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yarnreader's review against another edition
3.0
At first I didn't think I would like this book, but as I read more the more it hooked me. I will definitely keep this book on my Nook.
chrissymcbooknerd's review
3.0
*** 3.5 STARS ***
I can't deny it -- I had a case of cover lust when it came to THE CUTTING EDGE by Ace Collins. I had NO clue whatsoever what the book was even about -- but I knew I absolutely loved the sophisticated, stylish cover, and that was enough for me!
Once I read the description of the story? Well, that wasn't too bad either! Basically, from the very start, we meet Leslie Rhode, a drop-dead gorgeous young supermodel who is just on the cusp of superstar-dom. Revered for her perfectly shaped face that can sell endless magazines, Leslie has never had to rely on anything but her stunning good looks, which have always gotten her everything she ever wanted in life.
Seeking her family's approval on a tough ethical decision that could easily make her break her blooming career, Leslie makes a surprise trip back to her quaint little home town. But, things definitely don't go as planned. Leslie is assaulted by a group of men who assume that she must be carrying great riches in her suitcases, and her face is brutally and intentionally ripped to shreds by an angry man who wishes to destroy Leslie's career by destroying her greatest pride -- her beautiful face.
After learning that she will never again be able to return to her life as a supermodel, Leslie's entire identity crashes at her feet, leaving her lost, hopeless, and alone. Who is Leslie without her perfect face? What can she do if she can't model?
Can Leslie find the light at the end of the tunnel and create an identity that relies more on shallow physical beauty? Or, will an impulse move on Leslie's part confirm her worst fears that she is really nothing but a pretty face?
I really loved the basic concept of The Cutting Edge, which put an interesting twist on the typical coming of age story by forcing a young woman to really consider her worth and her purpose beyond what she had expected for the majority of her young life. Leslie's views and exceptions are firmly grounded in her mother's treatment of her as a delicate porcelain doll in her youth, always being forced to forgo fun activities with other young children for fear that she could damage her perfect face in a rowdy play session. As a young adult, Leslie has learned to view herself only as beautiful, which left her less focused on developing a strong adult personality and self-awareness that might have seemed more necessary had she not been expecting to rely on her physical appearance for her entire future. So, what happens when all of this is lost in mere moments? It was definitely nice to watch Leslie progress throughout the story, even though she seemed very hesitant and resistant to change for a good portion of the novel.
My biggest problem with THE CUTTING EDGE, I think, was just the way that the writing was so heavy handed, overtly proclaiming the message so loudly that it seemed to give little credit to the reader, which took away a bit of the intrigue (in my opinion, at least). For example, the villain continuously mentioned that he intentionally scarred Leslie's face in order to deliberately destroy her future because she seemed to be a young woman who tended to get by on nothing but the grace of her good looks. Did this need to be so expressly statement so often in the story, or couldn't we, as the reader, come to this conclusion without having it force-fed to us at different points? Likewise, most of the supporting characters are written to such an extreme that they almost became caricatures rather than well-developed characters on their own right. One example would be Leslie's agent, who was almost overwritten in the way that her selfishness and greed was portrayed so boldly. In the same way, Hunter was almost TOO perfect and TOO doting in the way he not-so-secretly adored everything about Leslie and constantly advised her that he could see beyond her scars. Symbolism? Not here -- everything is too blatantly spelled out to be subtle at all!
Even so, I did enjoy the underlying idea of the book and I can't deny that I was entertained right up until the last page. I always love a happy ending that makes sense in light of the rest of the book, and I think THE CUTTING EDGE definitely delivered in this aspect! I appreciated having the chance to read an e-version of this story for the purposes of providing an honest review, and I thank the publisher for making this novel available to me!
I can't deny it -- I had a case of cover lust when it came to THE CUTTING EDGE by Ace Collins. I had NO clue whatsoever what the book was even about -- but I knew I absolutely loved the sophisticated, stylish cover, and that was enough for me!
Once I read the description of the story? Well, that wasn't too bad either! Basically, from the very start, we meet Leslie Rhode, a drop-dead gorgeous young supermodel who is just on the cusp of superstar-dom. Revered for her perfectly shaped face that can sell endless magazines, Leslie has never had to rely on anything but her stunning good looks, which have always gotten her everything she ever wanted in life.
Seeking her family's approval on a tough ethical decision that could easily make her break her blooming career, Leslie makes a surprise trip back to her quaint little home town. But, things definitely don't go as planned. Leslie is assaulted by a group of men who assume that she must be carrying great riches in her suitcases, and her face is brutally and intentionally ripped to shreds by an angry man who wishes to destroy Leslie's career by destroying her greatest pride -- her beautiful face.
After learning that she will never again be able to return to her life as a supermodel, Leslie's entire identity crashes at her feet, leaving her lost, hopeless, and alone. Who is Leslie without her perfect face? What can she do if she can't model?
Can Leslie find the light at the end of the tunnel and create an identity that relies more on shallow physical beauty? Or, will an impulse move on Leslie's part confirm her worst fears that she is really nothing but a pretty face?
I really loved the basic concept of The Cutting Edge, which put an interesting twist on the typical coming of age story by forcing a young woman to really consider her worth and her purpose beyond what she had expected for the majority of her young life. Leslie's views and exceptions are firmly grounded in her mother's treatment of her as a delicate porcelain doll in her youth, always being forced to forgo fun activities with other young children for fear that she could damage her perfect face in a rowdy play session. As a young adult, Leslie has learned to view herself only as beautiful, which left her less focused on developing a strong adult personality and self-awareness that might have seemed more necessary had she not been expecting to rely on her physical appearance for her entire future. So, what happens when all of this is lost in mere moments? It was definitely nice to watch Leslie progress throughout the story, even though she seemed very hesitant and resistant to change for a good portion of the novel.
My biggest problem with THE CUTTING EDGE, I think, was just the way that the writing was so heavy handed, overtly proclaiming the message so loudly that it seemed to give little credit to the reader, which took away a bit of the intrigue (in my opinion, at least). For example, the villain continuously mentioned that he intentionally scarred Leslie's face in order to deliberately destroy her future because she seemed to be a young woman who tended to get by on nothing but the grace of her good looks. Did this need to be so expressly statement so often in the story, or couldn't we, as the reader, come to this conclusion without having it force-fed to us at different points? Likewise, most of the supporting characters are written to such an extreme that they almost became caricatures rather than well-developed characters on their own right. One example would be Leslie's agent, who was almost overwritten in the way that her selfishness and greed was portrayed so boldly. In the same way, Hunter was almost TOO perfect and TOO doting in the way he not-so-secretly adored everything about Leslie and constantly advised her that he could see beyond her scars. Symbolism? Not here -- everything is too blatantly spelled out to be subtle at all!
Even so, I did enjoy the underlying idea of the book and I can't deny that I was entertained right up until the last page. I always love a happy ending that makes sense in light of the rest of the book, and I think THE CUTTING EDGE definitely delivered in this aspect! I appreciated having the chance to read an e-version of this story for the purposes of providing an honest review, and I thank the publisher for making this novel available to me!
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