Something Special. Tiffany Patterson. 2018. 329 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]
As far as enemies to lovers stories go, Something Special was pretty enjoyable. It features esthetician Gabriella and her best friend’s cousin Jamal. They hate each other. Can’t spare a kind word or smile for each other. Can barely stand to breath the same air as each other. They probably want each other.
However, when a night out winds up with too many drinks in Gabby’s system, Jamal — ever the gentleman — takes her back to his place so she’s safe for the night. And so begins the shift in ow they view each other. Gabby becomes less flighty in Jamal’s eyes. And Gabby seems Jamal as more than just a judgmental yuppie. It’s not all sunshine and roses, though. Jamal, a preacher’s kid, has some deeply ingrained views about the virtues of the woman to whom he would commit. And Gabby has a pretty significant secret from her past that’s very much a part of her present. Nonetheless, it’s interesting to see how they get to know each other, especially without sacrificing any of their authenticity.
Part of what sticks out for Gabby and Jamal is that they both have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes to relationships. Gabby has a lot of trauma and domestic violence in her past, while Jamal’s relates to chronic infidelity and expectations about the women in his life. Their ability to trust and let down their guards is a necessary step to moving forward; the question is if they’re capable of accepting each other for who they are.
The peripheral characters in this book are featured heavily. Chanel and her husband Xavier are great counsel for Gabby and Jamal, respectively. These two were critical to sorting through some of the emotional baggage, and I appreciated the author’s ability to let these characters do so with a balance of humor.
Something that becomes apparent fairly on in the book is that several of the other characters have been introduced in previous books. It’s clear that there’s some drama that while resolved, has a bearing in how Gabby and Jamal approach their situation. In this regard, the book was a bit more realistic. It’s completely reasonable that the experiences of those you care about would impact how you act in your own situations.
Overall, I enjoyed Something Special. The characters and situations are relatable, and the plot itself is interesting. The main characters’ rapport made for a humorous story, while their chemistry was pretty sexy. I definitely recommend.
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