But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.
When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.
My Thoughts:
"I want to love all of my life as much as I love this night."
My first thought after finishing Sweet Filthy Boy was how much I want to go to Paris. This book filled me with this burning desire to travel and experience all of Mia's parisian discoveries for myself. Beside's the sweetness of Ansel, I really think that this was my favourite part of the story. I could almost picture the little cafe's, art gallery's, museums and the cobblestoned streets. I was so swept up in that aspect of the story.
This is only my second delve into the pairing of Christina Lauren, and to be honest, I'm not sure why I haven't read more. There is a real smoothness to their writing which makes the story so easy to read. Even though the first part of the book was something that I had just read in another book, once I got past that initial part of the story, I really loved it and it was also incredibly different to the other book on so many levels.
I should point out that this book is definitely not for the Young Adult audience. There is lots of sex. Lots of hot, wordy sex. Ansel and Mia spend a lot of time getting to know each other in the bedroom. And other parts of the apartment. But it was also, so very much fun!! I loved how flirty Ansel was and that Mia stepped outside her comfort zone a bit to surprise Ansel.
It's in these moments I find myself wanting to congratulate past-me for doing or saying whatever it was that caught Ansel's attention in the first place and -- by some act of God or alcohol I still don't understand -- held it. Sometimes, I think, past me is a genius.
Mia was at times a little bit meek, but I think a lot of that comes down to her upbringing. Slowly over the course of the book she developed the ability to stand up for herself, which I really admired. She has always been the good girl, doing exactly what is expected of her and not really questioning if it's what she really wants. That she took such a leap with Ansel was such a spontaneous act and really put into place Mia's need to be herself, for herself.
He laughs, shaking his head in mock exasperation, but amusement digs his dimple into his cheek and it makes my heart grow ten sizes too big for my chest. Hello, Lover.
The overwhelming feeling that I have for Ansel is his how much I loved his sweetness. If a guy you've only just recently met and barely know, can hold back your hair and take care of you as you unceremoniously bring up the contents of your stomach, then I say he's a keeper. I think I fell in love with Ansel around about then, if I wasn't already smitten. But then there is that other side to him. Just as the title suggests, he has that naughty side. He was really the whole package. The perfect balance of sweet and filthy. And every time he spoke French, I was a gonna all over again. He could have been saying "I'm taking out the garbage" and I would have swooned at the man's feet.
Another plus for me was the funny moments that balanced the book out nicely. Too much of one thing can get boring and this book was definitely never boring.
In the world of books, when so many have an epilogue that gives you a nice look into the happy future of the characters, I'm not sure if I was happy that this book didn't have one or applauding the authors for allowing me to picture for myself, what's in Ansel and Mia's future. The ending was wrapped up, but, I think I felt like I wanted more. I think it was actually the tease of the last line that had me looking for more pages, because the ending was in fact absolutely wonderful.
Sweet Filthy Boy was a story about finding love when you aren't even looking for it it the most random of places and situations, and, discovering yourself and being brave enough to go after the things you want.
His blush, his dimple, a quiet laugh, and the teeth pressing into his lip again and I'm done for. F**king kill me now.
4.5/5 Sweet, Filthy Stars
A great big thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for the review copy.
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