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mythicca's review against another edition
5.0
Filled to the brim with cliché, this book was overwhelmed with the basic corniness of a romance.
The book starts off with your typical "average" girl who's nothing more than "average". Ha.
Mysterious boy shows up.
Mysterious boy is paired up with "average" girl.
Mysterious boy is interested in "average" girl.
Nora Grey, the so-called "average" girl, isn't the best main character. She was very aggravating actually. Not only did she dog-ear books but she also wasn't the brightest bulb.
Take the questioning for instance. She claims that she's going to be inconspicuous but then ends up dressing in obnoxious outfits and interrogating people with questions. Way to go, Nora.
This book is overflowing with cheesy material but I couldn't help but fall in love with it.
I love cheesy romance. Ugh.
5/5 biased stars.
The book starts off with your typical "average" girl who's nothing more than "average". Ha.
Mysterious boy shows up.
Mysterious boy is paired up with "average" girl.
Mysterious boy is interested in "average" girl.
Nora Grey, the so-called "average" girl, isn't the best main character. She was very aggravating actually. Not only did she dog-ear books but she also wasn't the brightest bulb.
Take the questioning for instance. She claims that she's going to be inconspicuous but then ends up dressing in obnoxious outfits and interrogating people with questions. Way to go, Nora.
This book is overflowing with cheesy material but I couldn't help but fall in love with it.
I love cheesy romance. Ugh.
5/5 biased stars.
xxmelxx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
strawverri's review against another edition
2.0
Easy read. Good concept I think but kind of lame storyline.
Make it more believable... for example the mom's character: I dont know of anyone that would travel for work purposes and leave their teenager to fend for themselves without adult supervision. Sure, there is a housekeeper but she is only there part time and then what? There are other parts like that but I wont waste my time tearing apart the book. If you can overlook stuff like that then you will love it! but I can only give it 2 stars.
Make it more believable... for example the mom's character: I dont know of anyone that would travel for work purposes and leave their teenager to fend for themselves without adult supervision. Sure, there is a housekeeper but she is only there part time and then what? There are other parts like that but I wont waste my time tearing apart the book. If you can overlook stuff like that then you will love it! but I can only give it 2 stars.
daphx00's review against another edition
4.0
Read this in one setting. Really liked it.
Review to come.
Review to come.
cassidyserhienko's review against another edition
2.0
For this week’s #throwbackthursday, we’re going real old school. Hush, Hush was pretty popular in 2013-2015 (?), but seems to have since lost steam. I occasionally see it on bookstagram, but to put it in perspective, there used to be whole ass instagram accounts solely dedicated to simping over Patch Cipriano.
I personally was never a huge fan, but for whatever reason I re-read them all the time. Each time I would think “hmm. I don’t really like this, it could have been so much better” and then fast-forward about 14 months and I’d wake up and decide it was time to re-read Hush, Hush again. Don’t ask me what kept me coming back, but come back I did. What a sick, masochistic lion I am. That said, I haven’t re-read these since probably grade 9 or 10 so this review should be interesting.
Patch obviously has a lot of potential. He has dark hair, he’s broody, sarcastic, and it’s very unclear whether or not he’s actually the villain of the story. Snarky anti-hero = Cassidy’s dream man (I’m perfectly fine and well-adjusted, thank you very much). Actually, the entire concept is pretty interesting, and I like the combination of fantasy and mystery. That said, something about these books has always fallen a little flat for me. Maybe it’s Nora herself, who defines annoying, or the fact that the story never seems to quite know what to do with itself. It’s like Becca Fitzpatrick knew the kind of book she wanted to write but struggled to really get herself there. While I admit that Vee was usually entertaining, Patch was the only real stand-out character from this series and while he’s certainly a hottie with a body it is perhaps too much to ask that he carry an entire four books.
From what I remember, which is very little, the last book is a particularly hot f-ing mess. Apart from the fact that Vee goes to England and marries a hot dude, the epilogue freaking sucks. I think the plot was just too much to stretch out across four books, it would’ve been sooo much stronger had it been a standalone or maybe a duology. All of the plotlines became too convoluted yet vague, and the books lost the suspenseful and semi-creepy vibe that was the first book’s strength. Ultimately, I think the story got too big for itself and the character/world didn’t have a strong enough foundation to support it.
In complete contradiction, I think there’s obviously something to the aesthetic and the aura of the first book to make it interesting. Why else would I have kept going back?
It has been noted that this review is proof positive that I should really re-read these books before I attempt to review. But I will not be doing that, so you can keep enjoying these disjointed and rambly reviews. You're welcome.
I personally was never a huge fan, but for whatever reason I re-read them all the time. Each time I would think “hmm. I don’t really like this, it could have been so much better” and then fast-forward about 14 months and I’d wake up and decide it was time to re-read Hush, Hush again. Don’t ask me what kept me coming back, but come back I did. What a sick, masochistic lion I am. That said, I haven’t re-read these since probably grade 9 or 10 so this review should be interesting.
Patch obviously has a lot of potential. He has dark hair, he’s broody, sarcastic, and it’s very unclear whether or not he’s actually the villain of the story. Snarky anti-hero = Cassidy’s dream man (I’m perfectly fine and well-adjusted, thank you very much). Actually, the entire concept is pretty interesting, and I like the combination of fantasy and mystery. That said, something about these books has always fallen a little flat for me. Maybe it’s Nora herself, who defines annoying, or the fact that the story never seems to quite know what to do with itself. It’s like Becca Fitzpatrick knew the kind of book she wanted to write but struggled to really get herself there. While I admit that Vee was usually entertaining, Patch was the only real stand-out character from this series and while he’s certainly a hottie with a body it is perhaps too much to ask that he carry an entire four books.
From what I remember, which is very little, the last book is a particularly hot f-ing mess. Apart from the fact that Vee goes to England and marries a hot dude, the epilogue freaking sucks. I think the plot was just too much to stretch out across four books, it would’ve been sooo much stronger had it been a standalone or maybe a duology. All of the plotlines became too convoluted yet vague, and the books lost the suspenseful and semi-creepy vibe that was the first book’s strength. Ultimately, I think the story got too big for itself and the character/world didn’t have a strong enough foundation to support it.
In complete contradiction, I think there’s obviously something to the aesthetic and the aura of the first book to make it interesting. Why else would I have kept going back?
It has been noted that this review is proof positive that I should really re-read these books before I attempt to review. But I will not be doing that, so you can keep enjoying these disjointed and rambly reviews. You're welcome.
crystalstarrlight's review
2.0
Bullet Review:
Twilight. With Angels. And a far creepier, more abusive boyfriend than Edward Cullen.
No, literally.
And yes, I didn't think it would ever be possible to have a boyfriend more abusive, controlling than Edward, but at least Edward didn't make constant sexual innuendos to Bella. Or make her feel afraid all the time. Or tell her he was trying to kill her.
F@#$ all the people in this book to whom Nora basically screams, "PATCH IS A STALKER AND WON'T RESPECT MY SPACE" and they just chuckle and tell her she's crazy.
F@#$ Nora for not having a single brain cell.
Nora's mom also needs to have CPS called on her STAT for all her parenting skills. Never thought I'd say this, but at least Charlie in Twilight GAVE A F@#$ING DAMN and tried.
Summary:
Characters: 0 stars
Writing: 2 stars
Plot: 0 stars
Sexism: 0 stars
Entertainment value: 5 stars
By my estimation, 2 stars is more than generous.
No, I won't be reading the sequels.
Yes, I do believe this is one of the few books that deserves to be burned. At least you would be getting heat from its burning.
Full Review:
Have you read Twilight in the past decade? Do you like your heroines to be idiots and your heroes to be oppressive, harassing d-bags? For friends to laugh off charges of sexual assault and harassment? For parents to be constantly absent and authority figures to be complicit with said assault/harrassment and/or jealous of the heroine?
Well, I have a book to tell you about.
I'm not going to bother with a plot summary, because people, there isn't one. Or at least, there is not one that you haven't seen 80 million times in Every. Single. Published. YA novel in the last 10 years. It's the same damned "a new hot boy moved into town and he's SO MYSTERIOUS and BAD that he makes the 'plain jane' heroine's panties all wet and her hands all clammy oh sh!t, we don't have a plot let's throw one in the last 20 pages" blah blah blah.
It's Twilight. In Maine. With Angels. And different names.
OK, that's not exactly fair. I'm being rather insulting to Twilight. (Please note, when I say "Twilight", I mean "Twilight", not Breaking Wind". That book deserves every ounce of criticism it receives.)
Twilight didn't have Edward toss sexual come-ons every time they talked.
Twilight didn't make Bella quiver in fear whenever Edward was around. (Yes, she lacked any sort of "normal" response around Edward, but that's another tale.)
Twilight didn't have Charlie and Renee be completely absent. You know, they occasionally (not enough) checked in on their daughter to be sure she was still, you know, alive. And they monitored her boyfriend.
Other than having a mildly more interesting heroine (Nora *is* friendly to Vee, less moody and emo than Bella, and doesn't hide that with her long "bar stool legs", she's hott), there is nothing to recommend "Hush, Hush" over "Twilight". And given that "Twilight" has become a joke, that's saying a lot.
Because when this book opened, I actually liked Nora. Before she opened her mouth, proved herself a moron, and continued to act like a decapitated Barbie doll for the rest of the book. Before she kept investigating Patch, even though everything about her was saying, "STAY AWAY!" Even when he gave her threatening smiles, antagonized her, harassed her, and sexually assaulted her.
What is WITH IT with this trend of making our heroes one hair shy of a trip to jail with life for sexual assault? Is this sexy? Because I certainly don't find Patch sexy AT ALL. Patch is deplorable, and I don't care how hott he is. Oh, wait - a sexy hott guy harassing and pining a girl to a wall is OK. If he were UGLY, THEN we would have a problem.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm rambling. I just can't seem to focus. Much like our moron, Nora. Or Vee. Or how about just about everyone in this mindless, brainless sexual assault victim training manual?
Nora can't conduct an interview to save her life - even though she's a reporter for the school ezine.
Vee is one big walking Fat Girl joke. When she isn't a sex joke. Or laughing off her friend's concerns about being harassed by Patch. What was the point of having her in here again? So that Nora could have a female friend?
If Coach existed in the real world, he wouldn't be teaching biology (BIOLOGY?!) anymore. No one conducts a class in such a p!ss-poor fashion. And to BRUSH OFF Nora's request for seat movement because Patch is sexually harassing her?!
But how can I single out Coach for his incompetency when you also have the triple-whammy of Absentee Mom, Dorothea ZIE GERMAN housekeeper JAH, and Miss Green, that selfish school counselor?
Blythe (Nora's mom) might as well not even exist, for all that she's in this book. I can't really imagine a mother that is THAT negligent and oblivious. It's astonishing, really. Even Charlie, that mindless, clueless, brainless father that he was, actually bothered to check in on Bella's life occasionally. Sure, he was more ploy and contrivance than an actual character, but he did care for his daughter and ATTEMPT to look out for her. When he wasn't, like, fishing or crap. But here, every time Nora even THINKS about telling her mom, she's like, "Nope! Can't do that! Mom will quit her job." You know what, hunny? Given how things are, maybe Mommy Dearest needs to quit her job and stick around more. Just sayin'.
If Dorothea is to take care of the house and Nora, she ought to be fired. The crap she lets past her radar is ridiculous.
And Miss Green? Really, Nora is going to be jealous and hateful of her because Miss Green is all googoo for Patch?
Eliott? Jules? WHY? WHY ARE YOU HERE?
I could go on and on. Really, everything can be summed into EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IS A MORON!
I am not sure why this is categorized as urban fantasy or paranormal romance, because frak me, the paranormal elements didn't appear until a good 3/4 through the book and we don't get any frakkin' answers until the 80% mark. Before then, it's just:
Nora chases after Patch.
Patch is an @$$.
Nora tries to ask questions.
Patch makes sexual come on.
Nora is scared and turned on.
Patch runs off.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat. AD NAUSEUM.
This is not a plot. You cannot write books like this. Having arguments to show "sexual tension" is not a plot. Having a random guy in a ski mask attack a Neon is not a plot. Going to Victoria's Secret is not a plot.
In general: You can't throw your plot into the pot in the last 50 pages! People! How hard is this??
Oh, and by the way? Just because a guy wears a ski mask does NOT mean he immediately is the attacker. Just sayin'.
I guess in Fitzpatrick's favor, her writing isn't terrible.
On second thought???
F@#$ you, book, and your sexist attitudes.
Is it wrong that the only time I laughed in legitimate good humor was when Marcie said this?
I don't typically believe in book burning and book banning because it starts a bad trend and nearly every books has SOMETHING good about it. But the best thing from this book would probably be the warmth you would get as it went up in flames. I'm astonished and disheartened that this became a bestseller with a "saga". This is as much a saga as my daily exploits in the toilet.
A deplorable book. Avoid at all costs.
Unless you are like me and enjoy the snark. Then feel free to jump on board and have a laugh.
P.S. I suppose after Fitzpatrick's "Be Nice" post, I ought to have toned this down, but given she's made millions off these, squeezed money out of me and took my time...
Twilight. With Angels. And a far creepier, more abusive boyfriend than Edward Cullen.
No, literally.
And yes, I didn't think it would ever be possible to have a boyfriend more abusive, controlling than Edward, but at least Edward didn't make constant sexual innuendos to Bella. Or make her feel afraid all the time. Or tell her he was trying to kill her.
F@#$ all the people in this book to whom Nora basically screams, "PATCH IS A STALKER AND WON'T RESPECT MY SPACE" and they just chuckle and tell her she's crazy.
F@#$ Nora for not having a single brain cell.
Nora's mom also needs to have CPS called on her STAT for all her parenting skills. Never thought I'd say this, but at least Charlie in Twilight GAVE A F@#$ING DAMN and tried.
Summary:
Characters: 0 stars
Writing: 2 stars
Plot: 0 stars
Sexism: 0 stars
Entertainment value: 5 stars
By my estimation, 2 stars is more than generous.
No, I won't be reading the sequels.
Yes, I do believe this is one of the few books that deserves to be burned. At least you would be getting heat from its burning.
Full Review:
Have you read Twilight in the past decade? Do you like your heroines to be idiots and your heroes to be oppressive, harassing d-bags? For friends to laugh off charges of sexual assault and harassment? For parents to be constantly absent and authority figures to be complicit with said assault/harrassment and/or jealous of the heroine?
Well, I have a book to tell you about.
I'm not going to bother with a plot summary, because people, there isn't one. Or at least, there is not one that you haven't seen 80 million times in Every. Single. Published. YA novel in the last 10 years. It's the same damned "a new hot boy moved into town and he's SO MYSTERIOUS and BAD that he makes the 'plain jane' heroine's panties all wet and her hands all clammy oh sh!t, we don't have a plot let's throw one in the last 20 pages" blah blah blah.
It's Twilight. In Maine. With Angels. And different names.
OK, that's not exactly fair. I'm being rather insulting to Twilight. (Please note, when I say "Twilight", I mean "Twilight", not Breaking Wind". That book deserves every ounce of criticism it receives.)
Twilight didn't have Edward toss sexual come-ons every time they talked.
Twilight didn't make Bella quiver in fear whenever Edward was around. (Yes, she lacked any sort of "normal" response around Edward, but that's another tale.)
Twilight didn't have Charlie and Renee be completely absent. You know, they occasionally (not enough) checked in on their daughter to be sure she was still, you know, alive. And they monitored her boyfriend.
Other than having a mildly more interesting heroine (Nora *is* friendly to Vee, less moody and emo than Bella, and doesn't hide that with her long "bar stool legs", she's hott), there is nothing to recommend "Hush, Hush" over "Twilight". And given that "Twilight" has become a joke, that's saying a lot.
Because when this book opened, I actually liked Nora. Before she opened her mouth, proved herself a moron, and continued to act like a decapitated Barbie doll for the rest of the book. Before she kept investigating Patch, even though everything about her was saying, "STAY AWAY!" Even when he gave her threatening smiles, antagonized her, harassed her, and sexually assaulted her.
What is WITH IT with this trend of making our heroes one hair shy of a trip to jail with life for sexual assault? Is this sexy? Because I certainly don't find Patch sexy AT ALL. Patch is deplorable, and I don't care how hott he is. Oh, wait - a sexy hott guy harassing and pining a girl to a wall is OK. If he were UGLY, THEN we would have a problem.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm rambling. I just can't seem to focus. Much like our moron, Nora. Or Vee. Or how about just about everyone in this mindless, brainless sexual assault victim training manual?
Nora can't conduct an interview to save her life - even though she's a reporter for the school ezine.
Vee is one big walking Fat Girl joke. When she isn't a sex joke. Or laughing off her friend's concerns about being harassed by Patch. What was the point of having her in here again? So that Nora could have a female friend?
If Coach existed in the real world, he wouldn't be teaching biology (BIOLOGY?!) anymore. No one conducts a class in such a p!ss-poor fashion. And to BRUSH OFF Nora's request for seat movement because Patch is sexually harassing her?!
But how can I single out Coach for his incompetency when you also have the triple-whammy of Absentee Mom, Dorothea ZIE GERMAN housekeeper JAH, and Miss Green, that selfish school counselor?
Blythe (Nora's mom) might as well not even exist, for all that she's in this book. I can't really imagine a mother that is THAT negligent and oblivious. It's astonishing, really. Even Charlie, that mindless, clueless, brainless father that he was, actually bothered to check in on Bella's life occasionally. Sure, he was more ploy and contrivance than an actual character, but he did care for his daughter and ATTEMPT to look out for her. When he wasn't, like, fishing or crap. But here, every time Nora even THINKS about telling her mom, she's like, "Nope! Can't do that! Mom will quit her job." You know what, hunny? Given how things are, maybe Mommy Dearest needs to quit her job and stick around more. Just sayin'.
If Dorothea is to take care of the house and Nora, she ought to be fired. The crap she lets past her radar is ridiculous.
And Miss Green? Really, Nora is going to be jealous and hateful of her because Miss Green is all googoo for Patch?
Eliott? Jules? WHY? WHY ARE YOU HERE?
I could go on and on. Really, everything can be summed into EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IS A MORON!
I am not sure why this is categorized as urban fantasy or paranormal romance, because frak me, the paranormal elements didn't appear until a good 3/4 through the book and we don't get any frakkin' answers until the 80% mark. Before then, it's just:
Nora chases after Patch.
Patch is an @$$.
Nora tries to ask questions.
Patch makes sexual come on.
Nora is scared and turned on.
Patch runs off.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat. AD NAUSEUM.
This is not a plot. You cannot write books like this. Having arguments to show "sexual tension" is not a plot. Having a random guy in a ski mask attack a Neon is not a plot. Going to Victoria's Secret is not a plot.
In general: You can't throw your plot into the pot in the last 50 pages! People! How hard is this??
Oh, and by the way? Just because a guy wears a ski mask does NOT mean he immediately is the attacker. Just sayin'.
I guess in Fitzpatrick's favor, her writing isn't terrible.
"A lethal smile seemed to rise in his [eyes???]."
On second thought???
"Men are attracted to beauty, because it indicates health and youth."
F@#$ you, book, and your sexist attitudes.
"Maybe it was self-defense. I heard it was dark and raining. It would be easy to mistake Vee for a moose. Or a bear or a buffalo. Really any hulking animal would do."
Is it wrong that the only time I laughed in legitimate good humor was when Marcie said this?
I don't typically believe in book burning and book banning because it starts a bad trend and nearly every books has SOMETHING good about it. But the best thing from this book would probably be the warmth you would get as it went up in flames. I'm astonished and disheartened that this became a bestseller with a "saga". This is as much a saga as my daily exploits in the toilet.
A deplorable book. Avoid at all costs.
Unless you are like me and enjoy the snark. Then feel free to jump on board and have a laugh.
P.S. I suppose after Fitzpatrick's "Be Nice" post, I ought to have toned this down, but given she's made millions off these, squeezed money out of me and took my time...
sk_isheretoo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
bookstiana's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
zepeng's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay.
Not good, not omg-i-love-it-so-much, no ew-i-hate-it, just okay
First of all, I hate Vee, she's too damn desperate and stupid for her own good.
And I am not too fond on Nora too, but meh I'll let it slide.
In whole, it's okay, but it didn't deserve my three stars. Sorry.
Not good, not omg-i-love-it-so-much, no ew-i-hate-it, just okay
First of all, I hate Vee, she's too damn desperate and stupid for her own good.
And I am not too fond on Nora too, but meh I'll let it slide.
In whole, it's okay, but it didn't deserve my three stars. Sorry.
amyathens's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25