Reviews

El despertar by Natasha Preston

carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition

1.0

I don't think I've ever read a book that I DIDN'T like so quickly. I think my motivation was writing this review...

I felt like I was reading an ARC copy of this book at times. There are so many weird spelling, grammar, and structure errors, whoever edited this book should be ashamed. But that's me being picky.

My real issues with this book had more to do with continuity, pacing, and voice. It's also just recklessly unbelievable and has little to no twist. I could see everything that was coming from a mile away. The book is riddled with clichés and it's painfully redundant. It's a sappy, fall in love in one chapter kind of book but the characters pretend like they're not in love every other paragraph, or like they're trying to stay away from each other but just couldn't possibly *swoon*.

I feel like the concept is okay, but poorly executed.

Spoiler

I really didn't like that the "twist" was that Scarlett's family (and Noah in the end) are formerly members of a cult, but somehow *~* love *~* made them completely abandon a life that they wholeheartedly believed in. Anyone who knows anything about cults (true crime junkie here, hi) knows that there's so little chance that overnight, or literally in the middle of a cult ritual in this case, someone would just change their mind about everything they've been led to believe. Noah has a few moments of challenged morals but for the most part, his flip from cult believer to non-believer is instantaneous. HE MEETS A GIRL AND SUDDENLY HIS 18 YEARS OF EXISTENCE MEAN NOTHING. also the part where they decide to lose their virginity to one another is cheesy and I hated it.

On the whole, would not recommend wasting time on this one. It also ends on a cliffhanger that I don't think will ever get resolved, which is frustrating.

londoncallnme's review against another edition

1.0

DNF at page 90. This book is awful. If a teenager had written it, I would provide constructive criticism. As it is I can only recommend not reading it.

ainhoarey_'s review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

sophia_she1's review against another edition

4.0

 the inner monologue was very childish & reading scarlett's pov was like watching a car crash about to happen. but i always love a good cult story & it even had a happy ending!! 

ameeker28's review against another edition

5.0

Awesome book! Suspenseful and tense, wow what a story

america_maxon1096's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

elyzabeth916's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

mickculver's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

where_the_pages_bleed's review against another edition

3.0

Okay, not great but yeah okay.

jdemarest's review against another edition

3.0

I was disappointed by this one. I really enjoyed the suspense of The Cellar, and was expecting a similar reaction to Awake. But overall the plot felt too predictable. The pacing was off in the beginning, and don’t get me started on that insta-love. Plus Scarlett never felt like a believable character to me. Even when faced with the truth of her past, her reactions were over the top and didn’t seem genuine. It was an interesting premise, and enough to keep me trading until the end, but wasn’t particularly standout.

Also, where was the copyeditor???????