Salt
By L.A. Ferro
TheStory
Cameron has been pining after Everett since she was 17 years old. Now she is 21 and after the events that transpired on her birthday, she has committed to getting Everett now more than ever.
The only problem? He’s her late father’s best friend. Everett has lines that he doesn't want to cross. He made a promise to his late best friend that he would protect Cameron and keep her safe. He’s steadfast in his obligation, even if it means protecting her from himself.
TheReview
The beginning (and by that I mean the first 50%) is a sloooooow burrrrrn. But honestly I don’t even know that I would call it “burning.” Everett and Cameron both have stuff going on outside of their not-relationship, so the burn is more like a simmer.
Honestly, Everett is kind of a baby. He doesn’t even treat Cameron well. He’s rude and brash. He keeps leading her to believe he feels something but then pushes her away. Not kindly either. And Cameron just accepts it. Like because she knows there is a spark, it’s okay that he chooses to be a butthole because he’s just conflicted. I disagree. I didn’t like his attitude or his approach to handling trying to stay away from Cameron.
Additionally, Everett barely tells her the truth about anything. There is a big secret involving the side characters, the families, and the deceased relatives and Everett knows something. Essentially, he’s lying by omission and Cameron just lets it go so long as he is giving her the attention she wants.
I understand the classic struggle of the dad’s best friend and the daughter. I do. I love the trope. But personally, this one did not slap. There wasn’t actually very much tension because Everett was constantly avoiding her. He was a little too successful for the storyline.
Ordinarily, I struggle to see the girl in his trope as mature but I actually found Everett being the big baby. He was immature, childish, and downright rude.
The big secret - that Everett should have known better than to keep - had so many people involved in it, I didn’t even know who was who or who did what to whom and when by the time it was revealed. I barely even knew what the mystery was, just that there was one. So when it was all revealed, it didn’t really shock me because it barely made sense to me to begin with.
And Everett’s reaction to the secrets coming out?! Just no. Flat out no.
You know what? I rated this book three stars when I was done with it. But writing this review just made me mad at it. I thought I liked it because I read it fast, but now I’m seeing I don’t have much good to say about it.
I will say, it was very spicy. I liked the spice. I also love the trope. And the ending was good. So that’s why it isn’t one star.
Thank you for coming on my thought journey with me as I think out loud for this review.
ProminentTropes
Age Gap
Dad’s Best Friend
Forced Proximity
