emilyburdick's Reviews (389)

Such a feel good story! The characters all stole my heart and they were so real; I feel like I could be friends with all of them. This was such a unique idea as I’ve never read a story that took place mostly on a sailboat and it didn’t get repetitive like I feared. Cassie was truly a great main. I love that she was willing to call other people on their bs as well as herself when she was acting up. I was slightly let down by where they ended because I had high hopes for seeing what happened with Cass and Jonah once they reached Mexico and how they decided to handle their relationship. However, I totally respect and understand the direction that was taken and it makes so much sense in the grand scheme of the story and it’s message. Would give it 100 stars if I could because this story just made me feel so good inside.

I was so happy to get off this tragic rollercoaster of a book. I don’t think I’ve ever not cared so much about a main character. Lori did nothing to make me like her, she was immature (so maybe true to her age 15/16), and I found her kind of pathetic. Yearning for a boy (Sean) who treats her and other girls and his brothers so poorly? Girl, bye. And then of COURSE the brother who she is besties with is in love with her. I totally did not understand her confusion between Adam and Sean so constantly. She apparently grew up with these brothers and spent summers together but can’t tell them apart? They’re not even twins. I didn’t really get it. Also Adam having ADHD was so just thrown in for the “diversity” of it. There was no reason for it and it wasn’t even mentioned in the second half of the book. It was merely used as a way for Sean to make fun of him. I also felt like the third brother, Cameron, was just thrown in there for Lori’s older brother to have someone closer to his age; I didn’t know anything about him or care about him at all.

I also felt the writing was poor. There’s a way to write first person that isn’t just writing the exact ramblings going on inside the characters mind. There were also weirdly written scenes that didn’t flow well or make sense. Like, near the end of the book when the boys pull the boat up to the crowd and somehow she jumps up and hugs him but then next sentence is sitting down? Not sure why she sat back down just to get back up and onto the boat. Seems like poor editing to me.

All in all, really didn’t enjoy this book. I’ll probably read the second book because it came with the first in my kindle purchase. So, hopefully that goes better.

I decided to give book two a chance after only sort of liking book one. I should have just left it alone but I wanted to enjoy this story. Unfortunately, the sequel dragged on way too long for my liking and it felt like there were so many new unnecessary aspects thrown into it. Ada, the main character is okay, but my favorite characters were the two friends she made, Cora and Cherine. They are polar opposites that always put the other in check and aren’t afraid to butt heads. I loved their banter. The scene that dragged the most for me was when the witch sent them to what was meant to be the Cave of Wonders. It was like 4 chapters worth and they were LONG. I skipped most of it. I just wanted to be done with this book after having been reading it for so long so I rushed through to the end. I know there is a third book but there is a very slim chance I ever put forth the effort to read the (likely predictable) end to this tale. I will say that the authors ability to tie all the stories she’s written together is interesting and commendable. The foreshadowing to Bonnie being Belle from Beauty and the Beast was enjoyable and the ending scene where the witch reveals her at the Beasts castle was intriguing. I would be willing to try a different series in this world but it will probably be awhile before I do.

UGH. That was my initial reaction to finding out the new Hunger Games novel was from about dear Coriolanus Snow. UGH. This was my reaction 10 minutes ago when I finally finished said novel. I said I would be a good sport and give it my all but damn. This thing took it out of me. The problem here was that near the end of each Part, things would amp up and get good and entertaining. And then it would drag on through the entire next Part and then build up and get exciting again and so forth a third time.

I commend all the references to the original trilogy, and I enjoyed learning the origins of the songs, how certain parts of the games were developed and getting a clue as to why Snow hated Katniss so intensely from the get go. But, there were so many new minor characters I didn't care one ounce about. And the ones I did care about I didn't get enough of or any closure for. I also appreciated the small moments where we would see some of Snow's true person come to light, but he came fully out too quickly in the end. Kind of reminded me of how they did Dany dirty in Game of Thrones.

All in all this book could have been at least a third shorter and we still would have gotten the same information. There was so much lallygagging going on inside Snow's brain and within each Part of the book where nothing truly important seemed to happen.

I was hoping to be more satisfied than I expected when this book was announced but alas, I'm still here wishing for a Haymitch story.