Tips for Tuesday - Books: Flirty Dancing, Aftertaste & Whack Job: The History of Axe Murder

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Books: Flirty Dancing, Aftertaste, & Whack Job: The History of Axe Murder 

Me - Unfortunately, Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt was not for me. I was expecting a cute romance story, but it felt more like a general fiction book with a romantic subplot.

Rather than focusing on the relationship between the main character, Archer, and the love interest, Matteo, the book mostly centered on backstage drama among the dancers at the resort. In fact, for more than half the book, Archer was seeing Caleb, one of the other dancers. This is where my main issue comes in. I did not like that Archer was dating one guy while clearly lusting after another one. It was incredibly obvious from the start that Archer had a crush on Matteo. Yet, with little remorse, he continued to string Caleb along, which made it difficult to root for them. This behavior made it hard to care for Archer because he seemed so selfish. As for Matteo's character, he lacked depth and switched between being broody and stand-offish to being sweet and thoughtful at random intervals.

Despite those issues, there was definitely chemistry between Archer and Matteo, and they shared some cute moments. However, I just couldn't get invested in their relationship, knowing that most of the lead-up to it happened while Archer was dating someone else.

This wasn't a bad book. The writing was solid, and I can see how other people might enjoy the plot even if the romance isn't the best. If you're looking for a story featuring drama reminiscent of high school theater kids and a messy romance subplot, you might really love this. If you want a sweet romance and well-developed characters, on the other hand, this might not be the book for you.

Mom - Today, I am talking about Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle. After his father's death, Kostya is haunted by ghosts. He can't exactly see them, but he tastes what they taste, foods that connect them in some way with a loved one that they left behind. Then, he learns that if he prepares the dishes he is tasting, he can reunite people with their lost loved ones, at least for the time it takes to eat the dish he has prepared. It may seem like he is doing a great service, however, Maura is the only one who can see the danger in it, but she is falling in love with him.

Obviously, this book deals heavily with grief. Therefore, it may be triggering for some people. It is sad because it deals with people who have lost loved ones, but there is a sweetness to it as well because they get to say a final goodbye, which people are not usually given in real life.   Likewise, the reunions between people and their lost loved ones are heartwarming and heartbreaking in that they are reunited and then parted again for a final time. 

However,  the story eventually devolves into more of a ghostly horror story than a touching story about people reuniting with their lost loved ones for one final meal. Thus, if you are more interested in the latter and that is the kind of book you thought you were getting, it is like having the rug pulled out from under you, and it takes away from the enjoyment of the book. However, if you enjoy a good, dark ghostly story, you may really like this book.  

Mom again - Today, I am also talking about Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder by Rachel McCarthy James. This book traces the changing role of the axe in history and how that affected its use as a murder weapon of choice. It details some specific axe murders, including, among others, the beheadings ordered by King Henry VIII and the Lizzie Borden case, as well as some perhaps lesser-known axe murders. Although the book is interesting, it can feel a bit cut and dried at times. Reading it is a kind of morbid guilty pleasure that is probably best enjoyed by those fascinated by true crime. 

And that's our view. Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder is publishing today. After Taste will be published next Tuesday, May 20, and Flirty Dancing will be published the following Tuesday, May 27. 

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

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