Meet Mary Sue & Gary Stu! The Hookup by Kristen Ashley [Audiobook Review]

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Don’t want to read the whole review?  Click to jump to the Skinny Review.

I bought this audiobook because it was on sale for $1 or something when I got the free ebook on Amazon and I can’t believe I actually finished the whole book! No, I’m not saying that The Hookup is not good, it’s just that the main characters were a Mary Sue and Gary Stu! And I haven’t said this about any character ever! I mean, I’m all for a good girl and good boy characters but SO PERFECT? Really?

Izzy, the SUPER Amazing WOMAN

Here’s the deal, our heroine, Eliza “Izzy” Forrester is independent and successful. Owns her own house and has a stable of horses, rescued a couple of does, a few cats and even has a canary. Oh, and her best friend, who she works with WAS SUPER AMAZING that she actually went to Izzy’s house to feed her menagerie when Izzy slept with the hero after meeting him that same night! Oh, and she is an amazing cook, makes vodka infusions on her spare time, looks for stuff from yard sales and decorates for impromptu parties like a pro! Yea, she’s like the perfect Martha Stewart. She also basically raised herself and her sisters because her mother left her dad (for good reason) but she had to work a lot to support their family. Oh, and did I mention that her father is filthy rich? Yeah.

Johnny Gamble makes every guy feel like a TOTAL LOSER

The hero, Johnny Gamble is THE PERFECT MAN! He is an heir to a few gas stations with convenience stores and garages that he inherited from his father, yet he still works at his own garage (not that it was obvious that he was actually working). He owns a lot of real estate and basically is a millionaire who doesn’t need to work, but he actually does because he is a Gary Stu. He is also the perfect boyfriend type for Izzy, loves animals and also helps out a friend watch over his horse when he goes on vacation. Oh, and he is an outdoorsy type and loves to camp and go fishing. And didn’t I mention that he was also going to lend money to Izzy’s sister to get a lawyer so she can leave her jerk of a husband? Oh, and he also had a perfect ex-girlfriend that he couldn’t let go? Oh, and he creepily cradles Izzy in his lap when he finds he dozing off in a blanket with her baby nephew at a fair? No, it’s not a swoony moment. Please!

Sickeningly Sweet

Yeah, both were just too perfect for me and really gave me The Stepford Wives feel, which really creeped me out! I just can’t take too perfect characters.

The Conflict doesn’t even involve Izzy!

There is a major conflict in the book where Johnny saves [spoiler]Izzy’s nephew from his ex-girlfriend’s brother. I mean, I know it’s her younger sister’s son but I don’t get it. Also, there really isn’t a legit reason why the ex-girlfriend’s brother kidnapped the nephew![/spoiler] I’m confused.

Dual POV

The only redeeming thing about The Hookup is the dual POV and the two narrators. The two narrators, Stella Bloom and Lance Greenfield, are so perfect for the goody-two-shoes role of the two characters.

Overall Thoughts

Even though there was a lot of steamy sexy times in this book, it just couldn’t make-up for the overall perfectness of the main characters. I also didn’t like the conflict because it didn’t feel like it was relevant to Izzy. Plus, the blurb felt like it was her ex-boyfriend who was the reason why she moved to town. So, I don’t know why this wasn’t what Kristen Ashley went for.

Recommendations

I honestly can’t recommend this book or audiobook, unless the perfectness of the main characters are your jam, then have at it.

I will not be reading the next book in the series because… well, I have a feeling that it will feature another Mary Sue and Gary Stu.

 

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Do you like Mary Sue and/or Gary Stu characters? Or characters that are just too perfect?

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