune Of ABBA
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was shocked when I realised it’s been 25 years since I saw this at the cinema. Filled with nostalgia I just had to leave a review here for what is one of my all time favourite movies.

The film relies heavily on the music of ABBA (although many other artists feature, check out the soundtrack), and the life of ugly ducking Muriel Heslop (played by the always wonderful Toni Collette).

A truly modern fairytale, with a real heart and soul, this movie with have you laughing and crying, with outstanding performances from all the cast.

Highlights are the scene where Muriel and friend Rhonda perform ‘Waterloo’ at karaoke (timed PERFECTLY to blend in with the aftermath of Rhonda putting Muriel’s bitchy as hell, so called ‘friends’ in their place), and the scene when Muriel walks down the aisle to ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do.’ I have to confess I cried tears of joy when that song started playing.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that has left me feeling so euphoric after watching it, as rom coms go, this one sets the standard amazingly high. And the scene where Rhonda says: “Stick your drink up your arse, Tanya, I would rather swallow razor blades than drink with you” will make anyone who has ever been picked on cheer along.
  
Geekerella (Once Upon a Con #1)
Geekerella (Once Upon a Con #1)
Ashley Poston | 2017 | Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
6
7.8 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sweet but forgettable
This book was cuteness-incarnate with a slice of grit, a retake on Cinderella with a geeky fandom context that worked in a way that was fun and easy to connect. I found myself sucked into this story of Elle and Darien. Darien is something of a beta-male character and I’m always here for that.

As you might imagine, Elle lives with her stepmother and step sisters, things are pretty grim and abusive at home and that made for difficult reading at certain moments. Darien is playing the lead role in a film depicting a fandom Elle has been immersed in since childhood thanks to her late dad’s love of it.

The serendipitous connection through text between these two was a lovely, sweet slow build but the masking of their identities was bound to lead to complications. The events in the storyline were occasionally fresh outside of the fairytale but mostly predictable too, especially when it came to the meeting of these two. There were some very clever aspects like the pumpkin, the cosplaying elements were enjoyable and the side characters were superb. Sage was a highlight from a side character perspective. The character diversity was oozing from the pages in an unforced and natural way. I appreciated how this was conceptualised. .

This was enjoyable, easy YA reading with a delightful geek-fandom. I think this book would appeal to many.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
  
Just the Way You Are is more than just a good book. It is a modern day fairytale filled with redemption and grace that will capture your heart from the first moment. Within the pages of this book you will find real people, with real life issues. This story will sweep you off your feet and drag you into a world that is every nerd girl's fantasy and you will soon find yourself consumed with researching history, "treasure" hunting, chocolate, British accents, Appalachia, AND.........Kisses.

Chocolate kisses, closet kisses, abandoned tower kisses, leave you senseless kisses...This book is PACKED with such romance that you may need to take precautionary actions to prevent injury from fainting! (such as a fainting couch, fan, smelling salts, etc.)

Don't let the passion fool you though. Pepper writes such sweet, unadulterated romance coupled with complete and total redemption. It blows my mind every single time I read one of her books. Just the Way You Are is the first contemporary novel I have read of Pepper's, and this easily makes it to the top of my favorite Rom Com stories EVER. I wish to see this in movie form so badly! "Ghirardelli in human form"...yes please! Haha!
 
The adventure, the romance, the grace...all woven together creates a beautiful masterpiece.
 
I received a complimentary copy of Just the Way You Are. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.