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Girl Abroad
New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy brings her signature angst, drama, and humour to a new standalone romance.
When nineteen-year-old Abbey Bly gets the opportunity to study abroad for a year in London, it's the perfect chance to finally slip out from under the thumb of her beloved but overbearing retired rock star father. She's ready to be free, to discover herself - but first off, to meet the girls she's rooming with. That is, until she arrives at her gorgeous new flat to discover those roommates are actually all boys. Charming, funny, insufferably attractive boys. And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl.
Abbey has never considered herself a rulebreaker. But soon, she's lying to her father about her living situation and falling for not one, but two men she can't have: her rugby-player roommate and a broody musician with a girlfriend. Not to mention, her research for school has gotten her tangled in a deeply hidden scandal of a high nobility family, surrounding her in secrets on all sides.
If there's any hope of Abbey finding love, answers, or a future in London, she'll have to decide which rules - and hearts - might be worth breaking . . .
When nineteen-year-old Abbey Bly gets the opportunity to study abroad for a year in London, it's the perfect chance to finally slip out from under the thumb of her beloved but overbearing retired rock star father. She's ready to be free, to discover herself - but first off, to meet the girls she's rooming with. That is, until she arrives at her gorgeous new flat to discover those roommates are actually all boys. Charming, funny, insufferably attractive boys. And off-limits, with a rule against fraternizing between housemates after unwanted drama with the previous girl.
Abbey has never considered herself a rulebreaker. But soon, she's lying to her father about her living situation and falling for not one, but two men she can't have: her rugby-player roommate and a broody musician with a girlfriend. Not to mention, her research for school has gotten her tangled in a deeply hidden scandal of a high nobility family, surrounding her in secrets on all sides.
If there's any hope of Abbey finding love, answers, or a future in London, she'll have to decide which rules - and hearts - might be worth breaking . . .
432 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2024
About the author
Elle Kennedy
162 books75.7k followersA New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,011 reviews
February 26, 2024
*FAT ASS YAWN* BORRRINGGGG! There's no way these men were battling for this cardboard cut out of a teenager. Also this reminded me how being 19 is a disease. Not one logical thought was had at that age.
Watch my full review on YouTube💖
Watch my full review on YouTube💖
October 8, 2023
This needs to be a Netflix movie 🍿
It is such a different vibe from Elle’s hockey romance books but it is SO much fun 🩷 Kennedy hit it out of the park, as per usual, and gave us some new book boyfriends to SWOON over 🔥
Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles (like, at all) but oh my godsssss Elle wove this one so beautifully. I truly found myself stuck between both men! Honestly, I don’t blame Abbey at ALL for how torn she was cause, girl SAME. (Also, i loved how realistic this love triangle was compared to other books.)
For real, I really wish I was Abbey. Her whole experience in London is one I am beyond jealous of. Elle had me so invested in her journey of finding her own identity while also becoming embroiled in British society scandals (and also Mr Baxley was a vibe).
ALRIGHT — Longer review TK when closer cause i don’t wanna spoiilllll xoxo
It is such a different vibe from Elle’s hockey romance books but it is SO much fun 🩷 Kennedy hit it out of the park, as per usual, and gave us some new book boyfriends to SWOON over 🔥
Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles (like, at all) but oh my godsssss Elle wove this one so beautifully. I truly found myself stuck between both men! Honestly, I don’t blame Abbey at ALL for how torn she was cause, girl SAME. (Also, i loved how realistic this love triangle was compared to other books.)
For real, I really wish I was Abbey. Her whole experience in London is one I am beyond jealous of. Elle had me so invested in her journey of finding her own identity while also becoming embroiled in British society scandals (and also Mr Baxley was a vibe).
ALRIGHT — Longer review TK when closer cause i don’t wanna spoiilllll xoxo
March 28, 2024
This was so cutie I had a great time
April 14, 2024
when abbey bly (often called 'abbs' lmfao) gets the chance to study abroad in london and escape her overprotective 'rock star' dad she takes it ... only to realise her roommates are guys. HOT guys (*clutches pearls*) but she also can't date them, so it's a forbidden love. to top it off, there's another guy she's fallen head over heels in insta lust with: a british musician who's already taken AND she's also gone and gotten herself tangled in a scandal of a family from aristocracy.
you know, like every other tourist.
the positives: it was fast-paced, easy to read, and there was drama🍿it's a good read for a reading slump maybe?
things to note: there was spice. this is not a ya.
my complaints: oh boy,
abbey was incredibly close to being a tolerable fmc. she would complain about how the most interesting stories she had were from her dad's life and then used said stories to make people like her. she spent what felt like a full two pages on how she's 'never going to tell Anyone about who my daddy is' which then preceded to dissolve within 0.2 seconds. and woe is her because everyone is immediately infatuated by her 'completely average looks' that she Never humble brags about. oh, and then add a sprinkle of having no personality beyond liking libraries/history/old stuff to the extent where she is turned on by them and there you have the recipe to an incredibly annoying fmc.
there were so many opportunities for female friendships (because f*ck the patriarchy, f*ck girl on girl hate, f*ck misogyny) but noooo. we get abbey hating on the girlfriend of one of her love interests because she's fallen into an instalust with him. feminism where? i don't see her. and amelia completely vanished and only appeared when 'abs' snapped her fingers/rubbed the magic lamp to show us just how Nice and Kind and Awesome she was. celeste was barely there and needed more scenes.
and then there is the love triangle trope which i don't hate, but usually end up hating. this time it was because both the love interests were so.f*cking.bland. they had no depth apart from being two commitment-phobic men who were both dicks-over-brain-cells in instalust/instalove with abbey who then continued to explain to us just how Different they were to each other. same men different font. jamie would have been a much more interesting love interest than the british museum - sorry - the british musician.
and then you get the whole 'it's technically not cheating' and the 'omg haha it's a mystery side plot involving a love triangle which OMG(!!) is kind of a parallel to my current situation' and ngl i ran out of sh*ts to give.
and the 'whoops all my roommates are guys' wasn't explored as much as it could have been. for an overprotective parent, you would think abbey would have had to have hidden it more than once, and you maybe would have thought that since it takes up so much space in the sypnosis.
now moving onto my personal area of expertise: london. everyone give three cheers for pigeon sh*t capital! it wasn't completely romanticised which is a win (i think?).
all the characters felt weird since they were walking, talking stereotypes. we don't call each other 'luv' in every sentence - we are not aaron warner - and we don't call everything brilliant and not all of us have connections to the british aristocracy. i also didn't know queen margaret and the beatles existed in the same universe.
so to sum up, everyone was horny, there was not nearly enough angst, thinking with your dick has consequences, and said consequences provide entertainment and drama which lead this book to receive 3 stars from yours truly.
thank you for listening to my ted talk.
*bows*
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
_______
pre-review:
not the worst book i've read this year. i think that's a good thing?
rtc - 3 stars
you know, like every other tourist.
the positives: it was fast-paced, easy to read, and there was drama🍿it's a good read for a reading slump maybe?
things to note: there was spice. this is not a ya.
my complaints: oh boy,
abbey was incredibly close to being a tolerable fmc. she would complain about how the most interesting stories she had were from her dad's life and then used said stories to make people like her. she spent what felt like a full two pages on how she's 'never going to tell Anyone about who my daddy is' which then preceded to dissolve within 0.2 seconds. and woe is her because everyone is immediately infatuated by her 'completely average looks' that she Never humble brags about. oh, and then add a sprinkle of having no personality beyond liking libraries/history/old stuff to the extent where she is turned on by them and there you have the recipe to an incredibly annoying fmc.
there were so many opportunities for female friendships (because f*ck the patriarchy, f*ck girl on girl hate, f*ck misogyny) but noooo. we get abbey hating on the girlfriend of one of her love interests because she's fallen into an instalust with him. feminism where? i don't see her. and amelia completely vanished and only appeared when 'abs' snapped her fingers/rubbed the magic lamp to show us just how Nice and Kind and Awesome she was. celeste was barely there and needed more scenes.
and then there is the love triangle trope which i don't hate, but usually end up hating. this time it was because both the love interests were so.f*cking.bland. they had no depth apart from being two commitment-phobic men who were both dicks-over-brain-cells in instalust/instalove with abbey who then continued to explain to us just how Different they were to each other. same men different font. jamie would have been a much more interesting love interest than the british museum - sorry - the british musician.
and then you get the whole 'it's technically not cheating' and the 'omg haha it's a mystery side plot involving a love triangle which OMG(!!) is kind of a parallel to my current situation' and ngl i ran out of sh*ts to give.
and the 'whoops all my roommates are guys' wasn't explored as much as it could have been. for an overprotective parent, you would think abbey would have had to have hidden it more than once, and you maybe would have thought that since it takes up so much space in the sypnosis.
now moving onto my personal area of expertise: london. everyone give three cheers for pigeon sh*t capital! it wasn't completely romanticised which is a win (i think?).
all the characters felt weird since they were walking, talking stereotypes. we don't call each other 'luv' in every sentence - we are not aaron warner - and we don't call everything brilliant and not all of us have connections to the british aristocracy. i also didn't know queen margaret and the beatles existed in the same universe.
so to sum up, everyone was horny, there was not nearly enough angst, thinking with your dick has consequences, and said consequences provide entertainment and drama which lead this book to receive 3 stars from yours truly.
thank you for listening to my ted talk.
*bows*
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
_______
pre-review:
not the worst book i've read this year. i think that's a good thing?
rtc - 3 stars
March 1, 2024
Tbh I expected a lot from this book because the off-campus is lit and briar u isn't that far behind either so I expected a lot. It was beeping hyped a lot too so I did go into this but it was overall mid tbh... There were enjoyable moment, hot steamy scenes but it fell short nonetheless.
February 18, 2024
god when will it be my turn to be a cute little university girl in london living with multiple hot men
May 23, 2024
Girl Abroad
by Elle Kennedy is a contemporary new adult romance. Nineteen-year-old Abbey Bly applies for and gets the opportunity to study abroad for a year at Pembridge University in London. She loves her retired rockstar father, but he is overprotective. She’s ready to be free to achieve some of her own experiences versus hearing of her father’s exploits. She’s looking forward to meeting the girls she will be rooming with and making new friends. However, arriving late at night, she finds it's three boys, not girls, that will be her roommates. There’s only one house rule. No fraternizing between housemates.
Abbey doesn’t tell her father that her roommates aren’t girls. Abbey has been sheltered due to her father’s guilt and regret regarding his early life. Then, she falls for two different guys and one of them is a roommate. Additionally, she has a significant research paper for a class that leads her to a scandalous nobility family. She’s curious, inquisitive, adores libraries, and is funny and unpretentious, and is majoring in European history.
A lot of the book is focused on romance and which guy Abbey will choose. To me, this part was cute, but too predictable. However, the sections that I enjoyed the most were the ones regarding her research paper. At an estate sale, she finds a painting of a young woman who is unnamed and centers her research around this woman. This not only requires significant time at the library, but provides her with adventures and exposure to several different types of individuals. Themes include trust, lies, fear of obscurity, communication, being candid with others, friendship, independence, protectiveness, betrayal, romance, and much more.
Overall, this is a cute, bur predictable romance with some humor. However, it is more than that. Abbey’s research efforts and the mystery to be solved, as well as the people she meets and the friends she makes along the way, are the most interesting parts of the novel. This could have been the focal point with a romance as a subplot, instead of the other way around.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was February 13, 2024.
---------------------------------------
My 3.3 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Abbey doesn’t tell her father that her roommates aren’t girls. Abbey has been sheltered due to her father’s guilt and regret regarding his early life. Then, she falls for two different guys and one of them is a roommate. Additionally, she has a significant research paper for a class that leads her to a scandalous nobility family. She’s curious, inquisitive, adores libraries, and is funny and unpretentious, and is majoring in European history.
A lot of the book is focused on romance and which guy Abbey will choose. To me, this part was cute, but too predictable. However, the sections that I enjoyed the most were the ones regarding her research paper. At an estate sale, she finds a painting of a young woman who is unnamed and centers her research around this woman. This not only requires significant time at the library, but provides her with adventures and exposure to several different types of individuals. Themes include trust, lies, fear of obscurity, communication, being candid with others, friendship, independence, protectiveness, betrayal, romance, and much more.
Overall, this is a cute, bur predictable romance with some humor. However, it is more than that. Abbey’s research efforts and the mystery to be solved, as well as the people she meets and the friends she makes along the way, are the most interesting parts of the novel. This could have been the focal point with a romance as a subplot, instead of the other way around.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was February 13, 2024.
---------------------------------------
My 3.3 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
March 25, 2024
3.5 rounded up
Besides the unnecessary love triangle, awful romance, and how annoying fmc was, I really enjoyed the main mystery plotline; Josephine's painting, and how it interconnected with the Tulley family.
full review soon? maybe
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
Besides the unnecessary love triangle, awful romance, and how annoying fmc was, I really enjoyed the main mystery plotline; Josephine's painting, and how it interconnected with the Tulley family.
full review soon? maybe
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
February 11, 2024
yvonne calling abbey a cow was the best part of this book
February 19, 2024
DNF. This book actually made my skin crawl, F-boys, horny teenagers, cheating boyfriends and lusting over your the boyfriend of someone in your friend group. Nope, you can have it.
February 27, 2024
girl abroad? more like hoe abroad
Currently reading
September 27, 2024#Currently reading ⋆࿐໋⋆｡ﾟ
March 1, 2024
2.5
whew the stereotypes were overdone in this one
how are u gonna write a romance set in London with FOUR different love interests (way too many, may i add) and then have the audacity to have her end up with a god damn Australian ?????
i want my money back !!!! 🤣😭
whew the stereotypes were overdone in this one
how are u gonna write a romance set in London with FOUR different love interests (way too many, may i add) and then have the audacity to have her end up with a god damn Australian ?????
i want my money back !!!! 🤣😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2024
4.5-5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 27, 2024
3 ˖⁺‧✮
“Where he goes, my heart will always follow
imagine london boy by ts is playing as you read.
i think i mentioned this million times, but i hate love triangle trope just choose one. why making yourself and others struggle?
`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
characters
both male characters had something that pulled me into their team, and each time they were mentioned i had to change who i was rooting for. but to the end of the book i did got to choose my favorite. he’s a guy, Abby, choose. abbey (abby) throughout the book made weird decisions, that i don’t think people would make in real life. putting herself in the love triangle was crazy idea in first place. on the other side, all characters had at least one super weird dialogues with each other.
`✦ �� ִֶ 𓂃⊹
this book felt so 2000s movie coded. all males roommates, london boy and american girl, college, history, drama, adventure. just everything you’d want from a movie/book.
`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
abbey’s project added sooo much to this book. i definitely wasn’t expecting mystery to be part of the plot and elle kennedy being such an interesting author in this genre.
`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
would i recommend? 💫 if you love or okay with “love triangle” than yes. if you want to start reading and don’t know where to start. start with “Girl Abroad” this is a great option, it has everything a young adult book needs to have (in my opinion!)
OR if you want a little ya romance with a bit of mystery.💓
“Where he goes, my heart will always follow
imagine london boy by ts is playing as you read.
i think i mentioned this million times, but i hate love triangle trope just choose one. why making yourself and others struggle?
`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
characters
both male characters had something that pulled me into their team, and each time they were mentioned i had to change who i was rooting for. but to the end of the book i did got to choose my favorite. he’s a guy, Abby, choose. abbey (abby) throughout the book made weird decisions, that i don’t think people would make in real life. putting herself in the love triangle was crazy idea in first place. on the other side, all characters had at least one super weird dialogues with each other.
`✦ �� ִֶ 𓂃⊹
this book felt so 2000s movie coded. all males roommates, london boy and american girl, college, history, drama, adventure. just everything you’d want from a movie/book.
`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
abbey’s project added sooo much to this book. i definitely wasn’t expecting mystery to be part of the plot and elle kennedy being such an interesting author in this genre.
`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹
would i recommend? 💫 if you love or okay with “love triangle” than yes. if you want to start reading and don’t know where to start. start with “Girl Abroad” this is a great option, it has everything a young adult book needs to have (in my opinion!)
OR if you want a little ya romance with a bit of mystery.💓
April 7, 2024
What was so fun about this book is the merging of several unique genres including romance, friendship fiction, mystery and women’s fiction but all within the umbrella of New Adult. After all, at its core, this is a coming of age story about a young woman navigating her way through the world with newfound independence.
While love triangles are, admittedly, not my favorite trope, I had a clear preference in this one and as a result, that preference gave me a rooting interest. At a certain point I was racing to the end, desperate to know what would become of our MCs. I felt so personally invested in my favorite pairing and would not accept any other resolution. Thankfully things worked out as I had hoped.
With strong themes of friendship, a steamy romance scene or two (okay maybe more 😉) and that feeling of fresh adulthood and all the wonderful experiences that go along with that, Elle Kennedy has the perfect recipe for a fun new romance series. I do not know if this is set to be a series, but boy do I sure hope it is.
Read if you like:
•coming of age stories
•UK setting
•love triangles
•strong friendships
•underlying mysteries
Thank you Bloom Books and GetRedPR for the gifted copies.
While love triangles are, admittedly, not my favorite trope, I had a clear preference in this one and as a result, that preference gave me a rooting interest. At a certain point I was racing to the end, desperate to know what would become of our MCs. I felt so personally invested in my favorite pairing and would not accept any other resolution. Thankfully things worked out as I had hoped.
With strong themes of friendship, a steamy romance scene or two (okay maybe more 😉) and that feeling of fresh adulthood and all the wonderful experiences that go along with that, Elle Kennedy has the perfect recipe for a fun new romance series. I do not know if this is set to be a series, but boy do I sure hope it is.
Read if you like:
•coming of age stories
•UK setting
•love triangles
•strong friendships
•underlying mysteries
Thank you Bloom Books and GetRedPR for the gifted copies.
March 25, 2024
2,75 stars
i was hoping it would be like off campus.her going from guy to guy made me uncomfortable while reading it.so that’s why the spice didn’t really get me but the writing was enjoyable
i was hoping it would be like off campus.her going from guy to guy made me uncomfortable while reading it.so that’s why the spice didn’t really get me but the writing was enjoyable
February 18, 2024
I honestly don’t know what to think of this. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle trope and how Abbey kept going back and forth she was just so indecisive. I felt like the other characters were just bland and slightly immature. I enjoyed the side plot of trying to piece together the mystery of the painting. Overall not my favourite Elle Kennedy book but I’m glad I gave it a go and I can’t wait to read another book of hers.
UK setting ✅
Love triangle ✅
Forced proximity ✅
Friendships ✅
Historical mystery ✅
Studying abroad ✅
UK setting ✅
Love triangle ✅
Forced proximity ✅
Friendships ✅
Historical mystery ✅
Studying abroad ✅
August 9, 2024
i thoroughly enjoyed this wild adventure.
i’m so glad hugh and mr. baxley end up together. 😌
i’m so glad hugh and mr. baxley end up together. 😌
June 1, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for providing me with an eARC of this book!
This was... not my favorite read. I was looking forward to reading a romance after a very heavy month of fantasy books. But I actually found this book quite difficult to motivate myself to get through.
Girl Abroad is about an American, Abbey, moving to London for a year for her studies. That should be right up my alley as I myself am an American named Abby who moved to London, first for my studies and now permanently. I was predisposed to like this book. And yet, it fell quite flat.
The two main plots of the story revolve around Abbey being caught in a love triangle, and Abbey working to solve a historical mystery. Will Abbey end up with Nate or Jack? Will Abbey solve the mystery? Unfortunately, I did not really care.
I could not tell you what Abbey's personality was other than likes libraries/history, is trying to step out from under the shadow of her famous father whilst simultaneously referencing him all the time, and is in a love triangle. I did not really buy that this character would end up in this situation. Jamie, one of her housemates, at one point tells her "You're a cool bird... Thought you were sort of meek when you first showed up... But you're good fun. You've got banter." I felt like this came out of nowhere as she had not done much of anything up to this point to demonstrate any level of personality, let alone having banter. I feel like the following quote sums her up and also illustrates my frustration:
Another issue I had was the use of language throughout the book. Honestly, it feels like proper research was not done about English terminology. Students at an English university are referred to as being in their 'senior year', when that is not a term they would use (it would be third/fourth year/final year). Abbey has a 'spring break' when this is typically referred to as 'Easter holidays'. Also at one point a character says they want to "smash [Abbey's] back out" and she somehow has no idea what that means even though "smashing" is very much part of American slang. And the New Zealand All Blacks are at one point referred to as the 'All Backs' which was either a spelling error or just poor attention to detail. All of the little things like that would take me out of the story and really bother me.
It was not just Abbey that did not feel fleshed out though. The other characters did not seem to have much depth beyond the specific traits they were given. Jack is shirtless and Australian. Jamie is a playboy and rich. Nate is broody and a musician. And Lee is... gay. That was his only personality trait. He honestly felt like a stereotype of a gay best friend character from the early 2000s. He goes through multiple men, loves fashion and makeovers, and is always there when Abbey needs him. Lee very much did not hit the mark for me.
Because none of the characters, including the two love interests and the MC, felt like real people, I did not care about the love triangle. I did not really see much of a difference in the two men other than their aesthetics, and certainly did not see what they saw in Abbey.
Finally, the other plot about the historical mystery also did not really interest me. Abbey is constantly making leaps of logic and somehow is always right. She spends loads of time in the library so I guess that means we should trust her gut? The most enjoyable moment of the book was the resolution to this plot though. I was genuinely a bit surprised and enjoyed the revelation. But the rest of it was pretty boring.
I wanted to enjoy this book. I was excited to read it. And I am sad that I did not like it. But there were just too many things that distracted, bothered, or failed to interest me.
This was... not my favorite read. I was looking forward to reading a romance after a very heavy month of fantasy books. But I actually found this book quite difficult to motivate myself to get through.
Girl Abroad is about an American, Abbey, moving to London for a year for her studies. That should be right up my alley as I myself am an American named Abby who moved to London, first for my studies and now permanently. I was predisposed to like this book. And yet, it fell quite flat.
The two main plots of the story revolve around Abbey being caught in a love triangle, and Abbey working to solve a historical mystery. Will Abbey end up with Nate or Jack? Will Abbey solve the mystery? Unfortunately, I did not really care.
I could not tell you what Abbey's personality was other than likes libraries/history, is trying to step out from under the shadow of her famous father whilst simultaneously referencing him all the time, and is in a love triangle. I did not really buy that this character would end up in this situation. Jamie, one of her housemates, at one point tells her "You're a cool bird... Thought you were sort of meek when you first showed up... But you're good fun. You've got banter." I felt like this came out of nowhere as she had not done much of anything up to this point to demonstrate any level of personality, let alone having banter. I feel like the following quote sums her up and also illustrates my frustration:
Everything about me feels average. Average weight, height, boob size, face. My best feature is probably my hair - it's long and thick, a dark shade of red that Eliza always says reminds her of autumn at night. I guess I don't mind my lips either. They're naturally red and fuller than most.
But I'm not a supermodel. I shouldn't have lords trying to kiss me. I shouldn't have [name] constantly aching for me. Hot [name] kissing me left and right.
Another issue I had was the use of language throughout the book. Honestly, it feels like proper research was not done about English terminology. Students at an English university are referred to as being in their 'senior year', when that is not a term they would use (it would be third/fourth year/final year). Abbey has a 'spring break' when this is typically referred to as 'Easter holidays'. Also at one point a character says they want to "smash [Abbey's] back out" and she somehow has no idea what that means even though "smashing" is very much part of American slang. And the New Zealand All Blacks are at one point referred to as the 'All Backs' which was either a spelling error or just poor attention to detail. All of the little things like that would take me out of the story and really bother me.
It was not just Abbey that did not feel fleshed out though. The other characters did not seem to have much depth beyond the specific traits they were given. Jack is shirtless and Australian. Jamie is a playboy and rich. Nate is broody and a musician. And Lee is... gay. That was his only personality trait. He honestly felt like a stereotype of a gay best friend character from the early 2000s. He goes through multiple men, loves fashion and makeovers, and is always there when Abbey needs him. Lee very much did not hit the mark for me.
Because none of the characters, including the two love interests and the MC, felt like real people, I did not care about the love triangle. I did not really see much of a difference in the two men other than their aesthetics, and certainly did not see what they saw in Abbey.
Finally, the other plot about the historical mystery also did not really interest me. Abbey is constantly making leaps of logic and somehow is always right. She spends loads of time in the library so I guess that means we should trust her gut? The most enjoyable moment of the book was the resolution to this plot though. I was genuinely a bit surprised and enjoyed the revelation. But the rest of it was pretty boring.
I wanted to enjoy this book. I was excited to read it. And I am sad that I did not like it. But there were just too many things that distracted, bothered, or failed to interest me.
April 11, 2024
“Yup. I’m dead. He’s killed me and my vagina.”
My sentiments exactly! Honestly I lost interest as soon as I realized this was not going to be a salacious ménage romance but rather a boring love triangle.
I couldn’t care less about this girl and her love woes. The only thing that kept me going was the mystery aspect of the story. That and the narrator did a wonderful job.
Story : 3.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
PS: what is it about this boring a$$ girl that has all these men swooning over her? 🤦🏾♀️
My sentiments exactly! Honestly I lost interest as soon as I realized this was not going to be a salacious ménage romance but rather a boring love triangle.
I couldn’t care less about this girl and her love woes. The only thing that kept me going was the mystery aspect of the story. That and the narrator did a wonderful job.
Story : 3.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
PS: what is it about this boring a$$ girl that has all these men swooning over her? 🤦🏾♀️
March 17, 2024
4⭐️
As a British girly I CLAIM this book because the representation made my heart sing 👏🏻 Sure there were too many luvs, mates and bloke was definitely used in the wrong context more than once, but considering how hard it is for a non UK author to get it right, I’m not going to be too picky as Elle Kennedy did a pretty good job. To include ‘you alright?’ ‘Right, you lot’, bollocks and twat 🤣🤣🤣 it’s a gold ⭐️ from me.
This book is not without its problems, for the most part it’s SLOW, probably because the story takes place across 6 months so I did find it difficult to get into. I liked Abbey, but I didn’t like her enough to understand why at one point 4 men were interested in her 🤣🤣 one being of nobility.
But the rest of it… mate 😂😂😂😂 I’ve never been a vibes girly but I AM IMPRESSED. I felt so nostalgic reading this? Thrown back to my own uni days. And the characters 😩😩😩
Every single one felt distinct and fleshed out. They all spoke differently, had their own agendas, likes, wants etc. And the banter ???? Tbf I shouldn’t expect anything less from EK. It’s default at this point for her books to make me laugh. Her characters always feel real and bring a smile to my face.
I also did NOT see a big plot point coming towards the end! The way I gasped 🤣 and immediately sent a voice note to a friend who’d read the book.
Really enjoyed!!!
As a British girly I CLAIM this book because the representation made my heart sing 👏🏻 Sure there were too many luvs, mates and bloke was definitely used in the wrong context more than once, but considering how hard it is for a non UK author to get it right, I’m not going to be too picky as Elle Kennedy did a pretty good job. To include ‘you alright?’ ‘Right, you lot’, bollocks and twat 🤣🤣🤣 it’s a gold ⭐️ from me.
This book is not without its problems, for the most part it’s SLOW, probably because the story takes place across 6 months so I did find it difficult to get into. I liked Abbey, but I didn’t like her enough to understand why at one point 4 men were interested in her 🤣🤣 one being of nobility.
But the rest of it… mate 😂😂😂😂 I’ve never been a vibes girly but I AM IMPRESSED. I felt so nostalgic reading this? Thrown back to my own uni days. And the characters 😩😩😩
Every single one felt distinct and fleshed out. They all spoke differently, had their own agendas, likes, wants etc. And the banter ???? Tbf I shouldn’t expect anything less from EK. It’s default at this point for her books to make me laugh. Her characters always feel real and bring a smile to my face.
I also did NOT see a big plot point coming towards the end! The way I gasped 🤣 and immediately sent a voice note to a friend who’d read the book.
Really enjoyed!!!
August 1, 2024
This book, without a doubt, is my current number one favorite book from this year. It was absolutely incredible. There was not a single part of this book I did not enjoy reading. There was no page I wasn’t eager to turn, no chapter I wasn’t excited to read. I was enraptured by every single page, from the very first one to the 425th one. That isn’t even an exaggeration. I legit had no idea who Abbey would choose as her lover. We got down to the last 10 pages and Abbey still hadn’t chosen one and girl I was stressing. And just like Abbey, I had no idea who I wanted her to pick!! I was very happy with her choice in the end though 😌 I would LOVE to see a second book following the other love interest though and see him have a happy ending. Every single character in this book was delightful. The banter was witty. There was a little bit of spice in this book, like 2 or 3 chapters that had a few pages of spice but was pretty tame. I especially loved the historical mystery that Abbey solved. This entire story was incredible. Elle Kennedy can do no wrong. Please, please, please do yourself a favor and read this book!!! 10/10
April 29, 2024
DNF at 54%
Preparem-se para esta review mega revoltada
Este livro está só confuso e all over the place. Nem vou comentar na bendita da FMC Abbey que é só uma triste com mommy e daddy issues. A mana não tem noção, está apaixonada por dois rapazes. Okay, tudo certo, podia dar para um triângulo amoroso. Mas nem faz sentido. Está apaixonada pelo colega de casa que é o fruto proibido (se bem que ela chegou a casa dos gajos e se apaixonou logo só de ver a cara dele, na verdade ficou logo toda horny por todos). Depois o outro rapaz do triângulo é o namorado da amiga dela, girl code where? Ela é um pãozinho sem sal. A história em si nem tem nexo nenhum, ou fazias o romance ou fazias todo o mistério à volta da pintura que nem se percebe de onde vem. Enfim.
Esta girl foi mesmo abroad, mas foi da cabeça dela. Está só a ser parva. Cada vez que ela aparecia eu revirava os olhos e, sendo que ela é a personagem principal, conseguem entender porque é que não estava a funcionar... enfim...
Sinto que a Elle Kennedy só tem piorado na sua escrita, a fama de Off Campus subiu-lhe à cabeça e deixou de saber escrever. Estou a ser mega critica e tenho noção, adoro off campus e vou continuar a recomendar, mas agora este livro? Nem parece escrito pela mesma pessoa. Personagens sem sal e história sem nexo. Não recomendo, de todo.
Preparem-se para esta review mega revoltada
Este livro está só confuso e all over the place. Nem vou comentar na bendita da FMC Abbey que é só uma triste com mommy e daddy issues. A mana não tem noção, está apaixonada por dois rapazes. Okay, tudo certo, podia dar para um triângulo amoroso. Mas nem faz sentido. Está apaixonada pelo colega de casa que é o fruto proibido (se bem que ela chegou a casa dos gajos e se apaixonou logo só de ver a cara dele, na verdade ficou logo toda horny por todos). Depois o outro rapaz do triângulo é o namorado da amiga dela, girl code where? Ela é um pãozinho sem sal. A história em si nem tem nexo nenhum, ou fazias o romance ou fazias todo o mistério à volta da pintura que nem se percebe de onde vem. Enfim.
Esta girl foi mesmo abroad, mas foi da cabeça dela. Está só a ser parva. Cada vez que ela aparecia eu revirava os olhos e, sendo que ela é a personagem principal, conseguem entender porque é que não estava a funcionar... enfim...
Sinto que a Elle Kennedy só tem piorado na sua escrita, a fama de Off Campus subiu-lhe à cabeça e deixou de saber escrever. Estou a ser mega critica e tenho noção, adoro off campus e vou continuar a recomendar, mas agora este livro? Nem parece escrito pela mesma pessoa. Personagens sem sal e história sem nexo. Não recomendo, de todo.
January 20, 2024
Abby has grown up in the shadow of her famous father, now she’s ready to have her own adventures for the next year at a university in London. Her trip starts off rocky when she discovers she didn’t book an apartment with three other female roommates, but rather three guys.
This story was such a great read, Abby truly grew so much within these pages. Great character development!! I would definitely recommend this as a new adult romance read, if that’s the mood you’re in.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
This story was such a great read, Abby truly grew so much within these pages. Great character development!! I would definitely recommend this as a new adult romance read, if that’s the mood you’re in.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
March 7, 2024
“it’s okay to love them both. i did.” - katherine pierce
iykyk. that is the only quote i thought of this entire book
iykyk. that is the only quote i thought of this entire book
March 26, 2024
i don't know how i feel about this book.
more than half of the book is just about a painting Abbey bought at an estate sale, and decides to use the history as a college class project. so, that means a majority of the first 2/3 of the book are just about the history of the painting, blah blah blah...
the two main love interests are, Jack (one of her roommates) and Nate (a 'broody' musician). the fmc, Abbey, moves to London for college for a year. she was in her dad's shadow all the time, since her dad's a musician.
her dad's overbearing, and protective. Abbey thought she was rooming with girls, but she ends up rooming with 3 other boys. she loves the neighborhood shes in, so decides to lie to her dad and not tell him her roommates are boys. wow, she can rebell at 19...
i didn't really want to continue reading this book. half of it was like i said earlier, is about the painting and the history.
this story is only told in Abbey's POV which makes it harder to really perceive Nate and Jack's feelings toward Abbey. you only get indications if Jack or Nate directly tells them how they feel about her.
besides all of that, the actual romance was not bad. i didn't necessarily like that Nate was dating Yvonne and told Abbey he wasn't in love with her but kept dating her. he should have told Yvonne the minute he knew that, because she was deeply invested in their relationship, which you find out later on.
Abbey and Lee's friendship truly warms my heart. the way Lee has been there for her since day one, being nice to her, introducing her to her other roommates and his twin sister. Lee was one of the side characters that was mentioned the most, along with Ben and Sophie.
about Ben, i really did think he was just friendly but uh no, sir was not...
Jamie, one of Abbey's roommates, was not mentioned a lot in this book. Jamie had a mysterious vibe, and hopefully there's a book this author has wrote about his story because i really do want to know more about him.
i recommend this book to anyone who wants a good love triangle along with a mystery.
Quotes:
""You look nice," I tell him. "Do you have a date or something?"
"Nope. Just wanted to look pretty for you, darling."
"Stop flirting with me. I'm busy.""
"That's my girl."
"I'm jealous, all right?" Jack suddenly says, his features straining. He sounds tortured. "The idea of him touching you...fucking you...it's making me bloody mental.""
"Nate: I hate this. I miss talking to you. I miss everything about you."
"Jack: So that's it, we're going to keep tiptoeing around each other like this?
Me: I'm not tiptoeing. I'm just living my life.
Jack: Living your life avoiding me.
Jack: I get it. I deserve it.
Me: Don't put this on me. You're the one who's up every morning before everyone and out the door, then back after everyone's gone to bed or secluding yourself in your room.
Jack: Really. So if I tried to talk to you at home or sit with you, you'd allow it?
Me: Wouldn't you have to email my father first and ask if he'd allow it?
Me: What, no response?
Me: That's what I thought, Jack."
more than half of the book is just about a painting Abbey bought at an estate sale, and decides to use the history as a college class project. so, that means a majority of the first 2/3 of the book are just about the history of the painting, blah blah blah...
the two main love interests are, Jack (one of her roommates) and Nate (a 'broody' musician). the fmc, Abbey, moves to London for college for a year. she was in her dad's shadow all the time, since her dad's a musician.
her dad's overbearing, and protective. Abbey thought she was rooming with girls, but she ends up rooming with 3 other boys. she loves the neighborhood shes in, so decides to lie to her dad and not tell him her roommates are boys. wow, she can rebell at 19...
i didn't really want to continue reading this book. half of it was like i said earlier, is about the painting and the history.
this story is only told in Abbey's POV which makes it harder to really perceive Nate and Jack's feelings toward Abbey. you only get indications if Jack or Nate directly tells them how they feel about her.
besides all of that, the actual romance was not bad. i didn't necessarily like that Nate was dating Yvonne and told Abbey he wasn't in love with her but kept dating her. he should have told Yvonne the minute he knew that, because she was deeply invested in their relationship, which you find out later on.
Abbey and Lee's friendship truly warms my heart. the way Lee has been there for her since day one, being nice to her, introducing her to her other roommates and his twin sister. Lee was one of the side characters that was mentioned the most, along with Ben and Sophie.
about Ben, i really did think he was just friendly but uh no, sir was not...
Jamie, one of Abbey's roommates, was not mentioned a lot in this book. Jamie had a mysterious vibe, and hopefully there's a book this author has wrote about his story because i really do want to know more about him.
i recommend this book to anyone who wants a good love triangle along with a mystery.
Quotes:
""You look nice," I tell him. "Do you have a date or something?"
"Nope. Just wanted to look pretty for you, darling."
"Stop flirting with me. I'm busy.""
"That's my girl."
"I'm jealous, all right?" Jack suddenly says, his features straining. He sounds tortured. "The idea of him touching you...fucking you...it's making me bloody mental.""
"Nate: I hate this. I miss talking to you. I miss everything about you."
"Jack: So that's it, we're going to keep tiptoeing around each other like this?
Me: I'm not tiptoeing. I'm just living my life.
Jack: Living your life avoiding me.
Jack: I get it. I deserve it.
Me: Don't put this on me. You're the one who's up every morning before everyone and out the door, then back after everyone's gone to bed or secluding yourself in your room.
Jack: Really. So if I tried to talk to you at home or sit with you, you'd allow it?
Me: Wouldn't you have to email my father first and ask if he'd allow it?
Me: What, no response?
Me: That's what I thought, Jack."
February 16, 2024
so much fun !!! i loved the uni vibe and abbey + the boys together, i was giggling at all the uk references.
so obviously this was love triangle (which i have never read before surprisingly) however i was pleasantly surprised! i really liked both jack and nate, but i’m happy she ended up with who she did (no spoilies !!)
i enjoyed the mystery for her research paper, it added something unique to the plot! also shoutout to lee and jamie, funniest housemates ever, it was giving the chase (briar u) and i was obsessed
only reason it wasn’t 5⭐️ was because i felt it was slightly rushed at the end, i needed a longer epilogue :(
overall, hilarious and cute! elle kennedy never misses xx
so obviously this was love triangle (which i have never read before surprisingly) however i was pleasantly surprised! i really liked both jack and nate, but i’m happy she ended up with who she did (no spoilies !!)
i enjoyed the mystery for her research paper, it added something unique to the plot! also shoutout to lee and jamie, funniest housemates ever, it was giving the chase (briar u) and i was obsessed
only reason it wasn’t 5⭐️ was because i felt it was slightly rushed at the end, i needed a longer epilogue :(
overall, hilarious and cute! elle kennedy never misses xx
July 14, 2024
4.5⭐️ I ate this up. Like truly. The mystery aspect and the high society London sprinkled in with a love triangle that really was hard to choose between like girl I felt you (but also I knew who she would end up with the whole time and as she should) I might be kinda picky but I don’t know the last time a romance book had me this much on the edge of my seat + giggling and kicking my feet like omg thank u Elle Kennedy
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September 25, 2024
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