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marpesea's review against another edition
Didn't finish because it felt preachy, like an after school special with little else going for it. Skip this and read Brown's other book Hate List.
narniaxisxhome's review against another edition
5.0
In reading the summary, my best friend said, "That sounds EXACTLY like Dreamland (by Sarah Dessen)." That was my thought too. Until I actually read it. (I admit is was a little unfair to stereotype that every book about abuse is just like Dreamland. That's like saying all books about vampires or angels are the exact same.) Bitter End was so emotional, I laughed, cried, and wanted to throw it against the wall at points, cringed, cried from joy. This book was just...indescribable how it made me feel. I could not put it down. Having read Dreamland multiple times, I can also say that Bitter End was very original and not like other abuse books!
cvalladolid7's review against another edition
3.0
It gives you great perspective of abusive relationships.
rhysciar's review against another edition
4.0
Igaz, hogy néha felhúztam rajta magam Alex viselkedése miatt, de ez hozzátartozik a témához. Jennifer Brown egyre nagyobb kedvencem lesz.
poachedeggs's review against another edition
3.0
Jennifer Brown can really write teenage dialogue. Even when it comes to something as ugly and dramatic as abuse, she's able to keep it real. I must say I was expecting more from the author of [b:Hate List|6316171|Hate List|Jennifer Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1242667034s/6316171.jpg|6501420] though. The reasons for why Cole and Alex behave the way they do are rather too pat, and I do find Alex's obsession with her dead mom rather odd, especially as she's a middle child and both her elder and younger sisters have moved on.
There's no doubt however that teens will find this quite an illuminating read about the darker dynamics of romantic relationships.
And now I must stop writing because typing on the kindle (yes!) is odd.
There's no doubt however that teens will find this quite an illuminating read about the darker dynamics of romantic relationships.
And now I must stop writing because typing on the kindle (yes!) is odd.
amarylissw's review against another edition
3.0
My main problem with this was Alex, our protagonist. I'm not holding the fact that she fell into an abusive relationship against her — no, she was just plain unlikeable to me, and sometimes a really awful friend.
But honestly, the author is a great one, and I love how she writes about REAL things and portrays it well.
But honestly, the author is a great one, and I love how she writes about REAL things and portrays it well.
briannarengland's review against another edition
4.0
I really have to hand it to Jennifer Brown for writing about real things and bringing them to light.
Bitter End opened up my eyes about abusive relationships. I've always known they existed but I've never really had the insight into them.
The book taught me a lot and the story stuck with me when I was forced to put it down. However, the ending was too abrupt and left me with no sense of real closure. I wish the trip had been described with better detail, as well as the journey~ Alex took for herself and to spread awareness. Nonetheless, this was a book with an incredible and legitimate story that I believe should be read by many.
Bitter End opened up my eyes about abusive relationships. I've always known they existed but I've never really had the insight into them.
The book taught me a lot and the story stuck with me when I was forced to put it down. However, the ending was too abrupt and left me with no sense of real closure. I wish the trip had been described with better detail, as well as the journey~ Alex took for herself and to spread awareness. Nonetheless, this was a book with an incredible and legitimate story that I believe should be read by many.
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
4.0
What I liked the most about this book was how all Alex's relationships were explored so much more deeply than other, similar titles. That's what really makes this stand out from the others, I think. The need in Alex to find a place within all of her friends, within her family, and within the memory of her mother is understandable. You don't just have a lump of characters and see how they relate to her, you see how they don't relate to her. That makes her relationship with Cole all the more powerful.
The only character I didn't feel like we got to know well enough was Cole. Obviously even Alex didn't get to understand Cole enough until the end, which is fitting. But in the beginning of their relationship, all those conversations they have where they "talk about everything," we should have seen more of that. We should have seen more of the beginning, more of the build-up, more of Cole in general. The story wasn't necessarily about him, I get that, but it would have helped.
We did see too much of the "joking" between Bethany and Zack and Alex, though. After the first ten chapters, I was mildly irritated with how Zack didn't seem to have much of a personality, outside of being a walking "pervy punchline." It took until much further in the book to really get to know him, and I feel like that was too bad. I'd like to have seen more about Bethany's environmentalist nature, too.
As for the relationship itself, if you see where Alex feels like she doesn't belong, it's so much more clear why everything happens with Cole. You may think, "she's far too forgiving,” particularly if you’ve never been there. You might not understand, but if you pay attention, the answers are very much all there.
The only character I didn't feel like we got to know well enough was Cole. Obviously even Alex didn't get to understand Cole enough until the end, which is fitting. But in the beginning of their relationship, all those conversations they have where they "talk about everything," we should have seen more of that. We should have seen more of the beginning, more of the build-up, more of Cole in general. The story wasn't necessarily about him, I get that, but it would have helped.
We did see too much of the "joking" between Bethany and Zack and Alex, though. After the first ten chapters, I was mildly irritated with how Zack didn't seem to have much of a personality, outside of being a walking "pervy punchline." It took until much further in the book to really get to know him, and I feel like that was too bad. I'd like to have seen more about Bethany's environmentalist nature, too.
As for the relationship itself, if you see where Alex feels like she doesn't belong, it's so much more clear why everything happens with Cole. You may think, "she's far too forgiving,” particularly if you’ve never been there. You might not understand, but if you pay attention, the answers are very much all there.
mslaureeslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
greylandreviews's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 stars
This book was really hard to stomach at sometimes. How Brown can write such a horrible character as Cole is astounding.
Trigger Warnings: child sexual abuse, physical & verbal domestic abuse (between teens), neglectful parent, death of a parent (past), and car accident (past)
This book was really hard to stomach at sometimes. How Brown can write such a horrible character as Cole is astounding.
Trigger Warnings: child sexual abuse, physical & verbal domestic abuse (between teens), neglectful parent, death of a parent (past), and car accident (past)