This novel was an entirely new experience for me. Mixing romance and wrestling is definitely unique. I, however, know absolutely nothing about wrestling. I don't watch it, I don't know the terminology, and the only wrestlers I've known are has-beens.
With this in mind, I didn't know what to expect from The Cruiserweight. The book is a gentle read, the pace is sedate, which is a good thing because it gives you plenty of time to get into the world of wrestling. Basically the novel follows Karen, a journalist covering wrestling events, her meeting a wrestler 18 years her junior, and their subsequent romance.
I think a number of women will identify with this book. I'm built like Heather Locklear, which puts me into a minority group. And it's a default setting I have no control over. Most women however are not *as this book says* 'poles', but are instead rounder, curvier and decidedly voluptuously feminine. For them, the main character Karen will represent them, finally a main character who is an every-woman lady. It's heartwarming to read about a romance where the man isn't pining after a swimsuit model, but truly loves the curves on his lady.
When the content heats up, it heats up a lot. Carrington doesn't skimp on details (at all) - and at some points it definitely felt like a relationship built on sexual encounters. But then aren't they all? That's the glue that binds a couple together at the beginning, the whole attraction factor *thing*, so again I think Carrington kept it real. However much to my shock and horror, I realised I'm a prude. Reading this, there were some sexual shenanigans that made me uncomfortable to read, however I know enough people who do this sort of thing, and I've never given it much thought, until I had to read it in here. So be warned, this book is liberal.
The book has a nice happy ending, and overall is a sedate love story with a lot of wrestling thrown in as that is the central theme. It's not my usual cup of tea, it's the first time I've ever read anything like this, but it's a great beach read, just don't read it if you've just broken up with your boyfriend. But if you like wrestling, you will love this book.
