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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
i have quite a bit to say about this
spoilers?¿
okay so the storyline was SO cliché and the stereotypes were overly cringe
like who the fuck calls someone 'black beauty'?! that's a horse mate. like i get that he was meant to take her on the worst date or whatever but that was so unnecessary
and what was that whole thing with her mum? like what mum just forgets about their kid for a year and doesn't see where they are or who they're staying with or anything? like at this point beverly is mothering her childish mother
and if i'm being very critical, the grammatical mistakes and shit littered around really highlighted how it is a wattpad book but that feels too harsh to explore in depth
i did end up not minding the last few chapters as much and was content with the ending, it was just an overall slow book
spoilers?¿
okay so the storyline was SO cliché and the stereotypes were overly cringe
like who the fuck calls someone 'black beauty'?! that's a horse mate. like i get that he was meant to take her on the worst date or whatever but that was so unnecessary
and what was that whole thing with her mum? like what mum just forgets about their kid for a year and doesn't see where they are or who they're staying with or anything? like at this point beverly is mothering her childish mother
and if i'm being very critical, the grammatical mistakes and shit littered around really highlighted how it is a wattpad book but that feels too harsh to explore in depth
i did end up not minding the last few chapters as much and was content with the ending, it was just an overall slow book
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
Everest trys to commit suicide and the whole school finds out. The students of the school treat him badly that he feels like he has nowhere to go so he ends up at the library where he meets Beverly.
The writing was okay and the flow was good, but the way the messages were handled did not sit with me well. Somebody is depressed so the kids start bullying him for trying to commit suicide.
The writing was okay and the flow was good, but the way the messages were handled did not sit with me well. Somebody is depressed so the kids start bullying him for trying to commit suicide.
Ok, look, I am not usually a super intense, always triggered social justice warrior. I care that people are treated with dignity and respect but I can also take a joke and recognize nuance. I also read and review hundreds of books each year - the good, the bad & the ugly. It takes a lot to offend me or even catch my attention, to be honest. But.... I have some feelings about this one. To start, this whole thing about it being 2019 and her not having a single friend at school or work or anywhere just because she is black. As someone that went to a private school where I was the only person of color literally 20 yrs ago and is now a mom of brown skinned kids in a suburb that isn’t particularly diverse it just doesn’t feel very realistic... or at least not very current. I get the challenges of being different more than most, probably but.... they just ignored her for years bc she doesn’t look like them?!?!? Anyway and more importantly, there is another girl of color at Bev’s school but she is multiracial (Black + Asian) and apparently one of the most popular girls in school. At best, that doesn’t make sense. At worst, it reinforces a dangerous ideology that mixed or lighter skinned people are somehow better or more acceptable.... and I say that as a mixed person. This is such an important time for women of color as we are finally being recognized for and embracing our beauty no matter where we fall on the skin tone/curl pattern spectrum. It also gave the vibe that she was only worth paying attention to (or even noticing) once Prince Charming fell from grace. He didn’t even spare her a glance, much less a word until he was literally rejected by everyone else and at rock bottom. Besides the “last resort” connotations, we are also in a time where women of color, black women in particular have finally spoken out about the expectation (and frankly, burden) of us “fixing” everything & everyone without regard for the personal/mental/emotional toll that it takes. The premise (and title) of this book goes completely against that notion. Not to mention the coworkers that called her Betty instead of Beverly because, “Trying to correct them was no use” as every time she did, they just kept on calling her the same thing or the “black girl”, “black beauty” stuff.
I don’t know the author’s ethnicity or experience but I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage them to rethink some of this. Representation matters but is only beneficial when it is productive... when it pushes the ball forward, or at least leaves it alone. This feels damaging to progress. As wtf as I felt, I can’t imagine how it would feel to someone that might already be struggling to love themselves after a few too many “you’re pretty... for a black/dark skinned girl” comments have pushed their way under their skin and into their self image.
Also, from a mental health standpoint, I want to remind everyone that therapy isn’t bad or dumb and major depression with suicidal ideations doesn’t just go away magically because you’re having a good time with life. That isn’t really made clear in this story and, again I would hate for someone that is in the thick of things or worse, in crisis and think “Screw therapy, screw meds, screw treatment. I just need to find a fun, cute boy/girl to hang out with”. That’s dangerous.
I don’t know the author’s ethnicity or experience but I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage them to rethink some of this. Representation matters but is only beneficial when it is productive... when it pushes the ball forward, or at least leaves it alone. This feels damaging to progress. As wtf as I felt, I can’t imagine how it would feel to someone that might already be struggling to love themselves after a few too many “you’re pretty... for a black/dark skinned girl” comments have pushed their way under their skin and into their self image.
Also, from a mental health standpoint, I want to remind everyone that therapy isn’t bad or dumb and major depression with suicidal ideations doesn’t just go away magically because you’re having a good time with life. That isn’t really made clear in this story and, again I would hate for someone that is in the thick of things or worse, in crisis and think “Screw therapy, screw meds, screw treatment. I just need to find a fun, cute boy/girl to hang out with”. That’s dangerous.
I think the plot had potential considering it’s a Wattpad book I do wish the story had more elaborate language and the side characters are a little flat but it’s not the worst book I’ve ever read.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Super cute and easy read. Very fluffy and cute while still talking about darker themes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
Everest was undeniably admired by everyone. Shockingly, it seemed as though I was the only person who felt any sympathy.
I greatly wanted to love this book. The premise sounded like I was going to fall head-over-heels in love. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Despite that, I still enjoyed this book a lot!
Everest is the popular kid in school who soon turns into a pariah when rumors circulate he tried to kill himself. Beverly is the quiet girl at school who suddenly doesn't want Everest to be alone through a dark moment in his life and decides to befriend him. What comes out of this is a beautiful friendship that teaches hope and acceptance.
I thought the rain was beautiful, but nothing compared to this--watching someone broken finally getting a glimpse of happiness after so long.
(I'm sitting with my laptop on my blank, staring blankly in hopes I can put my thoughts together *ahem* Let's try this again in bullet points and see if it works better.)
I greatly wanted to love this book. The premise sounded like I was going to fall head-over-heels in love. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Despite that, I still enjoyed this book a lot!
Everest is the popular kid in school who soon turns into a pariah when rumors circulate he tried to kill himself. Beverly is the quiet girl at school who suddenly doesn't want Everest to be alone through a dark moment in his life and decides to befriend him. What comes out of this is a beautiful friendship that teaches hope and acceptance.
I thought the rain was beautiful, but nothing compared to this--watching someone broken finally getting a glimpse of happiness after so long.
(I'm sitting with my laptop on my blank, staring blankly in hopes I can put my thoughts together *ahem* Let's try this again in bullet points and see if it works better.)
It’s a really nice and fast to read book, but there were some bits and pieces that I get were missing to this book and I also felt like it was a fast paced romance.
*trigger warning*
Firstly starting how the mention of suicide was thrown around in the book first from Everest’s attempt to then Nash’s attempt, it was a very confusing concept to this story that I felt wasn’t to well explained. Also moving on to Beverly and Everest’s relationship and how it started, it was a little slow burn at first but then I think it was really rushed. Then also throwing the fact that that there were a lot of family issues that weren’t really addressed during the story and problems added during the end that weren’t really explained. For me it’s as if the author was just trying to figure out how to draw the story longer.
Now in my personal opinion, I really didn’t know what to expect knowing that it was originally a Wattpad book, the stories are usually very fast paced and dragged on. But for this specific one, it actually impressed me and her writing is actually really good. I’d love to see her evolution of writing and see what Sky Chase comes up with next.
*trigger warning*
Firstly starting how the mention of suicide was thrown around in the book first from Everest’s attempt to then Nash’s attempt, it was a very confusing concept to this story that I felt wasn’t to well explained. Also moving on to Beverly and Everest’s relationship and how it started, it was a little slow burn at first but then I think it was really rushed. Then also throwing the fact that that there were a lot of family issues that weren’t really addressed during the story and problems added during the end that weren’t really explained. For me it’s as if the author was just trying to figure out how to draw the story longer.
Now in my personal opinion, I really didn’t know what to expect knowing that it was originally a Wattpad book, the stories are usually very fast paced and dragged on. But for this specific one, it actually impressed me and her writing is actually really good. I’d love to see her evolution of writing and see what Sky Chase comes up with next.