Title: The Way To Game the Walk of Shame

Author: Jenn Nguyen

Series: Standalone

Publication: June 7th 2016 by Macmillan/Swoon Reads

Pages: 336

Source: Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

My Thoughts:

This book was so damn cute, I mean it. I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting much when I first requested it. While it sounded interesting, The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is not the type of book I would usually go for by any means. One night stands, slut-shaming, and the like is something I usually avoid – and that’s what I was worried about with this given the synopsis. BUT! I found myself pleasantly surprised, and even slowly falling in love with the story and the characters as events unfolded before my eyes. The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is a sweet contemporary about finding love where you least expect it.

Taylor Simmons is a handful. She is a go-getter, a super-star, a hard-working genius with the goal of going to Columbia to become a lawyer like her father. I liked Taylor, I really did. I identified with her. She tried so hard to do her best, to be the best she could be rather than party and throw high school down the drain. She is persistent, stubborn, and she isn’t afraid to throw some serious shade. But, she is also sensitive, naive, and loving – especially when it comes to her family, like her younger sister Kimmy. I loved seeing Taylor grow over the course of the novel. She starts out all ME, ME, ME and slowly transforms into caring more about other people. The whole fiasco with her “reputation” drives her nuts – I mean, the way the people at school handled it didn’t help the situation. But we all know how horrible people can be to each other, especially when one person was previously untouchable. I mean, these kids are awful to her. So, she does the only thing she can do and she owns up to it and makes it her bitch.

Of course, it takes two to tango, so what’s a review without the other half of the equation? Evan McKinley, what can I possibly say about Evan McKinley? I LOVE HIM! He’s hilarious, caring, and sadly, yes, he is a total ladies man. I mean, hardcore ladies man – but he gets better, so there’s that. I really do like him though, especially when you finally figure out what happened the night they were drunk – SO MANY BROWNIE POINTS MAN! Not to mention what he did with Taylor’s sister with the makeup, it so damn cute.

The romance in this book was marvelous. Of course, there is instant attraction and whatnot – but the romance? It’s  the good kind. The slow burning kind where you’re just screaming and waiting for them to finally get together. I knew where the book was going to go before it went there, but I loved it all the same. Honestly, I don’t know what else this book would have done – so I’m not complaining. But anyways, back to the good stuff. The romance is wonderful. It’s got its ups and downs, it feels real – it felt as if I were watching a real relationship unfold. Plus, it gave all the feels – so, win win.

Overall, The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is an adorable, sweet, giggle-worthy contemporary that is the perfect quick read for a rainy day – or any day, really. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a great pick-me-up. Honestly, this book is amazing, the characters are amazing, the story is adorable and the main man squeeze is swoon-worthy. This is definitely a book to grab hold of.

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble