THAT THING BETWEEN ELI & GWEN by J.J. McAVOY
26 April, 2016
Our Review
“The one thing I love about us, Guinevere, is that we talk, we laugh, we tease each other, we laugh more, and we drink. Before being my girlfriend, you were my friend; I love that.”
There’s always an excitement that ensues when a JJ McAvoy book release is imminent. We never know what she’ll bring us next, stories are entertaining to say the least and this book was no exception. This author always delivers and will always be an automatic 1Click for us.
In That Thing Between Eli and Gwen, JJ McAvoy brings a frenemies to lovers theme and it’s a theme we adore. For the most part this was a drama free (we’ll get to that later), low on angst story that was full of dry wit, sarky fun banter, romance, swoon and heat. A sexy, gruff and pragmatic Doctor, and a quirky, sweet, almost ethereal heroine who share a common bond yet don’t get along with the ribbing and insults coming thick and fast, and let’s not forget the enticing sexual tension that simmers between them.
“One moment you were that other woman who got hurt too, and then you were Guinevere. Funny, weird, talented, beautiful Guinevere, and I’m thinking about how you smell like rain, and whether you’ve eaten. I don’t know how it happened, all I know is that I’m thinking about you, and not just like a friend. “
Eli Davenport and Guinevere ‘Gwen’ Poe are brought together after sharing a humiliating and very hurtful experience when Eli’s fiancée dumps him at the altar, running off with Gwen’s fiancée right before their eyes, hence leaving them both heartbroken
Despite the annoyance they feel towards each other, there’s no denying that after being somewhat forced together, there is an understanding of the hurt and embarrassment they suffered. Not only that but Gwen seems to bring out the softer side in the grouchy Eli and he, in return, brings out a slightly wild streak in the sweet Gwen, as though they were missing a part of themselves they found in each other.
“In your books, how would the hero and the heroine work this out?”
She giggled….”The heroine would have gotten on the plane and we’d have to wait for book two to see them struggle to fix everything later.”
Gwen challenged the handsome, sexy, regimented and pragmatic Doctor, she confounded and excited him. Eli drew out the kinky side of the almost childlike Gwen, and through it all the witty insulting banter never let up and they could certainly steam up the pages!
“What do women see in you? You’re such an ass.”
“Handsome and successful, what more do they need to see”
The dynamic between Eli and Gwen was spot on. There was no drawn out miscommunication, no prolonged back and forth with their relationship from enemies, to friends, to lovers moving at a believable and steady pace bringing with it lots of fun, emotion and swoony romance right along with it.
“We aren’t a movie, or one of your romantic book couples. We’re real people who have to deal with real shit day in and day out. “
We loved everything about this book for 90% of the time, however there was 10% that felt like added unnecessary drama. We were enjoying the easy flow of the story and inwardly groaned when a plot twist arrived so late in the game. It felt out of place and really, the story didn’t need it as it was more than holding its own and felt the story could have still played out the way the author had intended had it not been included. The character of Eli also seemed to undergo a bit of a personality change about this time that felt out of character to the Eli we had known throughout the book.
Life isn’t always a straightforward, there are curves and bends and tough choices to make which Eli and Gwen had to adapt to, and while we may not have particularly liked how a very small part of the story transpired, there’s no doubt Dr Asshole and The Con Artist melted our hearts, gave us a laugh and a story that put a smile on our faces…oh and that epilogue kicked arse!!! Loved this one!
“You almost called me Gwen.”
“You are my Guinevere; Gwen is for everyone else.”
Synopsis
**A multicultural new adult romance from bestselling author, J.J. McAvoy**
Eli Davenport thinks he’s found the perfect woman to be his wife. She’s a doctor, like he is. She’s brilliant, like he is. And she’s wealthy, like he is.
Guinevere ‘Gwen’ Poe thinks her fiancé is the perfect man. He’s handsome, successful and he was her first…
But when Eli’s bride runs off with Gwen’s fiancée on his wedding day, they are left to pick up the broken pieces of each other…
Other Books By This Author
Ruthless People
Children of Vice Series
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Christy said:
That Thing Between Eli and Gwen was so good. I loved the way JJ McAvoy developed the characters from being no one to each other to annoying ones to friends to lovers. It was funny and yet deep. I could not stop reading. “Love me enough to let me go.”… “Love me enough to stay”… two thumbs up for me!!