It’s not chemistry between Tinka Foster and Sam Anderson
that made them agree to fake date. With her parents trying to set her up with
an annoying pro-track golf student, and intentionally single Sam’s family
pressuring him to bring a date to his brother’s wedding, they could both use a
drama-free summer.
So it’s not his muscular arms and quick wit that makes Tinka suggest they tell everyone they’re both taken. Definitely not. And it’s not butterflies that makes a kiss for appearances during the lake party go on way too long—so long that Sam wishes it were real.
But Tinka keeps people at arm’s length—she’s always been second best, even to her parents. And her relationship-for-show could crush everything when she realizes she’s done with fake, pretend, and second-best.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains bikinis at the lake, a lot of making out in dark theaters, and a meet-cute you’ll read twice.
Book 2
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Entangled Publishing
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
So it’s not his muscular arms and quick wit that makes Tinka suggest they tell everyone they’re both taken. Definitely not. And it’s not butterflies that makes a kiss for appearances during the lake party go on way too long—so long that Sam wishes it were real.
But Tinka keeps people at arm’s length—she’s always been second best, even to her parents. And her relationship-for-show could crush everything when she realizes she’s done with fake, pretend, and second-best.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains bikinis at the lake, a lot of making out in dark theaters, and a meet-cute you’ll read twice.
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
B&N ~ Google Play ~ iTunes ~ Kobo
Entangled Publishing
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Stars
Artificial Sweethearts is the second installment in the North Pole, Minnesota series and can easily be read as a standalone. Some mentions of the past book, and cameos by past narrators, but it doesn't affect the overall plot or lead to any confusion.
To be honest, I struggled to fall into the story during the first chapter. Tinka's narration, while being picked up at the airport, there were plot holes being purposefully left open for later, to add a mystery/suspense vibe, but it was the execution that made the narration jarring. I liked Tinka's character, but the style in which it was written was difficult to navigate. Bumpy and all over the place.
As soon as Sam was voiced, I was hooked immediately. Sam was a chubby boy. He's the helper/giver, non-complainer. The one who is easily taken for granted. He's helping his big brother plan a wedding (do everything), with his younger sister running off to camp, and his baby sister is too young to help at all. So everything falls on his shoulders, and he doesn't say a word about it. Now slim, after doing yard work and probably shedding the baby fat, Sam is still stuck in that mindset of being the chubby, invisible, always happy boy, and siblings will always see you how you used to be, not how you are now.
Tinka is also a giver, but she lacks self-reflection. It's hinted at that she's a bad girl (no shaming, her actions were a cry for help, not because she was enjoying herself and feeling empowered by it). But, being inside Tinka's head, the reader knows the core of her, even if that's not the perception others have of her. She's hurt her friends in the recent past, but her parents are hurting her.
Tinka and Sam connect – it's not instantaneous, but it's obvious. I'm a sucker for the intimacy of a hug, so when Tinka sees Sam and thinks he'd give great hugs, I was won over right then. That's actually something I think when sizing up a guy. *winks*
Their personalities are complementary, neither one having a voice in their family, just going with the flow. Together, they try to find their voice.
Yes, there is a tiny bit of angst, but not truly between Sam and Tinka – it's with Tinka's friends and family, and Sam with his family and friends. Sam is a solid guy, and he takes Tinka at face-value because she opens up to him and is 'real,' and he's the same way back. No tension, they're relaxed together, like finding home and finally being able to breathe. So there isn't miscommunication central between them, even with the 'fake-dating' to keep their family off their backs.
For two-hundred pages, the journey is Sam and Tinka finding a voice – no longer avoiding conflict because it's easier on everyone else while costing themselves dearly. They learn to stand up for themselves, ask for what they want, and make no apologies for it. We only get one life, and we're the ones who have to live it. I felt this a great message, one people need to learn – the younger the better.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sam and Tinka's journey, and look forward to both more in this series and by this author in the future. Definitely recommend to fans of the young adult genre.
Young Adult age-range: 12+. Kissing.
Also Available in the North Pole, Minnesota Series
Buy Links
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B&N ~ Google Play ~ iTunes ~ Kobo
For reviews & more info, check out our Any Boy But You post.
Julie Hammerle is the author of The Sound of Us (Entangled Teen, 2016) and the North Pole, Minnesota romance series (Entangled Crush, 2017). She writes about TV and pop culture for the ChicagoNow blog, Hammervision, and lives in Chicago with her family. She enjoys reading, cooking, and watching all the television.
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Artificial Sweethearts (North Pole, Minnesota #2) by Julie Hammerle to read and review.
