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4.56 AVERAGE
4.56 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. I read Oleander by Scarlett Drake like a mad man in less than 24 hours. I came home from work, read, went to sleep, woke up and finished it. I think it may be a true 5 stars for me.
Oleander is not a typical romance, I’d honestly say it resembles a lot of my favorite literary coming of age novels while still containing the romance aspect. I honestly think you will enjoy it better if you go into it knowing it’s not going to read like a traditional romance novel, but it will absolutely still appeal to romance readers.
While it is a Great Expectations reimagining, I could honestly compare it to everything from The Goldfinch to Normal People to Foster Dade Explores the Cosmos to Leta Blake’s 90s Coming of Age series while containing those gothic themes I loved in classics like Wuthering Heights and Rebecca and newer gothic romance like Never Leave, Never Lie. Scarlett Drake just really hit the nail on the head with what I would like in a book.
Oleander follows Jude Alcott from 15 into his 20s and his fraught relationship with Caspien Devereaux. Jude is such a sweetie and I was always rooting for him even when I wasn’t always proud of him. The character work in this book was really excellent. Caspien is a bit of a prickly one, he has been poisoned from a young age to believe he’s unloveable and it really shows, but I loved him nonetheless.
This book put me through the emotional wringer but I genuinely loved every second of it. There were times when the writing had me feeling wistful and nostalgic and others where I was breathless and anxious. I was very impressed with the writing overall.
Honestly my only complaint is that I wish it was longer haha it was 600 pages on kindle and I’d probably have read 1000.
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
A 5+++ read!!
I’m speechless, this was a masterpiece. The writing was lyrical and excellently done.
I could tell about all that happened, about all the deeply moving feelings, about how it’s a contemporary story but feels historical, or how hate turned into heat into love, or how dark secret need to stay secret,
or about the hundred different faces of Caspien from cruel to soft to menacingly, or about all the mysteries.
But no, that would be sad, it’s an experience, an experience you have to go through yourself!!
I’m speechless, this was a masterpiece. The writing was lyrical and excellently done.
I could tell about all that happened, about all the deeply moving feelings, about how it’s a contemporary story but feels historical, or how hate turned into heat into love, or how dark secret need to stay secret,
or about the hundred different faces of Caspien from cruel to soft to menacingly, or about all the mysteries.
But no, that would be sad, it’s an experience, an experience you have to go through yourself!!
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nothing could have prepared me for this book, it was truly emotionally intense. It took me some time to really get into the story, I was dreading the pain, the sadness, the heartache.
Caspian is the ultimate broken boy, seeing the story unfold and all that Jude is going through, how he was affected by his love for Caspian, how much he had to fight in his life. This story is full of manipulation, questioning, reassessment, pain, hope. It’s a full emotional novel from Jude’s POV and goes from his late teens to some years in the future. Throughout this journey, we get to see how one powerful emotion can affect another person’s life, it’s toxic, it’s dangerous and as well it’s beautiful.
I don’t really know what to write because I do not want to spoil anything, I would say that it is a must-read but be prepared for the overwhelming emotions 😉
I received an ARC Copy of this book from passionauthorservices, this review is from my own thoughts 😍
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oleander is the standout star in my book lineup this year so far—hands down, one of the most gorgeously crafted stories I've come across.
I've been hyped to dive into this book ever since Scarlett dropped that first sneak peek, and wow, did it deliver! It smashed all my expectations and then some.
Honestly, I'm just here trying to find the words, but all I've got right now is: "AAAAAAHHHHH THIS BOOK!!!"
It's a rollercoaster of feels, an epic journey of heartbreak and beauty that you've just gotta read for yourself.
Stars? It gets all five, easy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 would recommend!
I've been hyped to dive into this book ever since Scarlett dropped that first sneak peek, and wow, did it deliver! It smashed all my expectations and then some.
Honestly, I'm just here trying to find the words, but all I've got right now is: "AAAAAAHHHHH THIS BOOK!!!"
It's a rollercoaster of feels, an epic journey of heartbreak and beauty that you've just gotta read for yourself.
Stars? It gets all five, easy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 would recommend!
emotional
slow-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
Jude • Caspien…♾️.
….
“It was always you. He chose you in the only way he knew how.”
.
“It was the sort of beautiful great art and literature was created for. Fragile and delicate and destructive.”
.
“What was one more battle scar on my heart when the war was this glorious?”
….
You know the feeling when you read the first couple sentences of a book and you say out loud - this is going to be it. I knew instantly this coming of age, re-telling narrative has to be on my shelf, my above and beyond list. How thoughtfully written.
Immaculate.
Infuriating.
Impeccable.
I was put through hell and back but oh was it worth it. I love (and want to strangle (smother will love) particularly one in the oversized slippers) these silly, silly (dear to my heart) boys. A story to be told, heard and felt, not to please an audience. The author captured everything I want from a book. I was fucked over and over, coming out stronger each time. The music playlist is the heartbeat, please don’t turn your head. As for the characters themselves? If I didn’t have my own soulmate (that I hope 👀 has it down bad for me like Jude has for Cas) I would want my own Jude, it would be an honor to be loved by him. What about our wicked disaster named Caspien? Experience him. He’s a perfect epitome of a book character that is my very own kryptonite. Seems so wrong, but can be so right. Just give him a little bit of this and a bit of “Love him. Love him. Love him.”
Applause 👏🏼🖤.
….
Bear’s Den, Paul Frith - When You Break
.
Taylor Swift - Down Bad
.
Silly Boy Blue - The Fight
.
Dove Cameron - Sand
.
The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine
….
“But no, Gideon wasn’t the knife; Caspien had been that. Gideon, the hand that wielded it.” // “Certain that if I inhale deeply, I’ll still be able to smell him. He lives and breathes in these walls still…” // “This time, though, I have come armed. This time, I’ve come with sharp edges, blades, and a warrior’s hardened heart…” // “It was a bright, burning Tuesday in August when Caspien Deveraux broke my heart for the first time.” // “All at once, it was the most important thing in the world. The colour of his eyes.” // “And though I didn’t know it then, I’d soon come to love him with the very same ferocity.” // “He’ll break a thousand hearts, I’m sure of it.” // “There were so many sides to him. He was a kaleidoscope, one that I couldn’t look away from. I was entranced.” // “You’re important to him, Jude. I hope you know that.” // “It was the end of childhood and the beginning of something else, and I knew I would not be the same when it was over.” // “Then my hands were in his hair and holding his head in place because the thought of him stopping was the worst thing I could imagine.” // The letter ♾️. // “His delicate fingers tracing each eyelash and freckle.” // “One truth, that was the agreement. Goodnight, Jude.” // “Caspien was an altarpiece, Deveraux his reredos, and I came to him in blind idolatry.” // “As long as Caspien Deveraux breathed, I would love him.” // “You happened to me. I grew around you.” // “I missed him. I missed what we’d had. The lie we’d had. The lie he’d let me have.” // “Yes, well, it seems I have rather a propensity for making mistakes.” // “I loved him, desperately, and he’d taken that love and turned it into this, turned me into this.” // “You can stand there spouting whatever poisonous lies you want, Cas, but your body never lies to me.” // “He was still the boy I’d loved three, four summers ago, but that love had matured inside me like wine in a barrel, and it was more robust and vinous than it had ever been.” // “You don’t look at me the way you used to.” // “It was an antidote. Except he was my poison, too.” // “Letting people love you is okay.” // “You did save me, Jude. So many times.” // “The Boy. The Gardener. The Beach. The Reader. The Library. Oxford. London. Oleander… The Boy, returned.” …
….
*As patience isn’t my virtue - I’ve gotten an early copy directly from the Authors Patreon page and it was worth every penny. All thoughts are my own.
….
….
“It was always you. He chose you in the only way he knew how.”
.
“It was the sort of beautiful great art and literature was created for. Fragile and delicate and destructive.”
.
“What was one more battle scar on my heart when the war was this glorious?”
….
You know the feeling when you read the first couple sentences of a book and you say out loud - this is going to be it. I knew instantly this coming of age, re-telling narrative has to be on my shelf, my above and beyond list. How thoughtfully written.
Immaculate.
Infuriating.
Impeccable.
I was put through hell and back but oh was it worth it. I love (and want to strangle (smother will love) particularly one in the oversized slippers) these silly, silly (dear to my heart) boys. A story to be told, heard and felt, not to please an audience. The author captured everything I want from a book. I was fucked over and over, coming out stronger each time. The music playlist is the heartbeat, please don’t turn your head. As for the characters themselves? If I didn’t have my own soulmate (that I hope 👀 has it down bad for me like Jude has for Cas) I would want my own Jude, it would be an honor to be loved by him. What about our wicked disaster named Caspien? Experience him. He’s a perfect epitome of a book character that is my very own kryptonite. Seems so wrong, but can be so right. Just give him a little bit of this and a bit of “Love him. Love him. Love him.”
Applause 👏🏼🖤.
….
Bear’s Den, Paul Frith - When You Break
.
Taylor Swift - Down Bad
.
Silly Boy Blue - The Fight
.
Dove Cameron - Sand
.
The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine
….
“But no, Gideon wasn’t the knife; Caspien had been that. Gideon, the hand that wielded it.” // “Certain that if I inhale deeply, I’ll still be able to smell him. He lives and breathes in these walls still…” // “This time, though, I have come armed. This time, I’ve come with sharp edges, blades, and a warrior’s hardened heart…” // “It was a bright, burning Tuesday in August when Caspien Deveraux broke my heart for the first time.” // “All at once, it was the most important thing in the world. The colour of his eyes.” // “And though I didn’t know it then, I’d soon come to love him with the very same ferocity.” // “He’ll break a thousand hearts, I’m sure of it.” // “There were so many sides to him. He was a kaleidoscope, one that I couldn’t look away from. I was entranced.” // “You’re important to him, Jude. I hope you know that.” // “It was the end of childhood and the beginning of something else, and I knew I would not be the same when it was over.” // “Then my hands were in his hair and holding his head in place because the thought of him stopping was the worst thing I could imagine.” // The letter ♾️. // “His delicate fingers tracing each eyelash and freckle.” // “One truth, that was the agreement. Goodnight, Jude.” // “Caspien was an altarpiece, Deveraux his reredos, and I came to him in blind idolatry.” // “As long as Caspien Deveraux breathed, I would love him.” // “You happened to me. I grew around you.” // “I missed him. I missed what we’d had. The lie we’d had. The lie he’d let me have.” // “Yes, well, it seems I have rather a propensity for making mistakes.” // “I loved him, desperately, and he’d taken that love and turned it into this, turned me into this.” // “You can stand there spouting whatever poisonous lies you want, Cas, but your body never lies to me.” // “He was still the boy I’d loved three, four summers ago, but that love had matured inside me like wine in a barrel, and it was more robust and vinous than it had ever been.” // “You don’t look at me the way you used to.” // “It was an antidote. Except he was my poison, too.” // “Letting people love you is okay.” // “You did save me, Jude. So many times.” // “The Boy. The Gardener. The Beach. The Reader. The Library. Oxford. London. Oleander… The Boy, returned.” …
….
*As patience isn’t my virtue - I’ve gotten an early copy directly from the Authors Patreon page and it was worth every penny. All thoughts are my own.
….
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
* I definitely don’t want to ruin anything for anyone especially this early, but if you want to read a great romance. That in stages leads more and more desperate for some kind of happy ending. Yet you have to go through this grueling emotional angst filled journey. Come the end of it, you realize that they chose you and has been choosing you since they subconsciously realize that they loved you.*
I was really happy to receive this ARC. I had been in almost a month long reading slump. This is so angst filled. You get invested in the character’s fill in the emotions that sometimes you’ll just end up tearing up or crying without realizing that it’s happening.
Jude has made me feel so much through my reading journey with him that when he was feeling the heartbreak was feeling it and crying.
I never expected the I don’t even know what to call it. If you should call it the twist in the end, but I didn’t expect how everything played out. The ‘Why would you?’..and ‘How could you?’…just kept coming up.
You definitely need to check the trigger warnings because as a story progresses, you start seeing things that suggest certain situations, but doesn’t outright say things until it does. I haven’t felt this way since reading, Darling Venom, for various other reasons that aren’t the TW of the book. But the very visceral emotion that I had as the FMC character developed.
My first paragraph might seem a bit dramatic, but I think that’s what this book has still in me because I want you to understand that this is going to hurt, but by the end of it, I hope, you’ll love it just as much as I did. So please read it!!!
I was really happy to receive this ARC. I had been in almost a month long reading slump. This is so angst filled. You get invested in the character’s fill in the emotions that sometimes you’ll just end up tearing up or crying without realizing that it’s happening.
Jude has made me feel so much through my reading journey with him that when he was feeling the heartbreak was feeling it and crying.
I never expected the I don’t even know what to call it. If you should call it the twist in the end, but I didn’t expect how everything played out. The ‘Why would you?’..and ‘How could you?’…just kept coming up.
You definitely need to check the trigger warnings because as a story progresses, you start seeing things that suggest certain situations, but doesn’t outright say things until it does. I haven’t felt this way since reading, Darling Venom, for various other reasons that aren’t the TW of the book. But the very visceral emotion that I had as the FMC character developed.
My first paragraph might seem a bit dramatic, but I think that’s what this book has still in me because I want you to understand that this is going to hurt, but by the end of it, I hope, you’ll love it just as much as I did. So please read it!!!
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes