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ac223's review
3.0
This review can also be found at: http://thepaperbackaddict.blogspot.com/
All of my GR friends rated this book very highly, which is enough for me to pick it up. Unfortunately I just didn't feel the same way. The first 75% was a struggle for me to get through, and I kept finding myself interested in doing anything else to avoid it. I couldn't figure out why everyone loved this book. It could be the cheating that didn't sit well with me, or the fact that I disliked Cathy. It's hard to imagine a husband like Ben who loves Cathy with everything he has, being possibly replaced by Arsen. The last quarter of the book was a bit redeeming however, which is why I rated it 3 stars. As much as I disliked Cathy, my heart broke for the situation that she created. The epilogue makes me think the consequences of her actions will be ongoing, but I hope that isn't the case. I'll quit here, and pretend there is a HEA! :)
All of my GR friends rated this book very highly, which is enough for me to pick it up. Unfortunately I just didn't feel the same way. The first 75% was a struggle for me to get through, and I kept finding myself interested in doing anything else to avoid it. I couldn't figure out why everyone loved this book. It could be the cheating that didn't sit well with me, or the fact that I disliked Cathy. It's hard to imagine a husband like Ben who loves Cathy with everything he has, being possibly replaced by Arsen. The last quarter of the book was a bit redeeming however, which is why I rated it 3 stars. As much as I disliked Cathy, my heart broke for the situation that she created. The epilogue makes me think the consequences of her actions will be ongoing, but I hope that isn't the case. I'll quit here, and pretend there is a HEA! :)
nikki52010's review
2.0
2 1/2 stars.
I don't write reviews, but I felt I needed to explain my rating.
Spoilers below.
Something about this story just didn't click with me. It wasn't the story line that bothered me, in fact I was more interested in reading about her interactions with Arsen than I was Ben. One thing I didn't like was how it alternated between past and present. The 'past' writing was on a completely different level (and not in a good way) as the 'present' writing. To me the characters and dialogue came off juvenile. Too juvenile for what the story content was supposed to be about.
On two separate occasions, I actually put the story aside and decided to DNF it. The second time being after I skipped and entire PAST chapter as well as skimmed through the next few pages.
I took a break and came back with a fresh mind, and I am actually glad that I did.
That being said:
The main character Cathy irked me to no end. She was selfish, uncaring and took no responsibility for her actions.
"Past Ben" was a pervert who couldn't keep it in his pants. And again, with the dialogue.. do people really talk that way? Are they really that cocky? I didn't find him sweet. More of an eye roll anytime he opened his mouth.
"Present Ben" was okay. I liked him and genuinely felt sympathy for him.
Arsen. For the most part, he was my favorite character. Why? I like a bad boy. But what I didn't like was It wasn't until the very end that I really fell for him. I felt I actually understood him and why he
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I think I went into this with such high expectations and for me, unfortunately, it just fell flat.
Would I read anything else from this author? Absolutely. She has talent and was able pull emotions out of me, and that is essentially what I look for in a book.
I don't write reviews, but I felt I needed to explain my rating.
Spoilers below.
Something about this story just didn't click with me. It wasn't the story line that bothered me, in fact I was more interested in reading about her interactions with Arsen than I was Ben. One thing I didn't like was how it alternated between past and present. The 'past' writing was on a completely different level (and not in a good way) as the 'present' writing. To me the characters and dialogue came off juvenile. Too juvenile for what the story content was supposed to be about.
On two separate occasions, I actually put the story aside and decided to DNF it. The second time being after I skipped and entire PAST chapter as well as skimmed through the next few pages.
I took a break and came back with a fresh mind, and I am actually glad that I did.
That being said:
The main character Cathy irked me to no end. She was selfish, uncaring and took no responsibility for her actions.
"Past Ben" was a pervert who couldn't keep it in his pants. And again, with the dialogue.. do people really talk that way? Are they really that cocky? I didn't find him sweet. More of an eye roll anytime he opened his mouth.
"Present Ben" was okay. I liked him and genuinely felt sympathy for him.
Spoiler
I actually hate that his happily ever after involved Cathy. I wish he could have moved on. But I understand it. They were soul mates and meant for each other. But in that case, I wish Nadia was his daughter instead of Arsen's.Arsen. For the most part, he was my favorite character. Why? I like a bad boy. But what I didn't like was
Spoiler
when he ended things with Cathy, it seemed rushed. He knew she was leaving Ben for him, and now all of the sudden he wants to act like an immature boy who isn't ready for commitment? I didn't buy it at all. Especially when he was contemplating how he might actually be in love with Cathy just the chapter before. Him leaving her just didn't work. It felt rushed, and out of character even for someone like Arsen.Spoiler
ended things with Cathy in the first place. I wish he didn't have to end things. I actually wanted them to end up together. Once again, I root for the bad boys.Would I recommend this book? Yes. I think I went into this with such high expectations and for me, unfortunately, it just fell flat.
Would I read anything else from this author? Absolutely. She has talent and was able pull emotions out of me, and that is essentially what I look for in a book.
tzd's review against another edition
2.75
Ben was such a great husband, so supportive. He didn’t deserve any of it.
Arsen is a young celebrity with a bad boy persona that Cathy can’t resist.
Yes Cathy had recurrent miscarriages and I sympathise for her. But I can’t forgive her to be honest.
She didn’t suffer enough to redeem herself or warrant her happy ending.
Arsen is a young celebrity with a bad boy persona that Cathy can’t resist.
Yes Cathy had recurrent miscarriages and I sympathise for her. But I can’t forgive her to be honest.
She didn’t suffer enough to redeem herself or warrant her happy ending.
aliaspaine's review
4.0
"I am broken."
Me too, Arsen, for you... so, so very much. =*(
TEAM ARSEN!! He needs to fight for them! They are HIS! C'Mon Arsen: FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!
Me too, Arsen, for you... so, so very much. =*(
TEAM ARSEN!! He needs to fight for them! They are HIS! C'Mon Arsen: FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!
carladelgado's review
5.0
"It is beautiful. It is soul-shattering. It is goodbye."
"ARSEN" by Mia Asher Book Review - 5++ stars! *review contains major spoilers! MAJOR spoilers! Please stop now if you haven't read/finished the book yet! I swear!!
Throughout the book, I hated Cathy so much. Ben deserves a whole lot more. He's literally the best guy ever. Cathy... It was like a chant in my mind. "WTF CATHY?!?" She makes such stupid decisions. I was rooting for her and Ben. I wished that she would pick him and they would end up together. After some time, I decided I am against it. Ben deserves so much more than what he is getting from Cathy. She wasn't in love with Arsen. She was just with him because she wanted to forget. I have never been this annoyed with a character before. It was also kinda ... weird for me because she was a lot older than him.
"Love has the power to bury you alive in a coffin full of pain and despair, robbing you of air, of the will to live."
When it came to the confrontation between Ben and Cathy, even in those moments, Ben has been the best guy ever. When Cathy got pregnant and Arsen freaked out and left her, I was so happy and laughing me arse off. Cathy SO deserved that. When they met at the coffeeshop and Ben asked how long they were together, he said "Eleven years down the drain for a month of fucking." CATHY WAS FRICKIN' BURNED. She deserved what she got, seriously.
I loved how the book was written and it was revealed in the end that Arsen saw how much Ben and Cathy loved each other so he let her go (which just proves how much he loves her). I have underestimated him. Throughout the book it looked like he was just a selfish guy who loved Cathy but not enough to know when he has caused her pain. It was so beautifully written! Ben and Cathy eventually ended up together and it was formed in such a way that it was perfect. Ben was saved from his marriage to a woman he wasn't really in love with. Kerry healed him which is why it felt like love at the moment, similar with what Cathy felt with Arsen because he healed her. I can also imagine Nadia being so beautiful. :> And kudos to Cathy's dad for being amazing as well! (Y)
It was so beautiful. Really beautiful. I didn't expect the book to be this amazing. When I was reading the book, I was thinking 3 or maybe 4 stars. After having read the ending and everything that has happened, it deserves a lot more than 5 stars.
I didn't expect that this book would be amazing, truth be told. I read the synopsis and and I loved it, but when I read the book I was kinda disappointed. Later on when I finished it, I was so amazed at how beautifully it was crafted. I loved, loved, loved the book!
"ARSEN" by Mia Asher Book Review - 5++ stars! *review contains major spoilers! MAJOR spoilers! Please stop now if you haven't read/finished the book yet! I swear!!
Throughout the book, I hated Cathy so much. Ben deserves a whole lot more. He's literally the best guy ever. Cathy... It was like a chant in my mind. "WTF CATHY?!?" She makes such stupid decisions. I was rooting for her and Ben. I wished that she would pick him and they would end up together. After some time, I decided I am against it. Ben deserves so much more than what he is getting from Cathy. She wasn't in love with Arsen. She was just with him because she wanted to forget. I have never been this annoyed with a character before. It was also kinda ... weird for me because she was a lot older than him.
"Love has the power to bury you alive in a coffin full of pain and despair, robbing you of air, of the will to live."
When it came to the confrontation between Ben and Cathy, even in those moments, Ben has been the best guy ever. When Cathy got pregnant and Arsen freaked out and left her, I was so happy and laughing me arse off. Cathy SO deserved that. When they met at the coffeeshop and Ben asked how long they were together, he said "Eleven years down the drain for a month of fucking." CATHY WAS FRICKIN' BURNED. She deserved what she got, seriously.
I loved how the book was written and it was revealed in the end that Arsen saw how much Ben and Cathy loved each other so he let her go (which just proves how much he loves her). I have underestimated him. Throughout the book it looked like he was just a selfish guy who loved Cathy but not enough to know when he has caused her pain. It was so beautifully written! Ben and Cathy eventually ended up together and it was formed in such a way that it was perfect. Ben was saved from his marriage to a woman he wasn't really in love with. Kerry healed him which is why it felt like love at the moment, similar with what Cathy felt with Arsen because he healed her. I can also imagine Nadia being so beautiful. :> And kudos to Cathy's dad for being amazing as well! (Y)
It was so beautiful. Really beautiful. I didn't expect the book to be this amazing. When I was reading the book, I was thinking 3 or maybe 4 stars. After having read the ending and everything that has happened, it deserves a lot more than 5 stars.
I didn't expect that this book would be amazing, truth be told. I read the synopsis and and I loved it, but when I read the book I was kinda disappointed. Later on when I finished it, I was so amazed at how beautifully it was crafted. I loved, loved, loved the book!
sonialusiveira's review
4.0
It's been a while since a book wreck me like Arsen just did. This book is a very emotional read full of angst and heartbreak. Cathy seems to have the perfect life but struggling internally with all her issues. Ben, her husband, is too much of a perfect gentleman that is always enthusiastic and positive about most things in life making her uncomfortable to confide about her issues with him. Then enters Arsen and the broken love story starts.
devansbooklife's review
5.0
This review will contain spoilers. WARNING this book is centered around an affair; it's about cheating and it's a very difficult read. It may not be for everyone.
I bought this on a whim. I had seen numerous blog posts about it but had yet to investigate it's plot. It was sitting on my TBR list. I'm one of those book nerds who always have 100 books on my wish list but continue adding to it. Typically I stay away from the cheating themes. But I attended The Atlanta Author Event and had the privilege of meeting Mia Asher. While waiting in line everyone around me were talking about Arsen. The general consensus was that Arsen emotionally wrecked it's readers. So I grabbed a signed copy. And for those of you wondering about Mia ' s presentation at the signing; she was warm, energetic, and thoroughly gracious to her fans.
This book killed me. I don't know of any other story story that actually elicited waves of nausea and devestation the way this did. Mia Asher is a gifted writer. She has a expansive knowledge of language that she proves by throwing in words like juxtaposition. (I loved it) Her intellect and passion resonates throughout the story. The end result being a work of art, a masterpiece, and shines with brilliance. Even if the story broke me, I cannot argue the impressive talent flowing through the pages.
Cathy has it all. A wonderful career, a husband that makes Prince Charming look bad, and a bright future. However, three miscarriages leave Cathy shattered and emotionally void. She is unable to accept the love and support from Ben her husband, and begins to resent him in a way. She is bored or numb, I never really felt I understood her emotional state. Enter Arsen. A egotistical, young, attractive man that has been assigned to work with Cathy. Cathy at first denies his advances, but eventually she gives in.
My biggest issue is with Cathy. I couldn't understand or relate to her feelings. I hated her for the majority of the book. And if I'm being honest, she barely redeemed herself to me in the end. Why? She "needed" Arsen because he made her feel alive, but she "loved" Ben. In my opinion she only felt real heartbreak when Arsen left her. THEN she recognized her mistake. She walked out on a beautiful marriage for a fling. A man who "f*cked" her. I was so completely heart broken for Ben. He was innocent and tried so hard to make things work.
Other issues:
I couldn't understand the desire for Arsen. I never connected with him. I felt he was immature and shallow. He didn't try to romance Cathy, he was crude and direct. What about him seemed worthy of losing everything? Even their intimate moments played out in my mind like a hard core porn. All sex no emotion. This drove me bananas.
What makes this book so amazing is the way it's written. Mia Asher took a difficult story and weaved it into something amazing. It makes you feel. I felt disgust deep in my gut. I felt tears fall for Ben. When she surrendered and slept with Arsen I felt shocked, betrayed, and disappointment. THAT'S why it's incredible. Not all stories are butterflies and rainbows. Some are dirty, raw, and tragic. But they need to be told nonetheless.
If you start this book you will get swept away with it. It sucks you in and completely demands your attention. The subject matter is edgy and harsh but it's still beautiful.
I bought this on a whim. I had seen numerous blog posts about it but had yet to investigate it's plot. It was sitting on my TBR list. I'm one of those book nerds who always have 100 books on my wish list but continue adding to it. Typically I stay away from the cheating themes. But I attended The Atlanta Author Event and had the privilege of meeting Mia Asher. While waiting in line everyone around me were talking about Arsen. The general consensus was that Arsen emotionally wrecked it's readers. So I grabbed a signed copy. And for those of you wondering about Mia ' s presentation at the signing; she was warm, energetic, and thoroughly gracious to her fans.
This book killed me. I don't know of any other story story that actually elicited waves of nausea and devestation the way this did. Mia Asher is a gifted writer. She has a expansive knowledge of language that she proves by throwing in words like juxtaposition. (I loved it) Her intellect and passion resonates throughout the story. The end result being a work of art, a masterpiece, and shines with brilliance. Even if the story broke me, I cannot argue the impressive talent flowing through the pages.
Cathy has it all. A wonderful career, a husband that makes Prince Charming look bad, and a bright future. However, three miscarriages leave Cathy shattered and emotionally void. She is unable to accept the love and support from Ben her husband, and begins to resent him in a way. She is bored or numb, I never really felt I understood her emotional state. Enter Arsen. A egotistical, young, attractive man that has been assigned to work with Cathy. Cathy at first denies his advances, but eventually she gives in.
My biggest issue is with Cathy. I couldn't understand or relate to her feelings. I hated her for the majority of the book. And if I'm being honest, she barely redeemed herself to me in the end. Why? She "needed" Arsen because he made her feel alive, but she "loved" Ben. In my opinion she only felt real heartbreak when Arsen left her. THEN she recognized her mistake. She walked out on a beautiful marriage for a fling. A man who "f*cked" her. I was so completely heart broken for Ben. He was innocent and tried so hard to make things work.
Other issues:
I couldn't understand the desire for Arsen. I never connected with him. I felt he was immature and shallow. He didn't try to romance Cathy, he was crude and direct. What about him seemed worthy of losing everything? Even their intimate moments played out in my mind like a hard core porn. All sex no emotion. This drove me bananas.
What makes this book so amazing is the way it's written. Mia Asher took a difficult story and weaved it into something amazing. It makes you feel. I felt disgust deep in my gut. I felt tears fall for Ben. When she surrendered and slept with Arsen I felt shocked, betrayed, and disappointment. THAT'S why it's incredible. Not all stories are butterflies and rainbows. Some are dirty, raw, and tragic. But they need to be told nonetheless.
If you start this book you will get swept away with it. It sucks you in and completely demands your attention. The subject matter is edgy and harsh but it's still beautiful.