Synopsis
Hadley Arrington is the career-driven editor-in-chief of her university’s prestigious newspaper. Jack Diamond is a laidback student whose good looks have made things even easier than they need to be. She’s the girl who came out of nowhere and kissed him in the rain. He’s the boy who made her do something crazy.
When the stakes seem too high, they have to decide if they’ll let their love show or if they’ll walk away for good
4.5 / 5 stars
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My Review
I went into Love Show without knowing exactly what it was about. I thought I knew until I got few pages in and I actually had to look up the synopsis. No joke right now, but the more I got into this book, the more certain things were starting to cater to my own personal life and at parts I really felt close to Hadley, agreeing and disagreeing with her decisions, knowing full well what she was feeling at certain parts and especially the Journalism aspect. I studied that at university and always wanted to do what she does at the end of the book.
The thing that made me download this book was the cover. I am a sucker for kissing in the rain designs and will more than likely download before even reading the synopsis. But one mention of ‘editor in chief’ and ‘kissing in the rain’ and I was a goner. I knew I had to read this book!
This is the first book I have read by Audrey, but after reading Love Show, I need to download more by her. Her writing style sucked me in, I was turning page after page wanting to know more about Jack and Hadley and more importantly too, Hadley’s best friend who plays a big part in the book too!
You know the premise of Love Game from the synopsis, but there is so much more to this book. As you know, Hadley is a Journalism student, and she is completely career driven. She doesnt really have a social life outside of the paper and studying but one night she is dragged to a party, gets drunk and kisses a guy in the rain. That someone is Jack Diamond.
When one of her colleagues gets verbally attacked by members of a Frat house, Hadley goes to confront the president and finds that Jack is the deputy. She tries not to act surprised seeing him again and keeps her feelings to herself, but after a lot of pressure from Jack, she decides to act upon these and thus starts the horrible and confusing and awful fuck buddy relationship. (We’ve all done this!)
Over time, things and lines get blurred and it ends in disaster for both parties. But can they just walk away from each other or will they find their way back eventually? Even more so when Hadley needs him the most.
Hadley is such a strong heroine. She knows what she wants out of her life – she wants to be Middle Eastern reporter and studying and being editor in chief for the university’s newspaper is what is important. She had no time for a love life. She’s a little too focused but that is what you love about her. Then one night she lets her inhibitions down and after a dare to kiss a guy, she picks Jack – whom she has never met before. You cheer for her, because you want her to have fun. She’s young, in college and its what you do – go out, get drunk and kiss pretty boys!
When her and Jack start their ‘relationship’ you see her happier, and although she is still the studious girl, she is out having fun, being young, making her own rules and having fun with Jack, especially if she gets to sleep with this hunk of a man!!
But when secrets come out and feelings get blurred, Hadley is left devastated. You see her vulnerable and scared and frighten and god-damn right, you would be too. Because I wanted to be a foreign correspondent, I felt everything Hadley was – and you know you will and would too! From everything she sees, what she witnesses, its bloody terrifying and that is what I wanted to do. Hadley is one brave woman and although it effects her so much, you are glad she has done this, its what she wanted to do and shes done it now.
Jack. OH MY JACK! I adored this specimen. He isn’t what a normal frat boy is and although I have never been to college in the US, I am stereotyping from books and movies. Jack is the cool kid, the one who has been looking for Hadley since that kiss in the rain at the tailgate and now she appears in front of him. This is fate. Jack doesnt hide the fact he wants Hadley and a Fuck Buddy relationship is more than enough. You can see how much he adores Hadley, he will protect her, be there for her throughout everything with her roommate, who is in a bad relationship and will stand up for her. He will fuck her beyond belief but he had no motivation to get a job nor apply himself in university, which, although is really none of Hadley’s business, it doesnt sit well that he has no idea what he wants to do.
But he does harbour a massive secret about his family and my heart broke into a million pieces when you find out what it is. Dear god, I was crying at the pain and horror of what he must and still is going through, especially with Hadley going away. Tiny little pricks to the heart!
When shits hits the fan, you will be willing Hadley and Jack to get back together. It was inevitable that one would fall for the other. But a few months later, Hadley is in a bad way and calls Jack. You can see how much he still loves her, how is will always love her and be there for her at a drop of a hat. Despite the time, and the months apart a lot has changed in both their lives, but one thing stayed the same – their love for each other.
I LOVE Love Show. Its funny, cheeky, sexy and deals with serious issues too – which were written exceedingly well! You will feel for these characters, root and cheer for them, cry for them. It’s not straightforward and I like that. I like that Hadley was career driven and Jack wasn’t. I liked that they had an unconventional relationship, I liked that in the end they seemed to have swapped paths, but that is what made this book great and you should definitely take a chance on Love Show. It’s worth it!
Z. Elizabeth 