I received this book for free from Simon & Schuster Audio in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Wallbanger by Alice Clayton Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on May 7th 2013
Genres: Adult, Romance
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she’s gaining an—um—intimate knowledge of her new neighbor’s nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy’s athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed “dating hiatus,” and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly. . . .
Within the first 5 minutes of this audiobook I was sure I’d made a very bad decision. The narrator was so extremely into conveying what she was hearing next door that I closed my window fearing the neighbors would hear what I’m sure sounded like crazy sexcapades. But then the meowing started, and I almost peed my pants! Yep – you have my heart if you can make me laugh!
Wallbanger is, well, about a wall banger <– some genius deductions at work! Caroline who has just moved to this new apartment is quickly finding out that her neighbor is a little… this guy can make a girl meow, that’s all I’m saying! This book is more a comedy than steamy romance, though. I mean we hear some craziness going on next door and we get some hot scenes eventually but the whole book is a serious case of comedic sexual tension. With Caroline’s loud personality and Simon’s sense of humor, there is a lot of entertainment stemming from their relationship, not to mention through the rough chemistry, but you have to have patience. A lot of patience. Which I don’t really have. The characters are well fleshed out with definite striking personalities – even the side characters had me smirking. So it’s a fun ride to see them meet, make fun of each others’ business, flirt, tease – which is followed by more teasing, more flirting, more teasing, etc, etc. Eventually I realized I’d lost some interest. Now I will admit that adult romances are not my forte, so I’m not especially surprised that I enjoyed this less than those who drool on this genre, however it was still a good audiobook. Actually I think the audio made this book even funnier because the narrator was amazing with all of her hilarious sound effects. Not one I’d listen to without ear-buds, but I’m pretty sure I liked this more on audio than I would have otherwise.
To get back to the main character for a minute, Caroline has a little trouble with her O lately. Well – it’s gone. She’s come to think of this lost O as its own character. She talks to it, we see her plead and get pissed at it. This was pretty funny at the beginning because just realizing she was talking to her O like it was a person made me giggle. She even calls it a bitch at one point, but aside from those few funny bits I mostly found it cheesy. Like forced humor. Or maybe I’ve been desensitized from Sex and the City? I did, though, love Caroline’s cat! This little fella is adorable and all kinds of crazy for Purina (the meowing sex lady- duh!)! I think this was a nice touch to the book – he even gets his own POV for a chapter at the end which is hilarious!
While I did enjoy this book for the most part – some I even loved – I simply was not the right genre reader for it. Wallbanger does have a lot of heart, a swoony guy, and a happy ending – all the makings of an instant hit for any adult romance fanatic!
3 Hot Espressos
Latest posts by Giselle (see all)
- Cover Reveal: Saving Kimi by Brooke Stanton - September 23, 2020
- Fresh Batch (August 25th – 31st) - August 24, 2019
- Fresh Batch (July 28th – August 3rd) - July 27, 2019
- Fresh Batch (July 21st – 27th) - July 20, 2019
Blog design by
Nick
I started this one some time back and OMG it was hilarious at first! Especially when that woman started to purr. I can’t imagine how funny it must have been to actually listen to the audio. The book was quite silly though, so I never ended up finishing it. I’m glad you got a good laugh out of this one even though you lost interest after some time.
Lovely review, Giselle! 🙂
Savannah Bookswithbite
I’ve heard some great things about this book. I need something to make me laugh. Nice review.
Amy
I’m glad that you liked it even though it’s not typical read. I was laughing out loud at so much of this! I totally agree that as awkward as parts of the audio were, it really made the book better. I loved Clive too! I want a book from the cat’s POV lol!!
Siiri
Humour is hard to write especially since we all look at things differently. I can’t way I’d love this book, but I really want to try it soon. I’m glad the audio version worked for you. Let’s face it, it’s either make or break with the narrator and a lot of the times it tends to be the breaking part in books for me. I’m glad the storyline in general worked for you and since I’m not an adult fiction fan myself, it’s great for me to get an opinion of another person who isn’t a fan of adult either:-)
Jenea Whittington
I don’t read much adult romance either, but I am curious as to the audio books version of it. I might have to give it a try. Glad you enjoyed it for the most part. Great review!
Megan K.
Har, the comedy pulls me in, but the erotica turns me off – not my kind of book! Still, I’m happy you enjoyed this, Giselle. It sounds really entertaining, and yay, you seem to be listening to a lot of cool audiobooks with great sound effects. 😀 I just find the cover for this one a bit weird, though. It looks like his hands are morphing into legs or something. Creepy.
Shooting Stars Mag
I wouldn’t have thought this was more of a comedy than erotica. Good to know though, as I do like comedic characters and scenes. Sounds like it could get a bit tiring after awhile though. The point of view from the cat would be great though! 😉
-Lauren
Megan R
Haha, this one sounds a little crazy! Meowing? Oh my…
Faith Sullivan
Wow that title and cover photo definitely go together 🙂
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed
The cat was freaking hilarious and I loved the text exchanges. I really loved this one but romance books are actually my comfort zone books. This is what got me into reading years ago. I think the audiobook would make me uncomfortable. I was surprised this was an erotica (I didn’t even know until after). I thought it was just a romantic comedy. Happy you enjoyed this one 🙂
Alexa Y.
This book sounds so FUNNY to me, and not just in a hilarious, I will probably laugh if I read it way! I think it sounds like a slightly crazy, slightly silly, really fun premise for a book, even though I probably wouldn’t read it.
Melissas Eclectic Bookshelf
Doesn’t sound like one that I would pick up…but it sure sounds hilarious!
Aman
Haha! There is a chapter from the cats pov! This sounds hilarious. I think I already have a copy, I really need to read it soon. I think I would love it. Great review, Giselle!
Bellas Shelf
Hmmm..I love the name, a chapter from the cats POV is pretty awesome, I may give this one a shot. Sometimes the audiobook makes the story better than if you were to just read it.
Cinder sounded more magical to me than when I read the printed version. I would switch back and forth and found I loved the audio more.
Ning
haha this one was hilarious! I loved it, but I wished they’d gotten together earlier! I still really enjoyed it and like you said it’s more comedic romance than actual erotica.
Jen (Books and Other Happy Ever Afters)
Before I get to your review, I just have to say: this cover has always looked so awkward to me. It looks like his elbows are connected to her knees! :O
ANYWAY. I’m pleased to hear that this is more of a comedy than an erotica– you don’t get a lot of humor with sexy times these days, it seems! This one sounds different from the usual: usually it’s a dark past and a swoony guy, but this just sounds plain fun! Looks like you enjoyed the characters and their zesty personalities. But yes, I can see how it gets boring. Perhaps I’ll check this one out when I’m in for some pee-your-pants humor! Great review, Giselle!
Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader
I remember being extremely skeptical when I read this book. It sounded more than a little silly and I had been burned by similar stories in the past. While it certainly wasn’t perfect, it was definitely a fun way to pass a couple of hours 😉
That said, I must admit that I’m more than a little tired of the trope wherein a ‘special’ girl magically reforms the former womanizer into a one-woman-man. This seems to be very prevalent at the moment and my patience is running a little thin. Of course, that’s more of a fault I have with the genre and less with this individual novel. But I digress. Like you, I found the constant references to ‘losing her O’ more than a little juvenile and obnoxious.
This was a great review, Giselle! You essentially echoed a lot of the problems I had with the novel as well. While I didn’t hate it, I merely found it an average addition to the genre. Perhaps that sort of story is simply not for me.
Soma Rostam
Well, Giselle,
I have heard a LOT about this book
But the first time I know that there is a chapter from a cat’s point of view 😀
that sounds hilarious
Anyway, I finished reading All Our Pretty Songs before yesterday, I noticed that you’re currently reading it
I really didn’t like it, at all
Hated most of its parts
So I am excited to know your ideas
Your reader,
Soma
http://insomnia-of-books.blogspot.com/