#Selfie

Hashtag Series #4

By: Cambria Hebert

Narrated by: Shaun Grindell, Jillian Macie

She was the one girl I never wanted - until I had her. It was one night, one mistake, something we both wanted to forget. I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both. At least I thought I did. When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested, and the feels get real. I don't do relationships. I don't open my heart. Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate. What happens during spring break stays in spring break - until it follows you home.

©2015 Cambria Hebert (P)2015 Tantor

love love love

I have loved this series so much. Selfie is no different. we have two people who can't stand to be around each other but it's always said...there is a fine line between love and hate.

Great story

Story was so well written. I gave it a three on performance because the gentleman who read was awful. Maybe he do better now reading a different story, but not this one. For one you could tell he had almost like a European accent, and Braden was definitely not. I don’t understand how the whole process goes when picking a narrator, or if the author even has a choice. I will, however tell you this was not a good one. However, the store itself was really good. I just think that a better narrator for Braden would’ve been in order.

Fun series

Loving this series. Too much fun. Enjoying both couples and their family/ friendship. Plus the animals.

Definite plot twist

this book left me hanging in the bounds. the identity of the buzz boss threw me through a definite look. As for B and Ivy. . . . secrets are never a good thing

loved reading it but....

the narrator for braeden was not braeden at all. he was not British and I'm glad I read and loved the book before I listened to this. I hope this can be redone.

It's different...

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I feel like this is a loaded question. You will have to read the part where I describe my feelings towards the narrators’ voices. Overall, I am a fan of the series.

If you’ve listened to books by Cambria Hebert before, how does this one compare?

This is my first Cambria Hebert audio book.

Did Shaun Grindell and Jillian Macie do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

When you do an audio book there are certain expectations you set as a listener. I love dual POV audio books. There’s something about listening to a male’s voice that just makes my experience better and more enhanced. I agree with the author, B’s voice was disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, the narrator’s voice is lovely, but it didn’t fit B’s personality. Also, it’s obvious that the voice is an older man, a man in his 40’s and 50’s, which doesn’t fit with B’s twenty-something character. Usually when I listen to a voice I’m not fond of, I eventually get into it. So on the bright side, after a few hours, it didn’t bother me so much anymore and I could get into the story.

I love Ivy’s narrator for this book. She’s light, cute and very girlie. I imaged Ivy completely as I was listening to it and maybe that is why I agree more with Ivy than B.

Was #Selfie worth the listening time?

I don’t like to post anything negative, but I think my experience would have been different, had I read this book instead of listened to it. Please read my full review on my thoughts.

Any additional comments?

Full Book Review Below:

3 ** scratching my head** stars

#Selfie is a standalone and is part of the Hashtag series. The first three books are Romeo and Rim’s story (whom I love and adore). The next book is #Poser, which continues Braeden’s (B) story from #Selfie, but #Selfie is a standalone.

I will have to put this disclaimer out there. I love the series. I’m a mega fan of Romeo and Rim, but I had a secret crush on B from the first book, #Nerd. I love how funny, abrasive and egotistical B was throughout the series. I find his relationship with Rim adorable, cute and kind. So I had high expectations going into #Selfie.

I waited to do the audio because I was curious to see how my experience would be verse reading the series, like I did with the first three books.

If you follow my reviews, you know I post positive reviews. No, I don’t love every book I read, but if I don’t like a book, I just don’t post a review. But I feel like it’s my duty to put this out there.

When you do an audio book there are certain expectations you set as a listener. I love dual POV audio books. There’s something about listening to a male’s voice that just makes my experience better and more enhanced. I agree with the author, B’s voice was disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, the narrator’s voice is lovely, but it didn’t fit B’s personality. Also, it’s obvious that the voice is an older man, a man in his 40’s and 50’s, which doesn’t fit with B’s twenty-something character. Usually when I listen to a voice I’m not fond of, I eventually get into it. So on the bright side, after a few hours, it didn’t bother me so much anymore and I could get into the story.

If you do not plan to do the audio, then here are my thoughts about the book.
There are mixed reviews for #Selfie, you either loved it or thought it was okay. I would say #Selfie has the most angst in the series and B is painted into a different light in this book. He’s got some flaws and it’s apparent in the story.

I’m not a fan of angst and I had certain perceptions of B from the beginning of the series, so that played a huge role while I listened to #Selfie.

B is a ladies man, he’s abrasive and doesn’t want a serious relationship. Ivy is your typical college girl, trying to find herself, but also try to have a good time. She’s beautiful and put together, but not everything is what it seems and there’s more to her than the make-up and blonde hair.

B and Ivy’s relationship pretty much start out with insta-lust. I have no issues with this, but it set the tone for the relationship between the two. Ivy has a huge complex because Missy has a crush on B and well, you just don’t hook up with your friend’s crush. Girl code right?
It’s hard to empathize for Missy. I understand Ivy’s concerns because Ivy wants to not hurt her friend, but at the same time, B gave no indication that he wanted anything with Missy, so shouldn’t Missy just simply move on? This kind of led to the “secret” throughout the whole book.

B is a hard Hero to love. In the first three books he’s pretty much drama-free and happy-go-lucky (at least in my eyes), but in #Selfie you see a lot of his issues. He’s not romantic and sometimes his gestures towards Ivy can be kind of harsh. There’s a point in the book where he called her an offensive name and it was hard for me to move past that, he’s not the perfect Hero and that dynamic gives him may layers to work through.

The whole book focuses on how B and Ivy’s not so easy relationship. Ivy tries to date other people to move past B, but of course no one measures up to him. When a Heroine dates other people, it always makes me want to slap the character, because it doesn’t do any good for the “nice guy” that is kind of used. Hopefully Trent gets his book.

Secrets are revealed later on and you take it as it comes. It will either shock or like me kind of confuse you, but you go with it.

I understand the glowing reviews. It’s an angst filled book with a complex Hero and a damage girl. A lot is revealed in the book and it kind of starts the momentum for #Poser.
I love Ivy’s narrator for this book. She’s light, cute and very girlie. I imaged Ivy completely as I was listening to it and maybe that is why I agree more with Ivy than B.

I wouldn’t compare B and Ivy’s relationship with Romeo and Rim. Both couples are very different and both stories go into a different direction. If you like a bit of angst and are curious to how B changes, then #Selfie is for you.

Didn't buy the narrator's voice as Brayden.

The male narrator's voice felt to old for Brayden. And he sounded like a New Jersey gangster type. Not like a college football player that uses the word "hells" quite a bit. Just my opinion. "Ivy" was great. The story was okay but I felt like there was something missing to make the reader feel the real love connection between the characters. Maybe the next book will fix that for me.

#Selfie

Narration: I knew going it was going to be different than the first 3 books, but I guess I expected a different voice for Braeden because this one seemed a little old for him. But you do get used to him. Now Jillian Macie's voice is great. Perfect for Ivy.

I have read and listened to all these before this is a re listen for me. And each time I listen I like something I didn't like before. If you are worried we won't see Rim and Romeo but we do we do! And that helps but I found the beginning like 10 chapters to be a little slow going. But if you pushed through cause you <3 Braeden like a brother yo you won't be disappointed!
This book has some emotion that I was expecting to feel with these two characters. I actually teared up a little twice I know I know that's not hard for me but it really was this book just pulled at my heart. And Romeo, oh Romeo, he totally had a swooning moment that I just loved. <3 Rim and the Hellcat lmao too funny poor kitty. ;)

So even though it started off slow it got good when it needed to and I am def looking forward to the 5th book. :) I am glad Ivy got her HEA she deserved it as much as Braeden :)

Love Braeden

I'm so excited we got Braeden's book! Romeo and Rimmel are great together and now they seem stable so it's nice to see the BBFL, Big Brother For Life get a special girl. Ivy is a sweet girl and after what happened with Zach, I'm happy to see her find love. Braeden is hilarious and Ivy is sassy back to him and this whole book was a lot of fun. We also learned more about the Buzz Boss's identity. I'm excited to read the next book!

Love the story

Uh the narration could be better and they sorta take away from some fan favorite characters. I enjoyed this one more reading it on my own.