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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
Sophie, mulher, o que rolou?
Esse é de longe o que menos gostei da autora, e uma grande decepção.
Tem uma proposta diferente do que ela costuma escrever: Ava é uma mulher de 30 e poucos anos que busca desafios, então parte pra um retiro de escrita. Lá, ela acaba se apaixonando por um homem, mas eles combinam de não trocar nomes e nem informações sobre suas vidas fora de lá, pra aproveitar o ambiente romântico. Quando retornam pra suas vidas, descobrem que não poderiam ser mais incompatíveis. E agora? Como lidar com isso?
Kinsella, a rainha do slow-burn, apresenta um casal que tem que lidar com as diferenças do outro logo no começo, mas eram tantos problemas - e a falta de um bom diálogo entre eles - que senti que faltou química. Cheguei até mesmo a torcer pra Ava ficar com um dos amigos de Matt, senti mais compatibilidade. Daí temos outros probleminhas bobos que não agregam nada à história, como rivalidade feminina com não uma, mas duas ex-namoradas malignas de Matt, uma das amigas de Ava ter uma doença apenas pra fazer interrupções desnecessárias no plot principal e obrigar a protagonista a perceber seus privilégios, e ainda tem um cachorro na história (que apesar de não morrer, é atropelado, o que julgo completa e totalmente desnecessário, além de revoltante). É uma sucessão de coisas que são jogadas pro leitor, mas nada funciona.
O começo, com o romance no retiro, foi a melhor parte. A partir daí, só desanda. Gostei também das amigas de Ava e os amigos de Matt, personagens mais cativantes.
Infelizmente, o título disse tudo: Amar é relativo, e meu amor por esse livro é relativamente inferior porque sei que a autora sabe fazer melhor. Nota: dó.
Esse é de longe o que menos gostei da autora, e uma grande decepção.
Tem uma proposta diferente do que ela costuma escrever: Ava é uma mulher de 30 e poucos anos que busca desafios, então parte pra um retiro de escrita. Lá, ela acaba se apaixonando por um homem, mas eles combinam de não trocar nomes e nem informações sobre suas vidas fora de lá, pra aproveitar o ambiente romântico. Quando retornam pra suas vidas, descobrem que não poderiam ser mais incompatíveis. E agora? Como lidar com isso?
Kinsella, a rainha do slow-burn, apresenta um casal que tem que lidar com as diferenças do outro logo no começo, mas eram tantos problemas - e a falta de um bom diálogo entre eles - que senti que faltou química. Cheguei até mesmo a torcer pra Ava ficar com um dos amigos de Matt, senti mais compatibilidade. Daí temos outros probleminhas bobos que não agregam nada à história, como rivalidade feminina com não uma, mas duas ex-namoradas malignas de Matt, uma das amigas de Ava ter uma doença apenas pra fazer interrupções desnecessárias no plot principal e obrigar a protagonista a perceber seus privilégios, e ainda tem um cachorro na história (que apesar de não morrer, é atropelado, o que julgo completa e totalmente desnecessário, além de revoltante). É uma sucessão de coisas que são jogadas pro leitor, mas nada funciona.
O começo, com o romance no retiro, foi a melhor parte. A partir daí, só desanda. Gostei também das amigas de Ava e os amigos de Matt, personagens mais cativantes.
Infelizmente, o título disse tudo: Amar é relativo, e meu amor por esse livro é relativamente inferior porque sei que a autora sabe fazer melhor. Nota: dó.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
I swear, Sophie Kinsella just keeps getting better. This book, which I listened to on audiobook, started off to be very dull. Matt and Ava meet on a writer's retreat in Italy and fall in love. They were both perfectly likable but pretty nondescript. Their romance went smoothly and sweetly. Yawn.
But boy, when they returned to the real world from the vacuum of paradise, all hell broke loose! And it was delightful! It turns out Ava is a lovable flake (not unlike most of SK's heroines)with a squad of crazy friends. And Matt is a closed-off uncommunicative CEO with his family's global corporation with a cold and manipulative family. They not only have nothing in common, but they are total opposites in every aspect of their lives and tastes. It was hilarious. I couldn't decide who I was more in sympathy with (or felt more sympathy for). But remarkably, as much as they are horrified by what they learn as they get to know each other, they stay in love. And just when I had had it up to here with their personalities, each would do something lovable or we would learn something about them that helped to make me understand and excuse their behavior.
When it all comes to a head late in the book, and they inevitably part ways, you know that it will be the making of them. But will Matt-land and Ava-land be able to negotiate an accord, become allies, and once again and fall back into their "special friendship?" Well, may I remind you of who the author is?
But boy, when they returned to the real world from the vacuum of paradise, all hell broke loose! And it was delightful! It turns out Ava is a lovable flake (not unlike most of SK's heroines)with a squad of crazy friends. And Matt is a closed-off uncommunicative CEO with his family's global corporation with a cold and manipulative family. They not only have nothing in common, but they are total opposites in every aspect of their lives and tastes. It was hilarious. I couldn't decide who I was more in sympathy with (or felt more sympathy for). But remarkably, as much as they are horrified by what they learn as they get to know each other, they stay in love. And just when I had had it up to here with their personalities, each would do something lovable or we would learn something about them that helped to make me understand and excuse their behavior.
When it all comes to a head late in the book, and they inevitably part ways, you know that it will be the making of them. But will Matt-land and Ava-land be able to negotiate an accord, become allies, and once again and fall back into their "special friendship?" Well, may I remind you of who the author is?
This was cute. I almost stopped reading after the first few chapters because I was finding the characters to be very annoying, but once I changed my attitude and remembered I was reading a rom-com, not a classic, I actually started to enjoy it.
emotional
slow-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
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the advance copy!
I just adore Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella. Fans of the opposite attracts troupe will love this one, too. It is such a fun, quirky read. Is it a bit unrealistic? Maybe. But it's fiction and it is an ABSOLUTE delight.
Ava and Matt fall fast and hard in a fairy tale bubble. However, real life for both Ava and Matt is quite different. The plot focuses highly on their struggles to remain a couple once their love bubble is burst. Although it initially appears they may have a lot in common, they are truly opposites. Ava is a bit naïve and flaky. She is opportunistic, a vegetarian and overly optimistic. Matt is a workaholic caught in a toxic family business. He is serious, a meat eater and his fun side rarely makes an appearance.
Then there is Ava's rescue dog, Harold. Lovely, confident Harold who is an absolute bastard in a great, entertaining way. He fits in so well with the plot that I secretly think this book is really about him.
Ava and Matt's attraction and love did feel a bit rushed to me. I was a bit taken back by this at first. I also thought the plot was a bit messy. However, as a long time Sophie Kinsella fan, I should have known better. Her mastermind has the situation under control. I just needed to sit back and enjoy the ride.
By the end....after all the shenanigans, laughs and heart break, all I felt was happiness. I simply smiled. Love Your Life is Sophie Kinsella gold. It will give you a much needed smile. It will pull at a few heartstrings. It's an uplifting book about the messiness of life, especially as you try to share it with the love of your life.
I full heartedly recommend Love Your Life to those who need a smile, to those who need a little bit of sunshine and to long time Sophie Kinsella fans. Let's just say that, Ava and Matt gave some serious Poppy and Sam (I've Got Your Number) vibes. If you know, you know.
I just adore Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella. Fans of the opposite attracts troupe will love this one, too. It is such a fun, quirky read. Is it a bit unrealistic? Maybe. But it's fiction and it is an ABSOLUTE delight.
Ava and Matt fall fast and hard in a fairy tale bubble. However, real life for both Ava and Matt is quite different. The plot focuses highly on their struggles to remain a couple once their love bubble is burst. Although it initially appears they may have a lot in common, they are truly opposites. Ava is a bit naïve and flaky. She is opportunistic, a vegetarian and overly optimistic. Matt is a workaholic caught in a toxic family business. He is serious, a meat eater and his fun side rarely makes an appearance.
Then there is Ava's rescue dog, Harold. Lovely, confident Harold who is an absolute bastard in a great, entertaining way. He fits in so well with the plot that I secretly think this book is really about him.
Ava and Matt's attraction and love did feel a bit rushed to me. I was a bit taken back by this at first. I also thought the plot was a bit messy. However, as a long time Sophie Kinsella fan, I should have known better. Her mastermind has the situation under control. I just needed to sit back and enjoy the ride.
By the end....after all the shenanigans, laughs and heart break, all I felt was happiness. I simply smiled. Love Your Life is Sophie Kinsella gold. It will give you a much needed smile. It will pull at a few heartstrings. It's an uplifting book about the messiness of life, especially as you try to share it with the love of your life.
I full heartedly recommend Love Your Life to those who need a smile, to those who need a little bit of sunshine and to long time Sophie Kinsella fans. Let's just say that, Ava and Matt gave some serious Poppy and Sam (I've Got Your Number) vibes. If you know, you know.
This was an ok read. Humorous, but the characters are just kind of silly.
I hated this book. I feel aggressive writing that but dear me!!! I dreaded reading it and was relieved I got it from a second hand book store. And it was not the writing - it was well done and there were several very funny situations and sentences. But that main character … she was so irritating and flighty and unreasonable and unrealistic and and and. Her, and all the characters for that matter, did not have enough back story to earn overlooking or even just understanding their quirks. I feel very sad because normally I like a Sophie Kinsella novel
Apologies for my crassness…but this book is the literary equivalent of a sh*t sandwich. The first part of the book, set in Italy at the monastery, was sweet and whimsical and relatively enjoyable. The ending was equally sweet and enjoyable (except for SPOILER: that one scene with the burglar and the dog getting run over wtf??). But the middle 75% could not have been worse. The main character was whiny, unlikeable, and delusional. She refused to accept her own faults - which I can understand that being one of the things the author wanted to convey - but she had very few redeeming qualities even once the book came full circle. The guy wasn’t exactly a peach but he also was far more agreeable and likable than her. I read this in 2 days not because I couldn’t put it down but because I couldn’t wait to put it down forever. Don’t read this book.