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yoonibearr's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I think I have to start this review by acknowledging that this book was published in 2010 and I am 11 years late to reading it. The 2010 nostalgia is somewhat real, I didn't grow up absurdly rich and none of my friends were snobby assholes but I could relate to some things here and there which was a nice touch.
However, the thing that surprised me the most was how much we as a society have changed in just 11 short years. There are things in this book that would have the author cancelled immediately in 2021 such as the way Jane describes Annie's dress being "inappropriate if not for the tights and the duck shoes." Annie is 7 years old.
Another thing that was kinda sus was the use of the word "transsexual" which from what I know (as someone who is not a part of the community) is not a word that's used today. I don't know if people used that word in 2010 but the word and the way Jane talked about the subject did make me side eye the book.
Some other things that had me
I think I have to start this review by acknowledging that this book was published in 2010 and I am 11 years late to reading it. The 2010 nostalgia is somewhat real, I didn't grow up absurdly rich and none of my friends were snobby assholes but I could relate to some things here and there which was a nice touch.
However, the thing that surprised me the most was how much we as a society have changed in just 11 short years. There are things in this book that would have the author cancelled immediately in 2021 such as the way Jane describes Annie's dress being "inappropriate if not for the tights and the duck shoes." Annie is 7 years old.
Another thing that was kinda sus was the use of the word "transsexual" which from what I know (as someone who is not a part of the community) is not a word that's used today. I don't know if people used that word in 2010 but the word and the way Jane talked about the subject did make me side eye the book.
Some other things that had me
jlwalk905's review against another edition
3.0
Based on the rating system, I liked it. It was a good read.
hikaru_yuy's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book was one of those "I can't put it down for more than five minutes" types, where I kept turning page after page wanting to know what was going to happen next. Definitely worth a read if you're one for psychological thrillers.
juhina's review against another edition
4.0
I am a huge mystery thriller junkie. I love anything mystery, especially if it keeps me guessing and thinking and trying to figure out who the murderer is, but in Rosebush's case, it is who wants to see Jane dead. Someone who is still persistent even after Jane ends up almost dying and gets put in the hospital. The phone messages, the secret admirer gifts, it was all so creepy! I really didn't know who the murderer is, and I usually have a gift when it comes to figuring out who the murderer is in a show (The Mentalist) or books. Michele Jaffe was great in making every single one of Jane's friends a bit suspicious, even if she didn't write it straightforward, you get this feeling through avoiding glances, hurried reactions, etc that kept me guessing from one person to another.
The murderer was such a surprise, and the backstory of what in the world made him/her do it finally made sense, in the creepy disgusting way. There was definitely subtle hints and I felt that Jaffe purposefully did not make the murder that suspicious to throw us off! However I salute him for keeping the eerie and creepy factor throughout the whole novel. Jane is popular, and has a ton of friends, but only a couple of close friends and a boyfriend. I just found that every single one of her friends turned out to be the evil twin of themselves was a bit unrealistic. The way each character was portrayed before the murder attempt was sweet, carefree, and friendly. However after the murder attempt, the true colors of every single one of them emerged. Also Jane herself was a bit too blind and, not naive, but ignorant of the way her friends act. So it gets me wondering, did Jane portray them as carefree and nice before the accident but then somehow the accident made her see them the way they really are, or did Jaffe herself portray them as nice people but then made them into the horrid people they are to keep us readers suspicious?
Anyways, all in all Rosebush was a great enjoyable mystery thriller. While I hoped Jane wasn't stuck in the hospital for the duration of the whole book, I did like that she had lost her memory of the night of the attempted murder, gave it a more authentic 'mystery' to the 'mystery thriller' it was.
The murderer was such a surprise, and the backstory of what in the world made him/her do it finally made sense, in the creepy disgusting way. There was definitely subtle hints and I felt that Jaffe purposefully did not make the murder that suspicious to throw us off! However I salute him for keeping the eerie and creepy factor throughout the whole novel. Jane is popular, and has a ton of friends, but only a couple of close friends and a boyfriend. I just found that every single one of her friends turned out to be the evil twin of themselves was a bit unrealistic. The way each character was portrayed before the murder attempt was sweet, carefree, and friendly. However after the murder attempt, the true colors of every single one of them emerged. Also Jane herself was a bit too blind and, not naive, but ignorant of the way her friends act. So it gets me wondering, did Jane portray them as carefree and nice before the accident but then somehow the accident made her see them the way they really are, or did Jaffe herself portray them as nice people but then made them into the horrid people they are to keep us readers suspicious?
Anyways, all in all Rosebush was a great enjoyable mystery thriller. While I hoped Jane wasn't stuck in the hospital for the duration of the whole book, I did like that she had lost her memory of the night of the attempted murder, gave it a more authentic 'mystery' to the 'mystery thriller' it was.
loveleareads's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I've read a good mystery. I was pretty excited to finally read Rosebush. I forgot how much I enjoy a good mystery. Rosebush was a thrilling ride; I couldn't put it down until I knew exactly what happened.
It took me a while to warm up to Jane. At first I didn't like her. She was shallow. That became clear through the flashbacks. But, also while unvieling her past I got to know her better. Understand her better. I still think she's shallow, but by the end I liked her a little more.
I really enjoyed the mystery. We discover what happened through flashbacks as Jane recovers in the hospital and tries to figure things out herself. I didn't even try to guess who did it because I knew I'd be wrong. I did not see tha ending coming.
All in all I enjoyed Rosebush. It's not the best book in the world, but I'd recomend it to anyone whose looking for a good mystery.
It took me a while to warm up to Jane. At first I didn't like her. She was shallow. That became clear through the flashbacks. But, also while unvieling her past I got to know her better. Understand her better. I still think she's shallow, but by the end I liked her a little more.
I really enjoyed the mystery. We discover what happened through flashbacks as Jane recovers in the hospital and tries to figure things out herself. I didn't even try to guess who did it because I knew I'd be wrong. I did not see tha ending coming.
All in all I enjoyed Rosebush. It's not the best book in the world, but I'd recomend it to anyone whose looking for a good mystery.
jamiedhutch's review against another edition
4.0
There's only one downside that I can see. It's not as hilarious as Bad Kitty or Kitty Kitty. Other than that, I loved it.
I don't agree with the V-Mars comparisons that the girls at Forever YA drew in the boys, but maybe that's just me. I mean, I can see Ollie as a Logan character, but David is not nearly good enough to be compared to Duncan.
I love the mystery in this book; also, I loved Jane, and I loved seeing her progress from the way she thinks about her friends and her family to the end, where she can see clearly what's going on with the people around her.
I don't agree with the V-Mars comparisons that the girls at Forever YA drew in the boys, but maybe that's just me. I mean, I can see Ollie as a Logan character, but David is not nearly good enough to be compared to Duncan.
I love the mystery in this book; also, I loved Jane, and I loved seeing her progress from the way she thinks about her friends and her family to the end, where she can see clearly what's going on with the people around her.
taraddonai's review against another edition
5.0
Ok book. Fast read, as someone else commented.. It really started to get good at the end when Jane began figuring out who caused her accident and the reasons why..
hboom22's review against another edition
5.0
OMG 5 stars downs too this book justice!!! I loved it soooooo much!!! everyone needs to read this book! I couldn't put it down once i started reading it
jonireads's review against another edition
5.0
Can I just say that I have been waiting to read this book for forever, it seems. Honestly, I featured it in a Waiting on Wednesday post last year in, like, September. And then I requested it from the library and waited another month for it to finally come in from interlibrary loan. I even read it slow so I could savor the moments of finally having the book in my hands. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
Jane is at the top of the food chain in her high school along with her two best friend, Langley and Kate. So it's a mystery as to who would want her dead. But there she is, lying in a hospital bed after a hit and run accident left her for dead in a rosebush. Though the police say otherwise, Jane is sure she was target of a brutal attempt on her life and she is sure that the killer won't stop until they get what they want- Jane dead.
This story was the perfect thriller. My mind was constantly working, trying to figure out who it might have been that tried to kill Jane. And it's a perfect mystery because no matter how many clues were given, I never would have guessed the ending. A fantastic novel and I can't wait to read what else this author has in store.
Jane is at the top of the food chain in her high school along with her two best friend, Langley and Kate. So it's a mystery as to who would want her dead. But there she is, lying in a hospital bed after a hit and run accident left her for dead in a rosebush. Though the police say otherwise, Jane is sure she was target of a brutal attempt on her life and she is sure that the killer won't stop until they get what they want- Jane dead.
This story was the perfect thriller. My mind was constantly working, trying to figure out who it might have been that tried to kill Jane. And it's a perfect mystery because no matter how many clues were given, I never would have guessed the ending. A fantastic novel and I can't wait to read what else this author has in store.
booksofamber's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this! Such a great mystery, and pretty creepy at times!
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Review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/01/rosebush-by-michele-jaffe.html
The thing that first drew me to Rosebush was the promise of a great mystery. A girl waking up in a rosebush with no idea how she got there? Sounds brilliant. The mystery definitely lived up to my expectations, and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out who tried to kill Jane. It’s normally pretty easy for me to figure out who the killer is, or at least narrow it down, but this book kept me guessing the whole way through! I kept changing my mind and going back to people who I had previously excluded. There were also lots of creepy moments throughout the story, both at the hospital and during the flashbacks. No, Daph, you won’t be scared! It was fantastic.
Jane was a very relatable character and I loved being inside her mind. There are also a lot of flashbacks in this novel which I know some people didn’t enjoy, but I really liked them. They gave more insight to Jane and her friends, as well as giving lots of clues and red herrings as to who the culprit was.
This book isn’t all about the mystery though. Jane also goes through a lot of issues with her mother and stepfather which was a great subplot. I loved seeing their relationships rekindle and form, and I especially loved Jane’s relationship with a certain director’s son.
And as for the climax - Well, in my notes I’ve just written “CLIMAX!!!!!!!!!” so I think that says it all. My heart was pounding and I was literally holding my breath through most of it!
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Review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/01/rosebush-by-michele-jaffe.html
The thing that first drew me to Rosebush was the promise of a great mystery. A girl waking up in a rosebush with no idea how she got there? Sounds brilliant. The mystery definitely lived up to my expectations, and I thoroughly enjoyed trying to work out who tried to kill Jane. It’s normally pretty easy for me to figure out who the killer is, or at least narrow it down, but this book kept me guessing the whole way through! I kept changing my mind and going back to people who I had previously excluded. There were also lots of creepy moments throughout the story, both at the hospital and during the flashbacks. No, Daph, you won’t be scared! It was fantastic.
Jane was a very relatable character and I loved being inside her mind. There are also a lot of flashbacks in this novel which I know some people didn’t enjoy, but I really liked them. They gave more insight to Jane and her friends, as well as giving lots of clues and red herrings as to who the culprit was.
This book isn’t all about the mystery though. Jane also goes through a lot of issues with her mother and stepfather which was a great subplot. I loved seeing their relationships rekindle and form, and I especially loved Jane’s relationship with a certain director’s son.
And as for the climax - Well, in my notes I’ve just written “CLIMAX!!!!!!!!!” so I think that says it all. My heart was pounding and I was literally holding my breath through most of it!