Review: The Misadventures Of a (Wannabe) Slutty Bartender by WS Carmichael

Today we’re reviewing ‘The Misadventures of a (Wannabe) Slutty Bartender – the new romantic comedy novel from WS Carmichael, courtesy of Goddess Fish Promotions. Rating: 4/5

Ava Moreland has it all planned out. In two months, she will marry her fiancé, Tim. She’ll continue working at Vegas’s famous Cosmopolitan bar while he runs his father’s accounting firm. Soon they’ll start a family and she’ll have the white picket life she’s always dreamed of.
Or not.

When her fairytale engagement implodes in a devastating display, Ava embarks on a quest to reclaim her identity and feminine prowess – by sleeping her way through Las Vegas. With her best friend, Jarrod, acting as wingman her plan is foolproof.
Or not.
Nothing goes as planned with hilariously disastrous results. Her sexual misadventures will keep you in stitches as Ava searches for herself in Sin City, finding herself and her happily ever after in the unlikeliest of places.

Purchase: Amazon

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Misadventures of a (Wannabe) Slutty Bartender. I feel like in a lot of ways, Ava’s story is relatable. While we may not have all had an engagement blow up in our faces because we caught our fiancé making out with someone else, I think we’ve all felt like we lost part of ourselves in a situation we thought/hoped would be perfect. Ava decided the best way to find herself, and get over her failed relationship, would be to have a series of one-night-stands in an attempt to “reclaim her femininity”. I’m not totally onboard with this idea, especially since her ex made out with another man, and I’m not sure it’s the most healthy…. mindset, to feel like you have to reclaim femininity after your ex has a same-sex relationship. However, I’m not sure what the author’s intentions were, so I didn’t let it bother me for too long.

For me, especially turning 30 in a few months, I related to the idea of wanting to have a bunch of one-night stands and do something “crazy” after a life change. Especially after the past year of a pandemic, I can completely understand that line of thinking. Thinking that you were crafting the perfect life for yourself and it all falling apart. I’ve definitely been there, and felt like I held myself back from different experiences in order to do what was “right” or “perfect”.

It helped that Ava was also incredible likable. The author wrote her with a great voice, and she was a fully fleshed out character. I loved how loyal she was to her friends and family, and I saw myself and my friends in these characters. This is definitely a fun, easy ready. It’s both funny and romantic, and would be great for a weekend in or a beach day.

Rating:

Excerpt:

“That’s your master plan? To become known as the slutty bartender?” Jarrod raises one eyebrow, his skepticism written all over his face.

“Well, it sounds bad when you put it like that.” I shrug. “You’re misunderstanding the point.”

“Is the point to see how many STD’s you can rack up?”

I sigh. “No. The point is to reclaim my womanly power. The point is to live life. The point is to embrace life’s opportunities without the expectation of a happily ever after. The point is to forget about Mr. Right and enjoy Mr. Right Now.”

Jarrod shakes his head, leaves me sitting on the sofa alone and goes into his bedroom.

“I thought you’d be totally on board!” I shout to his closed door.

I mean, seriously. It isn’t as if I told him I was going to lay spread eagle in front of The Bellagio holding a sign reading ‘Free Sex’. While I’m not the type of girl to throw her cooter at every guy passing by, I see no reason to be a total prude either. I’ve decided to explore the world of one-night stands. I get hit on all the time at work. What’s so wrong with taking someone up on the offer if I find him attractive? I am no longer beholden to anyone.

A few minutes later, Jarrod jerks his door open. “Ok. I’ve thought about it. You can do this, but you need a chaperone.”

“I don’t need a chaperone.”

“Ok, A wingman, then. I’ll be personally vetting your selections to make sure there’s no psycho vibes.” He plops down next to me on the couch.

About The Author:

WS Carmichael is attempting to write the world into romantic bliss one novel at a time. Based in upstate NY, she travels as often as her hectic schedule will allow. When she isn’t busy writing, she’s a mother, nurse and avid sportswoman.

WS Carmichael fell in love with romance at an early age when she would sneak Harlequins from her mother. A voracious reader, she eventually made the jump to writing.

Writing is her passion and she’s always jotting down new storyline and character ideas. Often, her characters take on a life of their own and don’t always cooperate with her plan for them. Creating well developed, strong alpha male characters that don’t fit into the typical romance hero mold makes her novels exciting and relatable. A woman who believes whole heartedly in happily ever after, she gives her heroes the heroine they deserve.

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