Audiobook Review: Butterface by Avery Flynn

Author: Avery Flynn
Narrator: Brian Pallino , Savannah Peachwood

Title: Butterface

(The Hartigans #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Published:   July 10th 2018

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

It’s true. I’m not what most people would call “pretty” and, well, high school was rough. Fast forward ten years and life is good…

Until a bunch of jerks think it’s hilarious to put the “butterface” (AKA me) on a wedding Kiss Cam with the hottest guy ever—and that old humiliation hits hard.

I recognize him immediately. The sexiest cop in Waterbury and totally out of my league.

But then he kisses me. And we totally forget the room, the crowd, everything.

Then he tells everyone we’ve been dating for months.

Soon everything starts to feel too real, from adorable fights over “necessary” tools to fix my broken porch to surviving a free-for-all dinner with his six siblings to picking up where our last kiss left off.

But there’s something he’s not telling me about why he’s really hanging around, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with my mob-connected brothers.

Because this is not a make-over story, and Cinderella is only a fairy tale…

Review:

Been meaning to check out this series. Especially book 2. I'm trying to be better and not skip around in the series. ;) So I started with book 1. *pats self on back*

The story follows Gina who is not what you would classify as "pretty". She has a big nose and little eyes. She has always been teased and has resigned herself to this fact especially after a terrible moment when she was made a fool in front of everyone. She has decided that she needs no man and will make it on her own. She has her own house and her own business helping those in love celebrate and plan their wedding. Enter in Ford. He is a no-nonsense cop but he is pretty darn hot. When the two are forced to kiss on the Kiss Cam...they find themselves falling for each other; first in lust and then in love. However, can they really find happiness especially because Gina's brothers may or may not be connected to the local mob. 

This was very sweet. I love both our characters. Ford was a dumb dumb sometimes, but he has been a cop for so long that he forgets people have feelings. Silly boy. And Gina hates her face so much that it really does cause many wedges between the two. WHICH I can understand for sure. When you are self conscious and are made fun so much....it is hard to really love yourself. Plus I would be shocked if a man like Ford liked me too. I would be super suspicious the whole time. 

I loved the fact that the author didn't make this a cliché tale of the ugly duckling magically becoming hot with just some lippie or better clothing. I was worried, if I am to be frank, but the author avoided that pit of cliché central. She refuses to get a nose job because why? Nothing wrong with a big nose. This story shares not only her romance journey, but her journey to truly loving herself. It's not perfect and she will always battle that self-hatred (as we all do), but it was nice seeing her grow and realize she deserves all the happiness in the world. She is so sweet. I want to be her bestie!!!!

I also loved how Ford is not perfect. Sure....he's hawwwwt, has a great family, a good job, sweet, and smart....BUT he is super flawed too but in different ways. It was nice seeing our hero having to grow too and realize that life is never black and white. It is a crazy multi-shade of grey. Yayy for flawed characters! Gotta love it when they are complex. 

This was funny but realistic funny. I would love to see this become a movie!!

The narrators were wonderful. They did well and I am glad we had two different readers. It makes it fun. I hope they do book 2!

Overall, I really adored this. It was really good. It had a lot more depth then I expected. It avoided a lot of the cliche story plots that authors tend to tumble down into when it comes to an ugly duck falling for a non-ugly duck. Kuddos! I'll give this 5 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #53 for Audiobook Challenge