Reviews

The Accidental Call Girl by Portia Da Costa

willwork4airfare's review against another edition

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2.0

I waited too long to review this book after I read it because I couldn't decide how to go about it-- do I rate it as I do any book, or do I rate it an erotica novel (of which I have limited experience).

What I can tell you is that this book is 90% erotica and 10% fiction, so there remains very little to be reviewed. If you're looking for a kinky read though, this book is literally sex scene after sex scene in almost every way you could want it (or maybe I'm just naive). I bought this book because I'd heard about it online and it was 2.99 on Barnes and Noble and I had a $3 credit from some ebook settlement, and at least for an entertaining read, it did not disappoint.

To start, the writing irked me, though this may be partially because its written in British English and I'm from the US. A specific example was the phrase "over glasses of fluids various". That's just not something that reads right to me and that arrangement of words appeared multiple times. I also had to look up the phrase "spent a penny" and after knowing what it means, I don't understand why it had to be included in the novel at least three times. Things that were not so British: she also referred to the bite of gin as a "silvery ferociousness" which I found a little comical. And I highlighted this time-setting gem: "the morning after the night before".

For what it was, the author made an attempt to create a compelling backstory, at least some of the time, albeit pretty far into the novel. While trying to add depth to the novel, I think Da Costa just made it harder for more readers to relate because none of the characters are particularly interesting or unique until you get to Brent-- the heroine's depressed gay best friend/ex lover/roommate who also happened to be a sex worker on the side when he was strapped for cash. Other than being a cautioning word at the beginning of the novel however, he doesn't really become relevant until the book starts gasping for some plot lines to link the sex scenes together, and then he becomes indispensable.

The book reminded me too much of Fifty Shades without Christian Grey's deliciousness, but maybe it's just because that was my first erotica and what I know to look for. Maybe this book would've done more for someone whose had a Pretty Woman fantasy, but it just came across as a funny, light read, which I don't think is what Ms. Da Costa intended.

meilien's review against another edition

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4.0

The story itself is a little thin. However, the sex scenes more than make up for it.
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