Title:
Beautiful Failure
Author: Mariah
Cole
Genre: New
Adult Romance
Hosted
by: Mary Elizabeth’s Crazy Book Obsession
Synopsis
If you're looking for a heartwarming
story about a girl who falls deeply in love with a troubled boy who changes her
life--a sob story with pretty metaphors and a million ways that'll tell you how
"broken" she is, STOP. Don't read another word of this.
I'm not that type of girl.
My name is Emerald Anderson and I'm not going to bullshit you: I flunked out of
college after my sophomore year, I've been fired from every job I've ever
taken, and I've never had a fully functioning relationship in my life.
I wish I could say that I had a cheerleader in my corner, someone who says,
"No, Emerald--You're great and you are good at something!" but I
don't. My grandparents are completely oblivious to my life, and my mother's
dying words to me were "You're going to end up just like me one day. A
beautiful nothing."
She was right.
As I decide to start my life over and take two jobs that will forever change
me--one from the inside, and one from the outside, I keep my mother's words
close to my heart so I can keep the sexy and mysterious Carter Black away.
He's the first man who's ever pursued me, the first man who seems bent on
finding out why I am the way I am, but he's wasting his time.
I'm not broken. I don't need to be fixed. I'm perfectly fine being a beautiful
failure...
Our Review:
Whoa. That is my response to this book. Freaking whoa. I admit, at first I thought it was going to be like every other "My mother was a whore, I am a whore." tropes...but this book went in a completely different direction than I was expecting and I loved it! My thoughts, exactly, Court! This was such an awesome surprise--a fantastic debut novel!
Emerald has a horrible and daunting past to overcome, and it doesn't help that she is 100% in denial about it! Her childhood explains it perfectly, but it doesn't mean that now that she's in her twenties that she is a fully functioning adult...because that she is not. She is foul mouthed, sarcastic, rude and doesn't give a flying flip if you care or not. I liked this about her because a) she doesn't make excuses or pretend to be something she isn't and b) the people she finds to befriend give it back to her and don't put up with her crap either. They are her perfect balance, and again I fell in love with the secondary characters in this story.
Is it messed up that I love this messed up girl? I love her filthy mouth, her horrible attitude, her badass reaction to things, her fuckitall to the world/I'm not playing your games self. Of course I abhor the how and why of how she gained all of these features...but I love her. I loved reading about her journey.
Carter. Carter. Carter! I freaking love Carter Black. He is one of those that doesn't put up with her crap...BUT...I was over 80% before I realized that we also don't know a dang thing about him. We started making our predictions and were we ever DEAD WRONG! Yes, yes we were. BUT I have not been this anxious to get my hands on a sequel in a really, really long time...especially after the introduction was pretty low angst!
DUDE!!! This guy..I have lots and lots and lots and LOTS of questions. I also have a ton of love for him...even though I still have no freakin' clue about who exactly he is. How is that even possible? HOW?!! Because Mariah Cole writes both characters in such a way that you feel (strangely) okay with not knowing much about him. GAH!
Emerald's journey is not an easy one, but I loved learning about her as she was doing the same thing. She still has a ways to go...but she's getting there. I also loved the stripper aspect of this book. Maybe it's Kristen Ashley's fault, but I have a newfound respect for these women, and I love seeing them in a more positive light doing what they need to do to get by...and having bosses that make sure nothing happens to them. So yeah. I freaking LOVE this book! <3
I loved this book too. Now I must commence to cyberstalking Mariah Cole to find out when the hell the next book is coming out because I really am impatient to begin it!! NOW!!!!!!
Courtney: 5 Stars!
Shelley: 5 Stars
The first encounter...Alternate POV scene through Carter's eyes---
Walking
inside of Starbucks, I expect to see the familiar bubbly blonde behind the
counter, the one who never bothers to ask what I want to order. She always
greets me with a “Hello, Mr. Black! I’ll have your grande coffee with two hazel
nut shots right away!”
But
today, there’s someone new. Someone with black hair who hasn’t even bothered to
look up at me.
With her
head down, she types a few buttons on the register and sighs. “Starbucks
Bistro. What’s your name and what do you want?”
“Is that
the new greeting now?” I smile. “Did it change
recently?”
“They
don’t pay me enough to make conversation,” she says flatly. “What’s your name
and what do you want—Please?”
This is a first…
“Carter…Carter Black. Grande coffee with a hazelnut shot and two
sugars.”
She
writes on the cup and quickly turns around, mixing the drink on the back
counter. From behind, I notice a small grey and black tattoo on her neck, partially
hidden by her long ponytail.
What is that?
I’m
admiring her ass when she suddenly turns around and gasps.
She
blinks, staring at me with her lips slightly parted. She looks as if she’s
about to say something, but no words come out of her mouth.
Her mouth. Her fucking mouth.
Plump,
pink lips. Bow shaped. Perfection.
“Are you
going to give me my coffee?” I look into her dark green eyes. “Or do they not
pay you enough to do that either?”
“Three
dollars and seven cents.”
I keep
my eyes locked on hers as I hand her the card, wondering why I’ve never seen
her in town before.
Once she
hands me my coffee, I decide to ask why. “When did you start here?”
“Thank you for visiting Starbucks.” She
rolls her eyes. “Have a nice day.”
I smile
and bring the cup to my lips, never taking my eyes off hers. I can tell I’m
making her uncomfortable because she’s shifting her weight from foot to foot
and blinking every few seconds.
“Is
there something wrong with your coffee sir?”
She purses her lips.
The
coffee is actually the best it’s ever been, but I don’t want to leave the store
just yet.
“It’s a
bit bitter,” I say.
“No, it’s not.” She crosses her arms. “I
just made it.”
“I’m
pretty sure it is.” I hand the cup back to her. “Can you add some more sugar
please?”
“There’s
a condiment stand on the back wall. You can add it yourself.”
Is she serious?
I look
at her nametag—Emerald, and prepare
to really have some fun with her, but the familiar blonde suddenly steps next
to her.
“Mr. Black, is there something wrong?” she
asks.
“Not at
all. I was just asking Emerald if she
would add some more sugar to my
coffee.”
“Oh! I
got it!”
As she
remakes it, I smile at Emerald—ignoring the fact that she’s scowling at me. It
makes her look even sexier.
“There
you are.” The blonde smiles as she hands me the new coffee.
I take a
sip of it and immediately regret having it remade. It’s good, but what Emerald
made was ten times better.
“Much
better.” I look at Emerald one last time, deciding that I’ll be back at the
exact same time tomorrow. “Thank you ladies.”
Emerald
rolls her eyes and mouths “Asshole,” but she quickly forces a smile. I debate
whether I should ask her to say that out loud, but I decide against it.
I’ll have plenty of time to see
her this summer…
Author Bio
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