Review by BookishBookkeeping -- Randy Love...at your ser...

[BookishBookkeeping]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Randy Love...at your service" by Shay Carter.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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"Randy Love...at your service!" by Shay Carter is "Kinder Surprise" candy from the UK but without the surprise. It starts off with chocolate goodiness but quickly reveals itself to be nothing but an empty shell. The author is either from England or completely enthralled with the people and culture of that fair land across the sea. One is not to sure which one it is, but this book screams everything British. If that is your cup of tea this book might be the one for you.

Randy Love is a fictional story about a young modern man on a summer break from college and instead of going back to finish he decides to enter the big bad world of becoming an adult. Along the way he seems to unintentionally get into one escapade after another while he goes apartment hunting. Though most of these hilarious occurrences are avoidable if he had, as the author puts it, some common sense; one quickly realizes common sense isn't the only thing this character lacks. His hair brain ideas are at best comical at worst manipulative and illegal.

There aren't many good things to recall about the book but how quick of a read it was and the laughable way Randy Love reveals his so called intelligence. For example, the way he is so frugal with his money, even trying to get free Subway sandwichs from a friend, but doesn't bat an eye when he ditches rent deposits in order to get out of confrontational situations. You'll either be wanting to smack him around or just find yourself shaking your head wondering if he'll ever grow up. One character, Michael who briefly enters throughtout the book, at least gives some advice and tries to be a clearer voice of reason and wisdom, but alas Mr. Love just wants to do what he thinks is right, hence the ever mounting problems.

Regrettably not much else is praisworthy. The book continually reinforces the stereotype of young men as being thoughtless, irreponisible, and overtly sexual miscreants. The women he encounters aren't of a higher quality either. The numerous women are prodded and poked and degraded in some fashion or another. The author leaves us with no surprise as to why Randy Love does what he does when he is the embodiment of that stereotype. The book plods along but abruptly ends without further character development.

Overall I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The book is a fair read and will hold your attention as you wonder what else could possibly happen, but it lacks a more well rounded approach to the ups and downs of entering adulthood. I'm not sure which audience was targeted here, young adult or adult, male or female? Though I would lean more on the adult side due to some sexually graphic scenes. Seems like the book could appeal to those who are between character commitments and love anything British. For example, if you've finished reading something like "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen but don't know what to read next, this book might fit the bill in giving some entertainment while you decide. But if you are on the more serious side of literature then I would pass this one up and dive right into a Charlotte Bronte.

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Randy Love...at your service
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Like BookishBookkeeping's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Jaime Lync]

Great review. I read and reviewed this and our notes on the book match very well.

[BookishBookkeeping]

Thank you Jaime Lync for the reply. I'm glad to hear someone else had similar thoughts as well.