The Failing Hours is kind of a twist on Beauty and the Beast in my opinion. Zeke is really a jerk. I mean, he is rude, belligerent, condescending, and self centered. Violet is studying to be a social worker. If you know anyone who is a social worker, you know they are bleeding hearts. You can't go into that career unless you are literally like the most patient, compassionate person on the planet. So, she is probably the only person in the world who would bother to help Zeke when he is such an asshat.
Violet has a job (well she has lots of them) tutoring and is assigned Zeke as a student. It does not go well. Through various other jobs Violet has, she ends up helping Zeke more. Over time, she is starting to make progress in getting him to be less abrasive. Zeke pushes her away every chance he gets (and sometimes, he is totally fucking demeaning to her). Violet is the type of character you want to hug and make happy. This poor girl who has nothing, who is working 3 jobs to live in a shitty house with 2 friends, who is studying to be a social worker where you are over worked and paid worse than teachers, is trying so hard to have a good life when everything is stacked against her. Of course a girl like that would put up with Zeke treating her like shit. But I wanted to swoop in, punch him in the dick, and find her someone worthy. I would like to say I didn't like Zeke...but that would be a huge fucking understatement. His 'poor little rich boy' attitude was annoying as fuck. Oh, poor Zeke, his parents bought him gifts instead of spending time with him. Yes, its sad. It does not give you the right to treat people like shit! He is surrounded by people who don't have 2 nickels to rub together and are barely making it. Treating them like shit on top of their already difficult lives is just shitty.
Zeke, like the Beast, does SLOWLY begin to change. He doesn't like it, and he bitches about it the whole time. But, he does start to see that the world is filled with people who aren't him! Shocking! (my sarcasm is HIGH with Zeke). Now, of course, Violet points all this out to him, and he can't change over night, but there is growth.
In addition to Violet, the biggest compliment I can give The Failing Hour is that I stayed up all night to read it in 1 sitting. I simply had to know!
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: I did tear up a few times because Violet's life has been tragic!
- Trope: bad boy
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: spoiler
- HEA: spoiler
Luca by Sarah Castille, Clam Jam by RC Boldt, All Played Out by Cora Carmack...then you will probably like The Failing Hours!
See full review on The Book Disciple