Kristie J’s review of The Lying Hours (How to Date a Douchebag, Book 5) by Sara Ney
New Adult published by Three Legacies 9 May 19
I’ve read the previous books in this series, as well as the Jock series and another book Sara Ney collaborated on, with mostly success. The first book in this series was a DNF, but that was the only one. So when I started reading The Lying Hours, I was looking forward to it. And it did start out pretty good, so I was a happy reader. But something happened on the way to the end, and if I wasn’t already so close to finishing, I would have DNF’ed this book. But I was about 93% done when I’d had enough, but then figured I may as well make it to the end.
Abe is like the mother hen of the wrestling team. Anyone needs help with anything, he’s there. As the book opens, he’s screening potential dates for his roommate, JB, fellow wrestler and a real douchebag. But then Abe starts ‘talking’ with one girl who’s not like the rest and he falls for her himself.
Skylar has had it with men. Done. Finished. But her roommate nags her to get out there and meet someone, so eventually Sky signs up for a Tinder-like app for University students. The first few guys are duds, but then she gets a message that intrigues her and she agrees to meet the man. When she does, he’s nothing like he seemed while messaging. He’s a toad and the date lasts all of ten minutes and she’s done……until he messages her again and once again charms her into giving him a second chance.
All of this sounds cute and fun and it was. Then it wasn’t. While Abe started off a good guy, caught up in a Cyrano de Bergerac-like situation, as the book went along, he was looking less and less like a hero and more and more of a bigger jerk than even his roommate.
He knows what an ass JB, his partner in crime is. All JB wants is a slam-bam-thank- you-ma’am, and, even though Abe knows Skylar is different, he still ends up throwing her under the ”bus” that is JB. Later, when discussing the failure of a date with Abe, JB isn’t respectful about her at all. So what does our “hero” do??? He goes and charms her again and sets up another date, only this time on a double with Skylar’s roommate and himself. What a prince.
I felt my dislike of Abe growing, as the book went on, especially when he shows what a gutless coward he is. But now thinking on the whole book for this review, I’m cluing in more and more that he’s really nothing but an enabler and not the great guy he seems to think he is.
Skylar fares much better. She deserves better than this immature ‘boy.’ However, her roommate drives me batty before long. Yes, she starts out cute and funny, but she does have a gutter mind and is also immature.
There is one scene I found quite off putting. Abe and Skylar are making out like bunnies in her bedroom and doing what bunnies do, if you know what I mean, and the roommate is home and listening in and they KNOW she is listening because she’s been yelling at them from her bedroom. Ick, just ick.
One thing I do really like about this book is Zeke Daniels from The Failing Hours, who makes a couple of cameos and, in television language, steals every scene he’s in.
Overall, I was rather disappointed in this book, though I see other readers liked it much more than I did. I found the characters, especially Abe, to be too immature to be in any kind of long-term relationship and I can’t see this one lasting. Abe’s go-to move is to lie his way out of uncomfortable situations instead of handling them the way a grown-up man would.
And, finally, there is very little actual conflict in this book. The main one, as far as I see it, is will Abe man up and grow a pair. This is NOT my idea of a good conflict. I’d give it a lower grade, but I do like Skylar and Zeke is a hoot.
Grade: C-
Summary:
ABRAHAM DAVIS—Honest Abe to his friends—IS IN OVER HIS HEAD…
He’s a fixer and a do good-er. The all-knowing, resident “grandfather” on the wrestling team who everyone relies on to fix their problems. His teammates go to him for everything; advice, homework, or when they need a sober driver at three in the morning–whether he likes it or not.
Abe’s current mission is easy: mend his roommates broken heart by helping him find a girlfriend on the LoveU app–without getting caught in the lie…
SKYLAR GABRIEL. IS. OVER. IT.
Over her bad grades. Over her meddling older brother and his two best friends. And over dating douchebags. What she wants to know is: where have all the nice guys gone?
She longs for a handsome, sweet, and honest guy who can make her laugh. In one last ditch effort to prove that he exists—Skylar turns to LoveU.
On her worst day, Skylar has no filter (it’s a miracle she hasn’t been ditched mid-date).
On her best, she’s as wholesome, and sweet, as pie.
On Thursday? She matches with Abraham Davis’s roommate.Skylar Gabriel is falling for the wrong guy—she just doesn’t realize it yet.
Why?
BECAUSE ABE DAVIS IS A LIAR.
No excerpt available.
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