Lindy is a much flatter character here than she was in Beastly, which is so disappointing since this is from her POV. We don't get any new or relevant background. Her internal life is not rich or complex at all. Even her nerdiness feels downgraded. I am disappoint.

Let's get this out of the way upfront, this book is so pro America it's almost ridiculous. If you made a drinking game out of every time the word 'freedom' appears in this book you wouldn't make it three chapters. I seriously debated taking a star off for this but ultimately decided against it simply because the most patriotic people I know are immigrants so it is within the realm of possibility for Tami's character to think this way.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, the book is very much a beach read. It's a sequel to [b:Veil of Roses|235953|Veil of Roses|Laura Fitzgerald|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320506909s/235953.jpg|228535] and the plot of the last book is summed up but I feel that it would behoove you to read it as some things may not make sense toward the ending otherwise. This book sees much less of the English Class (and therefore much less Eva which is unfortunate as her interactions with Tami were some of my favorite parts of the first book) on the other hand we get much more of Ike and much much more of Tami's parents who weren't really a presence in the last book. We also get to meet Ike's family who don't really approve of his last minuet 'green card marriage'. This provides the primary source of conflict for most of the book. It's fluff mostly which is fine by me. There are a few 'makes you think' moments but if you want some substance in that regard I recommend [a:Khaled Hosseini|569|Khaled Hosseini|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1359753468p2/569.jpg]. If you're looking for something light and sweet pick this up and give it a read.

Oh this book. It left me feeling very conflicted. On the one hand, more Fezzik and brilliant satire and fun prose, just as quotable as the movie and so much more story.

And on the other hand...I know it was the 70s but no thank you to the casual use of a racial slur. And Buttercup's portrayal was a bit problematic and my dear Farm Boy ups and slaps Buttercup in the face for "lying" which..that whole scene was just a little off color in the movie and a whole lot more so in the book.

So I couldn't give it five stars for the things it does wrong. But I couldn't bring myself to give it three stars. What ultimately swayed me was Buttercup's Baby. What a tease.

This feels like incoherent ramblings. I'll leave it here.

I came across this book a few years ago browsing in a bookstore and picked up on a whim. Yeah I finished it in about a day and a half. At the time I didn't realize it was a sequel to [b:Love Walked In|115076|Love Walked In|Marisa de los Santos|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1309200642s/115076.jpg|3000860]
so it works as a stand alone.

The book basically works in three alternating narratives. Cornelia who was the main character from Love Walked In. Her and her husband have moved to the 'burbs and she is having a hard time adjusting. Then we have her snobby neighbor Piper who's best friend is dying of cancer and then there's Dev, who is uprooted from his home in California after a bad year in seventh grade.

The thing that stuck out most to me about this book was the distinctiveness of each characters voice. And Marisa De Los Santos didn't take the easy way out with switching narratives and having each character talk in the first person. The words used and the structure of the story reflects the character in a really clever authentic way. The book will make you cry but it's also a feel good read. Goes great with a cup of iced tea and a nice summer evening.