I would like to preface this by saying I ADORE K&B’s work and have pretty much only ever given their books 5 stars. However, there are issues that I need to address with their books and I think it’s relevant to do it in this review.
1. The ethics of billionaires: Obviously this is a book and not real life, however the romanticisation of billionaires in popular culture is getting to the point where it’s ridiculous. Being a billionaire is not ‘cool’. It means you’re hoarding large amounts of wealth whilst people literally starve to death or are homeless. There is a whole thread in the Like Us series about how Jane and Moffy like to ‘live modestly’. This is bullshit and quite frankly WORSE than if they lavished in their money (such as Charlie does). They are pretending to be something they aren’t (pretending as though they can’t afford things when obviously they can) AND when rich people live in the more affordable housing/buy affordable products, it actually ends up raising the prices for people who NEED those things to stay affordable. If all the wealthy, rich people suddenly decided they wanted to live in small houses, then the prices of those houses would hike up (and the prices of mansions would remain high), therefore leaving poorer people homeless. Rich people either need to give away a majority of their money, or continue to spend it as someone of their wealth status would (which, in turn, boosts the economy). This brings me to my next point.
2. Why is security struggling?: I cannot fathom WHY Kitsuwon securities would be struggling financially so much when they are employed by literal billionaires. Are the Calloway families so stingy with their money that they aren’t paying their bodyguards (who literally protect/save their lives on a daily basis) an amazing wage? They should be getting paid in BULK. There is absolutely NO reason that any of the bodyguards should be strapped for cash when they are employed by such wealthy families (and 2 of their bodyguards are literally married into the family? Why are Thatcher and Farrow not helping Kitsuwon securities out?)
3. Another one? Really?: I was so disappointed when they decided to make Jack’s ‘big secret’ that he was rich…. This perpetuates the idea that Jack and Oscar could not live happily together unless one of them possessed ridiculous amounts of wealth. PEOPLE WHO AREN’T RICH CAN BE HAPPY. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BILLIONAIRE TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS.
4. I have to mention the fetishisation of gay men: I have to. As much as I love their portrayal of LGBT characters (and I doooo) it is impossible to ignore the fact that their is ONE lesbian character and SO MANY gay male characters. The two trio relationships (Sulli’s & Beckett’s) both involve 2 men in some capacity. I get writing for your audience, but at some point you need to evaluate your morals and how your writing impacts the LGBT community. And, not gonna lie, the Fizzle Force group (as amazing and supportive as it is) is gross as far as fetishisation goes. The 40 year old women on there need to TONE IT DOWN.
5. Marriage is for suckers: The idea that to be happy, one has to be married, sucks. I thought maybe they would skip that idea for this book and go a different route to show different types of HEA, but…nope.
