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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Colleen Hoover is my new Sarah Dessen...This book till the middle had me in such hopes of it ending in a heart-wrecking satisfying manner but something went a little off. Don't get me wrong, the book still had me almost shed a tear at certain parts, but the predictability and the melodramatic ending were a shame.
I found the book predictable and boring. I did read it all in two days but that's mainly due to my inability to leave a book half read so I felt a duty to keep going, especially as everyone raves about this book but I can't see why. The first part was incredibly boring, then as the story went on I knew what was going to happen and yet I couldn't understand why she still tried to make the reader feel bad for Ryle? I get a reason isn't always an excuse but in this situation I don't see why he was so romanticised. I don't say this often but I do regret reading this book.
Also, are we just gonna ignore the fact that Atlas was 18 and fancied a 15 year old?! I know she was 16 when they fucked but I mean thats still pretty fucking creepy.
Also, are we just gonna ignore the fact that Atlas was 18 and fancied a 15 year old?! I know she was 16 when they fucked but I mean thats still pretty fucking creepy.
When I picked up this book, I had no idea it was about abuse. While I did love the book, it was absolutely heartbreaking to read. I identified so much with Lily, having been in an abusive relationship. Like Lily (and her mom before her) I rationalized it and make excuses for it and wanted to stay because of love. Unlike Lily, I stayed for a very long time.
I wanted her to leave Ryle after the first time. I never had sympathy for him like Hoover wanted me to (I think) or like his sister did or like Lily did. But that rarely happens with abuse. Virtually every victim wants to believe it won't happen again, that their abuser will change. They don't change.
Hoover did a pretty good job trying to make someone who hasn't been in abuse to understand the conflicts that go on in your mind when you know you should probably leave but the love you have for your abuser, and the good times you remember, make you want to stay and try. "If only I was better, acted better, loved him better..." But Lily knew it would never change from watching her own father.
I was mostly indifferent about Atlas honestly.
I wanted her to leave Ryle after the first time. I never had sympathy for him like Hoover wanted me to (I think) or like his sister did or like Lily did. But that rarely happens with abuse. Virtually every victim wants to believe it won't happen again, that their abuser will change. They don't change.
Hoover did a pretty good job trying to make someone who hasn't been in abuse to understand the conflicts that go on in your mind when you know you should probably leave but the love you have for your abuser, and the good times you remember, make you want to stay and try. "If only I was better, acted better, loved him better..." But Lily knew it would never change from watching her own father.
I was mostly indifferent about Atlas honestly.
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
doesn't even deserve a 1...... burn this book
Ok... so I saw this book on a bunch of “must read” lists (plus I’d read November 9 by the same author) and read the synopsis and decided “ok sounds like a great end of summer read!”
I was NOT AT ALL prepared for what I read! I was expecting an easy, possibly fun, read. A cute “who will Lily pick?” chick lit novel and I DEFINITELY needed a trigger warning!
That being said, I was saddened as a reader and even more so as a woman by how much I felt like I could justify some of Ryle’s actions. I think every girl should read this and see how easy it can be to allow someone to abuse you and to go back. If anything, it can make you understand others who decide to go back. I finished this in a day and I’m going to reread it after writing this review.
I was NOT AT ALL prepared for what I read! I was expecting an easy, possibly fun, read. A cute “who will Lily pick?” chick lit novel and I DEFINITELY needed a trigger warning!
That being said, I was saddened as a reader and even more so as a woman by how much I felt like I could justify some of Ryle’s actions. I think every girl should read this and see how easy it can be to allow someone to abuse you and to go back. If anything, it can make you understand others who decide to go back. I finished this in a day and I’m going to reread it after writing this review.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I could not put it down and was so invested in Lily’s story. This was by far my favorite book of all time and I recommend it to anyone! I am so excited to get started on some more Colleen Hoover books because she is an amazing author! I can’t wait for It Starts With Us in October.
Not worth explaining how difficult it was to get through this book.
This book was so predictable and average that I was mentally adding in depth that wasn’t there (eg he was never actually a neurosurgeon and it was all a ruse)
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes