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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Disappointed in the ending, but the rest of the book was pretty well written with interesting characters and relationships. Although two or three sex scenes could've been edited out and it wouldn't have hurt in the slightest.
It's a two stars but I'm feeling highly generous.
That, and probably because it kind of reminds me of Skins and Effy Stonem (especially in skins fire) in particular and I really liked her character and I just genuinely love Skins and Kaya Scodelario.
I thought Maise was a more or less similar character to Effy, minus the drugs and the smoking.
Plus this book wasn't all bad. The writing wasn't awful it had kind of a poetic vibe to it and I really liked it and there were some beautiful quotes but not really my cup of tea.
That, and probably because it kind of reminds me of Skins and Effy Stonem (especially in skins fire) in particular and I really liked her character and I just genuinely love Skins and Kaya Scodelario.
I thought Maise was a more or less similar character to Effy, minus the drugs and the smoking.
Plus this book wasn't all bad. The writing wasn't awful it had kind of a poetic vibe to it and I really liked it and there were some beautiful quotes but not really my cup of tea.
4.5/5 I wouldn't usually read a book like this but Elliot is one of my favourite authors so I gave it a shot. Not as good as Cam Girl or Black Iris but I really liked it for what it was.
This book is a well-written cautionary tale. Very unsettling. It does the smutty student/teacher trope very well, but is also blunt about how wrong that dynamic is. I enjoyed reading it overall, but I do have my gripes about the ending because
Spoiler
I hate that the two leads end up getting back together! And I hate that their reunification was framed so romantically. I liked that the book was upfront about how toxic and predatory their relationship was. For a moment there, I was also swept up in the whole ~forbidden romance fantasy, and was ready to believe that Evan was generally a morally upstanding person and that their relationship was a once in a lifetime situation. The reveal that he had actually already seduced and impregnated an underage girl was like a punch in the gut that brought me back to earth. It was so twisted. This is the type of behavior you should expect from a 33 year old man who hooks up with highschooolers. With that in mind, I guess it makes sense that they do end up back together because that's how toxic relationships work. I still hate it though lol.
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a confronting story. The main characters all had issues and did some pretty messed up things. The relationship between Evan and Maise felt more obssessive rather than romantic. But despite the uneasiness, I actually really enjoyed this.
It was fast-paced, and told in a lovely lyrical style that kept me eagerly reading. I think what set this apart from other teacher/student storylines i've read was that they didn't try to stop their relationship at all - they accepted that it was wrong from the beginning and continued with it. There was so much chemistry between the two characters though that it was easy to forget how wrong their situation was.
I wasn't that satisfied with how it ended as I thought it would head in the opposite direction, but it was still a really great read.
It was fast-paced, and told in a lovely lyrical style that kept me eagerly reading. I think what set this apart from other teacher/student storylines i've read was that they didn't try to stop their relationship at all - they accepted that it was wrong from the beginning and continued with it. There was so much chemistry between the two characters though that it was easy to forget how wrong their situation was.
I wasn't that satisfied with how it ended as I thought it would head in the opposite direction, but it was still a really great read.
DNF @ 80%
I'm DNFing because this book just isn't going anywhere. The first half is basically just the two main characters fucking. There has been some like side-plot kinda stuff going on, but it feels really random and kinda just like its part of the plot as an excuse for a book about a student screwing their teacher to exist. At 80% i've seen no character development, and I can't really see the plot going towards an ending that is in any way redeemable. Also, this book really romanticises the story [b:Lolita|7604|Lolita|Vladimir Nabokov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377756377l/7604._SY75_.jpg|1268631], and if you didn't already know my opinions on that whole shit-show, I highly suggest reading my heated review here. [EDIT: I've re-read Lolita since & my opinions have changed on the book as a whole, but not the romanticism of the romanticism of the Lolita character, thus its still applicable here]
2 ⭐ because like it wasn't THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD. It just wasn't good, and like it was very shallow and surface level. Dont really know who might enjoy this book.. Maybe people who read purely erotic fiction & don't care too much about the quality of the story? People who loved the 50 Shades series? Idk. Sorry not sorry.
I'm DNFing because this book just isn't going anywhere. The first half is basically just the two main characters fucking. There has been some like side-plot kinda stuff going on, but it feels really random and kinda just like its part of the plot as an excuse for a book about a student screwing their teacher to exist. At 80% i've seen no character development, and I can't really see the plot going towards an ending that is in any way redeemable. Also, this book really romanticises the story [b:Lolita|7604|Lolita|Vladimir Nabokov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1377756377l/7604._SY75_.jpg|1268631], and if you didn't already know my opinions on that whole shit-show, I highly suggest reading my heated review here. [EDIT: I've re-read Lolita since & my opinions have changed on the book as a whole, but not the romanticism of the romanticism of the Lolita character, thus its still applicable here]
2 ⭐ because like it wasn't THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD. It just wasn't good, and like it was very shallow and surface level. Dont really know who might enjoy this book.. Maybe people who read purely erotic fiction & don't care too much about the quality of the story? People who loved the 50 Shades series? Idk. Sorry not sorry.
”I can’t hold on to you. You’re like that shooting star. Just a trail of fire in my hands.”
Finally a book under the NA category with realistic characters. I gotten used to a certain archetype in these sort of books, the innocent nice virgin that meets the arrogant, controlling, misogynistic man whore that awakens her sexual journey.
It was so refreshing to have a heroine, Maise, aware of her allure and with a sexual history. Usually the slutty girl is the villain of the story, but this book does another route and shows that a woman’s personality is not tied to her openness towards sex.
And Evan was actually sweet, understanding, caring and nice. I adored him, this is how you should write the male love interest. He puts Maise first and his first concern when he found out he was her teacher was making sure she was okey with it. I know that teacher-student relationships are all kinds of wrong, but their relationship never felt unbalanced. It felt like a healthy relationship with lots of passion. Two people that was just right of each other. And the relationship begun before they found out he was her teacher, so I never got the impression that was part of it.
”You’re crazy,” I said. “You should run away.”
“If I ran away, I would be crazy.”
The book does an excellent job with exploring the characters and the relationship. They aren’t perfect, they have a history and are broken in several ways. We get to know their backstory, their dreams, what drives them and what drives them towards each other.
I felt giddy the entire book and read it in one day. I read some reviews that stated this book has too much of a poetic writing, but I never felt that. This book felt more or less perfect.
Finally a book under the NA category with realistic characters. I gotten used to a certain archetype in these sort of books, the innocent nice virgin that meets the arrogant, controlling, misogynistic man whore that awakens her sexual journey.
It was so refreshing to have a heroine, Maise, aware of her allure and with a sexual history. Usually the slutty girl is the villain of the story, but this book does another route and shows that a woman’s personality is not tied to her openness towards sex.
And Evan was actually sweet, understanding, caring and nice. I adored him, this is how you should write the male love interest. He puts Maise first and his first concern when he found out he was her teacher was making sure she was okey with it. I know that teacher-student relationships are all kinds of wrong, but their relationship never felt unbalanced. It felt like a healthy relationship with lots of passion. Two people that was just right of each other. And the relationship begun before they found out he was her teacher, so I never got the impression that was part of it.
”You’re crazy,” I said. “You should run away.”
“If I ran away, I would be crazy.”
The book does an excellent job with exploring the characters and the relationship. They aren’t perfect, they have a history and are broken in several ways. We get to know their backstory, their dreams, what drives them and what drives them towards each other.
I felt giddy the entire book and read it in one day. I read some reviews that stated this book has too much of a poetic writing, but I never felt that. This book felt more or less perfect.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse
Minor: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment