Review of Off Limits

[Laney K]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Off Limits" by Stacy Elaine.]

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1 out of 5 stars

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Off Limits by Stacy Elaine follows the character of Sarah. She is a single mother who has had a crush on her brother's best friend, Nicholas, since she was a teenager. She never acted on these feelings because of how her brother would react. However, she recently moved and ran into him again. Nicholas also had feelings for Sarah, but he was afraid of what her brother, Nate, would think. Will the two finally admit their feelings for each other? How will Nate react?

The big issue with this book was the writing style. The character's emotions, rather than being described with visceral descriptions, were instead stated. It made it hard to connect with what was happening beyond a surface-level acknowledgment. The dialogue was also clunky and awkward. It felt unnatural. The book would be much improved if a little more time was spent working on creating authentic dialogue and vivid descriptions. There were also a few issues with plot holes. There was a scene when a character thought something to themselves, and later, another character knew about those thoughts. There were a few instances of similar issues throughout the book.

I also did not think the characters were strong enough to make up for the writing issues. Sarah, despite telling Nicholas several times that he needed to talk to her brother, kept going back to sneaking around with him. It seemed as though each time she gave him an ultimatum, something would happen, and they would keep lying to Nate. This seemingly never-ending cycle became quite old quite fast. The characters' inability to stick to their beliefs made it hard to root for them.

I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars. If Elaine were to spend time reworking scenes to eliminate plot holes and expand descriptions, the book could be a highly emotional romance novel. Enhanced descriptions might also make the characters more likable, as it would be easier to connect with them. However, these issues were significant enough to warrant the low rating. I also did not find the characters to be compelling enough to make up for the writing issues. I did think the overall plot had a lot of potential, and there is room for improvement. The book does contain explicit sexual content and is only suitable for adults. However, in its current state, I do not recommend this book.

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Off Limits
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[jessica goodman 6]

Completely agree. It was hard to connect to the characters. It was dull and boring.

[Yin Jiang]

Your description of the storyline makes this book sound very trope-y and prone to stereotypes. I do like myself a strong female character, so I guess I will be giving this book a pass. Thank you for your review!

[Jamil Ahmed 9]

"Off Limits" by Stacy Elaine is a captivating romance that explores the complexities of long-hidden feelings and the tension of forbidden love. The story follows Sarah, a single mother who has harbored a crush on her brother's best friend, Nicholas, since her teenage years. The narrative takes an exciting turn when Sarah unexpectedly reunites with Nicholas after moving to a new place. As both characters navigate their mutual attraction and the potential fallout from Sarah's brother, Nate, the book keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Elaine's skillful storytelling and deep character development make "Off Limits" a compelling read, full of emotional depth and romantic tension. Will Sarah and Nicholas overcome their fears and finally confess their love? And how will Nate react to this revelation? This book is a must-read for fans of heartfelt and nuanced romance.

[Hamza Khan 36]

Completely agree. It was hard to connect to the characters. It was dull and boring.

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Wow! One out of five stars is really bad for a book rating. If you felt that strongly about the book, it must have been unworthy of reading. I wish some authors would review their books carefully before rushing them off to print. It only hurts the book in the end if no one cares for it. Thank you for the review, it was very entertaining.

[Nati Jiniya]

Thank you for this beautiful review! The book sounds interesting and unique, I'd love to give it a try. I don't have much experince with this genre, so it would be adventurous.