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ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a quick read. It is in a dystopian setting, which I love, but it really doesn’t focus on that at all. Way more focused on the romance aspect.
Speaking specifically about the romance, I always like when there is an actual basis for a relationship before it just happens. This one does, though it is shared primarily in short memories or flashbacks.
The writing is also very nice. It is descriptive and filled with metaphors and similes.
I’m really excited to see where the series goes!
Speaking specifically about the romance, I always like when there is an actual basis for a relationship before it just happens. This one does, though it is shared primarily in short memories or flashbacks.
The writing is also very nice. It is descriptive and filled with metaphors and similes.
I’m really excited to see where the series goes!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: War
smutlifeornolife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, Gore, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, War, Murder, and Torture
allyordyna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I really liked the first bit, but the romance and writing got steadily cringier🥴
I’m so biased against dystopian tho; I’d say for a dystopian it was pretty good. I immediately read book 2 to see if I would like the ml better.
I’m so biased against dystopian tho; I’d say for a dystopian it was pretty good. I immediately read book 2 to see if I would like the ml better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Torture, War, Stalking, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
tiredzai's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Murder, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Torture
saramarinho's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a book!
.
It's been a while since I had the proper time to enjoy reading a good book because work has been getting in the way a lot, but lately I've seen a lot of people talking about Shatter Me and, since it's a book I've been curious to read for a while now, I decided to give it a go.
.
It did not disappoint at all!
The story is amazing, well-thought and developed. There's attention to detail without getting boring or pouring waterfalls of information on you.
The characters are strong, interesting and relatable, you find yourself sharing the same feelings as them.
.
The only tiny detail I wasn't very fond of was the fact that Juliette spent almost the first half of the book crying at every situation.
I get it, it was all overwhelming and too much to deal with but there were simply a lot of tears that not always felt reasonable.
.
Warner.
I don't know how to feel about him yet.
So far I'm not his number 1 fan. Maybe that'll change on the next book, maybe not, I don't know.
The general opinion seems to be in favor of him but at this point I'm not feeling it.
But then, of course, I need more information about him, more about his backstory to understand his motivations and why he's acting the way he is.
.
Adam.
I like him, very much at this point, but I'm still with one foot behind. I don't know why but there's something about him that doesn't alow me to fully trust him.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, I'll find out in the future.
.
Castle.
To me he looks like Edris Elba.
You can't change my mind.
.
The world-building is fantastic in this book. I'm finding dystopia a new favourite genre. And the writing, seriously, it's perfect. It's fluid, intelligent, grabs you from page one. The repetition works spot-on!
.
I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series. If it keeps getting better than this, it will become a new favourite for sure.
.
It's been a while since I had the proper time to enjoy reading a good book because work has been getting in the way a lot, but lately I've seen a lot of people talking about Shatter Me and, since it's a book I've been curious to read for a while now, I decided to give it a go.
.
It did not disappoint at all!
The story is amazing, well-thought and developed. There's attention to detail without getting boring or pouring waterfalls of information on you.
The characters are strong, interesting and relatable, you find yourself sharing the same feelings as them.
.
The only tiny detail I wasn't very fond of was the fact that Juliette spent almost the first half of the book crying at every situation.
I get it, it was all overwhelming and too much to deal with but there were simply a lot of tears that not always felt reasonable.
.
Warner.
I don't know how to feel about him yet.
So far I'm not his number 1 fan. Maybe that'll change on the next book, maybe not, I don't know.
The general opinion seems to be in favor of him but at this point I'm not feeling it.
But then, of course, I need more information about him, more about his backstory to understand his motivations and why he's acting the way he is.
.
Adam.
I like him, very much at this point, but I'm still with one foot behind. I don't know why but there's something about him that doesn't alow me to fully trust him.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, I'll find out in the future.
.
Castle.
To me he looks like Edris Elba.
You can't change my mind.
.
The world-building is fantastic in this book. I'm finding dystopia a new favourite genre. And the writing, seriously, it's perfect. It's fluid, intelligent, grabs you from page one. The repetition works spot-on!
.
I'm definitely going to read the rest of this series. If it keeps getting better than this, it will become a new favourite for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Blood, Body shaming, Forced institutionalization, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
michellemaas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
* Beware of minor spoilers
3.5 - ⭐⭐⭐💫
First Installment in the Shatter Me series. Young Adult Dystopian Novel featuring the "lethal touch", "childhood friends to lovers", "dead parent", and "forced proximity" tropes. Deals with themes of human nature, isolation, and morality.
The beginning and middle were phenomenal. Mafi's writing is beautiful but to have it end the same way Mockingjay began was a huge disappointment.
“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”
Juliette is cursed. Or so she believes. She cannot come into physical contact with anyone for fear that her touch will kill them. While she spent her entire life isolating herself and resenting her powers, government official Warner believes she is the key to getting the rebel forces under control once and for all. Shatter Me explores Juliette's journey as she learns to love herself and offers some meaningful insights about human nature, isolation, and the small pleasures in life.
“I spent my life folded between the pages of books. In the absence of human relationships, I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts, and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”
I'm weirdly uncertain how I feel about this book . . . The beginning and middle were phenomenal. The use of typography and writing style to illustrate how isolation has affected Juliette's mind was brilliant. And the characters? Amazing. Mafi's writing in general is truly magnificent. Even Juliette's time at the Reestablishment was really interesting. Exploring Juliette's powers and Warner's obsession with her, and watching Juliette come to terms with the possibility of being loved and accepted was all great to read about. Then came the ending.
“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”
I was incredibly disappointed when all this buildup ended in a plain old, same as every other dystopian book ever, Hunger Games knockoff. The beginning had me so gripped and there was so much potential for this book but the author botched it by trying to be like every other dystopian author at this time. The Hunger Games was great, but I don't want every SciFi book to follow in its lead.
“Killing time isn't as difficult as it sounds. I can shoot a hundred numbers through the chest and watch them bleed decimal points in the palm of my hand. I can rip the numbers off a clock and watch the hour hand tick tick tick its final tock just before I fall asleep. I can suffocate seconds just by holding my breath. I've been murdering minutes for hours and no one seems to mind.”
I decided to still give it 4 stars because the great majority of the book truly was amazing, and despite the trajectory that was introduced in the last few chapters, I still have great hope for this series.
“Truth is a jealous, vicious mistress that never, ever sleeps.”
I would recommend you read Shatter Me because it was a masterclass in the power of words. Tahereh Mafi . . . sigh. I have no words. Her writing is an experience. She has already gone super far, but I know she's going to go even farther because she is undoubtedly one of the most talented writers of our time, even if her plot might need a little work.
“Hate looks just like everybody else until it smiles. Until it spins around and lies with lips and teeth carved into the semblance of something too passive to punch.”
* Please note that while this is a Young Adult novel, there are several themes that may be triggering to sensitive readers. Be sure to check content warnings on the author's website before reading. Your entertainment is not worth risking your mental health for!
3.5 - ⭐⭐⭐💫
First Installment in the Shatter Me series. Young Adult Dystopian Novel featuring the "lethal touch", "childhood friends to lovers", "dead parent", and "forced proximity" tropes. Deals with themes of human nature, isolation, and morality.
The beginning and middle were phenomenal. Mafi's writing is beautiful but to have it end the same way Mockingjay began was a huge disappointment.
“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”
Juliette is cursed. Or so she believes. She cannot come into physical contact with anyone for fear that her touch will kill them. While she spent her entire life isolating herself and resenting her powers, government official Warner believes she is the key to getting the rebel forces under control once and for all. Shatter Me explores Juliette's journey as she learns to love herself and offers some meaningful insights about human nature, isolation, and the small pleasures in life.
“I spent my life folded between the pages of books. In the absence of human relationships, I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts, and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”
I'm weirdly uncertain how I feel about this book . . . The beginning and middle were phenomenal. The use of typography and writing style to illustrate how isolation has affected Juliette's mind was brilliant. And the characters? Amazing. Mafi's writing in general is truly magnificent. Even Juliette's time at the Reestablishment was really interesting. Exploring Juliette's powers and Warner's obsession with her, and watching Juliette come to terms with the possibility of being loved and accepted was all great to read about. Then came the ending.
“The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”
I was incredibly disappointed when all this buildup ended in a plain old, same as every other dystopian book ever, Hunger Games knockoff. The beginning had me so gripped and there was so much potential for this book but the author botched it by trying to be like every other dystopian author at this time. The Hunger Games was great, but I don't want every SciFi book to follow in its lead.
“Killing time isn't as difficult as it sounds. I can shoot a hundred numbers through the chest and watch them bleed decimal points in the palm of my hand. I can rip the numbers off a clock and watch the hour hand tick tick tick its final tock just before I fall asleep. I can suffocate seconds just by holding my breath. I've been murdering minutes for hours and no one seems to mind.”
I decided to still give it 4 stars because the great majority of the book truly was amazing, and despite the trajectory that was introduced in the last few chapters, I still have great hope for this series.
“Truth is a jealous, vicious mistress that never, ever sleeps.”
I would recommend you read Shatter Me because it was a masterclass in the power of words. Tahereh Mafi . . . sigh. I have no words. Her writing is an experience. She has already gone super far, but I know she's going to go even farther because she is undoubtedly one of the most talented writers of our time, even if her plot might need a little work.
“Hate looks just like everybody else until it smiles. Until it spins around and lies with lips and teeth carved into the semblance of something too passive to punch.”
* Please note that while this is a Young Adult novel, there are several themes that may be triggering to sensitive readers. Be sure to check content warnings on the author's website before reading. Your entertainment is not worth risking your mental health for!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, War, Body horror, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Ableism
wahreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
bisquii's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book is best read when in middle school or with the intention to not think too critically about it.
For a dystopia, the world building is very underwhelming, and for a romance, both of Juliette’s love interests are like walking Red Flags (not to mention they are only in love with what she represents to them tbh).
However, I really enjoyed Juliette’s character and her development! She’s consistent in her personality and, in the face of literally everyone and their dog telling her what to do, she calculates all her options and uses her own judgement to make her choices. That’s rare for a female character! I found her sense of loyalty and trust issues to be incredibly consistent and relatable! Her POV really elevates this series.
For a dystopia, the world building is very underwhelming, and for a romance, both of Juliette’s love interests are like walking Red Flags (not to mention they are only in love with what she represents to them tbh).
However, I really enjoyed Juliette’s character and her development! She’s consistent in her personality and, in the face of literally everyone and their dog telling her what to do, she calculates all her options and uses her own judgement to make her choices. That’s rare for a female character! I found her sense of loyalty and trust issues to be incredibly consistent and relatable! Her POV really elevates this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, War, Violence, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Genocide, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Cursing, Confinement, Classism, Child death, Child abuse, and Bullying
weirdolympics's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and Torture
onion_anya's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
When it comes to character development, it's mostly just Juliette going from being too scared to express any semblance of personality to finally "coming into her own" and accepting that her destructive powers might not be so bad after all . Honestly, though, there's not that much to "come into", (in my opinion). I didn't find any of the main cast all that interesting or loveable, but I liked Winston's attitude at least initially, before Mafi made him an annoying semi-jerk and I finally got interested in the book when Juliette grew enough spine to shoot Warner . As far as diversity goes, the main characters (i.e., Juliette, Adam, and Warner) are all white. There's some color sprinkled into the background.
If you want to read this book, do so primarily for the steamy (but still very PG-13) romance between Juliette and Adam.
Trigger warning, though: the book gets kinda rapey when it comes to Warner. Even though Mafi writes it in a way that makes it seem like Juliette is conflicted between wanting/not wanting him, it's clearly not ok.
If you want to read this book, do so primarily for the steamy (but still very PG-13) romance between Juliette and Adam.
Trigger warning, though: the book gets kinda rapey when it comes to Warner. Even though Mafi writes it in a way that makes it seem like Juliette is conflicted between wanting/not wanting him, it's clearly not ok.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment
Scenes between Warner and Juliette might be triggering for those who are sensitive to sexual harassment.