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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
This book was something. It makes you laugh, cry, smile, and think. Life’s kind of crazy and sometimes we just go off into our own paradises. I don’t know why, but I always love “bestfriends brother” trope. So, I was excited to read about this...my expectations were met. I’m giving this 4 stars because I loved it a lot and it was such a great book, but I believed it could have been written better into a great book.
Like why did Sebastian even have a girlfriend at all and than just didn’t?? But anyways how Charlie and Julia became friends was cute, but the rate of their friendship was kind of “odd”. Like I understand you can become close with someone really fast, but it was more than that...I guess.
Let’s talk about the ending...
One, there’s a mystery what actually happened to Gus in the car accident and was she really so perfect? This is answered at the end of the book. No, she wasn’t perfect.
——
I gotta say, loved Julia but girl can’t just go off and avoid her problems. She, was really like “bye, felisha”...to Charlie and I know we all go through things but friendship is through thick and thin.
——
I get why Charlie left and she wasn’t upset that Sebastian didn’t tell her because even through he wanted too that wasn’t secret really. But I kind of mad that in the ending there wasn’t more for them. Like excuse me they should go off and live happily ever after. But I love that they were still supportive of each other.
Like why did Sebastian even have a girlfriend at all and than just didn’t?? But anyways how Charlie and Julia became friends was cute, but the rate of their friendship was kind of “odd”. Like I understand you can become close with someone really fast, but it was more than that...I guess.
Let’s talk about the ending...
One, there’s a mystery what actually happened to Gus in the car accident and was she really so perfect? This is answered at the end of the book. No, she wasn’t perfect.
——
I gotta say, loved Julia but girl can’t just go off and avoid her problems. She, was really like “bye, felisha”...to Charlie and I know we all go through things but friendship is through thick and thin.
——
I get why Charlie left and she wasn’t upset that Sebastian didn’t tell her because even through he wanted too that wasn’t secret really. But I kind of mad that in the ending there wasn’t more for them. Like excuse me they should go off and live happily ever after. But I love that they were still supportive of each other.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was pretty slow until the last 100 pages or so. It was an interesting concept but pretty lack luster. It was just okay.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
Very minimal cursing
This story has been done so much that I found myself not being surprised by any of it. I didn't feel a connection to the characters, in fact I was mostly just annoyed at the main character Charlotte/Charlie. She just lets herself get swept into the Buchanan's lives and when things start to seem a little hairy she instantly bails. Just all very predictable and lame. The only reason I gave this book a 2 star is because the writing is solid, but good writing does not an interesting story make.
Charlotte/Charlie is an artsy girl who goes to this very prestigious school. She has a group of friends, good grades, pretty much not a care in the world... and then she meets Julia and loses all sense of self. Suddenly it is all about Julia Buchannan. Julia is a rich girl who loves to get tipsy, party, and live life to the fullest until she gets all weird out and starts acting insane. Soon enough Charlie and Julia are inseparable until alas they are not anymore.
Charlotte/Charlie is an artsy girl who goes to this very prestigious school. She has a group of friends, good grades, pretty much not a care in the world... and then she meets Julia and loses all sense of self. Suddenly it is all about Julia Buchannan. Julia is a rich girl who loves to get tipsy, party, and live life to the fullest until she gets all weird out and starts acting insane. Soon enough Charlie and Julia are inseparable until alas they are not anymore.
So disappointed in this one. I didn't care for the way it was written. I ended up slimming through to get the gist of what the book was about. I never felt connected to the characters of the story. Gorgeous cover, though.
Chelsey Philpot wants you to know that she really likes The Great Gatsby and doesn't care that she's in no way subtle about that.
Dang! This book was way deeper, sadder, and better than I expected it to be!
I really, REALLY liked Even In Paradise. It made me pause and think about friendship and life and lot's of other things. But mostly friendship and how it is so true that sometimes when you are friends with someone, it's sort of like falling in love and then you also fall in love with their family and that is exactly what happens to Charlie, and I could SO relate.
I mean, the Buchanans are beautiful people, they're sparkly and shiny and have all the things that Charlie doesn't have and I can understand her being drawn to them. To Julia and to Sebastian, who might be a bit of a douche at times, but who really grew on me. And how can you not love their younger sister Oops? She was awesome.
From the start you know this isn't going to end well and there's this sense of foreboding overshadowing the whole novel. And I LOVED that! I was wondering how everything was going to go down and the twists and turns were amazing! Chelsey Philpot really knows how to write beautiful words that suck you in. This is a story that will stay with me for a while.
My rating: 4,5 stars
I mean, the Buchanans are beautiful people, they're sparkly and shiny and have all the things that Charlie doesn't have and I can understand her being drawn to them. To Julia and to Sebastian, who might be a bit of a douche at times, but who really grew on me. And how can you not love their younger sister Oops? She was awesome.
From the start you know this isn't going to end well and there's this sense of foreboding overshadowing the whole novel. And I LOVED that! I was wondering how everything was going to go down and the twists and turns were amazing! Chelsey Philpot really knows how to write beautiful words that suck you in. This is a story that will stay with me for a while.
My rating: 4,5 stars
From the moment that I saw the cover and read the description, I have been wanting to read Even in Paradise. The premise of the story intrigued me, and I was excited see how the story fulfilled the pitch of "The Great Gatsy meets Looking for Alaska in this stunning debut novel." And now that I've read it, I have to agree with that very fitting description! It really does! :D
Even in Paradise was beautiful, heart-wrenching, and above all else, it was an extremely enjoyable read! I loved the characters, the story, and how everything within the story was unveiled. It had a slightly mysterious undertone, and there were strong echoes of The Great Gatsy throughout the entire story, which I really enjoyed!
The best part of Even in Paradise had to be the main character Charlotte, or Charlie, herself though. I loved how free of judgment she was, and how she connected to people on such a deep level. I loved her creativity, and the way her character experienced life. She was amazing! I also loved the Buchanans! Julia, Sebastian, Cordelia, Boom, Theresa, Bradley, and nanny Sophie were all wonderful characters, too, and I was ridiculously impressed with how flushed out their characters were. Chelsea Philpot did an amazing job with her characters because they really did come right off of the page! :D Just like, Charlie, I totally fell in love with the Buchanans...and my heart broke for them throughout the story, too!
I also loved that Even in Paradise was about romance and friendship! It was really nice to see a story with such a unique contemporary perspective. After all, you don't often read books where the main character connects with an entire family! :D
Overall, I absolutely loved reading Even in Paradise! I only wish that the ending was a bit more conclusive. The story kind of comes full circle, so the possibilities seem infinite, and I kinda felt like I wasn't sure where Charlie ended up, which is both good and bad. I tend to like my stories tied up a bit tighter, so I wish it wasn't so open, but at the same time, I'm really glad Charlie has so much possibility ahead of her! I'd definitely be open to a short story just to tie it up a bit for me though, but even with the ending being so open, I still loved the story. :D
* This review can also be found on my blog, here: http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-tour-review-even-in-paradise-by.html
* I was sent an ARC by the publisher to participate in Even in Paradise's blog tour, and give an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Even in Paradise was beautiful, heart-wrenching, and above all else, it was an extremely enjoyable read! I loved the characters, the story, and how everything within the story was unveiled. It had a slightly mysterious undertone, and there were strong echoes of The Great Gatsy throughout the entire story, which I really enjoyed!
The best part of Even in Paradise had to be the main character Charlotte, or Charlie, herself though. I loved how free of judgment she was, and how she connected to people on such a deep level. I loved her creativity, and the way her character experienced life. She was amazing! I also loved the Buchanans! Julia, Sebastian, Cordelia, Boom, Theresa, Bradley, and nanny Sophie were all wonderful characters, too, and I was ridiculously impressed with how flushed out their characters were. Chelsea Philpot did an amazing job with her characters because they really did come right off of the page! :D Just like, Charlie, I totally fell in love with the Buchanans...and my heart broke for them throughout the story, too!
I also loved that Even in Paradise was about romance and friendship! It was really nice to see a story with such a unique contemporary perspective. After all, you don't often read books where the main character connects with an entire family! :D
Overall, I absolutely loved reading Even in Paradise! I only wish that the ending was a bit more conclusive. The story kind of comes full circle, so the possibilities seem infinite, and I kinda felt like I wasn't sure where Charlie ended up, which is both good and bad. I tend to like my stories tied up a bit tighter, so I wish it wasn't so open, but at the same time, I'm really glad Charlie has so much possibility ahead of her! I'd definitely be open to a short story just to tie it up a bit for me though, but even with the ending being so open, I still loved the story. :D
* This review can also be found on my blog, here: http://burningximpossiblyxbright.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-tour-review-even-in-paradise-by.html
* I was sent an ARC by the publisher to participate in Even in Paradise's blog tour, and give an honest review. All opinions are my own.
"It’s only in hindsight that we can point, as easily as finding a town on a map, to the moments that shaped us—the moments when choices between yeses and noes determined the people we became."
FIRST THOUGHTS:
Truthfully, this novel comes in at a strong 3.75 stars, rounded up because I really just liked it. Reminds me of The Great Gatsby x Great x We Were Liars. Thought the characters were pretty solid, as was story.
REVIEW:
(Originally posted Alexa Loves Books)
There is a mesmerizing quality to Even in Paradise, a certain je ne sais quoi to this tale that makes it absolutely riveting. The basic premise? Charlotte Ryder, our narrator, shares the time in her life that revolved around the golden clan of the Buchanans. It is filled with a little bit of everything: opulence and adventure, mystery and romance, friendship and family. On a superficial level, it seems beautiful and untroubled; but the novel digs deeper and reveals to readers that everything isn’t always what it seems.
Charlotte is easy to like. She’s smart, creative and a genuinely good person (even though she sometimes makes unintentionally bad choices). Her kindness is the reason she meets Julia; it is also the reason she manages to secure a spot for herself in the Buchanan world. What’s most interesting about Even in Paradise, however, is how Charlotte’s character development. Readers will witness her getting swept up in the allure and mystery of Julia, and the Buchanans. The things that happen to her and the things she sees happening to others changes her in many ways, and Philpot deftly, subtly weaves that into her tale.
Philpot depicts the Buchanans as a glorious ideal, in spite of a few skeletons in the closet, and it’s not hard to see why they’re so appealing. Julia Buchanan, Charlotte’s best friend, is complicated, spinning from high to low, from still to movement, constantly. But she’s the kind of whirlwind you’d want to be a part of, because she’s so friendly and generous and enthusiastic, so it’s not hard to understand why Charlotte liked her.
There’s also Sebastian, one of Julia’s older brothers, who is intriguing with his peculiar habits, unexpected statements and kind heart. Bradley, Julia’s oldest brother, who comes across as typical male, but is unexpectedly kind. Cordelia, Julia’s younger sister who is a sweetheart, a darling, and clearly beloved. Julia’s parents, her politician father and society mother who care deeply for their children. Sophie, Julia’s nanny, who is like a second mother. And then there Gus, Julia’s older sister, who passed away before this story, but whose presence lingers in the lives of the Buchanans all the same. I fell in love with each one of them as much as Charlotte did.
Even in Paradise, in terms of story, is not something that has never been done before. The difference, to me, lies in the execution. It was really well-done! Philpot balanced a compelling story filled with spontaneous adventures and good moments, even as readers will feel an underlying sense of sadness and discord. The emotional complexity was really surprising, but in the best of ways, and definitely played a huge part in making this story stronger.
All in all, Even in Paradise was a pleasant surprise. Though initially I was worried I would either feel like it was cliché or not be able to like the characters, I shouldn’t have been: Philpot reeled me in little by little as she told Charlotte’s tale. With characters that reminded me of The Great Gatsby, a modern feel that reminded me of Great and complex relationships like those in We Were Liars, Even in Paradise is definitely an impressive debut.
Truthfully, this novel comes in at a strong 3.75 stars, rounded up because I really just liked it. Reminds me of The Great Gatsby x Great x We Were Liars. Thought the characters were pretty solid, as was story.
REVIEW:
(Originally posted Alexa Loves Books)
There is a mesmerizing quality to Even in Paradise, a certain je ne sais quoi to this tale that makes it absolutely riveting. The basic premise? Charlotte Ryder, our narrator, shares the time in her life that revolved around the golden clan of the Buchanans. It is filled with a little bit of everything: opulence and adventure, mystery and romance, friendship and family. On a superficial level, it seems beautiful and untroubled; but the novel digs deeper and reveals to readers that everything isn’t always what it seems.
Charlotte is easy to like. She’s smart, creative and a genuinely good person (even though she sometimes makes unintentionally bad choices). Her kindness is the reason she meets Julia; it is also the reason she manages to secure a spot for herself in the Buchanan world. What’s most interesting about Even in Paradise, however, is how Charlotte’s character development. Readers will witness her getting swept up in the allure and mystery of Julia, and the Buchanans. The things that happen to her and the things she sees happening to others changes her in many ways, and Philpot deftly, subtly weaves that into her tale.
Philpot depicts the Buchanans as a glorious ideal, in spite of a few skeletons in the closet, and it’s not hard to see why they’re so appealing. Julia Buchanan, Charlotte’s best friend, is complicated, spinning from high to low, from still to movement, constantly. But she’s the kind of whirlwind you’d want to be a part of, because she’s so friendly and generous and enthusiastic, so it’s not hard to understand why Charlotte liked her.
There’s also Sebastian, one of Julia’s older brothers, who is intriguing with his peculiar habits, unexpected statements and kind heart. Bradley, Julia’s oldest brother, who comes across as typical male, but is unexpectedly kind. Cordelia, Julia’s younger sister who is a sweetheart, a darling, and clearly beloved. Julia’s parents, her politician father and society mother who care deeply for their children. Sophie, Julia’s nanny, who is like a second mother. And then there Gus, Julia’s older sister, who passed away before this story, but whose presence lingers in the lives of the Buchanans all the same. I fell in love with each one of them as much as Charlotte did.
Even in Paradise, in terms of story, is not something that has never been done before. The difference, to me, lies in the execution. It was really well-done! Philpot balanced a compelling story filled with spontaneous adventures and good moments, even as readers will feel an underlying sense of sadness and discord. The emotional complexity was really surprising, but in the best of ways, and definitely played a huge part in making this story stronger.
All in all, Even in Paradise was a pleasant surprise. Though initially I was worried I would either feel like it was cliché or not be able to like the characters, I shouldn’t have been: Philpot reeled me in little by little as she told Charlotte’s tale. With characters that reminded me of The Great Gatsby, a modern feel that reminded me of Great and complex relationships like those in We Were Liars, Even in Paradise is definitely an impressive debut.