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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
"Sarah Parsons is not happy to be back at her dead grandmother's house. She wants to get back to the way life was and move on, but when the Senator comes in and charms her mother, she is about to stay longer than she expected. But with the Senator's son offering boat rides and local boy Jackson asking about hidden diamonds in the house, things may be even stranger than she first imagined..." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=39654
I had no expectations for this book, you know: YA – Girl in a dress cover – 16 years old narrator - Something like love triangle – Creepy old house
but it turned into most unique book i've read in really...really long time
but it turned into most unique book i've read in really...really long time
I struggled through the first half of this book, then finally gave up. I wanted to like it. The story had promise. It was just so poorly executed.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I need the second book. Now.
Honestly I kind of lost myself at some point, but still I really liked it.
I have to admit that I don't know what to say about this book. I really liked but I found it confusing at times, as if I didn't know whether I was going to understand everything or not. And that's the only real flaw that I could find: the ending was too abrupt, I turned the last page, expecting at least an explenation, and I got another cliffhanger. In spite of this Amber House is (kind of) a breath of fresh air.
I loved the setting. Amber house is full of secrets and quite creepy. The atmosphere is what I loved most about the whole book, because if it wasn't for that I wouldn't say that Amber house is a refreshing Book.The setting is what makes Amber house a unique YA. The house is a character as much as Sarah is.
The writing was okay, even pretty good sometimes and the prologue pulls you right into the story. As soon as I read the first lines I knew I would be pleased with the book.
I didn't fell in love with the characters, or at least not with all of them. I liked Sarah, even though she didn't impress me, I loved Sam, her little brother, and Jackson too. I hated her mother. I mean, why parents in YA books have to be always so awful? She was terrible. Terrible.
Anyway I can't wait to read Neverwas and see what will happen now. I just need to know.
Honestly I kind of lost myself at some point, but still I really liked it.
I have to admit that I don't know what to say about this book. I really liked but I found it confusing at times, as if I didn't know whether I was going to understand everything or not. And that's the only real flaw that I could find: the ending was too abrupt, I turned the last page, expecting at least an explenation, and I got another cliffhanger. In spite of this Amber House is (kind of) a breath of fresh air.
I loved the setting. Amber house is full of secrets and quite creepy. The atmosphere is what I loved most about the whole book, because if it wasn't for that I wouldn't say that Amber house is a refreshing Book.The setting is what makes Amber house a unique YA. The house is a character as much as Sarah is.
The writing was okay, even pretty good sometimes and the prologue pulls you right into the story. As soon as I read the first lines I knew I would be pleased with the book.
I didn't fell in love with the characters, or at least not with all of them. I liked Sarah, even though she didn't impress me, I loved Sam, her little brother, and Jackson too. I hated her mother. I mean, why parents in YA books have to be always so awful? She was terrible. Terrible.
Anyway I can't wait to read Neverwas and see what will happen now. I just need to know.
I'm not sure I've read anything quite like Amber House. Part Gothic mystery, part adventure story, part "Life is Strange" but in book form. Exciting story, likable heroine, and an old house with many secrets. I would highly recommend this - I'm about to order the second book now!
Was kinda slow getting started but the ending was good and unexpected.
This is really more like three and a half. Clever concept that played out well in the end; it just took me forever to get into it and actually finish it.
interesting premise, good plot, liked the ending. did not grab me and twist my guts, but will read the sequel.
It was a fine YA novel. Not great but an entertaining read. I liked the premise a lot. An old house in one family for generations where certain members of the family - usually female - have the ability to "see" past events. In the book, the characters keep insisting it is not ghosts they are seeing. Uh, whatever, seems like splitting hairs. The history of the old house and the family were well developed. Having certain objects around the house transmit the visions (or whatever they were) was a nice touch. I always wonder about previous owners of antiques and what happened to the item prior to me seeing it/owning it. In this book the items tell their story to the receptive family member.
The main character in the book was irritating at times but maybe that's because I am 46, not 16. Maybe the author means for her to be annoying because she is 16? If so, well done. If I had read this when I was 12 I'd probably have thought the main character was awesome. The mom and grandmother and their relationship was undeveloped. Maybe it will be covered more in subsequent books?
The part of the book that bothered me the most was the - yawn - love triangle. UGH. It's SUCH a cliche. Do publishers insist that every single YA novel published have a love triangle between the female protagonist and two handsome but diametrically opposed guys? How about no love interest for once? Or a gay love interest? Or just one guy even? And if there has to be two guys, must one be dark and one fair? One rich and one poor? One cocky and one misunderstood? Lord, it just gets so boring. I kept imagining the blonde, cocky, rich love interest in this book to be like James Spader from the 80's movie Pretty in Pink. Very, very cliched preppy guy. And the misunderstood poor ethnic guy was like Taylor Lautner from Twilight. And the main female character is beautiful - but she doesn't know it! She's a tomboy! Who'd a'thunk? There is even an entire Pretty Woman make-over scene. Ok, it IS a YA novel so I should cut it some slack. These plot points and characters are fresh for the intended audience.
This book is no Hunger Games but it's still a worthwhile YA novel to read, if you like YA novels.
The main character in the book was irritating at times but maybe that's because I am 46, not 16. Maybe the author means for her to be annoying because she is 16? If so, well done. If I had read this when I was 12 I'd probably have thought the main character was awesome. The mom and grandmother and their relationship was undeveloped. Maybe it will be covered more in subsequent books?
The part of the book that bothered me the most was the - yawn - love triangle. UGH. It's SUCH a cliche. Do publishers insist that every single YA novel published have a love triangle between the female protagonist and two handsome but diametrically opposed guys? How about no love interest for once? Or a gay love interest? Or just one guy even? And if there has to be two guys, must one be dark and one fair? One rich and one poor? One cocky and one misunderstood? Lord, it just gets so boring. I kept imagining the blonde, cocky, rich love interest in this book to be like James Spader from the 80's movie Pretty in Pink. Very, very cliched preppy guy. And the misunderstood poor ethnic guy was like Taylor Lautner from Twilight. And the main female character is beautiful - but she doesn't know it! She's a tomboy! Who'd a'thunk? There is even an entire Pretty Woman make-over scene. Ok, it IS a YA novel so I should cut it some slack. These plot points and characters are fresh for the intended audience.
This book is no Hunger Games but it's still a worthwhile YA novel to read, if you like YA novels.