Steamy Latino and Tea: The Guys Are Props Club by Ingrid Seymour
Book Review Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The Guys Are Props Club by Ingrid SeymourAuthor's website | Goodreads
Genre: New Adult
Published: May 13th 2013 by Pen Dreams
Source: Gifted by the author (Thanks, Ingrid!)
During her senior year in high school, Maddie Burch promised herself not to ever fall for a cute guy – or any guy – again. Cute guys are players and not to be trusted, a fact she learned the hard way when her first boyfriend ran her heart through a paper shredder. Two years later, her promise is still intact, and she’s determined to make it through college without falling victim to another creep. She has her job, school and The Guys Are Props Club to keep her mind and hormones in check.
The club was founded by Jessica, Maddie’s best friend. It is a sisterhood of girls who have fallen prey to heartless jerks and who have vowed to turn the tables. Once a semester, Jessica requires members to “do onto others as they’ve done unto you.” Setting the example, Jessica’s next play is Sebastian Capello, a theater major with heartthrob looks and a flair for Latin dance, whose heart she plans to break the way hers was once broken.
What the friends don’t know is that Sebastian is different. Despite his perfect looks and popularity, he’s not a jerk. He doesn’t play games to get his way. Instead, he keeps it real and goes after what he wants with honest intentions. And what he wants is not a bombshell like Jessica, but a down-to-earth girl like Maddie – even if it causes a riff in the girl’s friendship. Even if it means getting Maddie to break her personal vow.
*** Due to language and sexual situations this book is recommended for ages 17 and older.
I have always been in search of good New Adult novels ever since my first (and amazing) encounter with Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens. And after reading The GAP Club, I can say that my search, so far, has been successful.
Can we just talk about how smart and unique this story’s
concept was? I mean, it’s totally out of the normal and the tiniest bit absurd,
but it totally worked! That alone had me in awe. It’s true, though: Damsels-in-distress
wouldn’t survive today. Only bitches-in-heels would.
Enter Maddie, our protagonist, and the only flaw in my
supposedly flawless theory of “Women’s Survival in the 21st
century”. She wasn’t bitchy at all—totally kind-hearted, even—but there was so
much resolve and girl power inside her. It was so refreshing to read from a
very benevolent character’s point of view. She wasn’t saint-like nor sinless to
the point of irritating, but there’s just really genuine compassion in her
heart. I really enjoyed reading the story thru Maddie’s head.
I also admired how she faced problems head-on. One of my
bookish pet peeves is when characters tend to stall and prolong their
predicaments and just let things be until it’s too late. But Maddie, she wasn’t
that. She tries to think of ways to fix things and, most importantly, she acts. She doesn’t let problems get
bigger, and that’s what I definitely liked about her.
The Sebastian-Maddie duo was totally endearing and just too
cuuute!!! They were so shy and so funny and just romantic! The way things
turned out for them and how the romance still worked out was … perfect. Sebastian seemed like the ideal
guy (not to mention flirty) and
Maddie totally deserved him and vice-versa. And, it wasn’t just lust lust lust or sex sex sex. The passion, love and intimacy of both characters towards each
other were really palpable.
Another thing I liked was how Ingrid incorporated Maddie’s
relationship with Hunter, a 10-year-old cancer kid. It greatly contributed to
her character and to the story as well.
I’m so glad to have discovered this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I NEED the sequel in my hands right now! I couldn’t wait!!!
I’m so glad to have discovered this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I NEED the sequel in my hands right now! I couldn’t wait!!!
THE NUB AND GIST: 5 STARS
