The King of Nothing (Paperback Version)

A wedding crasher accidentally finds herself in a fake relationship with a famous guitarist in O’Day’s debut romance novel. Ruth Clark has hit rock bottom. Her roommate Georgie has left her high and dry, her job as a personal assistant to elderly Hollywood actress Carol Ann Noble is a complete pain, and her prospects seem dim. Keen for an escape, Ruth sneaks into a fancy wedding at the property where she lodges. Drunk and eager not to blow her cover, she signs what she thinks is a waiver and ends up, due to the machinations of wedding organizer and model Griselda, married to the reclusive rockstar Sebastian Bontrager, known as King Seba. Seba is hiding from the world after the death of his brother Abel, and he has problems with his father. Ruth and Seba collide in a twist on the fake dating and forced proximity tropes of romance novels that finds O’Day exploring issues of mental health and grief through her complex main characters. The contrast between Seba’s rich circle of friends and Ruth’s struggle to make ends meet (which she hides to fit in) is compelling, mainly because the characters all have their human concerns, no matter how privileged they are: “On this beautiful beach, with these beautiful people and room to think, she was slowly coming around to the fact that there weren’t any magic erasers.” While the novel is enjoyable, there are patches in which O’Day’s writing style makes the story hard to follow—her words move so quickly, with unexpected details thrown in, that it can be difficult for the reader to try to catch up. However, Ruth and Seba’s love story will have the reader rooting for the characters to find happiness in each other and leave them yearning for more.

Liv O'Day's debut novel is a smashing success. Her writing style is deliciously addictive. I often found myself rereading sentences and paragraphs just to re-savor her prose a second time. Each time I finished a chapter I couldn't wait to begin another.

A common fault of the Rom-Com genre is that it is often filled with stories that are either too sappy, unintelligent, or both. Not so with Liv O'Day's debut novel. Her bold and brave entrance into authorhood is thoughtful and clever. It's one of those rare books that are so hard to put down because you can't wait to read what happens next. I am very much looking forward to her second release. I relish smart, well crafted plots.

Set against the backdrop of modern California living, follow Ruth on a journey of self-discovery, love, and friendship, all told in a style reminiscent of Jane Austen.

The King of Nothing, by Liv O'Day, spins a captivating tale of two strangers, Seba and Ruth, whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined through an impulsive social experiment. Ruth, shaken by a heated altercation with her roommate and best friend, decides to crash a wedding in search of distraction. But what she crashes is far from an ordinary wedding celebration. Instead, she wins an unusual prize, and in a state of drunken exuberance, signs legally binding documents she doesn't fully comprehend. At its core, The King of Nothing is a romance set in the sun-kissed landscapes of Malibu, California. The novel explores the powerful theme of how honesty leads to true freedom. Ruth's story is marked by her struggle to confront the truths she's buried out of fear. [Line omitted due to Spoilers] To protect these secrets, she even takes on medical debt rather than reveal the truth to her family. Yet when [Line omitted due to Spoilers].

Liv O'Day's vivid descriptions bring Malibu to life, immersing readers in a story charged with emotional intensity. Her use of dynamic imagery and heartfelt dialogue pulls you into Ruth and Seba's tumultuous journey. The text is organized in a way that enhances readability, with strategic font changes that make it easy to distinguish between present events and flashbacks. I do feel that the frequent reliance on flashbacks detracts somewhat from the narrative's flow. I would love to have certain pivotal scenes unfold in real time. Experiencing these moments directly could have added immediacy and tension to the storyline, deepening the reader's engagement.

The King of Nothing succeeds as an emotionally rich, engaging romance. O'Day's storytelling balances humor, heartache, and hope, making it a memorable read. Ruth's evolution-from a woman paralyzed by her past to one empowered by the truth-is as inspiring as it is poignant. This novel is a testament to the healing power of honesty and the transformative nature of love.

The King of Nothing by Liv O'Day follows Ruth, who suffers from financial instability and a deteriorating living situation. Ruth finds herself unexpectedly entangled in a social experiment when she drunkenly participates in a wedding party and signs a contract with Seba, a former rock star. The contract forces them to live as a couple for 369 days, and Ruth is put through the wringer trying to live up to the rules of maintaining this facade. As she becomes involved with Seba, Griselda, and other high-society figures, Ruth faces mounting pressure to conform to their expectations while dealing with personal insecurities. The situation becomes more complicated when Ruth's past and her growing relationship with Seba intersect, especially when Seba suffers an injury and his unresolved grief over his brother's death comes to light. Ruth's life is further complicated by her past and the appearance of Georgie, who threatens to expose her secrets. In Liv O'Day's The King of Nothing, readers are taken on a literary joyride of pop culture, high living, and the serendipitous drunk decisions that, in fiction, can end happily. Sometimes.

The mark of a skilled writer is the ability to make their antagonist the most intriguing character in the book, and Griselda is the person I loved hating. She is what I imagine a child raised by Cruella De Vil and Miss Havisham would end up like, and the manipulation game is on point. There is heart to the story alongside its sharp dialogue, balancing Ruth and Seba's precarious journey with the emotional insecurities that overwhelm both. The arcs of both characters are well done, with a couple of fist-pump moments that keep the story fresh and unpredictable.

Overall, O'Day delivers a thoughtful and fun look into self-discovery that is good enough to remember after the final page, marking the author as a distinctive voice in contemporary fiction. Recommended.