Kristie J’s review of The Learning Hours (How to Date a Douchebag, Book 3) by Sara Ney
New Adult Romance published by Amazon Digital Services 26 Sep 17
I noticed this on GoodReads and despite the horrendous title, I was intrigued enough to give this book a try. And I’m ever so glad I have a GoodReads account and I go trolling friends with similar tastes. I found this book most delightful.
Rhett Rabideaux is a wrestler who transferred schools for his wrestling career, when he is offered a scholarship for a more prestigious school. He’s the new guy on the team and some of his teammates are making his life hell with their hazing. He first comes to the attention of Laurel when he and a bunch of his teammates are at the same restaurant, and while he’s making a stop at the restroom, they all take off, leaving him with the bill. Laurel is kind of intrigued by him right from the beginning, but there is not a chance in hell she would ever go out with him because he’s not at all up to her standards and he’s not nearly attractive enough for her. She’s a beautiful young woman and he’s an unattractive young man.
He comes to her attention again when her cousin shows her a poster his teammates put out on his ongoing hazing harassment. Against her better judgement, her cousin talks her into texting him and right away she’s captivated as he tells her to ‘F’ off. She’s not at all used to any kind of rejection from guys. So, of course, she doesn’t accept it and messages him right back. He answers her again, telling her to leave him alone, and thus begins one of the cutest text conversations I’ve read. The more he tries to ignore her, the more interested she gets.
It’s easy to see Laurel as a shallow, vain young woman because – well, she is. But it takes very little time for her to see beneath the surface of Rhett and what a true treasure he is. And, paradoxically, the more she sees him for who he truly is, the better looking he gets and the worse she feels about her motives for contacting him in the first place.
This book is completely 100% charming. Rhett is a hero the reader has no choice in falling for hook, line, and sinker. He knows he’s not one of those good-looking jocks who always get the girl. He’s the next thing to a virgin, having had only one sexual experience some years previously and it wasn’t all that great. He can’t compute that someone as gorgeous as Laurel would be interested in him ‘that way.’ He’s quiet, a loner by nature, and the antithesis of a jock. Although he’s on a wrestling scholarship, he is dedicated to study and takes some pretty tough-sounding courses and his education is just as important. He’s awkward around women and he’s just flat-out adorable.
Laurel starts out very shallow, but she does gain depth throughout the book. It’s so cute watching her try to take things to the next level with Rhett as she’s falling for him deeper all the time and he’s so oblivious to it all. He figures they are just friends. And I like that their friendship came first.
The more she cares for Rhett, the more she experiences all the things normal girls experience – jealousy, frustration, insecurity – and it’s ever so good to see. And what I really like is the more she gets to know him and the more she falls for him, the better looking he becomes in her eyes. It’s because she sees the inner Rhett and on the inside he’s a very beautiful person.
I’m far away from the ages of the people in this book – very, very far away, so some of it I couldn’t really relate to. I debated downgrading it a bit for that reason, but then realized that it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book one single bit. So I’m going with the grade I think it deserves.
Grade: A
Summary:
He’s not a douchebag; but that doesn’t stop his friends from turning him into one.
MY FRIENDS WANT ME TO GET LAID.
So much so that they plastered my ugly mug all over campus, in bold printed letters:
“Are you the lucky lady who’s going to break our roommate’s cherry?
Him: socially awkward man with average-sized penis looking for willing sexual partner. You: must have a pulse. He will reciprakate with oral. Text him at: 555-254-5551The morons can’t even spell. And the texts I’ve been receiving are what wet dreams are made of. But I’m not like these douchebags, no matter how hard they try to turn me into one.
THIS ISN’T THE KIND OF ATTENTION I WANT.
One text stands out from hundreds. One number I can’t bring myself to block. She seems different. Hotter, even in black and white.
However, after seeing her in person, I know she’s not the girl for me. But my friends won’t let up—they just don’t get it. Douchebags or not, there’s one thing they’ll never understand: GIRLS DON’T WANT ME.
Especially her.
No excerpt available.
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