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shaunatiffany's review
5.0
What to say about this book? I loved it so much. And I hated it. Do not continue reading further if you do not want spoilers. ****************************
I spent the first half of it wondering if there was some magical element to the story. The dream seemed like maybe it was real. But as it progressed and she wasn't good at the things that she was in the dream, I realized it was just a dream. I usually get so mad at stories about cheating. But this one felt different. Della was a mean nasty girl so I felt sympathetic towards Helena and even justified her actions. I also felt that Helena was a little crazy at times and obsessed. But at the same time some of the things she did or said were so relatable. I really really loved kit and Helena so much. Even if I didn't like that Kit was spineless most of the time and should have just broken up with Della if he didn't really love her, or I didn't like that Helena was encouraging Kit's behavior and instigating it while he was still with her "best friend" ( I say that term loosely because there didn't seem like there was much friendship there just a lot of insecurity and competing); I still loved them both so much. It was hard not to, they were so beautifully written. Seriously Tarryn Fisher has such a way with words. I was completely captivated by the entire story. Could not put it down. Literally I stayed up till 3am to finish it.
The only thing I didn't like was Muslim at the end?! I was so confused by that whole little storyline at the end. I was reading very late in the night so maybe I dozed off and missed something.
I'm off to go read the opportunist now, but only because I miss Helena and Kit so much.
I spent the first half of it wondering if there was some magical element to the story. The dream seemed like maybe it was real. But as it progressed and she wasn't good at the things that she was in the dream, I realized it was just a dream. I usually get so mad at stories about cheating. But this one felt different. Della was a mean nasty girl so I felt sympathetic towards Helena and even justified her actions. I also felt that Helena was a little crazy at times and obsessed. But at the same time some of the things she did or said were so relatable. I really really loved kit and Helena so much. Even if I didn't like that Kit was spineless most of the time and should have just broken up with Della if he didn't really love her, or I didn't like that Helena was encouraging Kit's behavior and instigating it while he was still with her "best friend" ( I say that term loosely because there didn't seem like there was much friendship there just a lot of insecurity and competing); I still loved them both so much. It was hard not to, they were so beautifully written. Seriously Tarryn Fisher has such a way with words. I was completely captivated by the entire story. Could not put it down. Literally I stayed up till 3am to finish it.
The only thing I didn't like was Muslim at the end?! I was so confused by that whole little storyline at the end. I was reading very late in the night so maybe I dozed off and missed something.
I'm off to go read the opportunist now, but only because I miss Helena and Kit so much.
lindswift's review
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nadine_booklover's review
3.0
New Review (12. Dec 2016)
I'm sorry guys, but I guess my rating was a little impulsive and I need to adjust it slightly...
This book is actually more a 3.5 stars...
this story irritated the hell out of me and still does.
What I mainly miss in this book is that I couldn't feel the connection between Helena and Kit. I only got a slight feeling the first time they kissed.
I mean, I get, why Helena abandoned her luck of love for her best friend. But what I didn't get is Kit's desicion still sticking with Della, although he clearly knew that she wasn't HER for him. Or why Della didn't simply leave Kit because she clearly KNEW that there was more between Helena and him...
I really don't know who's the bigger coward in this book.
Well, I guess if I could have felt more the obvious connection between Helena and Kit and could get a deeper insight in Kit's head, I would have given this book the deserved 4.5 or more stars... *sigh*
Older Review (11. Dec 2016)
4.5 stars - it would have been 5 if Tarryn wouldn't made me almost hate love through the whole book. I can't believe how often I thought "F*ck Love", because most of the time it's true. I was so irritated with the main characters but I could truely feel their inner conflict and why they always made desicions for the sake of others instead of being selfish and decide for what's good for themselfes.
I guess this book will stick with me for a while...
I'm sorry guys, but I guess my rating was a little impulsive and I need to adjust it slightly...
This book is actually more a 3.5 stars...
this story irritated the hell out of me and still does.
What I mainly miss in this book is that I couldn't feel the connection between Helena and Kit. I only got a slight feeling the first time they kissed.
I mean, I get, why Helena abandoned her luck of love for her best friend. But what I didn't get is Kit's desicion still sticking with Della, although he clearly knew that she wasn't HER for him. Or why Della didn't simply leave Kit because she clearly KNEW that there was more between Helena and him...
I really don't know who's the bigger coward in this book.
Well, I guess if I could have felt more the obvious connection between Helena and Kit and could get a deeper insight in Kit's head, I would have given this book the deserved 4.5 or more stars... *sigh*
Older Review (11. Dec 2016)
4.5 stars - it would have been 5 if Tarryn wouldn't made me almost hate love through the whole book. I can't believe how often I thought "F*ck Love", because most of the time it's true. I was so irritated with the main characters but I could truely feel their inner conflict and why they always made desicions for the sake of others instead of being selfish and decide for what's good for themselfes.
I guess this book will stick with me for a while...
carladelgado's review
1.0
Oh, god. Where do I even begin? This is so difficult!
Okay, first off, I really love the cover. Really, really love it. I love it so much.
Now we continue.
*not a spoiler-less review, read at your own risk please*
I feel like I've just wasted my time on this book, which is something I really didn't expect. I don't know anything about the book aside from the author. I don't know what it's about, what the synopsis was, or whatever. I just read it because it's Tarryn Fisher. She said on her PLN group that her books aren't the same, and that we can love one but not love the other. So far, I have loved all of her books, but not this time. Not that I hated the book, it's just that I really didn't like it. Hate is such a negative word. I had such high expectations for the book seeing as it had such high reviews.
How do I even gather my thoughts?
I kept waiting for me to actually be interested in it, and not just interested in knowing when it will end. I was not so engrossed in this book, although yes, I was eager to know what happened next.
I don't know why but I was bothered with how social media was so into all of this. Constantly using her Instagram? Taking selfies to remember her moments? Stalking people on Facebook? Yes, I know there are all normal things that we do in perhaps in our daily lives but reading it on a book felt weird. Perhaps on this particular one. I really can't explain why. I know this certainly wasn't the first time that book characters used social media but in F*ck Love, it felt off. Really off. Along with mentioning Disney and Harry Potter. I know the main character's a Potterhead but everything just felt so off. So, so off. The chapter titles written in hashtags matched with the Harry Potter font was bothersome as well. It just wasn't that good for me.
Onto the plot. REALLY? She had a dream about their life together? After that, she's suddenly seeing Kit in a new light? This is probably the foundation of the whole book that I am questioning but this really doesn't sit well with me. SHE HAD A DREAM. ABOUT HER LIFE WITH A GUY. AND THEN SHE WOKE UP AND DEVELOPED FEELINGS FOR SAID GUY. After that she actually really do end up with the guy. All I'm thinking is that it was somehow a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because she dreamt it, she developed feelings for Kit. Because she developed feelings for Kit, the dream was more likely to come true. Of course we're not talking about every detail like Thomas or Brandy or whatever, just the fact that they ended up as a family or that Della didn't talk to them. I'm just really like ??????? with the fact that she had a dream about them. That's just messed up.
In her dream she was very talented in drawing, so after that she kind of started to make that dream come true. She wanted to be as talented as the person she was in that dream. Why did she have a sudden interest in drawing? BECAUSE OF THE DREAM. I'm just... I'm just really stressed about the foundation of this book. Yes, yes, if the dream hadn't happened they still could have found their way to each other and the end would be the same and only the journey there would be different, but still! THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF HER DREAM. I'm just seriously stressed about this.
The only thing I knew about the book before reading it was that it was full of quotable quotes. True enough, I found myself highlighting a lot of paragraphs. Tarryn is a really great writer, it's just the plot that didn't work with me. There are so many points that I could still give but reading the book drained enough energy from me. Some things didn't make sense, some things were not plausible, and sometimes you have to suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy the book. To sum it all up, the book just didn't work with me, and that's okay. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop reading Tarryn's books, that just means I'm going to stay really far away from this one.
Okay, first off, I really love the cover. Really, really love it. I love it so much.
Now we continue.
*not a spoiler-less review, read at your own risk please*
"They don't do it on purpose, you know."
"Who?"
"The people who blind themselves to the truth. They're just trying to survive."
"Who wants to survive without truth?"
"Maybe people who have had too much of it. Or people who have had too little. Or people who are too shallow to appreciate its hard edges."
I feel like I've just wasted my time on this book, which is something I really didn't expect. I don't know anything about the book aside from the author. I don't know what it's about, what the synopsis was, or whatever. I just read it because it's Tarryn Fisher. She said on her PLN group that her books aren't the same, and that we can love one but not love the other. So far, I have loved all of her books, but not this time. Not that I hated the book, it's just that I really didn't like it. Hate is such a negative word. I had such high expectations for the book seeing as it had such high reviews.
How do I even gather my thoughts?
I kept waiting for me to actually be interested in it, and not just interested in knowing when it will end. I was not so engrossed in this book, although yes, I was eager to know what happened next.
I don't know why but I was bothered with how social media was so into all of this. Constantly using her Instagram? Taking selfies to remember her moments? Stalking people on Facebook? Yes, I know there are all normal things that we do in perhaps in our daily lives but reading it on a book felt weird. Perhaps on this particular one. I really can't explain why. I know this certainly wasn't the first time that book characters used social media but in F*ck Love, it felt off. Really off. Along with mentioning Disney and Harry Potter. I know the main character's a Potterhead but everything just felt so off. So, so off. The chapter titles written in hashtags matched with the Harry Potter font was bothersome as well. It just wasn't that good for me.
Onto the plot. REALLY? She had a dream about their life together? After that, she's suddenly seeing Kit in a new light? This is probably the foundation of the whole book that I am questioning but this really doesn't sit well with me. SHE HAD A DREAM. ABOUT HER LIFE WITH A GUY. AND THEN SHE WOKE UP AND DEVELOPED FEELINGS FOR SAID GUY. After that she actually really do end up with the guy. All I'm thinking is that it was somehow a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because she dreamt it, she developed feelings for Kit. Because she developed feelings for Kit, the dream was more likely to come true. Of course we're not talking about every detail like Thomas or Brandy or whatever, just the fact that they ended up as a family or that Della didn't talk to them. I'm just really like ??????? with the fact that she had a dream about them. That's just messed up.
In her dream she was very talented in drawing, so after that she kind of started to make that dream come true. She wanted to be as talented as the person she was in that dream. Why did she have a sudden interest in drawing? BECAUSE OF THE DREAM. I'm just... I'm just really stressed about the foundation of this book. Yes, yes, if the dream hadn't happened they still could have found their way to each other and the end would be the same and only the journey there would be different, but still! THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF HER DREAM. I'm just seriously stressed about this.
The only thing I knew about the book before reading it was that it was full of quotable quotes. True enough, I found myself highlighting a lot of paragraphs. Tarryn is a really great writer, it's just the plot that didn't work with me. There are so many points that I could still give but reading the book drained enough energy from me. Some things didn't make sense, some things were not plausible, and sometimes you have to suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy the book. To sum it all up, the book just didn't work with me, and that's okay. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop reading Tarryn's books, that just means I'm going to stay really far away from this one.
dharma130's review
4.0
Loooved this book. It’s just as good as her other book, I Can Be A Better You...loved the epilogue. It had a little something unexpected. I even read her acknowledgement which I never read. She must be a Harry Potter fan.
camibookish's review
3.0
I expected more... I kind of love Tarryn on social media and all, but this is the second book I've tried so far and I don't love it. Definitely better suited for my taste than The Opportunist, but I kind of find this book it silly...
eyleen's review
5.0
This was so good!!
I liked Helena, the main character, a lot and the whole premise of the book was so inspired and well done!
I can't say too much without spoilers, but the way Helena fell for Kit and what developed from that was just beautiful.
This book made me laugh out loud, brought tears to my eyes, made me angry - it gave me all the feels!
The whole book seemed very real, the characters were amazing and I enjoyed it from start to finish!
I liked Helena, the main character, a lot and the whole premise of the book was so inspired and well done!
I can't say too much without spoilers, but the way Helena fell for Kit and what developed from that was just beautiful.
This book made me laugh out loud, brought tears to my eyes, made me angry - it gave me all the feels!
The whole book seemed very real, the characters were amazing and I enjoyed it from start to finish!
readfrenzy's review
5.0
5+ stars!
I loved this book HARD! I swear it’s like literary crack. I defy you to read one chapter and stop because Tarryn Fisher has crafted a breathtaking story that is exhilarating and captivating from the very first page to the last.
I’m really not a fan of love triangles, but this one is definitely the exception. It’s a story about one lost girl, one insecure girl, and the lighthearted man they both love.
The story is told entirely from Helena’s point of view. She is adrift, and she just wants to be seen and loved.
She’s always been the faithful best friend. Now, though, as her relationship with Della evolves and her feelings for Kit intensify, she’s torn between doing the right thing and following her heart.
It’s a complicated situation involving flawed characters of great depth, and I felt deeply for each of them. I really admired Helena. She’s fearless on her difficult journey to self-discovery. She’s also a bit of an odd duck with her collection of captioned selfies and monochromatic beige clothing.
The characters are in their early 20s so it’s technically a New Adult book. However, the maturity level and complexity of the characters make this read like an Adult Contemporary novel. If you’re looking for a drama-free book, this is definitely not the one for you, but oh my gosh – the feels!
The writing is simply gorgeous. I highlighted the heck out of this book. Each chapter is filled with insightful observations and moving quotes. I adored every single thing about it: the chapters titled with clever hashtags; the integral way in which Instagram is used; the steady build up of tension; the unpredictable plot. F*ck Love is one angsty rollercoaster of emotions that both enthralled and wrecked me. This one’s a no-brainer. Go and 1-click it immediately.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mqHOj3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JQ53b4
I loved this book HARD! I swear it’s like literary crack. I defy you to read one chapter and stop because Tarryn Fisher has crafted a breathtaking story that is exhilarating and captivating from the very first page to the last.
I’m really not a fan of love triangles, but this one is definitely the exception. It’s a story about one lost girl, one insecure girl, and the lighthearted man they both love.
The story is told entirely from Helena’s point of view. She is adrift, and she just wants to be seen and loved.
“I don’t want to be someone’s ‘girl who got away.’ I want to be someone’s ‘girl who’d I’d never let get away.’”
She’s always been the faithful best friend. Now, though, as her relationship with Della evolves and her feelings for Kit intensify, she’s torn between doing the right thing and following her heart.
It’s a complicated situation involving flawed characters of great depth, and I felt deeply for each of them. I really admired Helena. She’s fearless on her difficult journey to self-discovery. She’s also a bit of an odd duck with her collection of captioned selfies and monochromatic beige clothing.
The characters are in their early 20s so it’s technically a New Adult book. However, the maturity level and complexity of the characters make this read like an Adult Contemporary novel. If you’re looking for a drama-free book, this is definitely not the one for you, but oh my gosh – the feels!
The writing is simply gorgeous. I highlighted the heck out of this book. Each chapter is filled with insightful observations and moving quotes. I adored every single thing about it: the chapters titled with clever hashtags; the integral way in which Instagram is used; the steady build up of tension; the unpredictable plot. F*ck Love is one angsty rollercoaster of emotions that both enthralled and wrecked me. This one’s a no-brainer. Go and 1-click it immediately.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1mqHOj3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JQ53b4