Zane

I was gifted a copy of this book by a friend. I had high hopes of liking it because I had seen the movie and everyone knows books are better than movies right? Even with as many issues that I had with the movie, the book issues were more in my face which was disheartening because I REALLY had wanted to like this book.

I struggled with several parts of this book. Was the premise good? Absolutely! Which makes my disappointment that much greater. However, I never fully got on bard to Zoe being a show more sex addict as to the reason that she cheated on Jason. Nor did it make sense why she kept the relationship with Jason for all the years that she did. Even though marriages aren't just about sex or intimacy, it is a much-needed component in marriage because otherwise, you are just roommates. Needs need to be met. I wouldn't have held on to a relationship if I was just so unhappy. So the settling thing bothered me and a sex addict would have been looking for that desire to be fixed long before it had gotten to this point. Add in there are only three people besides Jason that she acted on this with. That isn't a sex addict. It was more like a woman trying to find comfort in touch from something that she was missing in her life. I think if the author had gone in that direction instead of a sex-addict stemming from something from Zoe's past it would have lent more credibility.

The writing at times felt juvenile or "hood" like and I hate even saying that as it is so derogatory but it is the only way that I can attribute it because it reminds me of the summers of my early twenties at barbeques with my best friend at her Aunt Ruby's house. It is what Danika would have called the way that she talked to her family and friends. It is not meant derogatory in the least, nor is it based on color. For people, like myself, that have seen the movie before the book, there are some big differences in what was kept. The relationship with Diamond was not even included and that surprised me since in the book she is one of the things selling the whole "Zoe is a sex addict" thing.

There was soooooo much drama that was over the top that I struggled with. There were parts that didn't need to be there and others that didn't even enhance the story. All in all, I am just frustrated because even though the movie was not my favorite thing, it sure gave me something to feast my eyes on even if I struggled with the plot. I am sad that this gift was$12.99 for an ebook. AN EBOOK. I am even sadder that other amazing books out there don't have the chance this book had by being made into a movie. I appreciate the author and her hard work but this was not my cup of tea. show less

My second reading of my introduction to Zane's pen skills left me feeling like I've never read it before. It's like hypnosis trying to remember a repressed memory. My emotions were all over the place and I came to realize Zoe isn't so fictional anymore. Each page felt like her diary being revealed giving you every raw feeling, straight with no chaser. No room was left to ask why. Zoe put her cards on the table from jump telling trusted, non-judgmental ears 'I have a problem. I need help show more before I destroy me'. We take the obvious from the story but only those who look deeper get it all. show less

After 3 years of ignoring this book, I finally read it. And I'll be damned if it wasn't good. I think there were over 20 stories by different authors, and most if not all were great. I'm a romantic at heart and hate that most didn't end with "And they lived happily ever after", but I still immensely enjoyed the book. 5hrs 16 mins.

I suppose this is where you color me a book snob. I don't like Jane Austen books. I don't like "urban" books either. It seems no matter how many I try to read, I've yet to find one in which I can immerse myself. They slang and curse words feel forced and overused. The slang isn't particularly descriptive, and make it very hard to connect with the characters. They seem to be all attitude--style without substance. There's too much time spent on descriptions of skin color, hair texture, and eye show more color. (Which, oddly enough, seem to play up the colorism still rampant in the Black community.)

I really enjoyed the movie Addicted, so I was looking forward to reading the book. I was hoping the encounters would be frequent, sexier, and more time would be spent exploring why Zoe was a sex addict. (Why do addicts become addicts? They are trying to fill a hole of need, emptiness, or escape from a trauma. In the movie, they didn't do the best job of explaining why Zoe was craving so much.) But the book left me with a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. It seemed hateful toward women, men, and anyone with sexual desire. I can't escape into a novel--erotic, romantic or even realistic--where there is not one person I can sympathize with.

The two positives to the story were the ride-or-die friendship between Brina and Zoe and how swiftly the book moved once it got past the early days of Zoe and Jason. show less