Take a photo of a barcode or cover
rachelelizabeth's Reviews (1.21k)
.jpg)
This series is like that Fanfiction that is so cracked out that you can't stop reading it, but as you read it you wonder why you're reading it. And ask yourself out loud why you read it. Cause that's what I did. Multiple times.
This review was originally posted on my book review blog, The Hufflepuff Whovian. Check us out and follow!
Sigh. Well I guess it was too good to be true. Seriously, what I liked about the first book is that while there was some drama, it was mostly cheesy romance in a dystopian Bachelor like setting. I liked that, I really did. But then Kiera Cass had to make this like the Hunger Games drama and I just...I wasn't expecting it, and really didn't want it. Gah. WHY KIERA. Semi-Spoilers follow
This book started the way I expected. I'm seriously so sick of Aspen though like it's ridiculous. I was sick of most of the people in this book except for my fav Maxon who, now that I think about it, deserves way better than America Singer. But seriously, I feel like my GoodReads updates speak for themselves.
This book starts up where the last book finished, The Elite are now competing for Maxon's love, and I was hoping for more Bachelor like competitions, Maxon being utterly adorable, and Aspen being a dumb jerk trying to get America to second guess herself. Honestly though, I'm not sure if my anger towards Aspen is because he's a dumb jerk who broke America's heart, or if it's because WHO THE HELL EVEN THINKS TWICE ABOUT BEING A PRINCESS?
But seriously. I knew there'd be the "struggle" between Maxon, America and Aspen, as seems standard these days when you have a strong female character protagonist, and I am so Team Maxon it hurts. But then, Kiera Cass decided to maybe make this more Hunger Games, because apparently, dystopian literature that's not cute doesn't sell (or so it seems) when they PUBLICLY CANED ONE OF THE CHARACTERS.
Yes, you read that right, publicly CANED a character. I was listening to the audiobook and honestly felt like I was going to vomit. I didn't really understand why that had to be in there, what that even really did for the story development except to show that the regime was flawed and who didn't know that already? Also I guess because you were supposed to be shocked that Maxon just sat by while it happened. I wasn't. and I also wasn't surprised when America jumped up after her and how that gave people hope~
Seriously, it felt like Cass was thinking to herself "Let's make this a little more Hunger Games-y".
America Singer is not Katniss Everdeen. She isn't. But it honestly seems to be a trend in dystopian literature to make a teenage girl the protagonist where she has to decide between two guys, and also save the world and bring about justice to inequity. Katniss seemed much more...realistic in this, while with America it seems like I've seen this a million times before.
So yeah, this book frustrated me, a lot. But will I read the next one? Absolutely. Because Maxon better take this.
Sigh. Well I guess it was too good to be true. Seriously, what I liked about the first book is that while there was some drama, it was mostly cheesy romance in a dystopian Bachelor like setting. I liked that, I really did. But then Kiera Cass had to make this like the Hunger Games drama and I just...I wasn't expecting it, and really didn't want it. Gah. WHY KIERA. Semi-Spoilers follow
This book started the way I expected. I'm seriously so sick of Aspen though like it's ridiculous. I was sick of most of the people in this book except for my fav Maxon who, now that I think about it, deserves way better than America Singer. But seriously, I feel like my GoodReads updates speak for themselves.
This book starts up where the last book finished, The Elite are now competing for Maxon's love, and I was hoping for more Bachelor like competitions, Maxon being utterly adorable, and Aspen being a dumb jerk trying to get America to second guess herself. Honestly though, I'm not sure if my anger towards Aspen is because he's a dumb jerk who broke America's heart, or if it's because WHO THE HELL EVEN THINKS TWICE ABOUT BEING A PRINCESS?
But seriously. I knew there'd be the "struggle" between Maxon, America and Aspen, as seems standard these days when you have a strong female character protagonist, and I am so Team Maxon it hurts. But then, Kiera Cass decided to maybe make this more Hunger Games, because apparently, dystopian literature that's not cute doesn't sell (or so it seems) when they PUBLICLY CANED ONE OF THE CHARACTERS.
Yes, you read that right, publicly CANED a character. I was listening to the audiobook and honestly felt like I was going to vomit. I didn't really understand why that had to be in there, what that even really did for the story development except to show that the regime was flawed and who didn't know that already? Also I guess because you were supposed to be shocked that Maxon just sat by while it happened. I wasn't. and I also wasn't surprised when America jumped up after her and how that gave people hope~
Seriously, it felt like Cass was thinking to herself "Let's make this a little more Hunger Games-y".
America Singer is not Katniss Everdeen. She isn't. But it honestly seems to be a trend in dystopian literature to make a teenage girl the protagonist where she has to decide between two guys, and also save the world and bring about justice to inequity. Katniss seemed much more...realistic in this, while with America it seems like I've seen this a million times before.
So yeah, this book frustrated me, a lot. But will I read the next one? Absolutely. Because Maxon better take this.
I post book reviews on my book blog, Rachel Reading. For 100+ more book reviews like this, check it out!
As you guys know by now, I'm a sucker for a book club. Kind of on a whim, looking for something that was set up in the more "traditional" way where we all read the same book at the same time, unlike the Postal Book Club model, but with a lack of local interest, our online book club based off of Discord was created. This was the first pick and boy howdy was I not ready for this.
I'd been meaning to read more mystery/thrillers because I love things with a good plot twist, and characters that aren't likeable but this book took that to a whole new level. "You" follows Joe, who is stalking you, Gueneviere Beck, because he believes that we're meant to be together. The book is told completely in second person and it's a lot. If you have content that triggers you regarding basically sexual assault, stalking, murder, creepy men then don't read this book. It will trigger you. It left me feeling super uncomfortable.
You may be wondering why I rated this book four stars and it's because overall, I think this book was done very well. Telling a story in second person isn't easy, and making one that is equally compelling is also not easy, however, Kepnes managed to do both. Although some parts were pretty predictable, I found myself wanting to know what was coming next. I also found myself disliking many of the same characters Joe didn't like and had that awkward realization that I was siding with this deranged man. It made me really think about how much narrators shape how we feel about characters. A lot of this book freaked me out, but it did really force me to examine some things and did really keep me reading. It was a good first book club book, but man I also need a shower.
As you guys know by now, I'm a sucker for a book club. Kind of on a whim, looking for something that was set up in the more "traditional" way where we all read the same book at the same time, unlike the Postal Book Club model, but with a lack of local interest, our online book club based off of Discord was created. This was the first pick and boy howdy was I not ready for this.
I'd been meaning to read more mystery/thrillers because I love things with a good plot twist, and characters that aren't likeable but this book took that to a whole new level. "You" follows Joe, who is stalking you, Gueneviere Beck, because he believes that we're meant to be together. The book is told completely in second person and it's a lot. If you have content that triggers you regarding basically sexual assault, stalking, murder, creepy men then don't read this book. It will trigger you. It left me feeling super uncomfortable.
You may be wondering why I rated this book four stars and it's because overall, I think this book was done very well. Telling a story in second person isn't easy, and making one that is equally compelling is also not easy, however, Kepnes managed to do both. Although some parts were pretty predictable, I found myself wanting to know what was coming next. I also found myself disliking many of the same characters Joe didn't like and had that awkward realization that I was siding with this deranged man. It made me really think about how much narrators shape how we feel about characters. A lot of this book freaked me out, but it did really force me to examine some things and did really keep me reading. It was a good first book club book, but man I also need a shower.
I have over 100 book reviews on my blog Rachel Reading. Check it out for more like this!
Here’s a secret about me, I absolutely love the Enneagram. It was introduced to me through my faith, but the Enneagram is not exclusive to the Christian faith and can be used by everyone to understand themselves better and the world around them. My first introduction to the Enneagram was through one of the co-author’s talks where she spends an hour on each number and it changed my life. I was pretty sure I was a 2. Until my life revealed to me that nah, I was really a 1 whether I liked it or not.
This book is a fantastic primer for anyone interested in the Enneagram and what it means for them. The authors do a fantastic job of explaining it in a very simple way but also a fulfilling way. I like how they talk about the positives and negatives of each number, and how important it is for people to know all the numbers. It’s good to know yours, and actively work on the steps to self-improvement they provide, however, we can better understand people when we know their numbers because it helps us give them what they need.
The Enneagram has honestly changed my life, and I hope you’ll pick it up and maybe it’ll change yours too!
Follow me on Rachel Reading | Instagram | Facebook | Bloglovin
Here’s a secret about me, I absolutely love the Enneagram. It was introduced to me through my faith, but the Enneagram is not exclusive to the Christian faith and can be used by everyone to understand themselves better and the world around them. My first introduction to the Enneagram was through one of the co-author’s talks where she spends an hour on each number and it changed my life. I was pretty sure I was a 2. Until my life revealed to me that nah, I was really a 1 whether I liked it or not.
This book is a fantastic primer for anyone interested in the Enneagram and what it means for them. The authors do a fantastic job of explaining it in a very simple way but also a fulfilling way. I like how they talk about the positives and negatives of each number, and how important it is for people to know all the numbers. It’s good to know yours, and actively work on the steps to self-improvement they provide, however, we can better understand people when we know their numbers because it helps us give them what they need.
The Enneagram has honestly changed my life, and I hope you’ll pick it up and maybe it’ll change yours too!
Follow me on Rachel Reading | Instagram | Facebook | Bloglovin
THIS BOOK GAHHHHHH SO FING PERFECT IM DONE WITH STEPHANIE PERKINS RUINING ALL MY IDEAS OF LOVE
