Member Reviews
I ran out of time to read this due to real life stuff just being a bit too much at the moment. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this, I will try to see if I can still read it but I think it expired on my Kobo e-reader device. Epubs have an expiration date. This is really a blank star rating because I did not get to read this in time.
I enjoy this type of book where two people who are total opposites become attracted to each other over the course of the book. I really liked the character of Sara but did not like Teo. He had few redeeming qualities so I struggled with their relationship. However, this is a short book so is easy to read in an afternoon. Better than watching reruns on TV!
I received a copy of Not My Type via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a cute hate to love romance. I love the hate to love trope and that is all I needed to want to read this book. And I did love that part of the story line. Unfortunately this also has a teacher/student relationship and I am not am fan of that type of romance. I know the title is "Not My Type," but I also did not expect Teo to be so adamant about how he doesn't like the way Sara looks. It was pretty harsh, especially at the beginning.
Not My Type is a cute, quick romance if you enjoy hate-to-love and teacher/student romances.
3.5 out of 5 Stars
This book opens, as many romance novels do, at a wedding. Teo is railing against the fact that his friend and former wingman, the one who racked up as many notches as Teo himself on their proverbial bedposts, is getting married. Teo doesn't understand it to begin with and, even worse, he keeps getting berated by the bride's sister, Sara. He immediately dismisses her as not his kind of woman and therefore not worth worrying over. They exchange insults and he goes on his merry way. Except that his merry way is suddenly roadblocked. The previously spoiled son of an Italian media mogul, Teo is now expected to... work. And he has to start by getting a degree. Too bad the class he's signed up for is the one Sara teaches. The two continue to knock heads until he offers a trade. She helps him pass her class and he will help her nab the professor she has her matrimonial eyes set on.
The premise of this book is fantastic and enemies to lovers is one of my catnips. I honestly can't tell if this book is really this choppy or if it is a problem with the translation (I tend toward the latter.) It seems like this was translated word for word rather than trying to capture the nuance of the story,. without trying to create any flow, and without any regard to social norms. Teo several times calls Sara ugly. Just straight up which is pretty shocking in a romance, even in a book that is women's fiction. His character starts as a spoiled brat and doesn't really grow that much.
Three stars
This book comes out November 21st
ARC kindly provided by Aria and NetGalley
Opinions are my own
Teo and Sara have only one thing in common, they both hate weddings, unfortunately for them, they're both currently stuck at one. Teo can't imagine why his best friend would want to do something as crazy as chain himself to one woman for the rest of his life. Sara's only still at this awful event because it's her sister who's the bride. After a less than pleasant meeting, they find themselves making the best of an uncomfortable situation and sneak out together. Sara is not Teo's type at all, and she can't stand his ego. A few months later Teo is a student in Sara's class and plans to seduce her so he can pass without any real work. What he doesn't plan on is her stubbornness or falling for her.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, I love a good enemies to lovers and this one just slightly missed the mark for me. I understand that this story was translated and some things can get lost or just don't translate, so that could be part of the issue. Teo was obnoxious and rude, sometimes too much so, but I did see the subtle shift where he was falling for Sara. I liked that Sara stood up for herself and didn't really let his words bother her. Overall it was ok, not awful but not great.
Thank you Netgalley and Aria for this ARC. It was my first Anna Zarlenga book and I must say that I loved this one. The main characters and the bad air between them at the begining was pure entertainment. I had fun reading their story but I can't say that I liked the male protagonist very much but his transformation throughout the book to the moment he realised that he was in love with a girl who actually doesn't seem like his type is something that I enjoyed very much.
A must read for a fan of rom cause it was hillarious as well as romantic. I liked it a lot.
Happy readding!
I read 20% and had to put it down as Teo was dreadful and every portion from his view point was dreadful and the ideas of this as an enemies to lovers novel is awful. Why would they want to be together when he is so awful to everyone even those who he supposedly like? This needs serious editing to be considered a romance novel as it is so far from it.
The only thing That made me dislike this book, was the fact That teo and sara have no Chemistry whatsoever. The two main characters could be likable… the storyline is not bad, but even thought they start falling in love at some point, I saw no reason for it to happen…
DNF at 7%.
Sorry, the writing style is so strained I can't bear to read any longer. I don't know whether this is a translation from the original Italian or an Italian writing in English but either way the characters seem like caricatures, see:
'Why be bored when you can get laid," that's my motto. I wonder if this Sara is easy enough to just give it up on the spot, or if I'll have to subject her to my charm for half an hour? I wouldn't usually have to waste more than ten minutes, but you have to account for circumstances.
So far the male lead, Teo, speaks in misogynist cliches like this all the time, it's like he's a feral animal that has never been to a wedding before.
Anyway, it's a terrible thing to DNF at 7% but I can't see myself wading through any more of this.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Pleasant read for a contemporary genre, I must say! I was a bit sceptical when reading this because man, the lines could be so cringe-worthy at times. I guess, if I were 16 years old girl — I might have different feeling on this.
This novel is simple in terms of language construction and plot structure. Of course we can guess the ending but I like the way Sara did not retained in the shape of weak-women. However, I wish there would be more attention given to the Teo characterization because at one point it radiates the vibe that the author just want to make he appears as bad as it could.
I like Sara a lot. I mean, she is matured and know exactly what she wants (well except what her heart wants lol). There are not that much novels centralize on successful women, but this one just da bomb and Semiotic moreover :) As someone who reads Linguistics, I am flattered.
3.5 ⭐️
Teo, 32, is your typical entitled playboy, son of a famous film producer and Sara, 30, is an educated, witty Communications professor. These two meet at his best friend’s and her sister’s wedding, polar opposites from the get-go, declaring their mutual hatred for marriage. But, three months later, when Teo is forced back into finishing university and is enrolled in Sara’s class, he’s convinced he’ll make her fall for him in exchange for a passing mark. But, does everything go according to Teo’s plan? Or is Sara too sharp with her instincts that there’s just no fooling her?
Though predictable and a little irritating (Teo was so infuriating sometimes), it was still an entertaining read. I’m always all in for an enemies to lovers story and a good HEA (regardless of how cheesy it is)! Plus, I caught a whiff of She’s All That, and it’s one of my favorite romcoms. So if you like movies like She’s All That, then you’ll probably like this one.
This was a fun book to read but I was confused as to why in Naples when it felt very British oriented. I was glad that Sara got what she wanted and deserved but to do constantly say she was ugly because she was chubby is not okay.
This was just no fun. The hero, Teo, is immature and just plain mean and sexist. He first sees Sara at a wedding and immediately decides that she’s too fat and plain for him to hook up with. And so he tells her so. Right there I was ready to stop reading.
He’s also the son of a wealthy businessman and he’s been coasting at work since he’s Daddy’s boy. When his dad forces him to take business classes and he finds Sara is his professor, he’s rude and insulting to her once again. So why would Sara ever fall for this guy? I didn’t buy his transformation. He started out as the mean boy from some high school movie even though he’s supposed to be 30 years old. I just never bought his transformation.
If I hadn’t committed to reviewing the book, I wouldn’t have kept reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
I'm an absolute sucker for an enemies to lover trope and was so excited when I saw this book.
However I struggled to get past the writing style and Teo's personality. I understand he is meant to be a jerk but I just really didn't like him and the comments he made at the very beginning of the book. It sadly just put me off.
I had to dnf this book quite early on. It just really wasnt for me.
I love an enemies to lovers story. I also really enjoy a first person POV with a strong voice. This one a absolutely bad a strong voice in just the opening few pages that had me chuckling. However, I really dislike the use of exclamation points within a LOT of the dialogue. I know it’s trivial but it really bothers me.
Further, Teo’s inner dialogue really bugged me. He makes multiple offside comments about women’s appearances in just the opening few pages. I know his character is supposed to be a bit of a jerk at first, but it really rubbed me the wrong way which led to me DNFing straight away.
I do hope others will enjoy, but it just wasn’t for me. I can’t get past super chauvinistic hero’s.
This was a dnf. I thought the writing style was good and I like the enemies to lovers trope but I just could not get past Teo. I usually love alternating pov’s because I enjoy getting a feel for both characters and understanding where their heads and hearts lie. All Teo’s pov did was show me how completely unlikable he was and not in a “I can see how he will grow and change by the end” kind of way. Such a shallow, narcissistic , sexist (borderline misogynistic imo) character. I tried but there was no way I could see him as the right choice for Sara or any woman.
Some people might enjoy the book but it just wasn’t for me,
2.5 stars
Opposite attracts right? It was never as true as with this book. Teo and Sara couldn't be more different. And I really love this trope. Two enemies hating each other and thinking they are in no danger in falling in love. It didn't work for me in this book. The main reason is Teo. He is an entitled and superficial asshole. He's lazy, he's a playboy, he's good for nothing. And the worse? He looks down Sara nose so much. I REALLY don't have a problem when guys are assholes in books but Teo is just next level.. He actually thinks she is ugly and there is nothing attractive about her and that is such a turn off in a romance book.
The only reason I don't one star this book is for Sarah. I really liked her! She's a strong, smart and confident woman who (mostly) knows what she wants. I liked it that she stood her ground with Teo even though he repetitively tells her how unattractive she is (such a charmer, isn't he?) Here just some of his unpleasant thoughts about Sara:
"The girl has become quite red, which makes her appearance even more unpleasant."
"Probably because she knows she's got no chance and that no-one will ever marry her. That's usually how it works with ugly woman."
"And then he leaves. Leaves me alone with a woman that no-one would touch if she had a bag on her head."
"You are objectively unattractive. And just as a objectively you don't look after your appearance. You'd be completely at odds with someone like me."
Big YUCK. What a way to describe the love of your life. The men in this book were absolutely disgusting. Teo obviously, but Silvio his best friends too, who told himself that he fell with his wife first because of her beauty. Wow these men know how to talk. *swoon* The Professor (I can't even remember his name because he's not worth it) who Sara has a crush on at the beginning is not better. He's as much of a prick like the rest of them.
I added half a star because Teo does get better at the end. With Sara. With his job and with himself. I still really dislike him, but there is a bit of character development.
A short and fun read - a case of opposites attract.
She is a lecturer at the university, whereas he never seems to have worked, just taking it easy at his Father's company. When he needs her help, he decides to make her fall for him, but will they both end up getting hurt?
I am still not entirely sure I liked the character of Teo, but he did redeem himself in the end