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noraleest's review against another edition
2.0
vervelend boek, heel voorspelbaar, saaie personages (ik weet dat ze voorspelbaar moeten zijn maar dat maakt het boek niet leuker of zo), heeeele vervelende main character, best vermakelijk om te lezen maar echt geen goed boek
oh en VEEL te veel popculture references... alles is zo ‘quirky’ geschreven en blehhh idk?? het idee was leuk maar de uitvoering erg matig
oh en VEEL te veel popculture references... alles is zo ‘quirky’ geschreven en blehhh idk?? het idee was leuk maar de uitvoering erg matig
el_loves_books's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
danichloe44's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
chloeandherbooks's review against another edition
4.0
FULL REVIEW
* I was sent a copy to review by the publisher however this in no way affects my opinion*
4 stars
Link moves from America to a new school in England called Osney School where he is constantly bullied. He wishes to leave the school and his parents finally give in and say he can but only if he attends a summer camp run by the school to help prepare him for life. However Link ends up stranded on an island along with six of his fellow students after a plane crash. Link then takes control of the island. In the end it turns out that the whole thing has been an experiment being run by Links parents. This is a mixture of The Breakfast Club and Lord of the Flies so if you enjoyed wither of those then you will like this.
I’ve read M.A Bennet’s debut S.T.A.G.S so I knew her writing was gritty and twisted but I honestly really enjoyed the plot twist of Link’s parents being responsible. This story was enjoyable and interesting as it explored many interesting topics however I did get a little bored towards the middle but it picked up again near the end. For me this is a plot driven novel and personally I loved the plot. I found it interesting and I’ve never read anything about being stranded on a desert island before so I particularly enjoyed reading about what the kids did to survive.
A problematic aspect of this book is the way in which Link treats women – it made me sick to my stomach and extremely uncomfortable. Therefore I did not like Links character at all even when it was revealed that he was being drugged which explained his actions I still couldn’t help but feel dislike towards his character. I also disliked Sebastian as they way he treated people was disgusting. I wish we knew a little bit more about the other characters but from what I do know I liked them especially Flora. The desert island discs part was also quite interesting to me because it’s something I’ve never really thought about but it really does reveal a lot about someone based on the choices they make.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book especially the plot twist however I would like to have gotten more information on the side characters and the main character Link’s action towards women made me uncomfortable.
* I was sent a copy to review by the publisher however this in no way affects my opinion*
4 stars
Link moves from America to a new school in England called Osney School where he is constantly bullied. He wishes to leave the school and his parents finally give in and say he can but only if he attends a summer camp run by the school to help prepare him for life. However Link ends up stranded on an island along with six of his fellow students after a plane crash. Link then takes control of the island. In the end it turns out that the whole thing has been an experiment being run by Links parents. This is a mixture of The Breakfast Club and Lord of the Flies so if you enjoyed wither of those then you will like this.
I’ve read M.A Bennet’s debut S.T.A.G.S so I knew her writing was gritty and twisted but I honestly really enjoyed the plot twist of Link’s parents being responsible. This story was enjoyable and interesting as it explored many interesting topics however I did get a little bored towards the middle but it picked up again near the end. For me this is a plot driven novel and personally I loved the plot. I found it interesting and I’ve never read anything about being stranded on a desert island before so I particularly enjoyed reading about what the kids did to survive.
A problematic aspect of this book is the way in which Link treats women – it made me sick to my stomach and extremely uncomfortable. Therefore I did not like Links character at all even when it was revealed that he was being drugged which explained his actions I still couldn’t help but feel dislike towards his character. I also disliked Sebastian as they way he treated people was disgusting. I wish we knew a little bit more about the other characters but from what I do know I liked them especially Flora. The desert island discs part was also quite interesting to me because it’s something I’ve never really thought about but it really does reveal a lot about someone based on the choices they make.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book especially the plot twist however I would like to have gotten more information on the side characters and the main character Link’s action towards women made me uncomfortable.
remivfoliage's review against another edition
4.0
Generally I enjoyed this book, but the epilogue seemed...a bit 'much'. I love MA Bennett's writing and I'm sure I'll keep picking up her works.
My desert island discs:
1. Little Things by Jackson Krecioch
2. Can't Stop The Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
3. Run And Hide by This Century
4. One Step Closer by Shane Harper
5. Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon
6. Craving You by Thomas Rhett
7. Brooklyn by Fly By Midnight
8. Golden Leaves by Passenger
My desert island discs:
1. Little Things by Jackson Krecioch
2. Can't Stop The Feeling! by Justin Timberlake
3. Run And Hide by This Century
4. One Step Closer by Shane Harper
5. Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon
6. Craving You by Thomas Rhett
7. Brooklyn by Fly By Midnight
8. Golden Leaves by Passenger
josiejumps's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
readabookortwo's review against another edition
1.0
Having loved the authors debut novel, S.T.A.G.S, I was so excited to finally dive into The Island, unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of this book which is sad.
I did really like the concept of this book, it did give me some S.T.A.G.S vibes as well as The Breakfast Club vibes but it didn't live up to either of those titles sadly. But, yes I really did like the concept of these teenagers who are all so completely different, yet similar, being stuck on this dessert island with each other, having to fend for themselves and eventually work together. I thought it might turn into a "found family" story which again, unfortunately, it didn't but I was hopeful okay.
My biggest issues with this book were:
1) The characters
2) The predictability of the "twist"
1) The characters.
I can honestly say that I hated all of the characters in this story apart from one, Ralph, who I grew to love by the end of the book but I didn't like anyone else. Honestly, from the start of the book, I disliked the main character. With his, yes I am just one big stereotype, personality and I know the author did that on purpose, well I hope she did because else it's an even bigger mess, but I just think promoting stereotypes like that is harmful oops. But over the book, I just hated him more and more, he was convoluted and just grew to be more and more pretentious, kind of really wanted him to punch him in the face??? I also really didn't like the others on the island. They treated everyone "below" them like they were just a piece of shit they picked off their shoe whilst they were still at school and at the beginning of them all being on The Island, it really rubbed me up the wrong way. Yes, I know that people in high school are like that believe me but I thought the author really overdid it honestly. Like I said, by the end, I really did like Ralph. I thought he turned out to be so sweet and I'm so glad that he perused being a doctor in the future because he really did seem like he was excited to learn and help people!
2) The predictability of that "twist"
You know what, I'll admit, when it was first revealed I was like ah yes! But then I thought back and thought about kind of how obvious it was. When they first started to explore the island and the plane, I kind of had my suspicions that what was going on was going on but then I pushed it down and when it actually got to the reveal, I was shocked for about five seconds before I was bored again. After the twist, was when Link truly became intolerable. Normally, when I come out of a thriller, I can't stop thinking about the plot twist for days, weeks and the whole book goes around in my head but I'm already starting to forget this one and I really am sad about it.
Also, one other gripe I had with this book was the school. Some people in high school are absolutely horrific, I have first hand experience of pretty intense bullying but, the school was just so unrealistic. The run thing was just so stupid, no school is actually like that. No responsible adults, teachers in a school are that horrific to all of their students and do absolutely nothing to at least try and prevent the behaviour shown in this book, it really did annoy me honestly.
Overall, I did not like The Island which does make me so sad but I am hoping the sequel to S.T.A.G.S is a book I enjoy a lot more!
I did really like the concept of this book, it did give me some S.T.A.G.S vibes as well as The Breakfast Club vibes but it didn't live up to either of those titles sadly. But, yes I really did like the concept of these teenagers who are all so completely different, yet similar, being stuck on this dessert island with each other, having to fend for themselves and eventually work together. I thought it might turn into a "found family" story which again, unfortunately, it didn't but I was hopeful okay.
My biggest issues with this book were:
1) The characters
2) The predictability of the "twist"
1) The characters.
I can honestly say that I hated all of the characters in this story apart from one, Ralph, who I grew to love by the end of the book but I didn't like anyone else. Honestly, from the start of the book, I disliked the main character. With his, yes I am just one big stereotype, personality and I know the author did that on purpose, well I hope she did because else it's an even bigger mess, but I just think promoting stereotypes like that is harmful oops. But over the book, I just hated him more and more, he was convoluted and just grew to be more and more pretentious, kind of really wanted him to punch him in the face??? I also really didn't like the others on the island. They treated everyone "below" them like they were just a piece of shit they picked off their shoe whilst they were still at school and at the beginning of them all being on The Island, it really rubbed me up the wrong way. Yes, I know that people in high school are like that believe me but I thought the author really overdid it honestly. Like I said, by the end, I really did like Ralph. I thought he turned out to be so sweet and I'm so glad that he perused being a doctor in the future because he really did seem like he was excited to learn and help people!
2) The predictability of that "twist"
You know what, I'll admit, when it was first revealed I was like ah yes! But then I thought back and thought about kind of how obvious it was. When they first started to explore the island and the plane, I kind of had my suspicions that what was going on was going on but then I pushed it down and when it actually got to the reveal, I was shocked for about five seconds before I was bored again. After the twist, was when Link truly became intolerable. Normally, when I come out of a thriller, I can't stop thinking about the plot twist for days, weeks and the whole book goes around in my head but I'm already starting to forget this one and I really am sad about it.
Also, one other gripe I had with this book was the school. Some people in high school are absolutely horrific, I have first hand experience of pretty intense bullying but, the school was just so unrealistic. The run thing was just so stupid, no school is actually like that. No responsible adults, teachers in a school are that horrific to all of their students and do absolutely nothing to at least try and prevent the behaviour shown in this book, it really did annoy me honestly.
Overall, I did not like The Island which does make me so sad but I am hoping the sequel to S.T.A.G.S is a book I enjoy a lot more!
holy_reads's review against another edition
1.0
This was an eagerly awaited book for me, who thoroughly enjoyed reading STAGS last summer. Unfortunately, the main character of The Island, Link, was unlikeable as a narrator - he came across as selfish and entitled. Link was a self described 'geek' and thus he believed he was hated and oppressed by all others. He desperately conformed to stereotypes to enforce this view as he forced his parents to buy him glasses even though he did not need them. All this regardless of the overwhelming privilege he had going to a fancy school and having professors for parents.
Despite that the book is still a well written piece from Bennett and my lack of enjoyment is certainly not something I'll be holding against Bennet when it comes to her future novels.
Despite that the book is still a well written piece from Bennett and my lack of enjoyment is certainly not something I'll be holding against Bennet when it comes to her future novels.
nathalie_jhnk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75