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softpastelpages's review
3.5
Admittedly I read this to feed my Ethan Hawke obsession, as someone who loves his movies I was interested to see what his writing was like. I found his writing to be surprisingly good for an actor. I was hoping this book would be like the Before trilogy that he starred in and although I could definitely see some similarities this had a darker, less hopeful tone to it.
We follow William who falls in love with Sarah and we begin to see how all consuming first love can be and all the complicated feelings that come with it. I found William to be a hopeless romantic but also deeply narcissistic, I’m not sure if he was meant to be that way but that’s how I viewed him throughout most of the book. The relationship between the two characters wasn’t healthy despite how much William romanticised Sarah which made it feel like a true, relatable romance story.
I am looking forward to reading more by Ethan Hawke!
We follow William who falls in love with Sarah and we begin to see how all consuming first love can be and all the complicated feelings that come with it. I found William to be a hopeless romantic but also deeply narcissistic, I’m not sure if he was meant to be that way but that’s how I viewed him throughout most of the book. The relationship between the two characters wasn’t healthy despite how much William romanticised Sarah which made it feel like a true, relatable romance story.
I am looking forward to reading more by Ethan Hawke!
sevillamaria's review against another edition
2.0
The girl was way to complicated in my opinion, I couldn't identify myself with any of the main characters. I'm sure the story has a deeper meaning i haven't made the effort to understand because the characters were so annoying. Which was probably the point. Good writing though.
librarianna81's review against another edition
4.0
[before reading:]
I read this book years ago, and remember liking it, but don't remember anything about it. So I wanted to pick it up again, because it seems like a quick read & I could use that right now!!
[after reading:]
Ethan Hawke writes heartbreak really, really well. Clearly he's been through his share. I loved the characters, and how real everything felt. The story ended on a note that rung true, as well. I truly appreciated the true-to-life-ness of this story. I'm not very coherent right now because I'm sick, so I'll stop writing. But, I do remember why I loved this, now. It's like when I reread The Perks of Being a Wallflower, after many years.
I read this book years ago, and remember liking it, but don't remember anything about it. So I wanted to pick it up again, because it seems like a quick read & I could use that right now!!
[after reading:]
Ethan Hawke writes heartbreak really, really well. Clearly he's been through his share. I loved the characters, and how real everything felt. The story ended on a note that rung true, as well. I truly appreciated the true-to-life-ness of this story. I'm not very coherent right now because I'm sick, so I'll stop writing. But, I do remember why I loved this, now. It's like when I reread The Perks of Being a Wallflower, after many years.
d_iris's review against another edition
1.0
I think it's fucked up how characters like William in The Hottest State will sometimes be considered passionate or tortured when really, when you look at all of the information laid before you, you can see that they are just manipulative, neglectful and abusive.
This book is basically about a boy, who thinks he's a man, whine and complain as the girl he likes dares not to like him back. How dare she, right? How can she even think it? He's all charm and swagger, is he not? So how can he overcome this? Call her a bitch for not wanting to hang out with him. Make her feel small for not wanting to have sex with him. Think, multiple times, about raping her for his own sordid pleasure. Actually attempt to rape her. Succeed in raping her. Smash, break, throw and destroy things in a fit of childish rage when she finally frees herself from him. Stalk and harass her to show her what she's lost. Then finally he believes he's better than she is and can continue his life. Brilliant, Mr. Hawke. Brilliant. You deserve a Pulitzer. 1/5
Worst. Book. Ever.
This book is basically about a boy, who thinks he's a man, whine and complain as the girl he likes dares not to like him back. How dare she, right? How can she even think it? He's all charm and swagger, is he not? So how can he overcome this? Call her a bitch for not wanting to hang out with him. Make her feel small for not wanting to have sex with him. Think, multiple times, about raping her for his own sordid pleasure. Actually attempt to rape her. Succeed in raping her. Smash, break, throw and destroy things in a fit of childish rage when she finally frees herself from him. Stalk and harass her to show her what she's lost. Then finally he believes he's better than she is and can continue his life. Brilliant, Mr. Hawke. Brilliant. You deserve a Pulitzer. 1/5
Worst. Book. Ever.
cocktoetwins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I think i like ethan hawke a little less now
ghostofyesterday's review
3.0
I purchased this for 50c at a thrift store out of curiosity as to Hawke's writing chops and I gotta say: I really dug it. Very honest, it's a simple tale of young, crazy love but with a bit of grit and angst. I'm not one for tales of romance but this got me, perhaps because it hit a little close to home...
lottiepiper's review
reflective
medium-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
3.0
mayasorel's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
planet_dar's review against another edition
4.0
Yes, I've read this book multiple times. Yes, I'll probably read it again. Yes, I think the author happens to be a babe (or was a babe in 1997). No, I don't think this book will change your life in any way shape or form.
literarymuses's review against another edition
tense
fast-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
3.5
Did I buy this just because Ethan Hawke wrote it? Yes. Was I fully prepared for it to be pretentious? Of fucking course.
I went into it getting the feeling I was either going to hate it or love it. Seemed like there was no middle ground. Except I was dreadfully wrong. There was indeed a middle ground and that’s where I’m stuck now.
I don’t even know how to express how I feel about it. And I don’t mean that in the way of “I loved it so much I don’t know how to express”. The best way I can sum up my thoughts are, I enjoy his writing style, his pacing, and how he set up us watching this character spiral through his inner monologue. However, I don’t love this plot or the main character (honestly at times wanted to stab him). I believe a lot of Ethan Hawke’s own life is seen in glimpses of this character though. So apparently I may want to stab him if I met him who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I went into it getting the feeling I was either going to hate it or love it. Seemed like there was no middle ground. Except I was dreadfully wrong. There was indeed a middle ground and that’s where I’m stuck now.
I don’t even know how to express how I feel about it. And I don’t mean that in the way of “I loved it so much I don’t know how to express”. The best way I can sum up my thoughts are, I enjoy his writing style, his pacing, and how he set up us watching this character spiral through his inner monologue. However, I don’t love this plot or the main character (honestly at times wanted to stab him). I believe a lot of Ethan Hawke’s own life is seen in glimpses of this character though. So apparently I may want to stab him if I met him who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯