Stevie‘s review of The Love Con by Seressia Glass
Contemporary Interracial Romance published by Berkley 14 Dec 21
I like romances with geeky protagonists, and I kind of like competitive crafty shows (although I find the sheer number of them on TV at present a little too much), so this book’s backdrop very much appealed, even if the fake relationship premise is a little overdone by now. A plus-sized heroine, who is also a geek of colour, was obviously a further incentive, though. Kenya Davenport makes it to the final of Cosplay or No Way, in spite of bitchy comments from one of the three judges, but then faces an additional hurdle when she learns she will be required to complete the final challenge at home with a partner. When the other finalist says he will be working with his husband, and the bitchy judge then seems to imply Kenya couldn’t possibly be in a romantic relationship because of the way she looks, Kenya blurts out that her best friend Cam is also her new boyfriend. Cam is too good a friend to drop Kenya in it by exposing her as a liar, and has his own costume business, so it looks like nothing could possibly go wrong with the deception. Other than the potential for lots of hurt feelings, obviously.
Cam and Kenya have been best friends since school and in love with each other for nearly as long – although neither has thought to express the latter to the other. They’re business partners and share an apartment, not to mention that Kenya’s parents adore Cam and have been following Kenya’s televised adventures with him. Not wanting the film crew to completely invade their personal space, Cam sets up a workspace for Kenya in the back of his shop, although that does allow more drama to invade his life there. Nevertheless, the pair also rearrange their home to make it seem more like they’re in a new relationship after previously sharing it as friends, which brings them into very close contact at times – a situation that’s both embarrassing and enjoyable.
The biggest barrier to things working out is Kenya’s self-doubt, coupled with her insecurities around her attractiveness compared to Cam’s. However, drama also comes from Cam’s ex-girlfriend and from Kenya’s parents, as well as from various crafting mishaps. I felt that more could have been done with the latter two, and that the ex could have been dispensed with altogether. I also felt the story would have worked better if the condition for Kenya’s cosplay partner to be her significant other had been set up as part of the rules, rather than existing only in her head due to one snide remark.
Overall, this didn’t quite work for me. So much could have been fixed by characters having proper conversations with each other, whether that was Kenya with Cam or either one of them with Kenya’s parents. I liked the various cosplay concepts and mash-ups, though, and it was refreshing to read a December release that never once mentioned the festive season.
Grade: C
Summary:
Sometimes Kenya Davenport believes she was switched at the hospital—how else could a lover of anime, gaming, and cosplay come from STEM parents? Still, Kenya dreams of being able to turn her creative hobby into a career. She finally has a chance to make it big when she joins the reality show competition Cosplay or No Way.
There’s just one catch: the challenge for the final round is all about iconic pairs, and the judges want the contestants’ significant others to participate. Unfortunately, Kenya is as single as can be at the moment. Luckily her best friend, Cameron Lassiter, agrees to be her fake boyfriend for the show.
Roleplaying a couple in love will force them to explore what they’re hiding under the mask of friendship. Can Kenya and Cam fake it until she makes it, or will she be real about her feelings, knowing it could cost her the best friend she’s ever had?
Read an excerpt.
