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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Twas really confused most of it, but I did enjoy Noah Shaw very much, soooooo theres promise for the rest of the series. :)
I came here for frightning oh-my-god-is-this-real-or-nah moments and I got an underdeveloped romance between a broken, tragically beautiful girl with only an ounce of self preservation (that of which to stay alive) and a perfectly perfect British womanizer with a temper... but with a sweet side! *blinks quickly and pouts*
Gag.
Really, I couldnt wait to stop reading this. I'm sad I bought it, especially since I passed it up time and time again. This was a real let down.
Gag.
Really, I couldnt wait to stop reading this. I'm sad I bought it, especially since I passed it up time and time again. This was a real let down.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I'd say the psychotic part is rather well written, scary and mischievous.. While the romance part - weak. There were a lot of 'wtf moments' where I just didn't know what the hell was going on or why did this book have this much attention. Also, I was hoping for a delirious-mental journey, rather than finding out its much more fantasy-like. But it wasn't bad.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is yet another book that has fallen victim to this strange phenomenon in which the female leads ignore the theoretical main plot in favor of a hot boy. It’s also one of the worst of these casualties that I’ve seen. Normally these books at least try to tell both stories, but Mara turns the main plot into a barely-existent side-plot the moment that her hottie (Noah) appears.
This isn’t instant-death for enjoyment. I liked Casandra Clare’s mortal instruments well enough even though it also fell victim to this, but that was because the romance was interesting. It had some real, if a little heavy-handed, drama to it. This one? Not so much. It’s little more than a will-they, won’t-they situation whose only drama is Mara’s inability to make choices. It certainly doesn’t help that Noah is so over-the-top “ideal” in traits (speaks multiple languages, has a British accent, is super rich) and so underwhelming in charm that I don’t know what to do with him. He’s got some good lines and I did find myself liking him more and more as the novel went on, but he just does so many things that grated on me.
For example, in one scene, he orders food on Mara’s behalf. This, in and of itself, is not a terrible thing. They’re at a restaurant that he loves that she’s never been to. That’s a situation where it’s totally reasonable for him to make suggestions. It’s the way that he does it that left me feeling all icky about him.
Okay guys, this is not how you want to have this scene play out. You want to charm the girl? Ask her if you can order for her and do it before the waiter shows up! If you’re going to ignore that, then at least check to see if she’s got allergies or if she hates spicy food or if there was something special she was craving! Wanting to treat her to a great meal is sexy. Assuming that you know what she considers a great meal is not. I think that I’d walk out if a guy pulled this on me, sexy accent or not! Add to this his abominable treatment of every girl who isn’t either his sister or Mara and, yeah, he’s an asshole. A fun asshole who I did enjoy in a guilty-pleasure, I-can-enjoy-this-because-it’s-fiction sort of way, but still an asshole.
The book also suffers in that it fits every bad high-school-story stereotype. This is also not an instant show-stopper. You can fit stereotypes and still have a fantastic final product a la Mean Girls, but Mara doesn’t do that. Instead, it’s all of the high-school stereotypes with nothing clever added to set them apart. The mean “slut”, the evil jock, the flamboyant bff, the new girl that the hot guy who’s never loved anyone instantly falls for. All of these and more are here in all their glory with nothing to set them apart from every other incarnation. The things that would have made them interesting, three dimensional characters are ignored in order to add unnecessary, high-school drama that had me sighing and checking how many pages were left in this thing. (Also, the amount of slut shaming in this book is just, wow. I actually felt more sympathy for the “mean girl” character than I did for Mara.)
You may have noticed that I’ve failed to mention anything about the paranormal stuff that the book’s summary promises. There’s a reason for that: it’s barely a thing until the last 50 pages. Before then, paranormal stuff happens once every hundred pages or so and Mara essentially ignores it. People are dying all around her and she’s not even trying to figure out why. I wanted the paranormal stuff to be developed so badly. It was a great premise that promised a fantastic ride, but it never delivered.
If you like books like Twilight where the supernatural elements are cursory at best and everything focuses on drama between the romantic leads, then you will probably like this. If you like male leads who dance merrily along the border between presumptuous asshole and confident romantic, then you may also like this because Noah is the best part of the book in spite of his flaws. Everyone else is probably better off looking elsewhere.
I will say that my best friend loves this book due to the fact that it talks about PTSD and mental health. I can see where she’s coming from, but I don't share her sentiments. If a book is going to delve into the depths of largely-misunderstood mental health issues, then I want to see the author dedicate at least a chapter to discussing the illness. As it was, I don't know what was PTSD and what was paranormal stuff which makes it hard to call this book a champion of mental health awareness.
This isn’t instant-death for enjoyment. I liked Casandra Clare’s mortal instruments well enough even though it also fell victim to this, but that was because the romance was interesting. It had some real, if a little heavy-handed, drama to it. This one? Not so much. It’s little more than a will-they, won’t-they situation whose only drama is Mara’s inability to make choices. It certainly doesn’t help that Noah is so over-the-top “ideal” in traits (speaks multiple languages, has a British accent, is super rich) and so underwhelming in charm that I don’t know what to do with him. He’s got some good lines and I did find myself liking him more and more as the novel went on, but he just does so many things that grated on me.
For example, in one scene, he orders food on Mara’s behalf. This, in and of itself, is not a terrible thing. They’re at a restaurant that he loves that she’s never been to. That’s a situation where it’s totally reasonable for him to make suggestions. It’s the way that he does it that left me feeling all icky about him.
The waiter appeared then, and Noah plucked the menu from my hands and handed it over, rushing off our order in Spanish. The waiter departed for the kitchen.
I shot him a dark look. "I hadn't decided yet."
"Trust me."
Okay guys, this is not how you want to have this scene play out. You want to charm the girl? Ask her if you can order for her and do it before the waiter shows up! If you’re going to ignore that, then at least check to see if she’s got allergies or if she hates spicy food or if there was something special she was craving! Wanting to treat her to a great meal is sexy. Assuming that you know what she considers a great meal is not. I think that I’d walk out if a guy pulled this on me, sexy accent or not! Add to this his abominable treatment of every girl who isn’t either his sister or Mara and, yeah, he’s an asshole. A fun asshole who I did enjoy in a guilty-pleasure, I-can-enjoy-this-because-it’s-fiction sort of way, but still an asshole.
The book also suffers in that it fits every bad high-school-story stereotype. This is also not an instant show-stopper. You can fit stereotypes and still have a fantastic final product a la Mean Girls, but Mara doesn’t do that. Instead, it’s all of the high-school stereotypes with nothing clever added to set them apart. The mean “slut”, the evil jock, the flamboyant bff, the new girl that the hot guy who’s never loved anyone instantly falls for. All of these and more are here in all their glory with nothing to set them apart from every other incarnation. The things that would have made them interesting, three dimensional characters are ignored in order to add unnecessary, high-school drama that had me sighing and checking how many pages were left in this thing. (Also, the amount of slut shaming in this book is just, wow. I actually felt more sympathy for the “mean girl” character than I did for Mara.)
You may have noticed that I’ve failed to mention anything about the paranormal stuff that the book’s summary promises. There’s a reason for that: it’s barely a thing until the last 50 pages. Before then, paranormal stuff happens once every hundred pages or so and Mara essentially ignores it. People are dying all around her and she’s not even trying to figure out why. I wanted the paranormal stuff to be developed so badly. It was a great premise that promised a fantastic ride, but it never delivered.
If you like books like Twilight where the supernatural elements are cursory at best and everything focuses on drama between the romantic leads, then you will probably like this. If you like male leads who dance merrily along the border between presumptuous asshole and confident romantic, then you may also like this because Noah is the best part of the book in spite of his flaws. Everyone else is probably better off looking elsewhere.
I will say that my best friend loves this book due to the fact that it talks about PTSD and mental health. I can see where she’s coming from, but I don't share her sentiments. If a book is going to delve into the depths of largely-misunderstood mental health issues, then I want to see the author dedicate at least a chapter to discussing the illness. As it was, I don't know what was PTSD and what was paranormal stuff which makes it hard to call this book a champion of mental health awareness.
DNF at 21%, I could not get into this book, it was too insta-lovey and Mara just seemed so idiotic.
I have a dilemma. I can't decide what I feel about this book. The parts we get that's about the mystery is really good and the ending was really good.
The problem is that this book is not a thriller. It's mostly about an immature romance between a weak girl and an poopbag of a boy. I can't recommend a book who spreads the norm that possessive and controlling boys are hot and perfect. That's just f-d up. Noah Shaw sucks. There, I said it.
I will google the ending of this series, because I do want to know what happens. What I don't want is more of this stupid romance.
The problem is that this book is not a thriller. It's mostly about an immature romance between a weak girl and an poopbag of a boy. I can't recommend a book who spreads the norm that possessive and controlling boys are hot and perfect. That's just f-d up. Noah Shaw sucks. There, I said it.
I will google the ending of this series, because I do want to know what happens. What I don't want is more of this stupid romance.
5/5 stars
I LOVE this book. I've read it like a million times, and every time was as good as the last.
Why, you ask?
I have absolutely. no. idea.
Seriously. I couldn't tell you the plot of this book if my life depended on it. I tried reviewing it in class once (did not go well, if I should say so myself).
So why do I like it, then?, you ask, getting more agitated
Still no idea. Maybe it's just the overall atmosphere and feeling of the book. Maybe it's the intriguing premises of the overall story. Maybe it's the characters.
The world may never know.
*UPDATE I recently read this book in Spanish (hence the date change). Still just as awesome!
I LOVE this book. I've read it like a million times, and every time was as good as the last.
Why, you ask?
I have absolutely. no. idea.
Seriously. I couldn't tell you the plot of this book if my life depended on it. I tried reviewing it in class once (did not go well, if I should say so myself).
So why do I like it, then?, you ask, getting more agitated
Still no idea. Maybe it's just the overall atmosphere and feeling of the book. Maybe it's the intriguing premises of the overall story. Maybe it's the characters.
The world may never know.
*UPDATE I recently read this book in Spanish (hence the date change). Still just as awesome!
5/5⭐️
I absolutely DEVOURED this book. I’ve been on a good reading streak recently compared to my summer book slump, and no joke I finished this book in less than a day. I bought the entire series which I typically never do unless I read and like the first book, but I am so glad I took my chances because I will definitely be reading the next one right after I finish this review. Noah Shaw is one of the best book boyfriends out there and Mara Dyer one of the best protagonists. She has problems, issues, traumas, and yet I love how her character isn’t fixed even when the male love interest is introduced to her!! seriously, it is so refreshing because of how broke and untrusting her character can still be even with Noah. I also get chills reading this book which is something I’ve missed while reading since it hasn’t happened in awhile even with major plot-twists. I am so glad I took my chances with this series
I absolutely DEVOURED this book. I’ve been on a good reading streak recently compared to my summer book slump, and no joke I finished this book in less than a day. I bought the entire series which I typically never do unless I read and like the first book, but I am so glad I took my chances because I will definitely be reading the next one right after I finish this review. Noah Shaw is one of the best book boyfriends out there and Mara Dyer one of the best protagonists. She has problems, issues, traumas, and yet I love how her character isn’t fixed even when the male love interest is introduced to her!! seriously, it is so refreshing because of how broke and untrusting her character can still be even with Noah. I also get chills reading this book which is something I’ve missed while reading since it hasn’t happened in awhile even with major plot-twists. I am so glad I took my chances with this series
this was such a unique story and it grasped my attention by the very first chapter. i cant wait to read the next book
(full review will be at the end of the series)
(full review will be at the end of the series)