eliiizabethrae's Reviews (273)

 i wanted badly to enjoy this novel but i can’t seem to find the enjoyment in it. i find Scout to be very charming and i adore her sibling relationship with her older brother Jem, but other than that, i don’t see a reason to keep reading. over half of the book explores their childhood day-to-day endeavors complete with kid fears and whinings and play sessions and schooling and learning of new words and experiences. we follow their complicated relationship with their father, Atticus as he struggles to raise his kids right, while also dealing with society and his sister’s insights on the proper way to raise them. Atticus is a lawyer and is defending a black man on a sexual assault case and is receiving a lot of backlash for it. this book is told from Scout’s perspective so we aren’t getting the full picture and i feel like the story isn’t being developed enough with the entire first half not connected to the court case. i can’t see how the themes of equality and racism could possibly be explored fully in such a short amount of time. i enjoy the writing style a lot but found myself getting annoyed at every older character through the read. there wasn’t really anyone the kids can look up to and small things seemed insignificant to the plot like the scene with the kids reading to an elderly lady. i think it’s meant to show the kids learning empathy and respect and Atticus’ teachings but it didn’t land well enough. i’m bored and don’t think my rating will change as i go on, so i’m leaving it here. 

i dnf'd (although this is one i can see myself possibly returning to) because the timelines are confusing and prevents me from falling into the story and the relationship. the writing is definitely beautiful and quotable but i don't feel drawn to continue. 

let me say this: i loved The Hating Game when i read it, but looking back on it, it definitely doesn't stand out today. i read Second First Impressions last year and found it mediocre. for the premise, this book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, despite the author. a woman, desperate for a husband and someone to love her, brings a dead man to life, an ode to Frankenstein. i was sold! it sounded really fun and definitely a peculiar romance. starting it, i was already thrown off. the book starts explaining that houses have souls, and then we meet our siblings, Angelika and Victor, and i was immediately uncomfortable. some readers may say they are just incredibly close, but i draw the line when siblings are discussing the size of a dead man's penis and openly discuss one of their non-existent sex lives...and then continue the conversation in front of everyone they meet. the tone of the book feels so off as well and incredibly jumbled. Angelika's character is written very hormonal and weepy but sometimes strong and i didn't understand her. the dialogue felt detached and i really wasn't vibing with the characters or their personalities or relationships and the love interest and former dead man, Will, wasn't doing anything for me. from early reviews, i know i'm not in the minority and didn't want to push through because i can tell this isn't the monster romance for me. (maybe that sub-genre just isn't for me.)