Quickie Review: Animate Me by Ruth Clampett

ANIMATE ME

Author: Ruth Clampett (Twitter)

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Format: ebook (Amazon)

Length: 395 pages

Release Date: April 29, 2013

Reading Challenges: 2015 Goodreads Challenge

She seemed far beyond his reach…could love draw them together?

For years shy animator Nathan has carried a torch for Brooke, the beautiful and dynamic Director of Development at their animation studio, even creating B-Girl, a comic-book heroine in her likeness. When a new project throws the two of them together, lovestruck Nathan finally seizes his moment – only to find Arnauld, head of the animation studio, claiming exclusive rights to Brooke’s affections.

But Nathan, it turns out, is not giving up on his dreams so easily. With inspired determination, he sets out to be the super hero of wooing his girl. Threatened by his persistence, Arnauld plays dirty – only to spark an uprising at the studio that unleashes the sort of havoc only a building full of frustrated animators can create. While Nathan pulls out all the stops to win his B-girl, Brooke has to choose. Should she pursue the sparkling career that has taken her years to build…or follow her heart?

This was a cute, fun read. I'm a huge fan of "geek gets girl" books, because I've always liked my men a little nerdy. Nathan was definitely what held my interest. I've been awkward all my life, so I sympathized and identified with him. Using his talents in animation to involve in order to be with the woman he desires is something I'm very, very familiar with. There was one boy in high school who was the inspiration for three years worth of angsty poetry.

When it came to Brooke, however, I was underwhelmed. Maybe that was the point; that she was just a normal girl? Was it that Nathan saw the potential of what she could be, or that he saw her just as she was and loved her for it? I'm not sure. I think what kept me from connecting to Brooke was that she seemed to be too many people. She was overtly sexual in the beginning, very insecure toward the middle and completely fell apart in the end. Does that all go together? It didn't feel like it should.

I did, however, enjoy the relationship between Nathan and Brooke and how it progressed. They had a great the journey they took together (though I call bullshit that all of that happened within the span of a few months). Their chemistry is was what kept me invested in the story. I was drawn into Nathan's world; perhaps the character development for Brooke was the problem.  Even though Morgan and Arnauld were said to have seen a change in her, I didn't really see that.

The final conflict dragged on a bit. I wanted things to wrap up faster then they did. I loved the lesson on why you shouldn't fuck with the nerdy!