Book: The Casanova Complex by Maren Moore
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: God Tier
The Casanova Complex by Maren Moore
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
It is official: I now identify as a Bennett-sexual. The man is so perfect that he needs his own category, truly. Does he make mistakes? Yes, he does, but the way he takes accountability and shows that he's already made moves to change is absolutely swoonworthy. I am obsessed with how closely he observes Merritt, taking mental notes on her likes and dislikes (this man will NEVER show up with pink roses, IYKYK). He is truly her number one champion, rooting her on as she applies to law school and reminding her that she can do all the things—as long as she remembers to eat and hydrate. If you look up "golden retriever boyfriend" wherever someone would look something like that up, you'll find a giant photo of Bennett Legros being the goodest boy.
And Merritt? Talk about a huge swoon. I absolutely ate up her black cat meets Type A with a side of ADHD personality. I love that she is shown successfully managing her ADHD and kicking pre-law ass; intelligent, hardworking women are so sexy. She doesn't let her lying, cheating ex affect her self-esteem, and she sets firm boundaries with Bennett when she thinks he's just another lazy playboy. Most importantly, she recognizes that her perception of Bennett may not be accurate and is willing to get to know who he really is.
I am obsessed with Bennett and Merritt's relationship. It's a slow burn, thanks to Bennett's celibacy and Merritt's initial impression of him (very NO BUENO), which gives them time to build a solid foundation of friendship. When they do get together, there's no jealousy and no miscommunication. They truly know and trust each other. It's such a beautiful thing to see, especially in a college romance. I can honestly say that I finished the book believing Bennett and Merritt would be together forever.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the positive portrayal of families, despite how different they are. I really appreciate Merritt's relationship with her younger brother, Elliot, and their dad. Taking care of Elliot never feels like a chore, and Merritt isn't automatically relegated to playing Cinderella. They're such a loving, healthy family unit. And while Bennett's family has a few more communication bumps, it's clear how much they all love each other. I especially liked that his parents weren't villainized simply for wanting him to have a secure future.
I think this may be my favorite of all Maren Moore's books, which is WILD considering she's been at the top of my auto-buy list for years. I just love Bennett and Merritt so damn much.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!