Title: (un)Verified

Author: Kristin Giese

Publisher: All Moxie Ink

Publication date: 12 June 2019

Source: Review copy

Genre: Rom-Com

My rating: 3/5
Blurb (as on Goodreads):

Matthew Milles-Lade, a rich kid whose trust fund is suddenly in question, and Margo Valentine Melon, a writer whose career fizzled before it sparked, are two twenty-something strangers stuck living at home, trying to figure out their lives. When they each come across a real estate listing for a palatial (and significantly underpriced) guest house in one of LA’s toniest neighbourhoods, their lives get turned upside down. What happens next has them racing to catch the truth before it catches them.

Unverified has all the magic and making of the rom coms you love, set in the world of social media stardom and online fame, with just enough real-world stakes to make it a page-turner you won’t be able to put down.

My Take:

Unverified by Kristin Giese is a RomCom that follows the story of two strangers Matt and Margo who shares the same roof pretending to be lovers as the landlady put a condition that she would rent her guesthouse only for a couple and there starts the journey of @MattlovesMargo fake love story.

I liked the plot and found that it has a lot of potentials. But the issue is with the author’s writing style and the way she has moved the story. The first half of the book focused only on character introduction, their current situation and unnecessary backstories of minor characters. For instance, Tiff’s (Matt’s Stepmother) backstory of why she was behaving in a particular way was unnecessary considering that her role has nothing much to contribute to the plot. The latter part of the book was interesting and hard to put down, but one has to get past the tedious part to get involved in the story.

Coming to character development, I would not say the characters in this book are well developed, but I liked Matt, Margo and Chelsea even though they are imperfect. I loved Matt and Margo’s chemistry and their moments made my heart swoon. I also liked the friendship that Margo and Chelsea shared. The book ends with an epilogue that promises a sequel. I would love to read more of Matt and Margo’s love story if only the author focuses on the theme rather than stretching it with unnecessary backstories.

*A special thanks to InkSlinger PR for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.*