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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
I like it from the very beginning! I found it really entertaining, easy and quick to read; also mysterious and different from what I've read, but most of all it was a really sad story even though is about helping others, specially by the half end of the book; but thats good though, 'cause the autor did a good job making you feel all the emotions and empathy with the characters.
And the end was good, I didn't completely expected it and it didn't actually ended, I just found out there's a sequel!
I think is a good book and the "After" part made want to read the second book :D
And the end was good, I didn't completely expected it and it didn't actually ended, I just found out there's a sequel!
I think is a good book and the "After" part made want to read the second book :D
I definitely would have preferred it if we got the idea of Harlin and Charlotte's love for each other in some other way than their physical passion. That took up a bit too much of this book for me. Their relationship felt much too like lust rather than love. I also wasn't such a fan of Charlotte being, pretty much, this angel of light, and then being fine with the people she cares about getting drunk and, at points, focusing on hooking up with her boyfriend. I get that it's fun to add an edge to "good", but couldn't it have been done in another way? I'm not condemning those who drink or hook up, but, really? Fall in love and love your friend, but letting them get drunk probably isn't the best idea. Outside of those two issues, and a few awkward parts in the writing where her voice slipped away slightly, it wasn't that bad. Charlotte was pretty easy to connect with and her stance on being one of the Forgotten is realistic. Portrayed well in my opinion. Especially towards the last half of the book. That's when it came together in a better fashion, when caring for all of te character became easier and Harlin and Charlotte's romance became more love than lust.
I hate to classify this as an angel book because Suzanne Young's mythology is sooo far from that, and so much better, but for a lack of a better word, it's the best "angel" book you will EVER read. Sweet and sexy romance. Realistic and wonderful relationships. I laughed. I sighed. I pined. I cried. A lot. Worth the read, asap!
A Need So Beautiful was so different from every other angel story out there. Yes, I know everyone says that but this time I'm 100% serious. For one, the girl is the angel. Second, she's a different kind of angel. Third, her story was so emotional for me.
The scariest thing I can imagine is being forgotten. I can't imagine losing myself and not existing. That's exactly what poor Charlotte has to go through as she will be Forgotten. That concept hit true. We met Charlotte's friends and family and ended up bonding and loving them just to end up with this dilemma.
I really liked the characters. Charlotte was such a cool character; all supportive and sweet without being a passive pushover. Her love for everyone in her life was genuine and I wasn't ever bored with her.
The side characters were just as good. Harlin was the perfect romantic interest. Finally we have a relationship that's been ongoing since before the book begins. A relationship that is healthy, I mean. He (like all the other side characters) is unique and has history. Sarah, Charlotte's best friend also called to me. She was damaged and hurt but impulsive and passionate. Her relationship with her dad and her search for the one really made me sympathize with her though the story wasn't that long.
I actually read this book in one sitting. The story was on the short side but still very satisfying. Except for the ending. Watch out for that curveball! After the last page, I'm left having absolutely no idea what could possible happen next. (Side note- I've read what happens next, and that's pretty good too!)
The plot itself was more emotional than action packed. It was about Charlotte making a choice and discovering who she was. I thought as a plot it was solid- not overly enthralling, but calm and evenly done. Enough action to keep you interested, but not too much. This kept me flipping pages but I can't say this was the most suspenseful book I've ever read.
What really distinguishes this book is the overall tone of the mythology. Honestly, there isn't too much angel lore thrown in. I think that it's possible for someone who doesn't read about the supernatural to enjoy A Need So Beautiful. I'm sure the mythology will grow but I felt less like I was reading a paranormal than I was reading a contemporary. Which to me, isn't really bad or good but to someone else that may be a selling point. What was there was thought provoking and I had many questions.
A Need So Beautiful is a promising start to what I think will be a great series. I really liked this book and thought it was exactly what I needed. 4 stars,
****
The scariest thing I can imagine is being forgotten. I can't imagine losing myself and not existing. That's exactly what poor Charlotte has to go through as she will be Forgotten. That concept hit true. We met Charlotte's friends and family and ended up bonding and loving them just to end up with this dilemma.
I really liked the characters. Charlotte was such a cool character; all supportive and sweet without being a passive pushover. Her love for everyone in her life was genuine and I wasn't ever bored with her.
The side characters were just as good. Harlin was the perfect romantic interest. Finally we have a relationship that's been ongoing since before the book begins. A relationship that is healthy, I mean. He (like all the other side characters) is unique and has history. Sarah, Charlotte's best friend also called to me. She was damaged and hurt but impulsive and passionate. Her relationship with her dad and her search for the one really made me sympathize with her though the story wasn't that long.
I actually read this book in one sitting. The story was on the short side but still very satisfying. Except for the ending. Watch out for that curveball! After the last page, I'm left having absolutely no idea what could possible happen next. (Side note- I've read what happens next, and that's pretty good too!)
The plot itself was more emotional than action packed. It was about Charlotte making a choice and discovering who she was. I thought as a plot it was solid- not overly enthralling, but calm and evenly done. Enough action to keep you interested, but not too much. This kept me flipping pages but I can't say this was the most suspenseful book I've ever read.
What really distinguishes this book is the overall tone of the mythology. Honestly, there isn't too much angel lore thrown in. I think that it's possible for someone who doesn't read about the supernatural to enjoy A Need So Beautiful. I'm sure the mythology will grow but I felt less like I was reading a paranormal than I was reading a contemporary. Which to me, isn't really bad or good but to someone else that may be a selling point. What was there was thought provoking and I had many questions.
A Need So Beautiful is a promising start to what I think will be a great series. I really liked this book and thought it was exactly what I needed. 4 stars,
****
Really good book, with an ending that is making me wish that it was the release date of A Want So Wicked right now!!! Can't wait to read more!!
It took me forever to finish this book mostly because while it looked interesting, I had other stuff to read. However, it is a quite good book.
This is the story of Charlotte who has started having these “needs” which compel her to find strangers, see their life story, and help them. Obviously it’s a little strange that she keeps leaving at random times, and her friends are a bit suspicious. Suddenly she sees a patch of gold on her shoulder, and freaks out. With the help of a doctor friend, she finds out that she is a kind of angel, sent to help people, turn completely gold, and then leave in a burst of light, making everybody feel happy for a little bit. However, this also means her friends and family are going to forget everything about her, pictures will fade, memories will change, everything will be gone. So why in the world would she want to accept her fate?
I give major creative credit to Suzanne Young because this concept is incredibly different. Also, her writing is stunning, I was right there with Charlotte, cringing and mourning her fate. Young’s skill at expressing emotion is spectacular especially near the end when Charlotte’s friends and family lose memory of her slowly. I was quite depressed by this, and really felt Charlotte’s pain.
One problem I had was the relationship between Harlin and Charlotte. They were portrayed as being totally perfect for each other, and just completely in love, no doubts. However, it seemed to me that their relationship was more lust than love. Every time they were together it was physical. Charlotte mostly just thought about how hot he was, and he just checked her out constantly. Yes, a lot of times he was worried for her health, he went with her to special events, and at the end it was really apparent he loved her, but I couldn’t help feeling that their relationship was more based on how hot they both were, than on their actual LOVE for each other.
Anywho, this is a nice, short, book with fantastic writing and a creative concept.
Content Warnings: Kissing/Making-out/Sex (fade-out), and language.
This is the story of Charlotte who has started having these “needs” which compel her to find strangers, see their life story, and help them. Obviously it’s a little strange that she keeps leaving at random times, and her friends are a bit suspicious. Suddenly she sees a patch of gold on her shoulder, and freaks out. With the help of a doctor friend, she finds out that she is a kind of angel, sent to help people, turn completely gold, and then leave in a burst of light, making everybody feel happy for a little bit. However, this also means her friends and family are going to forget everything about her, pictures will fade, memories will change, everything will be gone. So why in the world would she want to accept her fate?
I give major creative credit to Suzanne Young because this concept is incredibly different. Also, her writing is stunning, I was right there with Charlotte, cringing and mourning her fate. Young’s skill at expressing emotion is spectacular especially near the end when Charlotte’s friends and family lose memory of her slowly. I was quite depressed by this, and really felt Charlotte’s pain.
One problem I had was the relationship between Harlin and Charlotte. They were portrayed as being totally perfect for each other, and just completely in love, no doubts. However, it seemed to me that their relationship was more lust than love. Every time they were together it was physical. Charlotte mostly just thought about how hot he was, and he just checked her out constantly. Yes, a lot of times he was worried for her health, he went with her to special events, and at the end it was really apparent he loved her, but I couldn’t help feeling that their relationship was more based on how hot they both were, than on their actual LOVE for each other.
Anywho, this is a nice, short, book with fantastic writing and a creative concept.
Content Warnings: Kissing/Making-out/Sex (fade-out), and language.
I would love to see her in real life all, glowy and ethereal... I don't know what to expect from the next book. The title suggests the total opposite, obviously. A Want So Wicked. God!! Psyched!
It's difficult for me to rate "A Need So Beautiful" because there are moments in this story where the jarring separation Charlotte experiences with respect to her destiny are quite memorable, and struck a chord with me. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy much of the book. It was very difficult for me to get through.
Don't get me wrong, the premise of this book is well founded and I like the idea behind it. Charlotte is a young woman who suffers from a series of attacks that she calls "the Need", a force that pulls her toward people who are on the brink of dying or making drastic decisions that will cripple their lives. Charlotte doesn't really want to follow the Need, not only noting the pain that presses upon and changes her body, but also for the way it forces her to neglect her life and the people within it. It's especially jarring when her compulsions lead her to save other people's lives, but ironically miss the moments when her family and friends need her most. That to me was an amazing point of conflict worth noting. It even becomes more jarring when Charlotte realizes that, slowly, the people in her life are starting to forget that she even exists.
Unfortunately - this story was ruined by the overfocus on both the romantic relationship and the nature of the "Need" itself. I understood the intensity of "the Need" whenever it would occur to Charlotte, but some of it did feel repetitive and overwrought in places. It probably didn't help that I thought the audiobook narrator put a little too much emotion in those parts - to the point where it made it difficult for me to like Charlotte's character, despite her flaws and her unwillingness to embrace her destiny. On the note of Charlotte's unwillingness to embrace her destiny - I didn't really think the book did a great job in showing how she comes to terms with it. Granted, the events of the book by that point do force her hand and her choices, and I understood where it was going, but I didn't feel the depth of it. Also, Charlotte is way, way, WAY too focused on her love interest. Harlin seems like a decent enough guy, and you can tell he loves Charlotte and wants the best for her, but at the same time, I felt that Charlotte would over focus on her affection for Harlin to the point where it took away from some other significant events that were happening in Charlotte's life. I also felt like that time could've been better established into noting who Charlotte was as a person and developed her character a little more, rather than just making her ogle over her relationship. It was disappointing and took me out of the story several times.
I knew the twist with regard to Harlin's role in the story long before it occurred and it didn't really have much of an impact on me. The events toward the ending where Charlotte says goodbye to her family and the people who once knew her was touching, but not as much as it could've been - it felt somewhat rushed, as did the final encounter on the bridge. The very last note of the ending left a sour taste in my mouth, somewhat Twilight Zone-ish when that was really out of the phrasing and structure of the book.
In the end, I saw some of the more touching moments of the book, but the structure and execution of the intention behind it struck me the wrong way. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series yet, but I'll admit the idea behind this was interesting, just not as jarring or emotionally rounded as it could've been.
Overall score: 1.5/5
Don't get me wrong, the premise of this book is well founded and I like the idea behind it. Charlotte is a young woman who suffers from a series of attacks that she calls "the Need", a force that pulls her toward people who are on the brink of dying or making drastic decisions that will cripple their lives. Charlotte doesn't really want to follow the Need, not only noting the pain that presses upon and changes her body, but also for the way it forces her to neglect her life and the people within it. It's especially jarring when her compulsions lead her to save other people's lives, but ironically miss the moments when her family and friends need her most. That to me was an amazing point of conflict worth noting. It even becomes more jarring when Charlotte realizes that, slowly, the people in her life are starting to forget that she even exists.
Unfortunately - this story was ruined by the overfocus on both the romantic relationship and the nature of the "Need" itself. I understood the intensity of "the Need" whenever it would occur to Charlotte, but some of it did feel repetitive and overwrought in places. It probably didn't help that I thought the audiobook narrator put a little too much emotion in those parts - to the point where it made it difficult for me to like Charlotte's character, despite her flaws and her unwillingness to embrace her destiny. On the note of Charlotte's unwillingness to embrace her destiny - I didn't really think the book did a great job in showing how she comes to terms with it. Granted, the events of the book by that point do force her hand and her choices, and I understood where it was going, but I didn't feel the depth of it. Also, Charlotte is way, way, WAY too focused on her love interest. Harlin seems like a decent enough guy, and you can tell he loves Charlotte and wants the best for her, but at the same time, I felt that Charlotte would over focus on her affection for Harlin to the point where it took away from some other significant events that were happening in Charlotte's life. I also felt like that time could've been better established into noting who Charlotte was as a person and developed her character a little more, rather than just making her ogle over her relationship. It was disappointing and took me out of the story several times.
I knew the twist with regard to Harlin's role in the story long before it occurred and it didn't really have much of an impact on me. The events toward the ending where Charlotte says goodbye to her family and the people who once knew her was touching, but not as much as it could've been - it felt somewhat rushed, as did the final encounter on the bridge. The very last note of the ending left a sour taste in my mouth, somewhat Twilight Zone-ish when that was really out of the phrasing and structure of the book.
In the end, I saw some of the more touching moments of the book, but the structure and execution of the intention behind it struck me the wrong way. I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series yet, but I'll admit the idea behind this was interesting, just not as jarring or emotionally rounded as it could've been.
Overall score: 1.5/5
I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I’d heard good things about it and even some raving recommendations from fellow bloggers, but I was still apprehensive. When I entered the Harper Imprint Challenge, I knew this would be my chance to read it. And I am so happy I did. It’s much shorter than most of the books I read, meaning I assumed that it would be lacking somehow. But Young’s writing is exquisite and before I knew it I was ensnared by this mysterious angel book. It was near perfection...
You can check out the rest of this review and many others on my blog, The Reader's Antidote
You can check out the rest of this review and many others on my blog, The Reader's Antidote