Novel Review: Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance, Comedy

Publisher: Harlequin Temptation

Release Date: 1993

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

FEMME FATALE

Kate Svenson knew exactly what she wanted in a man--he had to be tall, handsome, distinguished and, most of all, successful. So she went on a serious manhunting excursion at a singles resort, bound and determined to hunt down Mr. Right or die in the attempt!

There was the tall, handsome, distinguished groper whom she ended up pushing in the pool. There was the tall, handsome, distinguished snob whom she stabbed with a fork. And then there was Jake Templeton.

Okay, Jake was tall, handsome and sexy as all get out. But he didn't have a distinguished or aggressive bone in his body and was content to laze about and enjoy life. He was exactly what she didn't want. Right?

The Cover:

I do not like this cover at all. It's horrible. It looks like a still from some old cheesy movie, and it doesn't represent the book at all. The characters look like they're on a pirate ship, although I guess it could represent the bar in the book. I just don't like it. The Barnes and Noble cover is better, cute and fitting.

Review:

Apparently this is Crusie’s debut novel, which I didn’t know when I picked it up (despite the exclamation on the cover). I might not have picked it up had I known, because that made me wary, but I’m glad I did.

Knowing it’s her first novel just makes me that much more impressed, because this was good.

This book is fast and fun, just as witty as Crusie’s later books.

Kate is forced to go on vacation and find a man and let loose, none of which she wants to do. She goes on several dates, none of which go well and a few of which end with injuries. All the while she banters with Jake, who fishes and gardens and bodyguards but also doesn’t really have any motivation. The connection between them is obvious, and when they finally realize it, hard to resist.

The town Jake lives in is quaint and fun, and the characters are all quirky. There was a hint of Jake’s brother and Kate’s friend having a romance, but they never met in this book, and I don’t think they meet in a different book, sadly.

Still, this book was super fun. I really enjoyed it.