*Not My REAL Bookshelf

*Not My REAL Bookshelf

Monday, February 27, 2017

"Bad Boy", by Olivia Goldsmith



Next on my list of literary gems is Bad Boy by Olivia Goldsmith. This is another book that I've owned for many years, and have read dozens of times over. It is also a book that brings me humor and heartache in equal measure, along with the hope that the main character may actually exist somewhere out there in the world.

Hapless Jonathan Delano is the sweet and loving guy that women the world over bemoan the lack of, while simultaneously pursuing cad after asshole after jackass. He's independently wealthy, humble, fiercely loyal, selfless, thoughtful, and intelligent -- everything a woman should want, yet not a single one does. Meanwhile, his WASP-y best friend Tracie Higgins is as clueless as she is shallow, inventing merit for her hopeless loser of a boyfriend where none exists and blatantly ignoring an obviously better choice for her affections. Seeing how Tracie openly flouts her preference for these "bad boys", Jon makes a deal with the devil and asks to be made into one for the sake of his love life.

Hilarity ensues as his training progresses, though it is a hilarity filled with empathetic groaning at the embarrassing means he employs to pick up women at the outset of his journey. But soon enough, he finds himself right where he had always hoped to be -- smack in the middle of a gaggle of groupies, without an end in sight to his queue of new and potential paramours. His behavior alienates almost everyone in his life that he actually cares about, and does wind up costing him a great deal in his work. His race to correct his missteps nearly ends in a dangerous disaster.

After the fallout begins to settle, these two friends begin a journey of rediscovery. New alliances are formed, lives are changed, and realizations spring to life in regards to what each wants to gain in the future. I won't be so disgraceful as to spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that all is right with the world when the final page is read.

Full Disclosure: This is not some masterpiece of classical literature, as many other reviewers will be quick to point out. It is a chick flick in book form, and would make a delightful romantic comedy someday. Be that as it may, I don't love this book for its ability to further my education in any way. It is comfort food for my soul, and that's all it needs to be. If you're looking for something highbrow, perhaps a book with a hot pink cover called "Bad Boy" is not going to suffice. Just saying.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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