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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good book but slow burning, deals with kidnapping and Stockholm syndrome
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
When I first read this book, I really liked it and it was such an interesting book to read and understand - but I didn't feel like it was something I would constantly be coming back to and thinking about. But, four years later and I still come back to this story. It has stuck with me and I have never read anything quite like it. It is written in a unique POV as well as a unique setting.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I find this book very hard to rate, which is why it is getting a review. On one hand, it was very well written. The POV took a while to get used to, but I loved how the author used it to make the reader uncomfortable with the situation between Ty and Gemma. I thought the author did a great job exploring Stockholm syndrome (and I am very relieved it was labelled and not glorified by Gemma's caregivers), and I felt it was realistic how someone in that situation could develop feelings for their capture
On the other hand, this wasn't an enjoyable read. I felt very uncomfortable during many scenes, and I found the prose to be beautiful but slow. I am very taken aback by the number of reviews glorifying Ty- yes, he did have a difficult upbringing, but that does not excuse what he did. I personally felt nothing towards him and I hope he got a very tough sentencing for what he did to Gemma. He drugged her, stole her from her family, and help her against her will . I was surprised to see this tagged as a romance; I got a very different message from this book and saw it much more as a dark story about kidnapping.
I'm giving this 2.5 stars based on my enjoyment of the book, not the author's writing ability.
On the other hand, this wasn't an enjoyable read. I felt very uncomfortable during many scenes, and I found the prose to be beautiful but slow. I am very taken aback by the number of reviews glorifying Ty- yes, he did have a difficult upbringing, but that does not excuse what he did. I personally felt nothing towards him
I'm giving this 2.5 stars based on my enjoyment of the book, not the author's writing ability.
Question: How can an author make you feel for someone that kidnaps a teenage girl? Well Lucy Christopher managed to jolt me into it.
Negatives: Its about drugs and kidnaping. I didn't buy Ty's reason for his actions at first. The middle of Gemmas story was a little slow to.
Positives: If you like romance where the unlikely is likely, this book is for you. Against her better judgement, Gemma falls for Ty. I found I could get into the idea of things working out.
But the end may wound you, shock you, possibly love you.
Negatives: Its about drugs and kidnaping. I didn't buy Ty's reason for his actions at first. The middle of Gemmas story was a little slow to.
Positives: If you like romance where the unlikely is likely, this book is for you. Against her better judgement, Gemma falls for Ty. I found I could get into the idea of things working out.
But the end may wound you, shock you, possibly love you.
This was a really fantastic book that's hard to explain without reading it. I found myself echoing Gemma's feelings throughout the book, which is a testament to how well Lucy Christopher has written it. By two thirds of the way through, it's almost as though I have Stockholm Syndrom, falling for the damaged but well meaning psychopath (too harsh a word? Maybe not) that has taken her deeper into the desert than I ever knew you could go. The novel is well planned and well researched and you feel as though you're in it with Gem and Ty. As Gemma begins to understand Ty and, in a way, fall for him, I did too. You sympathise with his, even though you know he shouldn't have taken her. By the end, I'm even hoping, to my horror, that she'll move back to the separates with him, having let him off scott-free from his inevitable jail sentence. It seems so sad that she's going back to this big city that she no longer seems enamoured with. It's as though Gemma no longer belongs. She doesn't belong in the city with the people, but you know she doesn't belong in the desert with Ty. This makes the ending lack closure, but not necessarily in a bad way. We feel as lost as Gemma does. As wary of the future and uncertain as to where that will lead for her and Ty. Whilst I feel as though I want to know every detail about their whole lives and what will happen next, that's just me and my over-nosy nature.
We see that Gemma did the right thing. She showed both sides of Ty to that court. She didn't succumb to the pressure to make him out as an ill-intentioned monster, but she didn't let her confusing attachment to him obscure the facts as she knew them. She gave the whole story and, as we see reading it, it is not all bad or all good. Life isn't black and white and neither is the situation Gemma found herself in. Ty may not be a saint, but we see that in his own twisted way, he cared deeply about Gemma and wanted her to be happy. He saved her life, after all. Perhaps more than once.
As a result, I would reccommend this book to everyone. It may seem adolescent in places, as it's target audience is teens, I'm sure. But as a fully fledged adult, I confirm that it can appeal to all age groups. It's no psychological thriller but it is deep and it makes you think and gives you feelings you never thought you would have.
We see that Gemma did the right thing. She showed both sides of Ty to that court. She didn't succumb to the pressure to make him out as an ill-intentioned monster, but she didn't let her confusing attachment to him obscure the facts as she knew them. She gave the whole story and, as we see reading it, it is not all bad or all good. Life isn't black and white and neither is the situation Gemma found herself in. Ty may not be a saint, but we see that in his own twisted way, he cared deeply about Gemma and wanted her to be happy. He saved her life, after all. Perhaps more than once.
As a result, I would reccommend this book to everyone. It may seem adolescent in places, as it's target audience is teens, I'm sure. But as a fully fledged adult, I confirm that it can appeal to all age groups. It's no psychological thriller but it is deep and it makes you think and gives you feelings you never thought you would have.
A whirlwind of emotions, confusion, and heartbreak. Not for the faint of heart, but a beautiful and haunting book which causes you to question the things you know to be true. Up until the last page you go back and forth over your "happy ending", because the truth is, with this book, there is no black and white happy ending. You knew it from the very first page yet still you hoped and searched and were left in the hot Australian sand, stranded, with no way to a blissful future for either of the main characters. It's the kind of book that will stay with you for a long time. I applaud Lucy Christopher for her skillful manipulation of our emotions and hard-set truths. Well worth the read.
3.5 stars
I’m so freakin’ confused.
This book is about Gemma. Ty kidnaps Gemma at the Bangkok airport, drugs her and takes her to an Australian desert. Gemma obviously wants to escape him and he even let her go. A lot of times.
Anyway, Gemma eventually realizes that she can’t escape the endless desert unless Ty wants her to because she can’t navigate through the vast endlessness without him.
I like that Gemma doesn’t fall in love with him quickly. It’s not like Wow a hot guy just kidnapped me so I gotta fall for him because it’s sooooo romantic. She wants to escape him and even kill him and she almost does. She tries to escape at every chance she gets but fails everytime, however, she eventually realizes that she can not escape this desert. At least not without Ty.
I’m extremely confused about Ty. He has such a complexed and complicated personality. Most of the time I was like you’re a creepy stalker! But then there were other parts where I couldn’t help but actually like how much he was passionately in love with Gemma. Then I loathed myself for liking him. I mean, he was a kidnapper but he never forced Gemma to do anything she didn’t want to. He never hit her or physically abused her, but was even kind to her. He even let her go a lot of times. The only thing he wanted from her was to fall in love with him. I even admired him for giving up his whole life and future for her. He knew that the ending wasn’t good for him. He thought that kidnapping her was like saving her from her miserable life. But, obviously, kidnapping wasn’t the right way. I’m sure if he weren’t a stalker, I would have totally fallen in love with him.
Lucy Christopher has successfully played with my head. Because I’ve never been so conflicted about a fictional guy before. I KNOW I SHOULD HATE HIM but there’s that little tiny part of me that understands him and um.. kind of likes him. And then I scold myself for liking him but that’s what I’m talking about; conflicted feelings.
When the ending came, I was like no no no no. You can’t end it like this. I want to know more!!
I’m so confused that I really want a sequel to satisfy my confusion. I want to know what happens next.
Do I recommend it?
Yes, I do. It was heart-wrenching and emotional. This book isn’t like my favorite or the best book I have ever read but I honestly have no idea what I feel about it.
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!
How Gemma deals with this? What happens to her after she goes back to Britain? What happens after fifteen years or so when Ty finally comes out of the Jail?
Another thing: I’m not a big fan of Ty but I love how he stayed there with her. He didn’t let her go to the hospital alone even though he knew that he would get caught. He risked his whole life and even gave it all up to save hers. He’s creepy but… um.. well… ugh. Kill me.
I’m so freakin’ confused.
This book is about Gemma. Ty kidnaps Gemma at the Bangkok airport, drugs her and takes her to an Australian desert. Gemma obviously wants to escape him and he even let her go. A lot of times.
Anyway, Gemma eventually realizes that she can’t escape the endless desert unless Ty wants her to because she can’t navigate through the vast endlessness without him.
I like that Gemma doesn’t fall in love with him quickly. It’s not like Wow a hot guy just kidnapped me so I gotta fall for him because it’s sooooo romantic. She wants to escape him and even kill him and she almost does. She tries to escape at every chance she gets but fails everytime, however, she eventually realizes that she can not escape this desert. At least not without Ty.
I’m extremely confused about Ty. He has such a complexed and complicated personality. Most of the time I was like you’re a creepy stalker! But then there were other parts where I couldn’t help but actually like how much he was passionately in love with Gemma. Then I loathed myself for liking him. I mean, he was a kidnapper but he never forced Gemma to do anything she didn’t want to. He never hit her or physically abused her, but was even kind to her. He even let her go a lot of times. The only thing he wanted from her was to fall in love with him. I even admired him for giving up his whole life and future for her. He knew that the ending wasn’t good for him. He thought that kidnapping her was like saving her from her miserable life. But, obviously, kidnapping wasn’t the right way. I’m sure if he weren’t a stalker, I would have totally fallen in love with him.
Lucy Christopher has successfully played with my head. Because I’ve never been so conflicted about a fictional guy before. I KNOW I SHOULD HATE HIM but there’s that little tiny part of me that understands him and um.. kind of likes him. And then I scold myself for liking him but that’s what I’m talking about; conflicted feelings.
When the ending came, I was like no no no no. You can’t end it like this. I want to know more!!
I’m so confused that I really want a sequel to satisfy my confusion. I want to know what happens next.
Do I recommend it?
Yes, I do. It was heart-wrenching and emotional. This book isn’t like my favorite or the best book I have ever read but I honestly have no idea what I feel about it.
Spoiler
HOW CAN SHE END IT LIKE THIS???? PLEASE DON’T BE SO CRUEL..I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!
How Gemma deals with this? What happens to her after she goes back to Britain? What happens after fifteen years or so when Ty finally comes out of the Jail?
Another thing: I’m not a big fan of Ty but I love how he stayed there with her. He didn’t let her go to the hospital alone even though he knew that he would get caught. He risked his whole life and even gave it all up to save hers. He’s creepy but… um.. well… ugh. Kill me.
i am flabbergasted.
this was incredibly messed-up and disturbing but still very much realistic which is a combo that is really difficult to create. the atmosphere created was immaculate, it resembles the eerie summer vibes that Girls by Emma Cline gives and i loved it.
and the ending y'all ... i don't think i'll recover
this was incredibly messed-up and disturbing but still very much realistic which is a combo that is really difficult to create. the atmosphere created was immaculate, it resembles the eerie summer vibes that Girls by Emma Cline gives and i loved it.
and the ending y'all ... i don't think i'll recover
4.75/5 Stars
This was an incredibly beautiful and scary book at the same time. I really enjoyed the writting and also the format of the entire book, it being a letter to her captor. I was also very satisfied with the end of this book.
This was an incredibly beautiful and scary book at the same time. I really enjoyed the writting and also the format of the entire book, it being a letter to her captor. I was also very satisfied with the end of this book.