Review ~ Friday Night Alibi - Cassie Mae (ARC)

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 29th July 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Flirt

Description:
In the wealthy town of Sundale, Kelli Pinkins has hatched the perfect plan to capitalize on her sweet reputation. For a generous fee, she will be every trust-fund baby’s dream: a Friday-night alibi, the “girlfriend” or “BFF” that parents dream about. With college approaching in the fall, Kelli’s services are in demand more than ever, which means that her social life is nonexistent. But Kelli is A-okay with that. She’s raking in cash for school. Besides, relationships are tricky, and sometimes very messy. She’d rather be at home on Xbox LIVE, anyway. Then the unexpected happens: She meets college stud Chase Maroney.

Chase isn’t like the preppy, privileged guys Kelli usually meets in Sundale. For starters, he’s twentysomething, always wears black, and he shoots back one-liners as fast as she can dish them out. But Kelli’s attempts to drive Chase away falter when she realizes that he treats her like he reallyknows her, like he cares about knowing her. When Kelli finally gives in to the delicious kiss she’s been fighting for so long, she faces a tough decision: make Chase a real-life boyfriend and risk her heart . . . or keep her clients and lose her first true love.

My Opinion

I'm really getting into the new adult genre right now, with their steamy romance so I was ecstatic to add this book to my tbr pile when I got accepted to read it. However for me this book is more YA (even though the characters are 18-21) in terms of the romance and attitude. This didn't stop me enjoying though, and it was a quick book to relax with.

First of all I loved how the book started, with the different price packages Kelli had for being an alibi. It really intrigued me and I found myself smiling from page one. I really liked the concept and thought it was original and a fresh take on the standard romance plot line. I may have to try it myself as I prefer curling up with a book on a Friday than going out partying - just kidding, sort of...

As well as this I loved the playful teasing and banter that went on between Chase and Kel. It was sweet, funny and did make me laugh as they tried to one up each other all the time. You could see what was developing but I liked how the author postponed the romance and built the tension between them. Some moments were pretty intense. I also liked Kel's wit. She was smart-mouthed and not afraid to give as good as she got (well unless it came down to true feelings). I love strong female leads and although Kelli has her issues that makes her vulnerable, I like how Chase and her connected over them.

One issue I have with the book is the age at which the characters are supposed to be. Being a new adult book I know they have to be within the age bracket they are but it just didn't feel right. Kelli is meant to be 18 but she seems so immature and naive. Being 18 myself I could never imagine myself or anyone I know 'blowing raspberries,' it's like a primary/early high school thing and just felt very childish. There were a few other problems with age and language that didn't fit. At times it felt like the author was trying to be too young/cool with her language and use all the stereotypes. I don't know if it's a British thing but after about the age of 15 it becomes uncool to use text talk and clippings such as 'whatevs.' That may just be me being picky but it really irritates me to read. This is why for me - besides the lack of steamy/passionate romance - this book seems to suit the YA genre better.

As well as this, as much as I liked Kelli as the lead character, her internal monologue did become slightly annoying at times, especially when she uses 'hello!' 'Barf,' 'Bleck,' a lot to express her feelings towards something or other. It was used frequently and the repetitiveness started to become annoying. As well as this by the end the only way the author described how Chase made Kelli feel was by using a comparison to popcorn popping. I don't mind this but there are only so many times I can read it and I found myself wishing for a different simile, it was just repetitive. 

The only other thing was there were a few continuity issues where Kelli would say something and then it would not be the same in a few pages. I know this is an ARC so hopefully they will get picked up as I did find myself having to skip back to check whether I was imagining/read something wrong previously - I hadn't just so you know.

Overall this is a sweet romance that does keep you hooked with it's original take on a high school romance. There are a lot of cliches, and repetitiveness but it's enjoyable and something that is an easy summertime, beach read. For me it is more YA than NA as there isn't much steamy romance sections and the characters do not act their age but it's still a sweet romance and I enjoyed the playful relationship.

3.5