Night Shifts Black by Alyson Santos

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Publication date: 03/20/2016
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: I dunno

This is another one of those beautifully written books that I couldn’t finish reading. The writing itself flows nicely, the pacing is good, the characters are intriguing, and the dialogue is fresh and snappy. So, why a DNF rating? Well, it’s like this…

This is a little spoilery, but nothing you wouldn’t see already on the other Goodreads and Amazon reviews, so let me just say that when I see a man’s name in the book blurb of a romance novel, I assume that man is the hero. So, I get all invested in him and start to care about his HEA with the heroine. When stuff starts shifting at around the 35% mark of the book and I realize that the male character—who’s name was in the blurb, mind you—is actually NOT the hero, I feel a little deceived. Like my time’s been wasted learning about a guy who isn’t the hero. And a blogger who feels like her time’s been wasted and that she’s been deceived is not a happy blogger.

But honestly, even before all that nonsense, I was pretty sure I was going to DNF this book. Luke (aka: guy who I became invested in who IS NOT THE HERO) is a complete trainwreck. Not brooding and angsty in a sexy way. I’m talking emotionally FUBAR, to the point that I’m not entirely convinced he wouldn’t hurt the heroine. When she shows up at his hotel room after he’s displayed lots of freaky, kind of disturbed behavior, I was side-eyeing her pretty hard, wondering what the hell she could possibly be thinking. I don’t care how handsome the dude is, a smart girl would NEVER go the hotel room of a disturbed individual who has been carrying on conversations with an empty chair for the first 30% of the book.

On a positive note, there’s a description of depression somewhere around the 28%-30% of the story that is the most eloquent I’ve ever read. It should be printed in all psychology textbooks, in my opinion.

And on a final positive note, there’s nothing wrong with the guy who actually IS the hero of the book. He’s a decent dude, swoon-worthy and sexy in his own not-crazy way. He just wasn’t swoon-worthy and sexy enough for me to get over my feelings of betrayal.

Long-story-short: technically, there’s nothing wrong with this book. It’s a beautifully written mind-fuck. A more open-minded reader could probably enjoy the crap out of this one. (Haters of angst should stay far, far away, though.)        

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
It’s not stigma-y at all. It’s just not my cuppa.     

Other reading suggestions
For an angsty, tortured rocker in a romance that totally works on all levels, try Scarlett Cole’s Lennon Reborn. ​

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