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4.56 AVERAGE
4.56 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh. My. God.
I had to take a day to emotionally process this one. I was not ready.
- The way so many of the scenes were viscerally gut wrenching.
- The way my chest actually ached because of the pain and longing felt by Jude.
- The way Cas is made so damn unlikeable, but there is still that small part of him that makes you think and wonder if things are really what they seem.
- The way the truth comes out about Gideon and how all of it just makes you want to throw up.
- The way when you find out the real story behind all of the twisted games you realize just how much of himself Cas had to give up so young.
- The way I would forget that it wasn't a historical fiction because the way it is written stylistically just somehow managed to make it feel like that until I was reminded by the mention of something modern, like Coldplay.
This book was 600 pages and 600 pages still wasn't enough. I could easily have read 600 more. I think some people might criticize how fast some things are resolved in the end (trying to be vague here, I don't want to spoil anything for anyone). However, I personally like that there weren't unnecessary additional chapters of anguish where there didn't really need to be. I like that the resolution only seems to take a few days because so much time and life has been wasted on things being wrong. I don't enjoy it when angst gets dragged out more than it needs to be. In this case, there just wouldn't have been a purpose to it. It would have spoiled things.
Honestly I need this to be a duet with the whole thing rewritten from Cas's POV. A girl can dream, right? There are some scenes where I really want to know what was going through his mind. Particularly the ones where he seems like he is being heartless, but that is likely not the case.
It is worth reading. And I will be reading it again once I am able to put my heart back together enough to handle it.
I had to take a day to emotionally process this one. I was not ready.
- The way so many of the scenes were viscerally gut wrenching.
- The way my chest actually ached because of the pain and longing felt by Jude.
- The way Cas is made so damn unlikeable, but there is still that small part of him that makes you think and wonder if things are really what they seem.
- The way the truth comes out about Gideon and how all of it just makes you want to throw up.
- The way when you find out the real story behind all of the twisted games you realize just how much of himself Cas had to give up so young.
- The way I would forget that it wasn't a historical fiction because the way it is written stylistically just somehow managed to make it feel like that until I was reminded by the mention of something modern, like Coldplay.
This book was 600 pages and 600 pages still wasn't enough. I could easily have read 600 more. I think some people might criticize how fast some things are resolved in the end (trying to be vague here, I don't want to spoil anything for anyone). However, I personally like that there weren't unnecessary additional chapters of anguish where there didn't really need to be. I like that the resolution only seems to take a few days because so much time and life has been wasted on things being wrong. I don't enjoy it when angst gets dragged out more than it needs to be. In this case, there just wouldn't have been a purpose to it. It would have spoiled things.
Honestly I need this to be a duet with the whole thing rewritten from Cas's POV. A girl can dream, right? There are some scenes where I really want to know what was going through his mind. Particularly the ones where he seems like he is being heartless, but that is likely not the case.
It is worth reading. And I will be reading it again once I am able to put my heart back together enough to handle it.
It’s taken me many hours after finishing the book to write this review. I’ve been sobbing mainly and I couldn’t really see the letters through my tears!
This is one of those books that impacts your life, makes you rethink your whole existence and leaves you a little empty inside.
It’s not a typical romance. It’s rough, it’s raw, it’s real.
It’s thirteen years of longing and heartbreak, of yearning and despair, of love and hate and unsent e-mails.
Jude is only 15 when he falls in love with a beautiful boy. A boy who will break his heart again and again. A sweet innocent love, that over time turns into something poisonous.
The book follows Jude through life. A life full of growth and change where only one constant remains, his love for Caspien Deveraux. Through time his feelings never change, no matter what Caspien does, Jude vowed to love him unconditionally and always did. Even though Cas couldn’t love him back.
That love was so palpable I could taste it. It was as if Jude was put on this earth with the sole purpose of loving Caspien. Absolutely painfully beautiful to read.
“He was the beating heart inside my chest, the hopes and dreams I harboured in my soul. I existed only because he perceived me.”
Even though Cas hurt Jude over and over I always felt for him. The lonely boy raised in the empty mansion by a heartbroken, twisted man. His character growth was immense and I never thought I’d say this but I am proud of a fictional character.
Now the side characters…
Sweet, sweet Luke who deserves the world.
Understanding, kind Finn.
The absolute perfection of a man that was Nathan. For a moment there I also wished it was him instead of Cas.
Beth who can rot in Manchester for all I care and the absolute garbage of a man that is Xavier…he can rot somewhere way hotter.
The plot was intriguing and each and every character was written to perfection. This one will stay with me for a while!
This is one of those books that impacts your life, makes you rethink your whole existence and leaves you a little empty inside.
It’s not a typical romance. It’s rough, it’s raw, it’s real.
It’s thirteen years of longing and heartbreak, of yearning and despair, of love and hate and unsent e-mails.
Jude is only 15 when he falls in love with a beautiful boy. A boy who will break his heart again and again. A sweet innocent love, that over time turns into something poisonous.
The book follows Jude through life. A life full of growth and change where only one constant remains, his love for Caspien Deveraux. Through time his feelings never change, no matter what Caspien does, Jude vowed to love him unconditionally and always did. Even though Cas couldn’t love him back.
That love was so palpable I could taste it. It was as if Jude was put on this earth with the sole purpose of loving Caspien. Absolutely painfully beautiful to read.
“He was the beating heart inside my chest, the hopes and dreams I harboured in my soul. I existed only because he perceived me.”
Even though Cas hurt Jude over and over I always felt for him. The lonely boy raised in the empty mansion by a heartbroken, twisted man. His character growth was immense and I never thought I’d say this but I am proud of a fictional character.
Now the side characters…
Sweet, sweet Luke who deserves the world.
Understanding, kind Finn.
The absolute perfection of a man that was Nathan. For a moment there I also wished it was him instead of Cas.
Beth who can rot in Manchester for all I care and the absolute garbage of a man that is Xavier…he can rot somewhere way hotter.
The plot was intriguing and each and every character was written to perfection. This one will stay with me for a while!
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There’s a lot to unpack here, you really just need to read it but go in knowing that it’s going to hurt to get to the HEA. This an MM, coming of age, Great Expectations retelling. The writing is amazing. The story was intriguing, I haven’t read Great Expectations in a long time so I had to brush up a bit.
Jude and Caspien meet at the age of 15 when Jude’s brother-in-law (he lives with his sister and her husband) starts working at and eventually move onto Caspian’s uncles estate. They developed this strange sort of friendship that turns into more.
I won’t lie, I did not like Caspien until closer to the end of the book. His character though had been raised to avoid love and then he met Jude. He was still quite horrible even once they were “friends.” Also the older man while he was only 16 made me cringe.
Jude I felt for. When Caspien left he had to move on with life and it seemed every time he’d make a little progress Caspien would show up. Cas just kept hurting Jude and it made me ill. Jude was such an amazing character. His love for Caspien ran soul deep.
I did start to feel for Caspien more towards the end, no one deserves that.
The big reveal in the end kinda fell flat for me. I understand Caspien didn’t want Jude to resent him if he stayed when they were younger but I guess that’s how things had to be for Caspien to be able to understand what love is. He hurt Jude but also himself. Overall it’s a good read, it’s long and divided into three parts. This isn’t your typical romance so know that going in.
Best Standalone Book I’ve read this year! I am speechless, this book came out of no where. I saw someone review it, said sure and ditched all my other plans to read it. And I devoured it! It’s one book I wish was longer, I want more and yet more will never be enough. The writing was excellent, I loved the past tense especially when Jude would throw in a quick present day update about a character. I loved their story, the heartbreak here is real and honest and I felt for Jude every single time. Bring on the tissues. I did see a few things coming, but it didn’t take away from the shock of it at the end. It’s rare now that I stay up late reading, but I read till very early, woke up and read till I finished. If you take one recommendation from me this year, read this! It’s a standalone so no cliffhanger and it will rip you apart again and again.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Masterpiece