lightreads: a partial image of a etymology tree for the Indo-European word 'leuk done in white neon on black'; in the lower left is (Default)
lightreads ([personal profile] lightreads) wrote2016-04-05 09:34 pm

Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

Faking It (Dempsey Book 2)

2/5. Contemporary romance. She's a gallery-owner and former forger. He's a conman. They meet in a closet while burgling the same house.

I so wanted to like this. And I did like it. Bad sex that gets better with work! People pretending to be law-abiding until they realize that they are both crooked and that makes them super hot for each other! Close communities of women! A cute dog!

But it was all so rape culturey, I just can't. JFC, he has sex with her while knowing she's not enjoying it, then gives her endless shit for faking an orgasm. Crusie has a really bad track record on exactly this issue, and I just. Yick. Clever banter does not make up for rape culture.
readerjane: Book Cat (Default)

[personal profile] readerjane 2016-04-06 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I've only read one Crusie. I think it was Bet Me. Didn't like it, so I haven't tried any others, although a friend whose taste in books usually parallels mine likes her very much.

I put it down to not appreciating contemporary romance in general. I enjoy some SF/romance, or mystery/romance, or urban fantasy/romance, but if there's nothing else there besides will-they-or-won't-they, it just doesn't seem... enough.