One Real Man (Real Men)

by Coleen Kwan

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I really don't know what happened to me and this series. I adored the first book, but I haven't connected with any of them since then! I was eager to get Paige's story in One Real Man, since she was just awful in Real Men Don't Break Hearts, and it sounded like she's gone through some big changes. While I did enjoy seeing Paige's transformation from snobby girl who uses people to a more independent, compassionate person, I couldn't stand Owen! I was hoping for a great revenge-to-romance story, but I never believed that transition from Owen exacting revenge on Paige for their teen years to actually caring for her.

One Real Man did start off quite great. Paige returns home after a messy divorce and scandal, only to be faced with Owen who is renting her home! She has no idea where her parents are, or why they've leased the home to their former poolboy, but she has no where else to go. Owen takes this as an opportunity to knock Paige down a few notches and humiliate her by hiring as the new housekeeper. Well, Paige knows exactly what he's trying to do, and she's not going to let him! She's going to prove her self as competent, while putting her life back together. And I liked how eventually she started doing things to prove to herself that she can do it, rather than to get under Owen's skin.

Unfortunately, Owen ruined this whole book for me. He's just mean and infuriating. He's holding a grudge against Paige's family for how they treated him when he and his father worked for them. And especially toward Paige, since she flirted, teased, and kissed him only to discard him for a rich boy at her school. But since then he's made a lot of money in construction, and was able to afford to rent the family's mansion. He doesn't really fit in with the other rich people, and he points that out ALL THE TIME. He's trying to be more than he is, but gets offended whenever anyone even accidentally points that out.

I really did not get Owen at all. One of the main plot points of One Real Man was Owen trying to get one of his development projects approved. He needs a big name investor, but he's no good at schmoozing so he asks for Paige's help. Then he gets mad at her for pointing out what he needs to work on, and calls manners "bullshit" for rich people. What are you even talking about?! And then when Paige notices that his younger sister is having a hard time with her rich friends, she tries to talk to him about it, to help her, and he gets all offended that she thinks they're not good enough, and he brings up his ratty old sneakers, and what?! Calm down! She's trying to help you! You wanted help! So shut up and listen to what she's actually saying! My gosh!

One Real Man just frustrated me. Owen is seriously the worst. I cannot stand people like him. No one cares that he was the poolboy! He's not the poolboy anymore and no one is saying he is! It's his own fault that he feels uncomfortable, since he wants to exact his revenge by being this hot shot living in Paige's home and bossing her around, even though he doesn't like it! And I never saw the attraction between them, since everything out of Owen's mouth is rude, mean, or just yelling at her.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.