Blog Tour: Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren, Review

Release Date: May 13, 2014

Sweet Filthy Boy

by Christina Lauren

Book 1 of the Wild Seasons Series

3.5 ~ 4 stars

I really can't pinpoint the number on my rating, and obviously I'm in the minority seeing as more than 2000 people have rated this 4-5 stars. :) I get them though, because there really were moments in the book that got my rating pointer hovering almost past 4 stars. I guess I was just hoping for a little bit more, that's why it felt short of a solid 4 stars for me.

Don't get me wrong, this is indeed a very enjoyable story. Mia an Ansel are very likable people, as well as their respective best friends, Harlow & Lola and Finn & Oliver.

The beginning is quite predictable. Three friends jump on a Las Vegas vacation right after their college graduation ceremony. They are prepared to do all sorts of mischief and basically just have fun before they have to be responsible "adults". 

So while there in Vegas, they spend evenings dancing and drinking in bars. Mia then locks eyes with one handsome young man across the room. sparks fly and whatnot. What made this all fun was even though they did not cross the room to talk and get each other's numbers, they still ended up neighbors in the same hotel floor. Talk about serendipity! The next day they meet by chance again... and this time they decide to hang out together as a group.

I don't know how many times the "What happened in Vegas?" scenario has been played out in books by now. SWEET FILTHY BOY adds to that number, lol!

If this book wasn't the pleasant, light read that it was, or if it didn't make me giggle and laugh out loud, this might have been a meh read for me. As it is, the fun moments is what buoyed the story for me. Special mention for the conversations between Mia, Harlow and Lola! There were more serious issues too, but they were touched on very briefly that I barely felt their impact on Mia and Ansel. On the other hand, I'm also happy that there was no unnecessary drama. In all fairness, Mia behaved very civilly and maturely when faced with the main conflict of her romance with Ansel. 

SO. What pulled my rating needle to 3 was that the story was very predictable. That Ansel is French was something I looked forward to, but aside from murmuring some French phrases, he was really just okay for me. The humor and writing style steered the needle closer to my 4 stars, though. I do think this is one of those books though that grow on you when you reread them, so who knows. My impression of it might be even better when I get around to rereading it. 

As for the next book in the series, I am really looking forward to Harlow and Finn's story!!! I'm excited because their premise is already introduced in SWEET FILTHY BOY , and it's creating this exciting friction between them. 

I may not have been very excited with SWEET FILTHY BOY , but I'll definitely continue looking out for Christina Lauren's other books. They're writing style and the plots they come up with are something I know I'll like. :)

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Synopsis: 

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. Married to the cutest boy in school, she has a thirteen year old daughter, is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter, and also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

You can follow their shenanigans at:

@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On Tumblr! where we post kissing gifs and writerly stuff and Wattpad for short stories and sneak peeks!

For official information about their books, events, interviews, movie news and more, follow @beautifulbastrd.