#Selfie

it's just my opinion, no one else's

It's a good thing that I have read the book before I listen to this. I absolutely love the story but I dislike the person that they have reading Braden's part. I believe that they could have found someone better. The way he read Braden's character was not right for him. He was too out of breath, raspy, Braden is not that way.

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It's different...

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I feel like this is a loaded question. You will have to read the part where I describe my feelings towards the narrators’ voices. Overall, I am a fan of the series.

If you’ve listened to books by Cambria Hebert before, how does this one compare?

This is my first Cambria Hebert audio book.

Did Shaun Grindell and Jillian Macie do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

When you do an audio book there are certain expectations you set as a listener. I love dual POV audio books. There’s something about listening to a male’s voice that just makes my experience better and more enhanced. I agree with the author, B’s voice was disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, the narrator’s voice is lovely, but it didn’t fit B’s personality. Also, it’s obvious that the voice is an older man, a man in his 40’s and 50’s, which doesn’t fit with B’s twenty-something character. Usually when I listen to a voice I’m not fond of, I eventually get into it. So on the bright side, after a few hours, it didn’t bother me so much anymore and I could get into the story.

I love Ivy’s narrator for this book. She’s light, cute and very girlie. I imaged Ivy completely as I was listening to it and maybe that is why I agree more with Ivy than B.

Was #Selfie worth the listening time?

I don’t like to post anything negative, but I think my experience would have been different, had I read this book instead of listened to it. Please read my full review on my thoughts.

Any additional comments?

Full Book Review Below:

3 ** scratching my head** stars

#Selfie is a standalone and is part of the Hashtag series. The first three books are Romeo and Rim’s story (whom I love and adore). The next book is #Poser, which continues Braeden’s (B) story from #Selfie, but #Selfie is a standalone.

I will have to put this disclaimer out there. I love the series. I’m a mega fan of Romeo and Rim, but I had a secret crush on B from the first book, #Nerd. I love how funny, abrasive and egotistical B was throughout the series. I find his relationship with Rim adorable, cute and kind. So I had high expectations going into #Selfie.

I waited to do the audio because I was curious to see how my experience would be verse reading the series, like I did with the first three books.

If you follow my reviews, you know I post positive reviews. No, I don’t love every book I read, but if I don’t like a book, I just don’t post a review. But I feel like it’s my duty to put this out there.

When you do an audio book there are certain expectations you set as a listener. I love dual POV audio books. There’s something about listening to a male’s voice that just makes my experience better and more enhanced. I agree with the author, B’s voice was disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, the narrator’s voice is lovely, but it didn’t fit B’s personality. Also, it’s obvious that the voice is an older man, a man in his 40’s and 50’s, which doesn’t fit with B’s twenty-something character. Usually when I listen to a voice I’m not fond of, I eventually get into it. So on the bright side, after a few hours, it didn’t bother me so much anymore and I could get into the story.

If you do not plan to do the audio, then here are my thoughts about the book.
There are mixed reviews for #Selfie, you either loved it or thought it was okay. I would say #Selfie has the most angst in the series and B is painted into a different light in this book. He’s got some flaws and it’s apparent in the story.

I’m not a fan of angst and I had certain perceptions of B from the beginning of the series, so that played a huge role while I listened to #Selfie.

B is a ladies man, he’s abrasive and doesn’t want a serious relationship. Ivy is your typical college girl, trying to find herself, but also try to have a good time. She’s beautiful and put together, but not everything is what it seems and there’s more to her than the make-up and blonde hair.

B and Ivy’s relationship pretty much start out with insta-lust. I have no issues with this, but it set the tone for the relationship between the two. Ivy has a huge complex because Missy has a crush on B and well, you just don’t hook up with your friend’s crush. Girl code right?
It’s hard to empathize for Missy. I understand Ivy’s concerns because Ivy wants to not hurt her friend, but at the same time, B gave no indication that he wanted anything with Missy, so shouldn’t Missy just simply move on? This kind of led to the “secret” throughout the whole book.

B is a hard Hero to love. In the first three books he’s pretty much drama-free and happy-go-lucky (at least in my eyes), but in #Selfie you see a lot of his issues. He’s not romantic and sometimes his gestures towards Ivy can be kind of harsh. There’s a point in the book where he called her an offensive name and it was hard for me to move past that, he’s not the perfect Hero and that dynamic gives him may layers to work through.

The whole book focuses on how B and Ivy’s not so easy relationship. Ivy tries to date other people to move past B, but of course no one measures up to him. When a Heroine dates other people, it always makes me want to slap the character, because it doesn’t do any good for the “nice guy” that is kind of used. Hopefully Trent gets his book.

Secrets are revealed later on and you take it as it comes. It will either shock or like me kind of confuse you, but you go with it.

I understand the glowing reviews. It’s an angst filled book with a complex Hero and a damage girl. A lot is revealed in the book and it kind of starts the momentum for #Poser.
I love Ivy’s narrator for this book. She’s light, cute and very girlie. I imaged Ivy completely as I was listening to it and maybe that is why I agree more with Ivy than B.

I wouldn’t compare B and Ivy’s relationship with Romeo and Rim. Both couples are very different and both stories go into a different direction. If you like a bit of angst and are curious to how B changes, then #Selfie is for you.

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I know this is meant to be a sweet romance, but... (SPOILERS)

Ok, I have some problems with this series that just slapped me in the face with this book. Romeo and Rimmel’s story had some issues that bothered me (eg. homophobic comments by the guys, utter failure to call the police when Rimmel was assualted) but I liked the characters and kept going to see what happened.

This one, though, alarmed me for several reasons. The homophobia is more pronounced, and the weird macho posturing of the guys bordered on toxic masculinity.

The rape culture of the college campus is ignored. Um, hello? Girl is attacked and nearly gang raped. Not gonna call the cops? Just gonna let those guys go on to the next victim?
And then not even telling anyone, like it’s shameful? This is the mindset that keeps so many victims from reporting rapes and assaults.

And the slut shaming. This was a great opportunity to address and confront this as a problem. Instead the attitudes are, oh well it will blow over and people will forget. WTH?

Not to mention that evidence of drugging and raping is uncovered then kept quiet. So the victim still doesn’t know she was a victim, the perpetrator is not punished, and the person who had the evidence is oddly let off the hook? No. Just no. On every level.

There were other things that bugged me, but those are the ones heaviest on my mind right now.

Side note on the performances: What was with the odd accents? Where exactly where these people supposed to be from? He almost sounded like he was from Jersey sometimes, and she bounced all over the South and every once in a while ended up in North Carolina. It was distracting.

1 person found this helpful

He should have told her

If it was me I would want to know. It should be her decision on what to do and that witch got off too easy. Actions have consequences and if you dont face them how does one learn ?

1 person found this helpful

#Selfie

Narration: I knew going it was going to be different than the first 3 books, but I guess I expected a different voice for Braeden because this one seemed a little old for him. But you do get used to him. Now Jillian Macie's voice is great. Perfect for Ivy.

I have read and listened to all these before this is a re listen for me. And each time I listen I like something I didn't like before. If you are worried we won't see Rim and Romeo but we do we do! And that helps but I found the beginning like 10 chapters to be a little slow going. But if you pushed through cause you <3 Braeden like a brother yo you won't be disappointed!
This book has some emotion that I was expecting to feel with these two characters. I actually teared up a little twice I know I know that's not hard for me but it really was this book just pulled at my heart. And Romeo, oh Romeo, he totally had a swooning moment that I just loved. <3 Rim and the Hellcat lmao too funny poor kitty. ;)

So even though it started off slow it got good when it needed to and I am def looking forward to the 5th book. :) I am glad Ivy got her HEA she deserved it as much as Braeden :)

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Great Story; Awful Male Narrator

What made the experience of listening to #Selfie the most enjoyable?

I love the story but and the female narrator.

How could the performance have been better?

The male narrator is awful! He totally ruined Braeden's part of the book.

1 person found this helpful

Love the story

Uh the narration could be better and they sorta take away from some fan favorite characters. I enjoyed this one more reading it on my own.

*insert obligatory title here*

*insert obligatory 15 word review because all I want to do is rate the book*

The Male Narrator not the right person

I love this series. It’s my all time favorite, but the guy narrating it, just NO!!!! There supposed to be college students, so why does he sound like his in his 60s. I HATE IT. He killed the book 😒😒

Love Braeden

I'm so excited we got Braeden's book! Romeo and Rimmel are great together and now they seem stable so it's nice to see the BBFL, Big Brother For Life get a special girl. Ivy is a sweet girl and after what happened with Zach, I'm happy to see her find love. Braeden is hilarious and Ivy is sassy back to him and this whole book was a lot of fun. We also learned more about the Buzz Boss's identity. I'm excited to read the next book!