Review: Shameless

Title: Shameless

Author: Nina Lemay

Publication Date: August 18, 2014

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Girls like me don’t get happy endings.

I know what I am. At worst a cliché, at best a cautionary tale. I put an international border between me and my past, only to wind up working in a low-end titty bar. Even my excuse is as lame as it gets: I’m paying for college, getting my art degree from Montreal’s most prestigious school. Although some days it becomes confusing: am I just a student who moonlights as a stripper, or a stripper who masquerades as a student?

But the inevitable happens and my two lives collide. And now there’s one other person who knows both the quiet, antisocial Hannah and the sensual, shameless Alicia. One person who keeps my secret.

He’s beautiful, he’s sophisticated. He comes from the other side of life, the one where I’m not wanted or accepted. But he calls me la petite Américaine, and his hot, hot hands on my skin promise me things I long ago gave up on.

The problem? He teaches my Classic Photography class.

This is a standalone novel, no series, no cliffhanger.

My Thoughts

**Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the review opportunity. This in no way affected my thoughts for this novel.

What caught my eye in this synopsis was actually the forbidden teacher-student relationship, and I was totally indifferent about the stripper part. Because believe me when I say that I have never ever ever ever read a stripper story or other things similar to stripping, and this one was a great change in my perspective. Typically, I don’t really have stereotypical thoughts for strippers and the like, but reading this story has made me rethink everything I’ve heard or knew about them. I have no way of knowing if a stripper is the same as Hannah, but this one seemed very realistic that I believe it. It truly a portion of what’s happening in reality even though it seems so dirty and all, but I love how every single event just blends with all the others. Lemay is truly amazing to have combined the two that turned out well because this one is full of angst and a very emotional read.

Hannah? I’ve never wanted so much of an HEA for a character. Up until now. I felt like if she couldn’t have her HEA, I would have to kill someone. Yes, legit. She has so many troubles and problems piling up, and for a young person like her to carry all these is just unbelievable. The latter part just makes me want to curl up and CRY. However, the way she handled things was amazing. She wasn’t like any of the other protagonists that are dependent and needy. In fact, she was so independent to the point that it annoyed me at times. But still, her independence and stubborness were admirable. I love the way she never backs down, and continues to stick to her own principles. I love how she wants to live a life without having to depend on anybody else. I love how she grows as a person, and she saves herself. She knows where she’s wrong, when’s she’s crossed a boundary, and whom she’s become. I love how she knows all these and tries to make a change for her ownself with her own strength. Truly remarkable. She may have her own negative attitudes, but that’s what makes her very relatable and realistic. Underneath all her facade, she’s just a naive, shy and low self-confidence girl, and it was one of the few things that really hit me because really, this is a concrete example of no judging.

Oh dear. Emmanuel. Hot, sexy, and swoony. He obviously wants to do the right thing, but he just can’t stay away from Hannah. He’s a gentleman, and is fully aware of what he’s doing. He remained to stay by Hannah’s side even though he probably knew what pessimism Hannah brings. I’m pretty sure he wanted to be her knight in shining armor, but I’m glad that he gives her space. At times. And, of course, he’s flawed too, which makes the both of them phew! A perfect chemistry.

I just didn’t like a few parts in their relationship; namely: their indecisiveness. I know that it was probably hard for the both of them to make a decision, but to spend a lot of time arguing whether each should stay with the other or not whether it be in conversation with Emmanuel or Hannah’s thoughts was tiring. Moreover, their secrets from the past were kept too secretive, which made the secrets anti-climactic when they were revealed. Or maybe that was just me. Anyhow, I was kind of disappointed with their secrets, and I kind of expected those to be their secrets.

There are a lot of lessons that can be learned in Shameless that we probably already know. Nevertheless, this one is truly beautiful. Our past, our secrets, our jobs and all those other things don’t define us. It’s the way we view things around us and life in general, but most especially, the way we view ourselves. To love our ownself is the first step in capturing other people’s hearts and earning their love. Shameless is an absolutely breathtaking and heart-shattering story, and I recommend this to those who want to try a different kind of story. 

My Rating