Strong Enough

by David Romanov and Melanie Harlow

[lessthelonely]

2.5/5 stars.

This review 'bout to be a sexual health PSA.

So, I finished this book, which lents it at least some credibility. But I'm going to be honest and admit I finished this book solely because I could - in the sense that I have been reading book after book at relatively high speeds, and I simply used that momentum to finish this one.

There are some incredibly glaring problems with this - and since the problem comes from the beginning of the book, what comes after is simply an accumulation of its start. This is very mush an insta-lust, insta-love moment. I don't like any of those tropes, but I understand their purpose - for example, if we're talking about a "porn-without-plot" type beat, I insta-lust and insta-love have a purpose, if you know what I mean.

I did enjoy the characters somewhat. There weren't very few and that's actually what I would consider one of this book's strongsuits. No unnecessary characters, a very small friend group that feels realistic. However, characterization goes a little out of the windows for what I would consider the main character here, which would be Derek.

Derek seems to lack self-awareness for most of the book, and the truth is by the time he realizes he's being a child throwing a tantrum, it feels entirely out of left field. The book lacked communication and any sort of narrative hook for me: it was just sex scene after sex scene. Not only did it feel like it came way too fast, it also, for the first time, made me realize just how unrealistic romance books can be in their portrayal of Achillean sexual relationships.

Like, this might surprise you, but the idea that men can carry on with sexy time after sexy time without being tired is one thing, and one I can even appreciate when I'm incredibly invested in the story. The problem is, usually, after a guy reaches a climax, they definitely aren't going to be horny anymore. It's kind of how it works, to be honest. Now, how can they still want to basically have sex if two partners don't climax at the same time (which is what's realistic, after all)? Well, because they like the other person, and want them to climax as well.

This book seems to throw this little very important detail out of the window - they are horny, they climax and they want to keep going at it. At some point, I must admit I read the sex scenes and I wasn't feeling anything - I just wanted to finish the book... which is a bad thing.

I also found the two characters' POVs to be incredibly similar, outside of superficial differences. The writing was actually good in its descriptions and dialogue, but outside of that, it felt a little samey at times.

So, I don't think I can say I enjoyed this book. I simply finished it. Do with that what you will.