Patty’s World's Reviews > The Boss

I hated this book!

I started out really liking it. I was thinking...yes, a 4-star read, at least. But as it moved along, the stars just kept dropping. It's well written, in the sense that Abigail Barnette is talented with prose. She is a clever writer. My dislike of the book and the overall series is the direction in which she takes the story, and the choices she makes for the characters.

1. The book is supposed to be the antithesis to 50 shades, but despite some of the petty criticism of 50, there is a reason the books are so popular. Kinky sex aside, at the core 50 shades is still a love story. It falls in the Romance genre, and therefore the reader can expect a HEA and redemption for the characters, despite how deep their troubles may seem. 50 blends love and Romance with the kink, which makes it sweet and sexy. I think that's where The Boss misses the mark. It has kink element, but zero Romance and the love is awkward because of Sophie's insistence that she doesn't need a relationship. She was detached, and the relationship had no emotion. After a while, the sex was boring and monotonous...not matter how kinky the author tried to paint it. I'm not buying it. More on Sophie later.

2. I like Neil as a male lead. His age doesn't bother me. In fact, I like that he is in his 40's. I did not enjoy how Sophie treated him. Her aloofness, her detachment bordering on immaturity. She was silly at times with refusing to leave anything at his house. She was so wrapped up in her career...as what?...an administrative assistant. Her superficial assisting duties were so demanding, she didn't have time for a relationship? Really? In what universe are the two mutually exclusive? What... women can't have a career and relationship? They have to choose one or the other? Since when does being a feminist mean you can't have a relationship, or fall in love, or care for someone? This entire angle was really irritating. Which brings me to my next point.

3. I liked her off the bat, but as the book went on, she fell out of my good graces. She was a contradiction---pining for Neil for 6 years, but didn't want to spend the night with him. She hated the way Gabriella treated her, but was considering working for her. Thought of herself as a feminist, but let her coworkers mistreat and disrespect her. Her notions of feminism, and independence were ridiculous and unrealistic. She felt protected in Neil's arms, but wouldn't allow herself to enjoy it because she didn't need protecting from. On and on, Sophie's over-the-top, I am woman hear me roar mindset got old. Her neurotic independence stance was off-putting. What's wrong with showing vulnerability? Showing that you care? What's wrong with feeling safe and protected in your partner's arms? That's called being human.

4. My biggest issue with book and series. The author, who criticized 50 for all the sub-plots, inserts her own mega sub-plot towards the end of the book. Out of left field, Neil pushes Sophie away. She finds out she's pregnant. Then the story takes a direction that will drive it right off the cliff into a territory that you can't come back from. The book ends with a miserable cliffhanger.

Lastly, I'll say this--there are some topics that do not belong in Romance novels, Erotica, et al. Abortion is one of them. If two adults, who are in love, in a Romance novel, and are financially stable have an unexpected pregnancy...don't you think they would keep the baby? It would bring them close together? It would make a great HEA? If no, then why add the pregnancy subplot? The author apparently finds unwanted babies Romantic. Maybe she thinks abortion is an aphrodisiac of sorts.

I will not continue with series.