Night Shift - Annie Crown

 

 “Reading is so much fun, but I’m tired of feeling like all the best parts of my life have been lived inside my own head.” 

I've been itching for a good romance since the beginning of the year and I am glad to say that I found it! I picked this up at my nearby Target, intrigued by the synopsis and cover and I said, "What the hell," and threw it into my basket. Little did I know that I would devour this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Started:  January 26th, 2024

Finished: January 30th, 2024

Synopsis: Kendall is a English Lit student at Clement University who loves working the night shift at the university library. In actuality, she might like reading her romance novels behind the counter more than helping the panicking students with their course papers. When Division I basketball player Vincent Knight comes into the library needing help with his poetry homework, it ignites a game of complicated feelings within Kendall, who always thinks in terms of bookish themes and tropes. Is this her "knight" in shining armor, or just another frat boy looking to score?

My Review (Spoilers!): First off, I gotta say, I love Kendall. She's bookish (like me!) and would rather be sitting in and reading a book or watching a movie than going out to a party. She brings books with her wherever she goes, and she has high standards for men, most of which are the fictional kind. When it comes to college stories, its hard to find stories that focus on the introvert or the bookworm. When people first think of college, they think of the college parties, the drinking, the hooking up and almost never about the quiet students who just want to be left alone. Kendall encompasses what I thought of myself during my college years. A girl who just wanted to pop in her headphones and read a book by the bell tower (iykyk)

Anyway, back to the story. When Vincent makes his way into the story, I thought "Oh boy, here's another story about a big-shot athlete who falls for the timid girl," and I was quickly chastised. Vincent is a complicated character with his own flaws and quirks. Yes, he's the star athlete, but he also shows us how men can be vulnerable and should be allowed to feel their feelings in a constructive way. Much like women hype up their friends when they go on a date, men also do the same. Vincent is a newbie when it comes to dating and he doesn't know how to approach it. So when you put two characters who are both awkward in the same romance book, I EAT IT UP. Their banter was so cute and hysterical (especially the 'how's the book?' commentary that runs throughout the whole novel when Kendall is clearly reading porn). Their interactions were realistic and honest and it made me feel seen with certain aspects of dating that I have been through. Kendall's mind races with "Will he think I'm weird reading this stuff?" or "I have no idea what I'm doing, quick, think of every romance movie I've ever watched and see if it works," and honestly, same. 

The pacing was quick and enjoyable, the side characters were fun and a big part of the story, especially Vincent's friend, Jabari, who quickly becomes the nemesis/wingman that makes Kendall's life a living hell but then, when more communication happens, helps out Kendall and Vincent in the long run. Nina and Harper, both of Kendall's roommates, were fun and added a realistic sisterhood to the equation. Usually when rooming with random strangers, you will receive a wide range of interests and both Nina and Harper compliment Kendall and they all work very well together. 

Finally, let's talk about the spice. Wow. Wow. Wow. Very specific and detailed and most of it took up entire chapters which shows you how detailed Crown was when writing it. One thing that I really enjoyed within those spicy moments was the banter both Kendall and Vincent had. They were legitimately funny and I can imagine other couples and myself having those conversations while doing other things. 

Final Thoughts: Kendall and Vincent's relationship was genuine and wholesome and I will forever support any man who can recite Elizabeth Barrett Browning poetry into my ear. That man memorized at least three poems for her and if that isn't the way to a bookworm's heart, then I don't know what is. If you need a light, fast-paced romance, I highly recommend this one.