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chronicallybookish's Reviews (1.53k)
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 8+
Over All: 4.75 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Frizzy is a middle grade novel full of heart, about embracing and loving your natural hair, and it was so so sweet. It’s a quick read with an important message, and I think it will mean the world to so many kids who will see themselves in Marlene. The art was gorgeous—colorful and engaging. The plot was fast paced, but never felt rushed. The only possible complaint I have is that Marlene’s mom’s view on hair really seemed to do a 180 far too quickly. While I appreciate a cleanly wrapped up conflict, especially in a children’s book, it felt a little insincere and sudden in the context of how she’d been acting the whole story prior.
Despite that little hiccup, this is an incredible book that needs to be in every kids’ hands immediately.
Age Rating: 8+
Over All: 4.75 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Frizzy is a middle grade novel full of heart, about embracing and loving your natural hair, and it was so so sweet. It’s a quick read with an important message, and I think it will mean the world to so many kids who will see themselves in Marlene. The art was gorgeous—colorful and engaging. The plot was fast paced, but never felt rushed. The only possible complaint I have is that Marlene’s mom’s view on hair really seemed to do a 180 far too quickly. While I appreciate a cleanly wrapped up conflict, especially in a children’s book, it felt a little insincere and sudden in the context of how she’d been acting the whole story prior.
Despite that little hiccup, this is an incredible book that needs to be in every kids’ hands immediately.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to Fierce Reads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
This book is the perfect blend of magic and mystery, perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco. It has utterly unique and enthralling world building and magic, and it has a compelling mystery that had me desperate to know what was going to go down.
Not to mention—the characters! I absolutely loved Catrin, and her POV was engaging and easy to relate to, but Simon has my whole heart. I was obsessed with his character. Brooding, of course (I’m a sucker for the broody LI trope), but wholly unique and motivated.
I have never read a book that so perfectly straddled the line of a genre mash-up (in this case, fantasy and mystery). If you took out all of the fantasy aspects, you’d still have an amazing and compelling mystery story. If you took out the murder mystery plot, you’d still have an addicting fantasy novel. Often times, in mystery-fantasies, one aspect is focused on more than the other in terms of development, and the other feels slightly lacking, not as compelling. Beaty, however, expertly balances both, Neither storyline usurps the other, neither lacks in development, neither leaves the reading feeling vaguely unfulfilled.
This book has all the best tropes—orphan of mysterious (…perhaps…magical?) origins, broody love interest with secrets of his own, a hint of found family, and more, but it never falls into the cliches.
There is also mental health & disability representation in the book, which I’m honestly not sure how to feel about. There were aspects that could be construed as problematic. Stories of characters who have a certain mental illness (who are dead by the time the book starts) doing atrocious things. However, the book juxtaposes this with a character who has the same mental illness, who is nothing like that, and does address the fact that some people are good and some people are bad, mental illness or otherwise. In the end, I personally wasn’t upset by that portrayal of mental illness, since there were more genuinely good characters with mental illness than bad.
There’s one more aspect of the rep that I feel conflicted about and want to adress, but it contains spoilers, so I’ll put it at the very end, clearly marked.
Lastly, before addressing that final potential issue, I want to mention the author’s note at the end of the book. In the author’s note, Beaty addresses her representation of schizophrenia. She adresses the fact that her portrayal is somewhat colored by the way in which such a condition would be seen and treated in the time and era that the story is inspired by. She also speaks about the personal aspects of schizophrenia with herself. She is very vague, in order to respect her own and others’ privacy, but she talks about someone very close to her, whom she loves, as having schizophrenia. She simply says that the character’s delusions are “very close to what [she] has seen up close and personal” and “that is all [she] will say on that.”
In conclusion, the book itself was incredible, but I’m somewhat unsure of the rep. I personally didn’t find it outright harmful, and though I have a history of delusion, I am not schizophrenic, and you should definitely listen to the voices of #ownvoices reviewers over mine.
Now, you may scroll down for the last bit of information, but please be warned, it contains pretty major spoilers.
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Seriously, you’ve been warned. If you continue past this point, I do not want to hear any complaints about being spoiled. That’s on you.
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One of the major side characters, Juliane, is portrayed as having some kind of schizoaffective disorder, which is then confirmed as schizophrenia by Beaty in the author’s note. As far as I can tell, there is nothing harmful in the way that her hallucinations and delusions are portrayed.
Then, about 3/4 of the way into the book, she dies. Specifically, she is murdered by the serial killer which she is helping to hunt.
Now, this is a murder mystery about a serial killer. Obviously, lots of people get murdered. However, killing off the only living disabled character in the book definitely falls into the “bury your [minority character]” stereotype, which is pretty harmful. And under any other circumstances, even in a murder mystery, I would have been like, no, that’s shitty.
Except, based on the role Juliane played in the book, she kind of had to die. Like, if you took out all the aspects of her schizophrenia, and only made her Simon’s sidekick and cousin, she almost had to die for the plot to wholly work. It sort of wouldn’t have made sense to leave her alive.
But again, however she is disabled, and that lends a subtext to this even if it isn’t intended by the author. Like playing into the killing off your minorities trope, but also, the fact that her death could easily be interpreted to be necessary to “free” Simon from his “stifling” role as a caregiver, as if he couldn’t have ever had his happily ever after if she were alive. And again, I don’t believe Beaty intended for that implication at all, however, in killing Juliane off, it is there, intentionally or not. And that doesn’t quite sit right with me. Yet, as I said, I don’t know how Juliane could have been left alive under the circumstances, and I truly believe any potential harm was unintentional, and so I am left loving the book but feeling somewhat unsettled on this aspect of the disability representation.
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Special thanks to Fierce Reads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
This book is the perfect blend of magic and mystery, perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco. It has utterly unique and enthralling world building and magic, and it has a compelling mystery that had me desperate to know what was going to go down.
Not to mention—the characters! I absolutely loved Catrin, and her POV was engaging and easy to relate to, but Simon has my whole heart. I was obsessed with his character. Brooding, of course (I’m a sucker for the broody LI trope), but wholly unique and motivated.
I have never read a book that so perfectly straddled the line of a genre mash-up (in this case, fantasy and mystery). If you took out all of the fantasy aspects, you’d still have an amazing and compelling mystery story. If you took out the murder mystery plot, you’d still have an addicting fantasy novel. Often times, in mystery-fantasies, one aspect is focused on more than the other in terms of development, and the other feels slightly lacking, not as compelling. Beaty, however, expertly balances both, Neither storyline usurps the other, neither lacks in development, neither leaves the reading feeling vaguely unfulfilled.
This book has all the best tropes—orphan of mysterious (…perhaps…magical?) origins, broody love interest with secrets of his own, a hint of found family, and more, but it never falls into the cliches.
There is also mental health & disability representation in the book, which I’m honestly not sure how to feel about. There were aspects that could be construed as problematic. Stories of characters who have a certain mental illness (who are dead by the time the book starts) doing atrocious things. However, the book juxtaposes this with a character who has the same mental illness, who is nothing like that, and does address the fact that some people are good and some people are bad, mental illness or otherwise. In the end, I personally wasn’t upset by that portrayal of mental illness, since there were more genuinely good characters with mental illness than bad.
There’s one more aspect of the rep that I feel conflicted about and want to adress, but it contains spoilers, so I’ll put it at the very end, clearly marked.
Lastly, before addressing that final potential issue, I want to mention the author’s note at the end of the book. In the author’s note, Beaty addresses her representation of schizophrenia. She adresses the fact that her portrayal is somewhat colored by the way in which such a condition would be seen and treated in the time and era that the story is inspired by. She also speaks about the personal aspects of schizophrenia with herself. She is very vague, in order to respect her own and others’ privacy, but she talks about someone very close to her, whom she loves, as having schizophrenia. She simply says that the character’s delusions are “very close to what [she] has seen up close and personal” and “that is all [she] will say on that.”
In conclusion, the book itself was incredible, but I’m somewhat unsure of the rep. I personally didn’t find it outright harmful, and though I have a history of delusion, I am not schizophrenic, and you should definitely listen to the voices of #ownvoices reviewers over mine.
Now, you may scroll down for the last bit of information, but please be warned, it contains pretty major spoilers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Seriously, you’ve been warned. If you continue past this point, I do not want to hear any complaints about being spoiled. That’s on you.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One of the major side characters, Juliane, is portrayed as having some kind of schizoaffective disorder, which is then confirmed as schizophrenia by Beaty in the author’s note. As far as I can tell, there is nothing harmful in the way that her hallucinations and delusions are portrayed.
Then, about 3/4 of the way into the book, she dies. Specifically, she is murdered by the serial killer which she is helping to hunt.
Now, this is a murder mystery about a serial killer. Obviously, lots of people get murdered. However, killing off the only living disabled character in the book definitely falls into the “bury your [minority character]” stereotype, which is pretty harmful. And under any other circumstances, even in a murder mystery, I would have been like, no, that’s shitty.
Except, based on the role Juliane played in the book, she kind of had to die. Like, if you took out all the aspects of her schizophrenia, and only made her Simon’s sidekick and cousin, she almost had to die for the plot to wholly work. It sort of wouldn’t have made sense to leave her alive.
But again, however she is disabled, and that lends a subtext to this even if it isn’t intended by the author. Like playing into the killing off your minorities trope, but also, the fact that her death could easily be interpreted to be necessary to “free” Simon from his “stifling” role as a caregiver, as if he couldn’t have ever had his happily ever after if she were alive. And again, I don’t believe Beaty intended for that implication at all, however, in killing Juliane off, it is there, intentionally or not. And that doesn’t quite sit right with me. Yet, as I said, I don’t know how Juliane could have been left alive under the circumstances, and I truly believe any potential harm was unintentional, and so I am left loving the book but feeling somewhat unsettled on this aspect of the disability representation.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14/15+
Over All: 4.25 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
This was freaking adorable. I’m a sucker for a sports romance. I’m a sucker for a dual POV. Everything about this book had me hooked before I’d even picked it up—and it was just as good as I had hoped.
Let’s just run through every amazing thing about this book:
* sporty cheerleader x QB romance
* sapphic
* dual POV
* girls in sports! Girls in FOOTBALL!
* amazing flirtation & banter
* nicknames!!
* lesbian & polysexual MCs
* and honestly so so much more.
Home Field Advantage is told from alternative POVs. Amber is a closeted queer cheerleader whose one goal is to get cheer captain next year. Jack has moved into town to replace the previous quarterback after he died in a drunk driving accident.
Both characters’ voices were strong, unique, and engaging. I read an ARC of this book, so the formatting of the switching between POVs was not always clear, but even when I missed that it told me the narration switched, the change in voice made it obvious within the first few sentences.
I liked that both girls knew they were queer and had experience in being in wlw relationships. I think a lot of coming of age and coming out books focus on discovering your sexuality—which is great and so so important, but I enjoyed reading about two girls who fully knew their sexuality beforehand.
Watching Jack’s relationship with her family grow, evolve, and mend was an aspect of the book that I really loved and wish I got to see a little bit more of. At times, her POV felt a bit less developed than Amber’s. She had story lines of her family and friends back home and the bullying she faced that were touched on a bit, but never fully felt fleshed out to me. Her POV focused mainly on Amber, with a fair amount of focus on the team and her interactions with them—though, really, I could have used a litter more of those interactions as well.
Amber’s POV, on the other hand, focused, of course, on Jack, but also on the cheer squad, her friendship with Cara, and how all of this plays in to her potentially coming out. I think these story lines were overall better fleshed out than Jack’s, though they too got a little lost in the Jack-and-Amber-ness as well. We got a lot more back story with Amber, especially surrounding her relationship with Cara. That storyline was really engaging, and I felt I could viscerally connect with Amber’s feelings on the matter, however, in the middle of the book, it felt like it just faded out for a little bit. Cara had been Amber’s best friend. She drove her to and from school every day, and they were attached at the hip, but I’m not sure she made any sort of appearance in the middle 1/3 of the book. That made her re-emergence as a driving factor of the plot in the last bit of the book feel as if it came a little out of left field. Like, I knew it was going to be an issue, from what we learned in the first part of the book, but she was so absent in the middle I all but forgot about her.
Despite the fact that the story line seemed to get a little lost, once it returned, I was quickly able to get reinvested.
The romance, of course, was adorable. I love Amber and Jack (Jamber? Amback? AmberJack?) as characters, and I love them together. Their chemistry was amazing; their banter and flirtation made me want to shriek. Every time Jack called Amber “Cheer Girl”, I’m pretty sure I actually did squeal. Seriously. Team AmberJack forever. I love them.
I also absolutely adored Miguel and Amber’s friendship. MLM/WLW solidarity in the best way. They were just so pure. I want a friendship like that, please. I liked seeing the blossoming friendship between Migs and Jack as well. I was frustrated with him for not always doing the right thing, but I could understand and empathize, with his past. Also, he and Malcolm were perfection.
All in all, this was an amazing read. It’s definitely a romance and character driven plot. It had a lot going on, and sometimes those story lines got lost in all the romance, but they always eventually resurfaced, and the romance was cute and angsty enough that I really couldn’t get myself to care. I highly recommend this one. Dahlia Adler is amazing, and I think I’d read just about any book she puts out.
Age Rating: 14/15+
Over All: 4.25 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
This was freaking adorable. I’m a sucker for a sports romance. I’m a sucker for a dual POV. Everything about this book had me hooked before I’d even picked it up—and it was just as good as I had hoped.
Let’s just run through every amazing thing about this book:
* sporty cheerleader x QB romance
* sapphic
* dual POV
* girls in sports! Girls in FOOTBALL!
* amazing flirtation & banter
* nicknames!!
* lesbian & polysexual MCs
* and honestly so so much more.
Home Field Advantage is told from alternative POVs. Amber is a closeted queer cheerleader whose one goal is to get cheer captain next year. Jack has moved into town to replace the previous quarterback after he died in a drunk driving accident.
Both characters’ voices were strong, unique, and engaging. I read an ARC of this book, so the formatting of the switching between POVs was not always clear, but even when I missed that it told me the narration switched, the change in voice made it obvious within the first few sentences.
I liked that both girls knew they were queer and had experience in being in wlw relationships. I think a lot of coming of age and coming out books focus on discovering your sexuality—which is great and so so important, but I enjoyed reading about two girls who fully knew their sexuality beforehand.
Watching Jack’s relationship with her family grow, evolve, and mend was an aspect of the book that I really loved and wish I got to see a little bit more of. At times, her POV felt a bit less developed than Amber’s. She had story lines of her family and friends back home and the bullying she faced that were touched on a bit, but never fully felt fleshed out to me. Her POV focused mainly on Amber, with a fair amount of focus on the team and her interactions with them—though, really, I could have used a litter more of those interactions as well.
Amber’s POV, on the other hand, focused, of course, on Jack, but also on the cheer squad, her friendship with Cara, and how all of this plays in to her potentially coming out. I think these story lines were overall better fleshed out than Jack’s, though they too got a little lost in the Jack-and-Amber-ness as well. We got a lot more back story with Amber, especially surrounding her relationship with Cara. That storyline was really engaging, and I felt I could viscerally connect with Amber’s feelings on the matter, however, in the middle of the book, it felt like it just faded out for a little bit. Cara had been Amber’s best friend. She drove her to and from school every day, and they were attached at the hip, but I’m not sure she made any sort of appearance in the middle 1/3 of the book. That made her re-emergence as a driving factor of the plot in the last bit of the book feel as if it came a little out of left field. Like, I knew it was going to be an issue, from what we learned in the first part of the book, but she was so absent in the middle I all but forgot about her.
Despite the fact that the story line seemed to get a little lost, once it returned, I was quickly able to get reinvested.
The romance, of course, was adorable. I love Amber and Jack (Jamber? Amback? AmberJack?) as characters, and I love them together. Their chemistry was amazing; their banter and flirtation made me want to shriek. Every time Jack called Amber “Cheer Girl”, I’m pretty sure I actually did squeal. Seriously. Team AmberJack forever. I love them.
I also absolutely adored Miguel and Amber’s friendship. MLM/WLW solidarity in the best way. They were just so pure. I want a friendship like that, please. I liked seeing the blossoming friendship between Migs and Jack as well. I was frustrated with him for not always doing the right thing, but I could understand and empathize, with his past. Also, he and Malcolm were perfection.
All in all, this was an amazing read. It’s definitely a romance and character driven plot. It had a lot going on, and sometimes those story lines got lost in all the romance, but they always eventually resurfaced, and the romance was cute and angsty enough that I really couldn’t get myself to care. I highly recommend this one. Dahlia Adler is amazing, and I think I’d read just about any book she puts out.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14/15+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Special thanks to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley, as well as a physical ARC from YALLWest, and since finishing the book, have also preordered a signed copy from my local indy bookstore.
Rachel Lynn Solomon does not miss. While this is not my favorite RLS book, it is pretty dang high up there. This book bridges a lot of genres: young adult and new adult, science fiction and contemporary and romance. It was definitely a new direction for RLS, but she executed it masterfully.
Barrett and Miles both have my heart completely. They’re both grouchy, stubborn, and way too similar, which, of course, leads to the most amazing banter and swoon-worthy tension. Both of them just felt so real, and so damaged, I just wanted to wrap them up in my arms and hold them. Also I think they should have used one of those September 21s to push Cole off the top of the tallest building on campus. That was a wasted opportunity in my book.
Admittedly, the sciency aspects of this book went right over my head. I have never taken a physics class in my life, and I am never going to, though Miles’s earnest love for the subject almost made me want to change my stance on that… almost. That said, I never felt confused by what was going on. Miles would say something physics-y and I’d just be like “uh huh, cool, smart people stuff” and then move on. The important aspects of time travel physics were dumbed down enough for me to easily grasp the necessary information to understand the book. I am curious what an actual physicist would think of the book and the physics involved. Would they find it laughable, or is the science theoretically sound, or is it some of both?
As someone who grew up in the Seattle area, I always love the Seattle touches of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books. There are so many little local places and quirks that bring me endless joy to see written about in a way that only a Seattleite could do, and seeing UW be the central location of this book was so much fun. Like Barrett, my mom is an alumni of UW, and I, too, always pictured myself going there (though it was never in the cards for me), so it was awesome to read a book that took place there.
There was not a single page of this book where I was not feeling some intense emotion. Mostly it was pure joy and excitement, because, Seattleite or not, this book is beyond fun, but there was also a lot of sadness, and just plain feeling for Miles and Barrett and everything they’ve went through. I grew to care so much about these characters I just want to know more. I want to know what happened after the endless September 21s. What happened with Miles and Barrett, yes, but also with Lucie, with Max, with Barrett’s mother and Josie. I want everything. The book didn’t feel unfinished. It wrapped up nicely, and I was satisfied, plot wise. I just fell head over heels for all of these characters, and I think I could read about them until I die.
All in all, 10/10 book. Definitely recommend. And I cannot wait for whatever RLS brings us next!
Age Rating: 14/15+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Special thanks to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley, as well as a physical ARC from YALLWest, and since finishing the book, have also preordered a signed copy from my local indy bookstore.
Rachel Lynn Solomon does not miss. While this is not my favorite RLS book, it is pretty dang high up there. This book bridges a lot of genres: young adult and new adult, science fiction and contemporary and romance. It was definitely a new direction for RLS, but she executed it masterfully.
Barrett and Miles both have my heart completely. They’re both grouchy, stubborn, and way too similar, which, of course, leads to the most amazing banter and swoon-worthy tension. Both of them just felt so real, and so damaged, I just wanted to wrap them up in my arms and hold them. Also I think they should have used one of those September 21s to push Cole off the top of the tallest building on campus. That was a wasted opportunity in my book.
Admittedly, the sciency aspects of this book went right over my head. I have never taken a physics class in my life, and I am never going to, though Miles’s earnest love for the subject almost made me want to change my stance on that… almost. That said, I never felt confused by what was going on. Miles would say something physics-y and I’d just be like “uh huh, cool, smart people stuff” and then move on. The important aspects of time travel physics were dumbed down enough for me to easily grasp the necessary information to understand the book. I am curious what an actual physicist would think of the book and the physics involved. Would they find it laughable, or is the science theoretically sound, or is it some of both?
As someone who grew up in the Seattle area, I always love the Seattle touches of Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books. There are so many little local places and quirks that bring me endless joy to see written about in a way that only a Seattleite could do, and seeing UW be the central location of this book was so much fun. Like Barrett, my mom is an alumni of UW, and I, too, always pictured myself going there (though it was never in the cards for me), so it was awesome to read a book that took place there.
There was not a single page of this book where I was not feeling some intense emotion. Mostly it was pure joy and excitement, because, Seattleite or not, this book is beyond fun, but there was also a lot of sadness, and just plain feeling for Miles and Barrett and everything they’ve went through. I grew to care so much about these characters I just want to know more. I want to know what happened after the endless September 21s. What happened with Miles and Barrett, yes, but also with Lucie, with Max, with Barrett’s mother and Josie. I want everything. The book didn’t feel unfinished. It wrapped up nicely, and I was satisfied, plot wise. I just fell head over heels for all of these characters, and I think I could read about them until I die.
All in all, 10/10 book. Definitely recommend. And I cannot wait for whatever RLS brings us next!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 12/13+
Over All: 2.5 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Setting: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
<i>Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>
Was this book bad? No. Was it good? Also no. Did I read the whole thing because I was inexplicably invested in it? Yes.
Honestly, that sums up my feelings on this book pretty succinctly, but I’ll do my best to elaborate.
This book is childhood friends/crushes who had a falling out and became estranged until they meet again years later and maybe become something more? I absolutely love this trope, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way it played out in this book.
Alexa is way too hung up on a middle school friendship/relationship that lasted a whole four months. Like, this flirtationship has affected her so fully that she doesn’t watch TV, go on social media, read magazines, exist in pop culture. It was really hard to suspend my disbelief. It was way too dramatic.
Meanwhile, we don’t even see the love interest, Carson Knight-turned-Cayden McKnight (the name change was unnecessary and just made things confusing, honestly), until 30% into the book. And then, there’s just some broody eye contact and 0 words spoken. After that, Carson/Cayden isn’t seen for another 50+ pages. Nothing really happens in these 50 pages.
Then Alexa starts stalking Carson/Cayden again. They have some weird, angsty conversations. They fall in love. Everyone lives happily ever after—just kidding! Of course there’s the eternally dreaded third act miscommunication trope & breakup!
The thing about Cayden McKnight is that he is the Broody Bad Boy everyone loves to hate (or hates to love? Both?). He thinks that this persona is the only reason he’s famous, and if he lets even a crack show, he will suddenly never work again and will go back to the relative poverty* he grew up in. And dating someone—especially a non-celebrity? Well, that would simply be the end of his career.
*Carson/Cayden’s one big personality trait and sob story past is that he grew up poor. Except it was this whole big thing, when in reality he seemed relatively low income but nowhere near impoverished.
Honestly, the whole “if I date her my career is ruined because my bad boy persona will be shattered completely!” was the most annoying thing ever. Because 1. He was a douche about it and 2. It just doesn’t make sense. When has a male celebrity <i>ever</i> gotten heat for dating literally anyone? We are also constantly told that people thinking he’s a decent human being is going to ruin his reputation, career, and lose him all his fans, but every instance we see of this occurring, has positive affects on how his fans view him, except we’re told it’s ruining his career while people fangirl and gawk over him. The things we’re told by Cayden, and by Alexa, and by talk show hosts, are in direct opposition to the events we actually see play out.
That whole aspect of the book really just made me want to hit this boy upside the head.
Like I said, this book was not good. But I also became weirdly invested in it. I felt physical pain at reading it, and yet I finished the whole thing quickly and never felt like I was forcing myself to read it. I actually wanted to keep reading, and I almost hated myself for that fact. I don’t pretend to have sophisticated taste in books, but the fact that I was somehow enjoying a book whilst actively disliking almost every aspect of it was confusing, to say the least.
Would I recommend this book to someone? No. Would I dissuade someone from reading this book if they were interested? Also no.
Make of this what you will.
Age Rating: 12/13+
Over All: 2.5 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2.5/5
Setting: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
<i>Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>
Was this book bad? No. Was it good? Also no. Did I read the whole thing because I was inexplicably invested in it? Yes.
Honestly, that sums up my feelings on this book pretty succinctly, but I’ll do my best to elaborate.
This book is childhood friends/crushes who had a falling out and became estranged until they meet again years later and maybe become something more? I absolutely love this trope, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way it played out in this book.
Alexa is way too hung up on a middle school friendship/relationship that lasted a whole four months. Like, this flirtationship has affected her so fully that she doesn’t watch TV, go on social media, read magazines, exist in pop culture. It was really hard to suspend my disbelief. It was way too dramatic.
Meanwhile, we don’t even see the love interest, Carson Knight-turned-Cayden McKnight (the name change was unnecessary and just made things confusing, honestly), until 30% into the book. And then, there’s just some broody eye contact and 0 words spoken. After that, Carson/Cayden isn’t seen for another 50+ pages. Nothing really happens in these 50 pages.
Then Alexa starts stalking Carson/Cayden again. They have some weird, angsty conversations. They fall in love. Everyone lives happily ever after—just kidding! Of course there’s the eternally dreaded third act miscommunication trope & breakup!
The thing about Cayden McKnight is that he is the Broody Bad Boy everyone loves to hate (or hates to love? Both?). He thinks that this persona is the only reason he’s famous, and if he lets even a crack show, he will suddenly never work again and will go back to the relative poverty* he grew up in. And dating someone—especially a non-celebrity? Well, that would simply be the end of his career.
*Carson/Cayden’s one big personality trait and sob story past is that he grew up poor. Except it was this whole big thing, when in reality he seemed relatively low income but nowhere near impoverished.
Honestly, the whole “if I date her my career is ruined because my bad boy persona will be shattered completely!” was the most annoying thing ever. Because 1. He was a douche about it and 2. It just doesn’t make sense. When has a male celebrity <i>ever</i> gotten heat for dating literally anyone? We are also constantly told that people thinking he’s a decent human being is going to ruin his reputation, career, and lose him all his fans, but every instance we see of this occurring, has positive affects on how his fans view him, except we’re told it’s ruining his career while people fangirl and gawk over him. The things we’re told by Cayden, and by Alexa, and by talk show hosts, are in direct opposition to the events we actually see play out.
That whole aspect of the book really just made me want to hit this boy upside the head.
Like I said, this book was not good. But I also became weirdly invested in it. I felt physical pain at reading it, and yet I finished the whole thing quickly and never felt like I was forcing myself to read it. I actually wanted to keep reading, and I almost hated myself for that fact. I don’t pretend to have sophisticated taste in books, but the fact that I was somehow enjoying a book whilst actively disliking almost every aspect of it was confusing, to say the least.
Would I recommend this book to someone? No. Would I dissuade someone from reading this book if they were interested? Also no.
Make of this what you will.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I absolutely adore Wibbroka. Anything they write, I will read. Plus, there’s just something about a spousal author duo that I’m obsessed with.
Siena feels trapped by her relationship and intends to break up with her long-time boyfriend, Patrick. But before she can tell him, he announces that he’s moving away. They agree to try long distance, and check in at Thanksgiving to see where they’re at. Siena thinks this is perfect. She’ll have space to find out who she is outside of her relationship, and the excuse of the distance will give her a way to break up with Patrick without hurting him too much. But as it turns out, instead of their relationship growing apart, Siena starts to fall in love with him all over again.
It was cute. It was sweet. It was angsty. It was everything I wanted it to be. I’ve been in an LDR, so I connected to a lot of aspects of Siena and Patrick’s relationship in that sense. The hardships they faced while separated were real, and raw, and resonated with me deeply. Siena’s quarter life crisis also felt very earnest. I didn’t like everything she did because of her spiraling, but I understood where she was coming from. I was rooting for her even as I wanted to yell at her. I felt her pain and confusion, and it made the victory of her beginning to find herself and her place all the more sweet. I loved watching Siena and Patrick grow as their own people.
And of course, I loved the cameo from Alison and Ethan.
I enjoy every Wibbroka book more than the last, and this is no exception. I definitely recommend this book. LDRs are rare in YA romance, and I think that’s an oversight considering the fact that so many high school relationships do turn long distance once one or both people head off to college.
This wasa great book, and I can’t wait to see what the authors come out with next.
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I absolutely adore Wibbroka. Anything they write, I will read. Plus, there’s just something about a spousal author duo that I’m obsessed with.
Siena feels trapped by her relationship and intends to break up with her long-time boyfriend, Patrick. But before she can tell him, he announces that he’s moving away. They agree to try long distance, and check in at Thanksgiving to see where they’re at. Siena thinks this is perfect. She’ll have space to find out who she is outside of her relationship, and the excuse of the distance will give her a way to break up with Patrick without hurting him too much. But as it turns out, instead of their relationship growing apart, Siena starts to fall in love with him all over again.
It was cute. It was sweet. It was angsty. It was everything I wanted it to be. I’ve been in an LDR, so I connected to a lot of aspects of Siena and Patrick’s relationship in that sense. The hardships they faced while separated were real, and raw, and resonated with me deeply. Siena’s quarter life crisis also felt very earnest. I didn’t like everything she did because of her spiraling, but I understood where she was coming from. I was rooting for her even as I wanted to yell at her. I felt her pain and confusion, and it made the victory of her beginning to find herself and her place all the more sweet. I loved watching Siena and Patrick grow as their own people.
And of course, I loved the cameo from Alison and Ethan.
I enjoy every Wibbroka book more than the last, and this is no exception. I definitely recommend this book. LDRs are rare in YA romance, and I think that’s an oversight considering the fact that so many high school relationships do turn long distance once one or both people head off to college.
This wasa great book, and I can’t wait to see what the authors come out with next.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Rating: 13/14+
Over All: 5000 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Disability Rep: 5/5
TW: ableism, depression, brief mention of past suicidal ideation, discussion of previous surgeries and potential surgeries
Special thanks to Clarion Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
How am I supposed to review this book? I’m going to be honest, I suck at reviewing books that I really truly loved. I find it easy to piece apart critiques and point out aspects that I didn’t quite enjoy or couldn’t connect with or think could have been done better, but I genuinely have nothing bad—or hell, nothing even remotely critical to—say about this book. Not a thing.
I knew I was going to love this book long before it even had a cover. I mean, a disabled girl who wants to be a mermaid? Yes please. And BACBFT exceeded every hope and expectation I had.
Verónica was so real. I am disabled, and though my disabilities are very different from hers, I connected to and related to her so deeply. Natalia Sylvester crafted a character who exudes raw emotion and who just completely absorbed me. Vero, her struggles, her personality, all of it was so easy to fall into and get lost in. I became so wrapped up in her story that I read the majority of this book in one sitting, because I just couldn’t put it down.
This is a story about disability, identity, immigrants, mental health, love, being true to yourself, and so much more. And every one of those aspects was executed masterfully, emotionally, and in a way that is simply unforgettable.
I loved the Mermaid Cove aspect of the story. I can honestly say I’ve never read a book that has anything like that—and I loved it. I loved the atmosphere of the Cove. We get to see it through Verónica’s eyes as a child, when she tells us about her first ever visit. We get to see it through 17-year-old Verónica’s eyes as she visits again. We get to see it as a child, an outsider, and then behind the scenes. We see the juxtaposition of the childhood fantasy and the harsh reality. I felt like I was experiencing these things with Vero, and it was such a visceral thing to me.
I adored Alex. He’s the kind of character you can’t help falling in love with yourself. He’s so perfect while still being flawed and real. I really liked the fact that he also grew in his own ways, outside of his relationship with Verónica. So often, the love interest is just the love interest. They exist to be something to the main character. And they can be interesting characters who still make you swoon, but they sometimes feel static. Alex felt like his own person. He was changing and growing with Vero, alongside her, and on his own. It made him a uniquely engaging character, and he added so much to the story.
Every character, in fact, felt so fleshed out. They were their own people, and it made the book come alive.
Honestly, all I can say is this is a beautiful, mesmerizing, powerful book, and you need to read it. It is one of the best books I have ever read. I already wish I could read it again for the first time and experience it all over again.
If you’re going to take any of my recommendations—make it this one.
-
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IVE READ EVER
FULL REVIEW TO COME
BUT SERIOUSLY IM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Rating: 13/14+
Over All: 5000 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Disability Rep: 5/5
TW: ableism, depression, brief mention of past suicidal ideation, discussion of previous surgeries and potential surgeries
Special thanks to Clarion Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
How am I supposed to review this book? I’m going to be honest, I suck at reviewing books that I really truly loved. I find it easy to piece apart critiques and point out aspects that I didn’t quite enjoy or couldn’t connect with or think could have been done better, but I genuinely have nothing bad—or hell, nothing even remotely critical to—say about this book. Not a thing.
I knew I was going to love this book long before it even had a cover. I mean, a disabled girl who wants to be a mermaid? Yes please. And BACBFT exceeded every hope and expectation I had.
Verónica was so real. I am disabled, and though my disabilities are very different from hers, I connected to and related to her so deeply. Natalia Sylvester crafted a character who exudes raw emotion and who just completely absorbed me. Vero, her struggles, her personality, all of it was so easy to fall into and get lost in. I became so wrapped up in her story that I read the majority of this book in one sitting, because I just couldn’t put it down.
This is a story about disability, identity, immigrants, mental health, love, being true to yourself, and so much more. And every one of those aspects was executed masterfully, emotionally, and in a way that is simply unforgettable.
I loved the Mermaid Cove aspect of the story. I can honestly say I’ve never read a book that has anything like that—and I loved it. I loved the atmosphere of the Cove. We get to see it through Verónica’s eyes as a child, when she tells us about her first ever visit. We get to see it through 17-year-old Verónica’s eyes as she visits again. We get to see it as a child, an outsider, and then behind the scenes. We see the juxtaposition of the childhood fantasy and the harsh reality. I felt like I was experiencing these things with Vero, and it was such a visceral thing to me.
I adored Alex. He’s the kind of character you can’t help falling in love with yourself. He’s so perfect while still being flawed and real. I really liked the fact that he also grew in his own ways, outside of his relationship with Verónica. So often, the love interest is just the love interest. They exist to be something to the main character. And they can be interesting characters who still make you swoon, but they sometimes feel static. Alex felt like his own person. He was changing and growing with Vero, alongside her, and on his own. It made him a uniquely engaging character, and he added so much to the story.
Every character, in fact, felt so fleshed out. They were their own people, and it made the book come alive.
Honestly, all I can say is this is a beautiful, mesmerizing, powerful book, and you need to read it. It is one of the best books I have ever read. I already wish I could read it again for the first time and experience it all over again.
If you’re going to take any of my recommendations—make it this one.
-
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IVE READ EVER
FULL REVIEW TO COME
BUT SERIOUSLY IM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I absolutely love mysteries/thrillers that have a little paranormal aspect. I think this niche genre is having a spike in YA right now, and I am here for it!
YSHSTC follows two girls with supernatural abilities—one who can see the future, and one who can see the past. When their paths collide, Cassie (the future-seer) gets kidnapped, and it’s up to Hayden (past-seer) to team up with Cassie’s best friends in order to save her.
I flew through this book. I read 60% in one sitting, and I only put it down because it was after midnight. It was the perfect mix of mystery and suspense without really getting creepy, making it a great read for younger YA readers and older ones. Cassie and Hayden both had distinct, loveable personalities that drew me into their narrations. Getting snippets from Cassie’s POV (I’d say the book is 70% Hayden, 30% Cassie) made the stakes feel so much higher because I, as the reader, had been in her head and felt all the more invested in her for it.
I loved how the supernatural aspects were woven into the narrative and plot. Despite there being visions and empaths and paranormal abilities, the mystery and the plot felt grounded. Sometimes authors (especially debuts) can lean too heavily on these supernatural aspects and turn them into crutches, but I think this book was stronger for those aspects. It was never used as a deus ex machina.
The mystery itself was engaging, and kept me guessing without the true culprit feeling as if they came out of left field. It was nothing truly groundbreaking, and it’s a plot I’ve read before, but it was well done. There were plenty of red-herrings, but they never felt like red-herrings. There were several suspects at all times, and that really kept me engaged and had me thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading. I actually dreamed about this book, my subconscious was so absorbed in figuring out the whodunnit.
All in all, this was a fun, engaging, and suspenseful read that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good mystery.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Special thanks to FierceReads and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I absolutely love mysteries/thrillers that have a little paranormal aspect. I think this niche genre is having a spike in YA right now, and I am here for it!
YSHSTC follows two girls with supernatural abilities—one who can see the future, and one who can see the past. When their paths collide, Cassie (the future-seer) gets kidnapped, and it’s up to Hayden (past-seer) to team up with Cassie’s best friends in order to save her.
I flew through this book. I read 60% in one sitting, and I only put it down because it was after midnight. It was the perfect mix of mystery and suspense without really getting creepy, making it a great read for younger YA readers and older ones. Cassie and Hayden both had distinct, loveable personalities that drew me into their narrations. Getting snippets from Cassie’s POV (I’d say the book is 70% Hayden, 30% Cassie) made the stakes feel so much higher because I, as the reader, had been in her head and felt all the more invested in her for it.
I loved how the supernatural aspects were woven into the narrative and plot. Despite there being visions and empaths and paranormal abilities, the mystery and the plot felt grounded. Sometimes authors (especially debuts) can lean too heavily on these supernatural aspects and turn them into crutches, but I think this book was stronger for those aspects. It was never used as a deus ex machina.
The mystery itself was engaging, and kept me guessing without the true culprit feeling as if they came out of left field. It was nothing truly groundbreaking, and it’s a plot I’ve read before, but it was well done. There were plenty of red-herrings, but they never felt like red-herrings. There were several suspects at all times, and that really kept me engaged and had me thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading. I actually dreamed about this book, my subconscious was so absorbed in figuring out the whodunnit.
All in all, this was a fun, engaging, and suspenseful read that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good mystery.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Disability Rep: 3/5
Special thanks to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I love Jenn Bennett. I’ve read and loved all of her YA books, and though Always Jane isn’t my favorite of her books, it’s no exception.
There was a lot going on with this book. Jane is dealing with being back in the place where she had a serious injury, some familial stuff with her dad and Mad Dog (her employer), a absentee boyfriend who isn’t who she thought she was, and more. Fen has a whole bus load of familial baggage, and a fair share of unrealistic expectations of Jane.
I liked the book and the relationship in the sense that it was dramatic and fun and a good read, but it was also highly dysfunctional and toxic in a way that was never fully addressed. Fen was a tad melodramatic, and I think he made Jane out to be this dream girl destined for him—his living dead girl, his Ophelia—in a way that was… not healthy and never exactly called out. They danced around it, but I do wish it had been more directly addressed.
However, as dysfunctional as it all was, every character was loveable and relateable and so well written. I couldn’t help but enjoy the book, and I flew through it.
There is disability rep, too. Jane has aphasia from a near-drowning (or a drowning? She was dead for a second, I don’t know the technical term). It’s a side effect of her head injury that sort of makes words tricky for her to grasp. The book mainly focuses on the forgetting of words as she speaks. Jane calls it her word-pixie, who flits around in her head and steals words from her memories as she tries to speak them. I liked the way Jane addressed this and interacted with it. I think it felt realistic. The book also touched on having issues with understanding long strings of talking. How at the end of a long sentence or paragraph that someone was saying, the words started to lose meaning and it became hard to understand and remember, later on. She mentioned that this made written directions much more accessible than spoken ones. However, this is only touched on like, twice. Jane mentions it when she first explains aphasia to the reader, and it’s briefly mentioned one or two times in passing later in the book. We never get to see it play out, and that disappointed me a little, because I feel as if that would be a big part of living with that disorder, and seeing her have to accommodate that would have been nice. However, I’m not too put out that it didn’t happen.
My main issue with the rep were some throwaway lines here and there. People—Jane, Fen, friends, family—were constantly clarifying that Jane is “all there” and putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that she’s not “too intellectually disabled”, or something. And that is just… not helpful. It adds to the stigma against people with other mental disabilities such as autism, and makes it out like Jane is superior to people who have more intellectual challenges than her. There were a few other types of throwaway ableism—both against Jane and generally against people who are more disabled than Jane.
The book portrayed Jane in a good light, and as far as I can tell (I don’t have aphasia or a TBI, so please defer to own voices reviewers), had positive representation of her disability. It just also made some ableist remarks, as well. So I feel kind of conflicted on that point, because I doubt the author intended it. There is just so much casual ableism of this type in our world, and we need to point it out when we see it.
Age Rating: 14+
Over All: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Disability Rep: 3/5
Special thanks to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I love Jenn Bennett. I’ve read and loved all of her YA books, and though Always Jane isn’t my favorite of her books, it’s no exception.
There was a lot going on with this book. Jane is dealing with being back in the place where she had a serious injury, some familial stuff with her dad and Mad Dog (her employer), a absentee boyfriend who isn’t who she thought she was, and more. Fen has a whole bus load of familial baggage, and a fair share of unrealistic expectations of Jane.
I liked the book and the relationship in the sense that it was dramatic and fun and a good read, but it was also highly dysfunctional and toxic in a way that was never fully addressed. Fen was a tad melodramatic, and I think he made Jane out to be this dream girl destined for him—his living dead girl, his Ophelia—in a way that was… not healthy and never exactly called out. They danced around it, but I do wish it had been more directly addressed.
However, as dysfunctional as it all was, every character was loveable and relateable and so well written. I couldn’t help but enjoy the book, and I flew through it.
There is disability rep, too. Jane has aphasia from a near-drowning (or a drowning? She was dead for a second, I don’t know the technical term). It’s a side effect of her head injury that sort of makes words tricky for her to grasp. The book mainly focuses on the forgetting of words as she speaks. Jane calls it her word-pixie, who flits around in her head and steals words from her memories as she tries to speak them. I liked the way Jane addressed this and interacted with it. I think it felt realistic. The book also touched on having issues with understanding long strings of talking. How at the end of a long sentence or paragraph that someone was saying, the words started to lose meaning and it became hard to understand and remember, later on. She mentioned that this made written directions much more accessible than spoken ones. However, this is only touched on like, twice. Jane mentions it when she first explains aphasia to the reader, and it’s briefly mentioned one or two times in passing later in the book. We never get to see it play out, and that disappointed me a little, because I feel as if that would be a big part of living with that disorder, and seeing her have to accommodate that would have been nice. However, I’m not too put out that it didn’t happen.
My main issue with the rep were some throwaway lines here and there. People—Jane, Fen, friends, family—were constantly clarifying that Jane is “all there” and putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that she’s not “too intellectually disabled”, or something. And that is just… not helpful. It adds to the stigma against people with other mental disabilities such as autism, and makes it out like Jane is superior to people who have more intellectual challenges than her. There were a few other types of throwaway ableism—both against Jane and generally against people who are more disabled than Jane.
The book portrayed Jane in a good light, and as far as I can tell (I don’t have aphasia or a TBI, so please defer to own voices reviewers), had positive representation of her disability. It just also made some ableist remarks, as well. So I feel kind of conflicted on that point, because I doubt the author intended it. There is just so much casual ableism of this type in our world, and we need to point it out when we see it.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
<b>Quick Stats</b>
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Setting: 2/5
Writing: 2.5/5
<i>Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>
I love retellings, but this one disappointed me. Honestly, it just didn’t feel fleshed out enough. It was the definition of telling instead of showing. I felt no connection to the characters, no connection to the plot, nothing. Interesting things were happening, but the writing was so sparse that I was never able to truly engage with what was happening. It also had the worst case of instalove I think I’ve ever read.
We get three scenes in which they have no chemistry aside from platonic. Then a time skip of a year. They run into each other and have a quick conversation and a dance—still no chemistry. Then the next time they see each other it’s true love. The only scene that I felt any connection between them was the one in the fountains. Also the kiss was so poorly written. It was supposed to be this world shattering kiss, and yet it had no description or anything, only Cendrillon telling us that it was a world shattering kiss.
I flew through this book, but it was painfully boring and predictable, and I really just didn’t enjoy it, unfortunately.
Age Rating: 13+
Over All: 2 stars
Plot: 2/5
Characters: 2/5
Setting: 2/5
Writing: 2.5/5
<i>Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.</i>
I love retellings, but this one disappointed me. Honestly, it just didn’t feel fleshed out enough. It was the definition of telling instead of showing. I felt no connection to the characters, no connection to the plot, nothing. Interesting things were happening, but the writing was so sparse that I was never able to truly engage with what was happening. It also had the worst case of instalove I think I’ve ever read.
We get three scenes in which they have no chemistry aside from platonic. Then a time skip of a year. They run into each other and have a quick conversation and a dance—still no chemistry. Then the next time they see each other it’s true love. The only scene that I felt any connection between them was the one in the fountains. Also the kiss was so poorly written. It was supposed to be this world shattering kiss, and yet it had no description or anything, only Cendrillon telling us that it was a world shattering kiss.
I flew through this book, but it was painfully boring and predictable, and I really just didn’t enjoy it, unfortunately.