Ari Bookzilla

Gah, I'm trying really hard here not to turn all fangirlish and make this review about just how good Wild Beasts are (the band playing at the festival). Just listen to them!This book is unlike any I've read. It's mainly because the hero and heroine, Nicholas and Freda, are so different (although Nicholas reminded me a bit of Mac from [b:Rockoholic|13482839|Rockoholic|C.J. Skuse|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329106913s/13482839.jpg|14525101], and I adored him). I may have to add it to my list of all-time-favorites.“We all paint on a face to show the world. For some of us, that's quite literal.”Nicholas is a drag queen. Yep, isn't that awesome? He is this eccentric, wonderful man, the most unconventional hero I have ever read, and there are ~so many layers to him that I just wanted more, and more, and more to be revealed. Unfortunately, the book had to end somewhere. It's a slow reveal of why he uses his Vivica Blue persona to become someone else, even for a little while. As a reader, you already know what happened, but if anything, I would have expected him to go the other way. He does come off a bit pushy at the beginning, and a bit too touchy-feely, which could be mistaken for sexually aggressive, but you'll come to realize that's just the way he is. He really has an amazing personality.And I may have a girlcrush on Viv.Freda has a bit of a dirty mouth. She cusses, and has absolutely no filter for the things she says. She is also a lovely person, with sharp wit and an awesome sense of humor. You can tell that everything about her is the product of her defense mechanism - she's a size 14 (UK! and I don't think that's fat) and has been called fat her whole life, she grew up in a bad neighborhood. What's wonderful about her is that she has a mind so open, Nicholas's eccentric nature only draws her in more.I loved the easy relationship they fell into despite all the attraction and sexual tension (and there's a lot of that - they have crazy chemistry.) The two of them together made so much sense, it's like they were made for each other. I loved their dynamics. Knowing Nicholas's history the conflict made sense, too - it wasn't over the top.I wish there was proper punctuation in dialogue, so I wouldn't have to stop and put commas mentally where they should be. Otherwise the book is beautifully written, and it's laced with wonderful humor. Even though the book is not from Nicholas's POV it might as well have been because you get to know him so well. I did want to get inside his head at times. I loved the setting of Dublin, and all the wonderful, colorful characters - Freda's parents, her best friends Nora and Harry, Phil, even Aaron the ex-boyfriend with stalker tendencies was a great character. The book is a bit on the long-ish side, but it's a fast read.I didn't like that the author often broke the fourth wall - I don't like being spoken to by the narrator if the book is written in 1st person POV. But I think this is just me, so don't pay much attention to it.Overall, I'd say that this book is so good it's definitely going on my favorites list. It's refreshingly different in a sea of post-50sog romance books today, and definitely worth reading. I'm so glad I did. Also, go listen to Wild Beasts!