(ARC) Book Review: Real by Katy Evans

Real (Real, Raw & Ripped #1)
by Katy Evans
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Published: April 8th 2013
Format Acquired: ARC from publisher via NetGalley (thank you!)
Purchase: Amazon

A fallen boxer.

A woman with a broken dream.

A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

DISCLAIMER: A lot of ranting. Some spoilers. You have been warned.

I really don't get it. Real? Real would be the last word I would use to describe Brooke and Remy's relationship. It would be the last word I'd use to describe the entire story. The beginning was too fast, the middle was frustrating and the what the hell was going on with that ending?! I was really excited to read this book because everyone seems to love Remy. I don't. I don't find anything about this book convincing. Okay maybe a couple of things were pretty nice but I still don't like the book as a whole.

My main problem? The romance. So Brooke sees Remy for the first time and she immediately feels this urgent need to jump his bones. Oooookay. Page after page, Brooke graphically describes how she feels upon seeing Remy. He's a hot piece of ass, I get that, but can we get a move on here? The book isn't even 5% in and you're already salivating. That's got to be a record for a new adult contemporary romance. And of course he spots her in a sea of crazy fans screaming his name, cheering him on. Of course he does. He goes down from the ring, approaches her and... kisses her?! That is creepy. And sick. No, no, no. Not romantic. Well okay maybe he wasn't going for romantic. Hot? Somewhat. Fine, it was. But still creepy! I knew right then I wouldn't like the book. So why did I bother continuing? I was curious how broken or what broke Remy. I mean, that's how it usually goes right? Someone's got to be broken and in this case it was without a doubt, Remy.

So yeah, I kept reading and I actually liked Remy's backstory. It was unexpected in comparison to other similar novels. I liked that there was this sensible explanation to how or why Remy acts the way he does. It wasn't unnecessary drama. And I would've appreciated it more if the author pushed that storyline more. I just felt that it was touched on lightly considering how big it was. Maybe it'll make more sense in the sequels. Hopefully.

Even with the backstory I still wasn't convinced. I simply didn't feel the authenticity of Brooke and Remy's feelings for each other. Most of the book was about Brooke feeling so sexually frustrated and the parts that should've mattered weren't maximized. And what is up with them sharing songs with each other all the time? I know Remy needed a way to communicate but can you just imagine what it would be like reading this book a few years from now and seeing all those song titles? The whole song sharing could be romantic but it was so overused, almost cheesy, I grew tired of it. Speaking of cheese, a lot of the lines Brooke and Remy said were really cheesy. At one point Brooke said, "I've fallen head over heels, irrevocably in love with him." OH PLEASE. Barf. I've read/heard that many times before. Are you for real right now? I just didn't see that spark, that illogical but totally believable explanation of why they feel the way they do. In romances I want to see and even feel how crazy they are for each other - no matter how unrealistic it is. I didn't get it here. I didn't see what made their feelings real.

The part about Brooke's sister was so unreal. The way she was integrated in the story was so bad and it was ridiculous how she recovered in the end. I mean, how can a former druggie just go back to the way she was, as if nothing ever happened, after a couple of months in rehab? I understand that there had to be some sort of side story to enable Remy's "sacrifice" but everything about it was off. No. Just, no.

Real is definitely not for me. This book is crazy... and not in a good way. I'm all for new adult contemporary romances and all but this is. I don't know what this is. And I still don't freaking get it.

My Rating