My first reason for picking up this book was because Ben Philippe wrote it, but when I saw that cover! It has an adorable romance and relatable final-year scenarios that always made me miss high school, with enough charm and vulnerabilities from our main character Henry that made this book stood out. It's a busy, busy, world out there and Henri is teetering toward the edge with all that he's balancing in the air. In Ben Philippe's new book, Charming as a Verb, making it look like everything comes easy for you is often really hard work.

The author has such an easy way of incorporating humour into his narration and dialogue and now that I’ve been following him on social media for some time, I can see that it’s his own sense of humour that’s made it onto the page. Also, she’s actually a good conversationalist once she became less uptight, as her immediate connection with Ming and Marvyn have shown us. We ain't gonna talk about Ming because he was a side character friend, and I didn't like that, but whatever.

I’m really excited to read a story by a Haitian author about a Haitian-American main character (because I’m Haitian-American) and the synopsis just makes me want to read it even more. Oh, really adore Henri as a main character, he IS charming even though its not l through out the story but this is what makes him a well written character. Honestly, Henri wasn’t likable at all and I think if there were switches between their POVs that may have made the book a little better. It's time for him to prove that he’s more than just a charming guy, and that he is deserving of the opportunities he so desperately seeks. A witty, humorous, realistic snapshot of the pressures young people face as they make their way into adulthood.

When he gets caught by his quirky neighbor and classmate, Corrinne, she blackmails him to helping her make more friends. Unfortunately for him his neighbor Corrine has already figured out why he's seemingly the only one employed by this alleged company. Some folks have complained about the lack of romance in this one but I loved the two together and it is billed as a romantic comedy, so the romance isn’t intended to be the main focus.Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for. She was so cute and rough and tough in the beginning, but like a cookie in the microwave, she warmed up to him.