✨ "That will be the last time I fall for a hot guy with a cheesy pick-up line and abs of steel..." ✨
All the thanks to author duo Claire Raye (@claire_raye_author on Instagram) for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
SOME SPOILER-FREE THOUGHTS: I loved everything about this book! I can't even write any spoiler-free thoughts because I just want to go on and on about how fantastic every single moment in this book is. So the only non-spoiler thing I can tell you is that this book has something for everyone and I highly, HIGHLY recommend you read it now!!
Author: claire raye
Finished: june 22, 2024
Reading Method: e-book (arc)
Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐
Spice Rating: 5/5 🌶️
What To Expect:
✨ Rivals to Lovers
✨ High Tension Slow Burn
✨ Party Boy Next Door
✨ Opposites Attract
✨ Summer Vacation
✨ Small Beach Town
✨ Recent College Grads
✨ Crazy Fun Grandma
✨ Dual POV
✨ No Third Act Breakup
✨ Happily Ever After
SPOILERS IN
3...
2...
1...
✨ "They could make a f*cking movie about this damn kiss. It would be the main character." ✨
Ok, first things first... how do I get a job housesitting someone's beach house over the summer? Like that's living the dream, in my opinion! And then a hot neighbor who is totally doing everything in his power to win you over through your competitive nature. Seriously, WHERE DO I SIGN UP???
Honestly, I think that's what I hated most about this book... the fact that I wish I was actually living every single thing that happened in it instead of reading it. I will be dreaming in small town beach romance for the foreseeable future because it was so absolutely perfect and everything I wish my real life could be.
But for real, I loved this book so much that I literally cannot put my thoughts into a comprehendible review, so I just need to take this piece by piece, shouting out our favorite classic rom com trope plot points that made me so hooked on this read.
MEET CUTE
She's ready for a quiet summer of housesitting at the beach, he's ready to party like the real world doesn't exist, she calls the cops on his first party of the summer, he's intrigued by her tenacity. Iconic! No notes.
COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
The driving force that brought these two together is that they are both competitive and as a self-diagnosed ruthless board game player, I very much related to the flirting and tension that came with all their little competitive moments. I worried that their competitiveness would be a weakness in the end, but ultimately it was their greatest strength. As long as they were competing with each other, they got to do everything together, which I loved!
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Both of our main characters are set up perfectly to establish the type of person they are and the type of person they want to be. Aida is a studious planner who hopes the summer will give her the opportunity to let loose and enjoy her last summer before starting law school and ultimately entering the real world. Ben is a rich party boy who is doing everything in his power to avoid his impending responsibilities while secretly knowing exactly who he is and what he wants, he's just afraid of revealing that out of fear of failure. Ultimately Aida helps Ben see that he is so much more than the reputation people think he has and Ben shows Aida that's it's ok to be silly and enjoy the small moments in life without worrying about what comes next.
BREAKING THE SLOW BURN
I was hesitant to call is a slow burn because it is SO MUCH MORE than just a slow burn. The tension that is building feels less like a slow burn and more like volcano that is on the verge of erupting at any minute, but takes FOREVERRRRR to actually explode. Every single time I was kicking my feet in excitement ready for them to take the next step something happens to stop it and it was killing me in the greatest way possible.
GRANDMA
Miriam is hands down one of the greatest characters I've ever read. Her unfiltered need to get involved in her grandson's love life could have been weird and super gross, yet she's so endearing through the entire book that you can't help but love her with each crazy moment she generates. In fact, you want her to keep being involved because her antics are just so genuine and hilarious that without them, it would feel like something was missing. Best grandma award!
ICONIC MOMENTS
Too many to count! Yoga farting, guacapella and chips, parking lot puking, neighborhood black out, pitchers and porn, later motherf*cker, and the list goes on and one. Every time I thought, "this is the best moment in the book..." I was proved wrong by the next amazing scene that I did not see coming!
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
I'm not gonna lie... I spent about half of the book scared for the impending third act break up. I was holding my breath waiting for something to go wrong mostly because their relationship was build on the foundation of competitiveness. I was so scared one of them was going to take a competition just a little too far and accidentally hurt the other person because it felt like we were building up to the possibility. But bless the authors because they actually made Aida and Ben's relationships strongest in the third act. Having Aida stand up to Ben's bullies, giving Ben the strength to do it himself as well. Chef's kiss!
All that to say I highly recommend this title to all the book besties who are searching for the greatest new summer beach read because THIS IS IT! Heck, you don't even need a beach to enjoy it. I read it in my tiny nyc studio apartment and loved it all the same. Regardless of where you read it, just READ IT! You will thank me!
Go get your copy of One Fired Up Fourth by Claire Raye now!!
All My Love,
Jane-Anne
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