Publisher: Choc Lit
Where did you get the book: e-ARC from publisher
Release date: 15th June
Olivia and Daniel certainly aren’t talking the language of love …
Olivia has been in love with Daniel forever but, despite her best efforts, they’ve never been able to get it together. Their relationship has always been a series of mixed messages and misunderstandings and the final straw comes when Daniel mysteriously starts dating her flatmate, Emily. Hurt and confused, Olivia resolves to forget her heartache with a spot of speed dating. After all, what could possibly go wrong?
One crazy stalker later and Olivia’s life is becoming increasingly strange and scary. Can she rely on Daniel to step in when events take a terrifying turn or will their communication breakdown ultimately result in tragedy?
*blurb taken from Goodreads*
I really liked the premise of this book because friends to lovers is one of my utmost favourite romance tropes. Like ever. Add in something of unrequited love, and that’s like a sucker punch because I love that trope also. Jules Wake does have a strong authorial voice. I found myself easily flipping through the pages and while I enjoyed her author voice, unfortunately I had issues with the characters of the story which left me disappointed.
First thing is Olivia allows, Emily, her flatmate to behave appallingly to her. Emily was a bitch. An awful user who was just awful. And yet throughout the book she treats Olivia in the same manner and Olivia just takes it. I really liked Olivia, but oh my goodness, did she need to kick Emily in the butt. Not only did she allow herself to be treated in this way, but she does something incredibly stupid in regards to the stalker. Olivia is savvy and smart when it comes to her PR job. Yet when a stalker turns up into her and Emily’s life, she doesn’t do the smart and obvious thing straight away and call the police.
I also had issues with Daniel, who always had a thing for Olivia since their college days. Despite being dear friends, he believes Emily’s lies about Olivia. Emily behaves appallingly throughout the book and she doesn’t get her up commence. She gets to breeze out of their lives, hardly unchanged and I found that a little infuriating. The romance between Daniel and Olivia is mostly non-existent and they only really get together at the end of the book. I would most definitely say this is more chick-lit than contemporary romance. I do believe the author has great talent (I’ll definitely try another book) but unfortunately the execution of the characters of Talk to Me just didn’t do it for me.
I give Talk to Me a C-
A beautiful cover that has nothing to do with the book, as there is not really a romance? I don’t like your description of the characters, so this one is not for my wishlist.