Cut Short by Julia Wolf

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Publication date: 03/19/2018
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No

This is kind of a weird one, folks. There’s technically nothing wrong with it. The characters are interesting and likeable, Joel is a damn near perfect book boyfriend, there’s some good female friendships represented, and it’s low angst. It’s also a friends-to-lovers, slow-burn read with some great witty banter, and y’all know I love those.  

So, why not a 5 star rating?

Well...it’s like this…

The pace

via GIPHY

This book is sloooooooooow moving. I’m talking glacially slow. Smells travel faster than the plot of this book. It was well written enough that I kept reading, but...jeez. I almost threw in the towel a couple of times because it seemed like nothing was happening.

---

The conflict

via GIPHY

Through about 85% of the story, there’s no conflict whatsoever, unless you count the heroine’s (Rachel’s) lingering self-doubts. (She had a bad past relationship, so she’s a little gun shy) Fair enough. But towards the end, Rachel gets mad at Joel, and I won’t give away any spoilers, but the reason is SO STUPID! I had to read it twice to make sure I was understanding it all correctly. She got mad at him for practically no reason at all—over shit that happened when they were dumb kids. It was almost as if the author had written a lovely little book about a happy, sweet couple and when she hit the 85% mark realized, “Oh, hell, I need a conflict,” and just threw something at the page. It was lame.

---

Who, Me?

via GIPHY

I get that Rachel has damaged self-esteem, but she was almost willfully ignorant about Joel’s obvious sexual/romantic interest in her for a big part of the story. That whole wide-eyed, “who, me?” thing got real old, real fast.    

But, like I said, all-in-all, this wasn’t a terrible read. If you’re in the mood for a super low angst read about a couple of people who were made for each other, you could definitely do worse.

---

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s not really stigma-y, just sloooooooowwwww.

Other reading suggestions
For another read about a sassy hair stylist and the hot alpha male who adores her, try Rachel Gibson’s Truly Madly Yours.
​

And for all kinds of other awesomeness, try these...

Nice guy heroes in romance don't always finish last​

Friends-to-lovers romances with plenty of benefits​

Romances that prove there's life after divorce​