All I Want Is You

NEW ADULT ROMANCE

Title: All I Want Is You
Author: EL Todd
Publication date: 11/10/2014
Publisher: Fallen Publishing
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Rating: 2 out of 5

Blurb (from Amazon.com):
Cayson is in love with Skye Preston, his best friend for over twenty years. They grew up together, bathed together, and spent every holiday together. Hoarding the secret hasn't been easy. Every time Cayson sees her with a boyfriend, he wants to smash his fist into a wall.

But he could never tell her the truth.

The close friendship they have is too good to be ruined. If he confessed his deepest feelings, how would it change what they have? Would he lose her altogether?

But everything changes when Cayson finds Skye at a party, drunk and incoherent. Unable to stand on her own two feet with breath reeking of alcohol, she’s easy prey to the men staring at her noticeable chest. Cayson immediately scoops her into his arms and takes her home. But when they arrive at the house, Skye doesn’t want to sleep. Instead, she wants Cayson in a way she’s never had before.

What will this mean for their relationship? Is it the start of something Cayson has always dreamed of? Or will it be the end?

My review
First of all, I really like this author. I LOVED her Beautiful Entourage series. But this book...yikes. I can really only pinpoint 3 major positives that this book has going for it:

1. It was free
2. The writing mechanics are solid (no errors, smooth pacing, realistic dialogue)
3. Cayson is a rarity among new adult romance heroes. He’s a true old-fashioned gentleman. He’s the type of guy all dads want their daughters to marry.

But after that…

Here’s a list (because there’s so many I can’t put them in paragraph form) of all the crap that bothered me and almost made me DNF the book:

1. The entire plot of this book wouldn’t exist if the 2 main characters were capable of an open, honest, ADULT conversation. Their complete lack of communication was totally unrealistic, even for a couple of college kids.
2. Jasmine. Get some self-esteem, girlfriend. Don’t hook up and fall in love with an emotionally unavailable dude, no matter how honest he is about his feelings. Move on. You can do better.
3. There are pages upon pages of this book devoted to the kids’ parents and how cool and badass and in love they are. Is there a point to this? I can only assume that they are featured in the author’s other books. If not, this was just super weird.
4. About boobs...OK, we get it. Skye has great boobs. But they were mentioned so many times that if I played a drinking game in which I took a shot for every time the magnificence of Skye’s boobs was discussed, I would’ve been drunk off my ass by chapter 4. (And also: C-cups are nice. But they aren’t so huge that too many women would suffer near debilitating pain as a result of having them. Haul around some DD’s for a while and then we’ll talk, Skye.)
5. The slippery dolphin. First of all: gross. Second of all: if anyone tried this with me without a warning or consent, I’d go full-on Lorena Bobbit on him. (Note: this move was not suggested by the hero)
6. Skye. At a couple of points in the book, someone called Skye stupid. I have to agree. She stayed in a sexual relationship for months with a guy who didn’t treat her right, who she didn’t really like very much, who was selfish in bed, because...I dunno. Laziness? Fear of hurting the douchebag’s feelings? It’s never really explained. She should’ve dumped him immediately.
7. Skye. Seriously, girl, you don’t know that Cayson is crazy in love with you? Do you think most girls have strictly platonic guy friends who hold them while they sleep and rub their feet? Um...no. That doesn’t happen. Get your head out of your ass and pay attention to what’s going on around you, Skye.  
8. Skye. All your friends have been telling you for years that Cayson is in love with you, and you ignore them. Then, when you finally get your head out of your ass and realize you love him too, you won’t tell him because he has a girlfriend. A girlfriend, mind you, who all your friends tell you he’s not really serious about. But do you believe them? Nope. Learn from experience, Skye. You’re an idiot, and your friends are right. Just do what they tell you to and you’ll be fine.
9. Skye. You get blackout drunk at a frat party wearing nothing but a bikini? Good call. ‘Cause nothing bad ever happens to drunk girls at frat parties.     

In case I didn’t make myself clear, I hated the heroine, Skye. She might be my least favorite romance heroine of all time. And that’s saying a lot, people. I’ve read A LOT of books. I’ve seen things that can’t be unseen.

So, long-story-short: if I were you, I’d skip this one, folks.

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
Contributes! It’s so unrealistic it would be funny if it weren’t so offensive.  

Other reading suggestions
Read the author’s Beautiful Entourage series instead. Book 1 is particularly good. Or, for a friends-to-lovers story with a likeable hero AND heroine, try Linda Kage’s Priceless. ​

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