Flawed Perfection (Beautifully Flawed #1)
by Cassandra Giovanni
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Show n'ot Tell Publishing
Pages: 248
Format: eBook
Source: ARC for Tour
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Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star hockey player—he was the spitting image of perfection to his family. Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers.
River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She's been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she's stuck right in the middle of the brother's dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn't even know she's the ultimate prize.
Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl's hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damaged, with boyish good-looks, nobody thought Adam loved anyone but himself.
Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself—or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all...
I'm not really a big fan of love triangles. Sure, I read books where they play a role, and I often even like those books. But an entire plot that is basically just a girl waffling between two guys (because that is really the only way this plot plays out)? Not really my cup of tea. But it's not so much the triangle itself as the waffling. I hate waffling. Figure out your feelings, dammit!
Getting back on topic, Flawed Perfection was a pleasant surprise in this respect. While there is technically a love triangle it's not about "I can't make up my mind" so much as it is everyone loving the wrong person. Those I can get behind. Unrequited love is so much more generally believable and relateable than two dudes all-out warring for the same girl, in my opinion. Not to say that doesn't happen, but it certainly feels more like wish fulfillment on the side of the reader sometimes...
As far as characters go, they kind of span a wide range for me. I was so annoyed by Bobby and thought he was absolutely an asshole for upwards of 50% of the book, and probably one for most of the rest of it, when his motives weren't as clear. His feelings for River were mad possessive and would have been in stalker territory (rage when someone you are absolutely not in a relationship with has feelings for someone else is not healthy) if it weren't for the fact that they'd grown up together, were best friends, etc., etc. River herself was a little lack-luster, with the exception of in her devotion to Adam. At that, she excelled. But despite the fact that she felt a little overlooked considering she was a key player, she was certainly likable where Bobby wasn't. Finally, there was Adam, who I actually really liked. It felt like he got the vast majority of the character development in the story. That also made it clear for me who I was rooting for (even if River always knew who she wanted). The secondary characters fell between Bobby and River on the spectrum: Tara, River's best friend, was watered-down much like River and seemed only to exist to want Bobby's attention at times; both River's (not so much her dad, but still) and Adam/Bobby's parents were all awful, playing favorites, letting each other insult there children, and even more ridiculous things parents probably shouldn't be doing.
Overall, I enjoyed Flawed Perfection. The writing in the ARC was rough and needed editing and the characters were a varying range of quality, but I was with the story right up to the end. If you're looking for a quick, simple read where you already know how the love triangle will end up—because, c'mon, you totally do—check it out!
Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1) and the Amazon bestselling thriller, Walking in the Shadows. In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children's novel, The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1). Cassandra released her first New Adult novel, Love Exactly, which became an Amazon Bestseller overnight in June of 2013. She's currently working on her new New Adult Contemporary Romance, Beautifully Flawed. The first novel in the series, Flawed Perfection is scheduled to be published on March 7, 2014.
Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of Gio Design Studios Photography and Gio Design Studios Publication Marketing. She is currently studying to receive a degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.
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