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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley & Abbie Emmons for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Writing felt a bit too juvenile to hold interest - characters felt wooden and two dimensional.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗬𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦 ✨
Writing felt a bit too juvenile to hold interest - characters felt wooden and two dimensional.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am blown. away.
“perhaps we are all butterflies, and the world is our hurricane”
oh how it breaks my heart to do this since i love the author SO much, but this book was not what i expected.
i don’t think emmons understands how love works, or rather, when it happens. seriously. this is a reoccurring theme in both the otherworld and her debut novel. i was literally shocked to my core when i read a certain three words at only 38% into the book. i don’t know how much i’m allowed to share, but yeah. that’s not how love works at all. in three days, you don’t fall in love… you’re just horny. sorry. even he says they hardly know each other later on in what’s supposed to be a romantic scene. i was just yelling “YEAH. YOU DON’T!”
enter jack, the only character in this book who isn’t insufferable. jack’s the only one who reacts logically about papa. everyone else in the cast reacts cartoonishly empathetic towards papa and i’m like… why? even if he was a person who deserved to be defended, there’s no way in hell an outsider would feel that way after hearing about a dad who keeps his daughter on an uninhabited island. and the ENTIRE cast including his own family treats him terribly for whatever reason. at one point he’s forced to apologize when he did nothing wrong. i did not like neither his ending nor how he was treated throughout the novel.
orca, the main character, who i’d rather be an actual orca because ohmygod i did not like her. i’m not going to spoil the story, but i found myself sympathizing with someone who was supposed to be her villain, and i don’t believe that was the point at all. she’s the most basic betty but i’m supposed to believe she had two brothers fighting over her wildness and beauty. ( the older love interest refers to her as pure and unpolluted, and i believe i should be rewarded for continuing to read the book after that.) i cant believe, in the year 2023, there’s still age gaps like this being promoted. in reality, it usually doesn’t end in rainbows and babies for the girl, but like… a lifetime of trauma and misery to unpack. she couldn’t have made adam in his early twenties so i could SOMEWHAT not feel like he should be banned from my local high school? there’s a scene where a character goes into deep monologue about how she eats pizza shamelessly and that somehow makes her not like the other girls !!
oh how it breaks my heart to do this since i love the author SO much, but this book was not what i expected.
i don’t think emmons understands how love works, or rather, when it happens. seriously. this is a reoccurring theme in both the otherworld and her debut novel. i was literally shocked to my core when i read a certain three words at only 38% into the book. i don’t know how much i’m allowed to share, but yeah. that’s not how love works at all. in three days, you don’t fall in love… you’re just horny. sorry. even he says they hardly know each other later on in what’s supposed to be a romantic scene. i was just yelling “YEAH. YOU DON’T!”
enter jack, the only character in this book who isn’t insufferable. jack’s the only one who reacts logically about papa. everyone else in the cast reacts cartoonishly empathetic towards papa and i’m like… why? even if he was a person who deserved to be defended, there’s no way in hell an outsider would feel that way after hearing about a dad who keeps his daughter on an uninhabited island. and the ENTIRE cast including his own family treats him terribly for whatever reason. at one point he’s forced to apologize when he did nothing wrong. i did not like neither his ending nor how he was treated throughout the novel.
orca, the main character, who i’d rather be an actual orca because ohmygod i did not like her. i’m not going to spoil the story, but i found myself sympathizing with someone who was supposed to be her villain, and i don’t believe that was the point at all. she’s the most basic betty but i’m supposed to believe she had two brothers fighting over her wildness and beauty. ( the older love interest refers to her as pure and unpolluted, and i believe i should be rewarded for continuing to read the book after that.) i cant believe, in the year 2023, there’s still age gaps like this being promoted. in reality, it usually doesn’t end in rainbows and babies for the girl, but like… a lifetime of trauma and misery to unpack. she couldn’t have made adam in his early twenties so i could SOMEWHAT not feel like he should be banned from my local high school? there’s a scene where a character goes into deep monologue about how she eats pizza shamelessly and that somehow makes her not like the other girls !!
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is confusing.
I really love the way Abbie writes. Her structure is pristine, the plot points are well introduced and eventually tied together. It's, through and through, a well written book with strong themes and a strong voice. Having read her first book as well, this one felt more up my ally with some more mature themes and language (can people stop complaining about that??) which marks a lot of growth for Abbie.
The contents of the story is where it gets messy. I will admit that a love triangle isn't my usual go-to, and especially between brothers but all things considered Abbie did a good job of not taking it to weird territory which I appreciated.
What did feel slightly off was the constant characterisation of Orca as not like other girls and difFeReNt or iNnOcEnT but even though this usually grinds my gears, the fact that she's never watched a movie or eaten pizza or seen a man that isn't her dad... sure, she's not like other girls, I'll give her that one. It made sense in this specific context. But this is only one of the slightly dodgy portrayals of women in this book. When we eventually **spoiler** meet Orca's mother, sure it wasn't by any means ideal but why did they have to tear her apart after?? "she's empty"?? maybe she just wanted a life and a carer instead of total isolation?? a week ago Orca was the one that wanted to leave the island and then she goes on to basically call her mother a bunch of shit just for not wanting to live that life? She got married at twenty for godsake. not the best mother but give her a break. and not to make this feel like a rant but an easy way that female authors villanize women has become showing the audience that this character prioritises work over her child (i'm looking at you colleen hover) and it just feels lazy at this point. Just because someone has worked to procure things like a nice apartment and a comfortable life for themselves doesn't mean that they don't know what love means... idk just me.
The last thing I wanted to mention was Jack because god damn was he done dirty. I honestly did not hold this opinion until that confrontation with Adam and afterwards their mom but holy shit why is everyone gaslighting him into thinking it was all his mistake and oh he's so immature, when everything he did was because he had feelings for her which they could've put an end to IF THEY WEREN'T LYING TO HIM THE WHOLE TIME. now, some lying... what's a book without it but why do they have to turn it on him? With Jack, his character voice was very strong but at some point it felt like Abbie had just assigned him the 'immature' label and everything went from there. And the fact that he was the only one questioning this girl's father instead of being a good christian boy about it, honestly just makes me like him more.
And the fact that Orca and Adam have kissed like grand total of 4 times and are already rushing to get married and have babies says a lot about the undertones that seep into this book. Yes, the romance is fast paced but that's one of its strongest assets at this point since there is quite a bit of yearning sprinkled throughout. Hence, confusing.
Overall, this book will get you hooked but it's far from perfect. It's riding really hard on its aesthetic which I don't necessarily mind but I was hoping she'd give us a bit more with the "otherworld". didn't realize it would just be our regular world. but it is contemporary romance so that's on me. I'm honestly just glad to see Abbie come out of this christian girl phase with her books and find a more mature audience that I hope sticks around for her next book, whenever that may be. My hopes are high for her.
I really love the way Abbie writes. Her structure is pristine, the plot points are well introduced and eventually tied together. It's, through and through, a well written book with strong themes and a strong voice. Having read her first book as well, this one felt more up my ally with some more mature themes and language (can people stop complaining about that??) which marks a lot of growth for Abbie.
The contents of the story is where it gets messy. I will admit that a love triangle isn't my usual go-to, and especially between brothers but all things considered Abbie did a good job of not taking it to weird territory which I appreciated.
What did feel slightly off was the constant characterisation of Orca as not like other girls and difFeReNt or iNnOcEnT but even though this usually grinds my gears, the fact that she's never watched a movie or eaten pizza or seen a man that isn't her dad... sure, she's not like other girls, I'll give her that one. It made sense in this specific context. But this is only one of the slightly dodgy portrayals of women in this book. When we eventually **spoiler** meet Orca's mother, sure it wasn't by any means ideal but why did they have to tear her apart after?? "she's empty"?? maybe she just wanted a life and a carer instead of total isolation?? a week ago Orca was the one that wanted to leave the island and then she goes on to basically call her mother a bunch of shit just for not wanting to live that life? She got married at twenty for godsake. not the best mother but give her a break. and not to make this feel like a rant but an easy way that female authors villanize women has become showing the audience that this character prioritises work over her child (i'm looking at you colleen hover) and it just feels lazy at this point. Just because someone has worked to procure things like a nice apartment and a comfortable life for themselves doesn't mean that they don't know what love means... idk just me.
The last thing I wanted to mention was Jack because god damn was he done dirty. I honestly did not hold this opinion until that confrontation with Adam and afterwards their mom but holy shit why is everyone gaslighting him into thinking it was all his mistake and oh he's so immature, when everything he did was because he had feelings for her which they could've put an end to IF THEY WEREN'T LYING TO HIM THE WHOLE TIME. now, some lying... what's a book without it but why do they have to turn it on him? With Jack, his character voice was very strong but at some point it felt like Abbie had just assigned him the 'immature' label and everything went from there. And the fact that he was the only one questioning this girl's father instead of being a good christian boy about it, honestly just makes me like him more.
And the fact that Orca and Adam have kissed like grand total of 4 times and are already rushing to get married and have babies says a lot about the undertones that seep into this book. Yes, the romance is fast paced but that's one of its strongest assets at this point since there is quite a bit of yearning sprinkled throughout. Hence, confusing.
Overall, this book will get you hooked but it's far from perfect. It's riding really hard on its aesthetic which I don't necessarily mind but I was hoping she'd give us a bit more with the "otherworld". didn't realize it would just be our regular world. but it is contemporary romance so that's on me. I'm honestly just glad to see Abbie come out of this christian girl phase with her books and find a more mature audience that I hope sticks around for her next book, whenever that may be. My hopes are high for her.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Abbie Emmons for the ARC!
Wow, this book reminded me why I love reading so much. I'll be thinking about this sweet love story for a while Emmons is masterful with her prose—I could feel the character’s emotions and imagine that I was right there in their world.
My favorite parts? The rainy coastal Washington setting, the brother relationship, the plot twists, the romaaaance 😍
I love love stories, especially the romantic, “you have bewitched me body and soul” types. That is what this romance is. Absolutely swoon-worthy, sweet, and worth tearing up over. 🥰
There are a few tropes that it’s possible not everyone will love but personally I found them believable and well done.
⚠️Tiny potential spoiler:
I’ll admit, when I first learned there was a love triangle (the author said it in a post, I promise! 😆) I had already started the book and I was skeptical… love triangles are hit or miss for me. But I was pleasantly surprised; I think it was very well done. 👏🏻
This review is a little all over the place 😅 but in conclusion, if you’re a fan of swoony romance, gentle-but-strong heroines, and stories that show the ups and downs of family relationships, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Wow, this book reminded me why I love reading so much. I'll be thinking about this sweet love story for a while Emmons is masterful with her prose—I could feel the character’s emotions and imagine that I was right there in their world.
My favorite parts? The rainy coastal Washington setting, the brother relationship, the plot twists, the romaaaance 😍
I love love stories, especially the romantic, “you have bewitched me body and soul” types. That is what this romance is. Absolutely swoon-worthy, sweet, and worth tearing up over. 🥰
There are a few tropes that it’s possible not everyone will love but personally I found them believable and well done.
⚠️Tiny potential spoiler:
I’ll admit, when I first learned there was a love triangle (the author said it in a post, I promise! 😆) I had already started the book and I was skeptical… love triangles are hit or miss for me. But I was pleasantly surprised; I think it was very well done. 👏🏻
This review is a little all over the place 😅 but in conclusion, if you’re a fan of swoony romance, gentle-but-strong heroines, and stories that show the ups and downs of family relationships, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Content Warnings
❗️mild language, plane crash, grief, fist fight, emergency room visit
🌶️ passionate makeouts
wanted to love this so bad bc i love her youtube videos, but the insta-love really didn’t do it for me :/
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes