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snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
3.0
Review can also be found here.
Warning: Major Spoilers
Rosebush is my first ever Michele Jaffe book and I love, love, love it. However, it isn’t perfect and it’s barely even close to it. There are a great number of things that I adore in this book but there’s also a bunch of other things that I don’t. Let’s start with the positives first, shall we?
What I enjoyed from reading this book was the idea for it—the plot line. The mystery and suspense that kept me turning page after page until I reached the end of the book was plenty delightful. Furthermore, the way Jaffe wrote this made the story better. How she alternated between the accident and Jane’s road to recovery added to both said mystery and suspense, bringing the reader a step forward with each following paragraph and making it a fast-paced thriller. Then, there’s Jane. The photographer; the girl who lost her father; the girl who’s so blindingly naïve and eager to please people; the girl who wants to be popular. I love how she’s not perfect and rarely do I like characters—especially leads—who’re so…ingenious. To be honest, they often irritate me to no end! Though, for this story, it worked.
However (Yes, I’m talking/typing about the negatives now), this book probably didn’t have an extremely efficient editor/proof-reader. The tenses were confusing at times and the way Nikki’s name is spelled differently after some chapters makes the effort placed in putting the story into words less…appreciated or meaningful. Sure, I did overlook the name-spelling error as I was too enthralled by the mystery and the suspense but that didn’t mean that I hadn’t realised it once I was done with the book. Plus, what actually happens to both Kate and David? I mean, Jane pretty much kissed and used Kate, her “BFF” while David was Jane’s selfish boyfriend who she totally adored to the max. I get the point that Jane had to break it off with David for her to be with Pete in the end, but still. What about Kate? What about Scott after his creepiness was revealed to Jane and he stormed off? What happened to the secondary characters who seemed to have more that should be told about them, only for them to be “thrown away” after their usefulness is up?
Also, as much as I liked Jane, I don’t like how she kissed three boys in a week. While still hospitalised. I can understand this neediness of hers to be reassured that she’s still beautiful to someone—that she’s still desired even when she looked like hell since it’s sort of part of her characterization, but I found the way her attention flitted from David who was still her boyfriend at that time, to Scott and to Pete, dumb. Really? Girl, really? Just because you realized that your boyfriend’s a douchebag doesn’t mean that your attention can fly to Scott and then, Pete within days. That just makes you reek of desperation. It makes you cheap.
On the other hand, I find Langley a very interesting antagonist. She’s great in acting and she’s a rather smart psychotic! It definitely didn’t cross my mind that she was the one who tried to kill Jane until where it’s revealed that her Chanel bracelet was found by the cops. Poor Ollie, though. Langley sure did have him wrapped around her fingers. Oh, and her poor grandfather too!
Warning: Major Spoilers
Rosebush is my first ever Michele Jaffe book and I love, love, love it. However, it isn’t perfect and it’s barely even close to it. There are a great number of things that I adore in this book but there’s also a bunch of other things that I don’t. Let’s start with the positives first, shall we?
What I enjoyed from reading this book was the idea for it—the plot line. The mystery and suspense that kept me turning page after page until I reached the end of the book was plenty delightful. Furthermore, the way Jaffe wrote this made the story better. How she alternated between the accident and Jane’s road to recovery added to both said mystery and suspense, bringing the reader a step forward with each following paragraph and making it a fast-paced thriller. Then, there’s Jane. The photographer; the girl who lost her father; the girl who’s so blindingly naïve and eager to please people; the girl who wants to be popular. I love how she’s not perfect and rarely do I like characters—especially leads—who’re so…ingenious. To be honest, they often irritate me to no end! Though, for this story, it worked.
However (Yes, I’m talking/typing about the negatives now), this book probably didn’t have an extremely efficient editor/proof-reader. The tenses were confusing at times and the way Nikki’s name is spelled differently after some chapters makes the effort placed in putting the story into words less…appreciated or meaningful. Sure, I did overlook the name-spelling error as I was too enthralled by the mystery and the suspense but that didn’t mean that I hadn’t realised it once I was done with the book. Plus, what actually happens to both Kate and David? I mean, Jane pretty much kissed and used Kate, her “BFF” while David was Jane’s selfish boyfriend who she totally adored to the max. I get the point that Jane had to break it off with David for her to be with Pete in the end, but still. What about Kate? What about Scott after his creepiness was revealed to Jane and he stormed off? What happened to the secondary characters who seemed to have more that should be told about them, only for them to be “thrown away” after their usefulness is up?
Also, as much as I liked Jane, I don’t like how she kissed three boys in a week. While still hospitalised. I can understand this neediness of hers to be reassured that she’s still beautiful to someone—that she’s still desired even when she looked like hell since it’s sort of part of her characterization, but I found the way her attention flitted from David who was still her boyfriend at that time, to Scott and to Pete, dumb. Really? Girl, really? Just because you realized that your boyfriend’s a douchebag doesn’t mean that your attention can fly to Scott and then, Pete within days. That just makes you reek of desperation. It makes you cheap.
On the other hand, I find Langley a very interesting antagonist. She’s great in acting and she’s a rather smart psychotic! It definitely didn’t cross my mind that she was the one who tried to kill Jane until where it’s revealed that her Chanel bracelet was found by the cops. Poor Ollie, though. Langley sure did have him wrapped around her fingers. Oh, and her poor grandfather too!
kimbaloo's review against another edition
Extremely well-written book. Had me guessing til the very end. Right before the last chapter, built up sort of weakly but the author saved the ending from being dull by inserting the main character into a picture of an almost perfect family.
gretchenmiller's review against another edition
4.0
So let me start off this review by saying: I am SO GLAD I decided to read this book. I have had it on my to-read list for awhile, but wasn't too eager to start it after reading all the negative reviews on here.
When I finally got Rosebush, I read it in a day. I couldn't put it down.
I am a very harsh reader. As a teenage girl, I am easily annoyed by how YA authors often portray my gender & age group -- I've read so many YA books where the female protagonists are immature, naive, cliche, etc, etc. (And they always have such cheesy dialogue!)
The characters in Rosebush, however, are so, so well written. Even though some of them are materialistic or immoral or even insane, all characters are intelligent in their own ways, and have many deep, dark layers to them. Well, with the exception of David (who I love as a character just because his manipulation and idiocy proves a point and makes you cringe.) The banter between Jane and Pete and even Scott was so realistic and actually genuinely funny. And you'll love Annie.
On that note, the writing in this book is overall spectacular. I love the jumps between present day to Jane struggling to remember the past, to even a hallucination that you don't completely understand. (A lot of reviewers didn't like this confusion, but I loved it. It added to the whole what-is-real and what-is-not feel of the book.) Rosebush makes you think hard about what you're reading and actually consider its characters and fantasies. When I started this book, I tried to guess who the killer was right off the bat. But the further I got into it, I began to question everything. Is Jane really crazy? Is anyone actually trying to kill her? This book took me on a roller coaster of theories and emotions, better than most other mystery books I've read.
I really am genuinely surprised by all the harsh reviews, since I normally am the one doesn't think a top-rated book is as great as everyone else does. But seriously, I loved this book. The wicked twists and turns, the complex & intricate characters, and the mind-blowing ending have made Rosebush one of the best mysteries I've read by far.
When I finally got Rosebush, I read it in a day. I couldn't put it down.
I am a very harsh reader. As a teenage girl, I am easily annoyed by how YA authors often portray my gender & age group -- I've read so many YA books where the female protagonists are immature, naive, cliche, etc, etc. (And they always have such cheesy dialogue!)
The characters in Rosebush, however, are so, so well written. Even though some of them are materialistic or immoral or even insane, all characters are intelligent in their own ways, and have many deep, dark layers to them. Well, with the exception of David (who I love as a character just because his manipulation and idiocy proves a point and makes you cringe.) The banter between Jane and Pete and even Scott was so realistic and actually genuinely funny. And you'll love Annie.
On that note, the writing in this book is overall spectacular. I love the jumps between present day to Jane struggling to remember the past, to even a hallucination that you don't completely understand. (A lot of reviewers didn't like this confusion, but I loved it. It added to the whole what-is-real and what-is-not feel of the book.) Rosebush makes you think hard about what you're reading and actually consider its characters and fantasies. When I started this book, I tried to guess who the killer was right off the bat. But the further I got into it, I began to question everything. Is Jane really crazy? Is anyone actually trying to kill her? This book took me on a roller coaster of theories and emotions, better than most other mystery books I've read.
I really am genuinely surprised by all the harsh reviews, since I normally am the one doesn't think a top-rated book is as great as everyone else does. But seriously, I loved this book. The wicked twists and turns, the complex & intricate characters, and the mind-blowing ending have made Rosebush one of the best mysteries I've read by far.
princess_starr's review against another edition
4.0
Very intriguing, well-written psychological thriller. Jane's story and her lost memories draws you in as a reader, desperately trying to unravel the truth of how she ended up in the hospital and whether or not her subconscious is preying on her mind. I didn't want to put it down, and while the revelation at the end seemed a little random to me, I was satisfied with the story itself.
saragrochowski's review against another edition
5.0
I should probably start off by saying that I am a huge Michele Jaffe fan. Huge. I started reading her books back in freshman year of high school... and I didn't start with the YA titles. Instead, I was addicted to her Arboretti Family novels, which are adult historical mysteries set in Europe with plenty of romance and steamy encounters.
After I devoured those, I read Bad Kitty, one of her YA novels. I didn't know if I'd like it since it is nothing like her adult titles, but I loved it! The main character, Jasmine, is wonderful and hilarious and I'm not sure if anyone could manage to not laugh aloud while reading Bad Kitty and its sequel, Kitty Kitty. These books don't get the attention they deserve!
Then Rosebush came along. Again, the description made it sound like a complete departure from what I was familiar with from Jaffe. At this point, Jaffe had proved that she's a very versatile writer and I'd missed her characters, so I had no choice but to give this newest offering a try.
Rosebush reminds me of an edgier, more succinct version of Pretty Little Liars. Admittedly, I've never read these novels, but I have watched some of the television show, so this comparison is based entirely on my knowledge and opinion of the CW show rather than the novels. I felt like Rosebush brings the same rush, panic, and mystery as PLL in a much smaller package, which packed an impressive punch. I felt so much emotion in such a short span of time that I was left breathless.
Having read Jaffe's adult novels, I knew she was fully capable of writing a good mystery/thriller, but it was interesting to see it done in a YA contemporary setting rather than historic London. I truly had no idea who had tried to kill Jane. One minute I felt sure it had to be one particularly guilty looking individual, then I be totally unsure by the next chapter. I really couldn't put Rosebush down until I determined which character ran Jane down or Jaffe revealed the culprit!
Rosebush was full of twists and turns that kept me muddling through the details of Jane's accident right along with her. Jaffe has delivered another compelling read, ensuring I'll be reading her next book... no matter what it is!
After I devoured those, I read Bad Kitty, one of her YA novels. I didn't know if I'd like it since it is nothing like her adult titles, but I loved it! The main character, Jasmine, is wonderful and hilarious and I'm not sure if anyone could manage to not laugh aloud while reading Bad Kitty and its sequel, Kitty Kitty. These books don't get the attention they deserve!
Then Rosebush came along. Again, the description made it sound like a complete departure from what I was familiar with from Jaffe. At this point, Jaffe had proved that she's a very versatile writer and I'd missed her characters, so I had no choice but to give this newest offering a try.
Rosebush reminds me of an edgier, more succinct version of Pretty Little Liars. Admittedly, I've never read these novels, but I have watched some of the television show, so this comparison is based entirely on my knowledge and opinion of the CW show rather than the novels. I felt like Rosebush brings the same rush, panic, and mystery as PLL in a much smaller package, which packed an impressive punch. I felt so much emotion in such a short span of time that I was left breathless.
Having read Jaffe's adult novels, I knew she was fully capable of writing a good mystery/thriller, but it was interesting to see it done in a YA contemporary setting rather than historic London. I truly had no idea who had tried to kill Jane. One minute I felt sure it had to be one particularly guilty looking individual, then I be totally unsure by the next chapter. I really couldn't put Rosebush down until I determined which character ran Jane down or Jaffe revealed the culprit!
Rosebush was full of twists and turns that kept me muddling through the details of Jane's accident right along with her. Jaffe has delivered another compelling read, ensuring I'll be reading her next book... no matter what it is!
basilmaymont's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book as a kid/teen and absolutely adored it for years. It's in my favorite genre and getting to piece the story together with Jane is so rewarding.
rcfish55's review against another edition
3.0
When Jane wakes and finds herself paralyzed in a hospital, she struggles to figure out who her real friends are and who would want her dead.
This young adult thriller kept me intrigued. But, to put it bluntly, the characters are psychotic. The story jumps around and doesn't explain things fully. I was surprised by the ending, but the last couple of pages, like her last novel I read, are so implausible, that it takes away from the greatness the story.
This young adult thriller kept me intrigued. But, to put it bluntly, the characters are psychotic. The story jumps around and doesn't explain things fully. I was surprised by the ending, but the last couple of pages, like her last novel I read, are so implausible, that it takes away from the greatness the story.