A review by inconspicuousbookshelf
Xavier Cold by Michelle A. Valentine

1.0

*Sighs* How do I start with this? This is actually the first review I've ever written, actually. I figured if I don't know what to take into account when doing one then I shouldn't do it. If you don't know how to do it then don't. But this book has been SO ANNOYING for me. When I read Phenomenal X, I was ecstatic, I really fell in love with that book, the characters, the plot, everything... I guess I had really high expectations for this second book. Oh! How sadly dissapointed I was. I absolutely got to the point of despising Anna in the worst way, I had to stop twice and read other books in between because I was so mad, so frustrated, so unbelievably... grrrrr!

The plot could've been developed in a better way, I felt like the idea was awesome but poorly developed. Frankly, only a couple of times towards the second half of the book did I feel like I was reading the same characters, the same author. When I read that Anna was to be involved in some sort of love triangle for a stupid show, and that she was actually willing to do it, knowing it would be a huge humiliation (even if the author didn't actually even picture it like that) for her boyfriend (I get it, you don't mind presenting yourself as a slut for the greater good (unrealistic much?), knowing it's your boyfriend's worst enemy, be it the reason it might be is just a no-no. It's the culmination of stupidity and lack of sense. The fact that she wasn't willing to let go of some dumb privileges backstage made me loose all respect for her. At least half the population of women have to wait until their men get home after work. She could buy a f*cking ticket (VIP if she wanted to be closer) and stop that madness from going down. It wasn't the end of the world and they wouldn't put their relationship in jeopardy so effortlessly.

And really? Just when you know your relationship needs to get strong you go and set up a date with your ex-fiance so you can "get closure"? Do you know the amount of people who actually have to wait a while to do that? And you decide to do it when your current relationship is actually weaker? Get your present (hell, your future!) set up straight and THEN think of coming to terms with a guy who doesn't mean half as your significant other does. Aren't characters supposed to be smart nowadays? Or at least with a bit of common sense? The truth is, in this book, Anna doesn't seem to know a thing about X, how he is, how his mind works, his emotions... It was very dissapointing for me. It feels like she was hit by a bus and now can't remember a thing about him. One step forward the first book, two steps backwards the second.

Uhm hello?! You don't know a neighborhood, your cousin tells you it's real bad, three thugs come looking for your boyfriend, he tells you to go inside and what does the smartass do? Stay outside and show his enemies all his weaknesses. Wow. So smart. As if you can actually do something against three heavily armed men. Go inside like your boyfriend told you to, avoid being recognized as a possible weakness (and the hassle of him having to worry about you) and call the police. Be smart. There are other ways of helping without trying to get yourself or your boyfriend hurt. Dumbass.

The truth is, it seemed like the book was just a quick way to give an end to this story. I hated the developement of the characters, the plot seemed way too superficial to me and overall, I really didn't like it that much at all. I was hoping for a lot more. More depth. More realism. More... everything.