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katherine20's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Death of parent, and Murder
hannibanani29's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Child abuse
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Death, Torture, Abandonment, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent, War, Slavery, Medical content, Sexual content, and Bullying
claire_fitzgibbon13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
valreadssometimes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Okay, now that that’s out of the way here’s my honest review:
The writing style of this book was confusing and wordy. When I first started the book, I was really frustrated with the unnecessary figurative language that did nothing to improve the descriptions or add emotion. I do enjoy some pretty words once in a while, but with this book it felt kind of like someone was trying to fit as many similes and metaphors in, even if they were completely necessary or distracted from the focus of the writing. I did get used to it like a third of the way into the book, so do with that what you will.
When I picked this book up, I thought it was going to be very dark and dystopian with some slight romance. What I got was pure romance, maybe too much of it to really call this a “thrilling dystopian novel.” I honestly didn’t mind too much though, since I’m a sucker for a good romance (I did kind of mind later though, but I’ll get into that in a moment).
The main character is okay, and I didn’t really have an issue with her personality. She wasn’t an annoying protagonist, but she was obsessed with the main lead at times where it was super inappropriate. But yeah, this is a romance, so if you know what you’re getting into it’s not too bad.
Now, let's discuss the love interests. They were both kind of walking red flags, but it’s okay. Who needs healthy relationships in YA literature?
Adam, the main lead and the one who “gets the girl” in this book is a soldier. He’s kind and compassionate and had been in love with the main lead since childhood. He does get kind of weird at times, and I felt like he was lying to the protagonist more often than not. He’s also like overly protective and jealous, which is something. He’s probably not the best, and he got together with the main girl way too quickly, but he’s probably an angel compared to the other lead.
Speaking of problematic: Warner. He’s the second love interest, which is weird because he kidnaps Juliette and basically imprisons her. He’s the young, morally grey (which should really be completely immoral) leader of a district under the tyrannical government. He is a trained killer, and he kills people or puts them in harm’s way for no reason other than to assert power or to have some sort of twisted fun. He’s just misunderstood though, his father is mean to him so that totally excuses every horrible war crime ever (sarcastic). Oh yeah, he also forces himself on Juliette while preaching that he wants it to be “her choice” to love him. There’s a scene near the end of the book that is blatant sexual harassment from him. He sucks, but he has more personality than Adam.
Overall, not good.
Am I going to read the next book? Yes.
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Torture, Gun violence, Child abuse, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death
thegr1mreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Confinement, Sexual assault, Murder, Child abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Sexual assault, War, Torture, Grief, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Sexual harassment
laurenvoice's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
However, I am not quite seeing why people are obsessed with Aaron Warner yet; I am guessing he improves at some point in the series; at the moment, he seems sadistic.
The reason I didn't give Shatter Me a higher rating is because there seems to be a lack of respect for consent in this book; how many times does a girl have to say to not touch her for the boys in this book to get it. The boys in this book are extremely hormonal, like they haven't seen a girl before. And both Warner and Adam seem to treat Juliette like an object that they own, which didn't sit too well with me. Considering this book is a dystopian romance for a young adult audience, having some healthier-looking relationship flags would have been good, especially around the topic of consent.
Nonetheless, I am looking forward to continuing this series. I am intrigued by what comes next with Warner, and seeing more Kenji; he was hilarious.
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Child death, and Torture
themoodreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
soyboi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Torture, Child abuse, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Murder
andatherrin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse
lalaslibrary's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Ableism, and Child abuse