Book Review: Me, Cinderella? by Aubrey Rose

Me, Cinderella? by Aubrey Rose
Genre: Romance
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Summary: Brynn Tomlin could never afford to follow her heart. But when she sees a stranger shivering in the snow outside of the college library, an inexplicable urge leads her to buy him a hot cup of coffee. It's just a small act of kindness, a few words of conversation. Brynn should be focusing on her finals, after all, not on the man who looked up at her gratefully with piercing blue eyes. 

He could have been anyone - a janitor on break, a graduate student, a bum. But the man standing outside in the cold turns out to be Dr. Eliot Herceg, one of the most brilliant minds in mathematics and heir to a fortune. After years of reclusive isolation, he now finds his heart awakening to the kind girl whose name he does not know. 

Brynn has spent her life trying to forget her desires, and Eliot's deep wounds have taken nearly a decade to heal. After so much hurt, will either of them be able to open their hearts again? 

Review

The Good: Brynn is a typical girl who while somewhat impoverished doesn't let that stop her from trying to achieve her dreams. Elliot is a man with a sad past and while that might sound typical Aubrey writes him in such a way that he comes off as an original touching character that draws you in. Seeing the romance develop through both perspectives is perfect because you get to see how each person feels and when something goes right or wrong you have an idea why. Also it doesn't hurt to fall for a brilliant mathematical mind when you too are interested in the subject as well. This story isn't typical and the fact that the author is willing to use Mathematics, a subject that is widely unappreciated in a novel (especially in romance) has to be appreciated. The traveling to another country is well displayed including the contrast on how people live in different countries and the clear disparity between the wealthy and not so wealthy and impoverished. Also having characters not fall into bed in the first few chapters is actually refreshing.

The Bad: What the story brings about in originality it loses in luster. The romance is sometimes less than stellar and parts of the novel are just plain boring. Things happen that sometimes turn off a reader more than bring them in and while you have to have twists and surprises you have to be aware of the reader and their feelings well. No reader likes feeling robbed or unfairly blindsided. Also while I get Brynn loves math it sort of came off as disrespectful to me how much she attacked the written word. Yes people hurt her but you can't just put all the blame on words then say math never lies or goes wrong. That is not only a misconception, it really irked me personally. We get people said hurtful things. Doesn't make words evil and math a perfect God, geesh.

My Verdict: If you enjoy romance and stories that don't follow the typical in bed the same day model then this book might be for you. But be prepared this isn't a book full of heated passion or pseudo erotica. If that's the kind of romance you read look elsewhere. Also with some of the pitfalls you might want to be careful before reading. If after you read my review you still feel this book is for you and you ignore the negatives, then I say go for it.

Rating: 3.5 Stars