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luvlynk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Confinement, and War
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.0
This was a reread for me that I remember really loving as a teenager.
I can definitely see why I liked this so much. It is funny and cute and light-hearted. As an adult some of the plot points for the lead characters a bit trivial, but the book isn't aimed at adults, so that doesn't effect the star rating.
While I enjoy a lot of the banter and adore the side characters immensely, I often found the reasons behind decisions, America's temper, and the miscommunication forced. She makes so many rediculous assumptions and often acts out. But I guess I was just as impulsive at 17.
I still find this story incredibly cute and one I look forward to keeping in my collection and sharing with friends in the future.
I can definitely see why I liked this so much. It is funny and cute and light-hearted. As an adult some of the plot points for the lead characters a bit trivial, but the book isn't aimed at adults, so that doesn't effect the star rating.
While I enjoy a lot of the banter and adore the side characters immensely, I often found the reasons behind decisions, America's temper, and the miscommunication forced. She makes so many rediculous assumptions and often acts out. But I guess I was just as impulsive at 17.
I still find this story incredibly cute and one I look forward to keeping in my collection and sharing with friends in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Classism, Domestic abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Infertility, Grief, and Body shaming
musen_henning's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
ilaronicly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Torture, Domestic abuse, and War
booksandstardust's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Gun violence, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity, Child death, War, and Infertility
agiecummings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Again, this is a book I have read literally countless times. But I am re-reading it in 2023 and actually taking the time to write my review out.
This is a 4.5⭐️ read for me, but it is SO CLOSE to a 5, and it only suffers from the fact that America starts to piss you off a little with her attitude towards Maxon and I think this book would really benefit from a dual POV so you could know what he was thinking. Because you start to think her reasoning is correct, even though in reality he fully loves her. And I think that probably is an accurate reflection of feelings of people in this situation (basically being cast on The Bachelor), but it’s so frustrating to have ONLY that perspective.
Similarly, I think we gloss over the king hurting his son too quickly. I just need to name that those actions make the king heinous and I’m glad he gets killed in Book 3, there I said it.
Finally, the scene in the safe house/hideaway is one of my fave scenes in a book ever. Only slightly topped by a scene in Book 3, which I’ll discuss once I’ve re-read. But I love how romantically Maxon is written and I love how much these two actually love each other.
Book 2 is still fab because you finally have America realizing that Aspen isn’t what she actually wants, and there’s nothing better than that: knowing that she’s here for Maxon and they’ve simply ✨got✨ to end up together. ❤️
This is a 4.5⭐️ read for me, but it is SO CLOSE to a 5, and it only suffers from the fact that America starts to piss you off a little with her attitude towards Maxon and I think this book would really benefit from a dual POV so you could know what he was thinking. Because you start to think her reasoning is correct, even though in reality he fully loves her. And I think that probably is an accurate reflection of feelings of people in this situation (basically being cast on The Bachelor), but it’s so frustrating to have ONLY that perspective.
Finally, the scene in the safe house/hideaway is one of my fave scenes in a book ever. Only slightly topped by a scene in Book 3, which I’ll discuss once I’ve re-read. But I love how romantically Maxon is written and I love how much these two actually love each other.
Book 2 is still fab because you finally have America realizing that Aspen isn’t what she actually wants, and there’s nothing better than that: knowing that she’s here for Maxon and they’ve simply ✨got✨ to end up together. ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse
kenzie_simone456's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, War, and Domestic abuse
wet_towlette's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
🖕😾🖕 that’s how America makes me feel. Anyway, it was fun 🤩 but so repetitive. It’s like so much happened but also nothing happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol and Bullying
unavezmas's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
I liked it. It has less of romance and more of politics than the first one. I am curious as to where this rebellion will lead. And it treats some of more serious and mature topics as well.
I can see America's character development. She was a humble undecisive girl and now she will anhialite anyone who looks ather boyfriend Maxon wrongly. Unfortunatelly it can't be said about the other characteres. I stopped noticing the other Selected somewhere in book one. There were just too many.
I disliked the plottwist of the king (is his name even mentioned?)being a fucking domestic tyrant. If Maxon doesn't kick his ass I will be very disappointed. If they pull out "but he is his father and so he shall forgive him" plottwist I will be very dissappointed. It felt so out-of-place.
The fact that Illea was a tyrant himself wasn't unexpected but it still was surprising. For real why become a president if you can become a king?
The series have hunger games vibe. Probably because they are both YA and dystopian. 🤣
I can see America's character development. She was a humble undecisive girl and now she will anhialite anyone who looks at
I disliked the plottwist of the king (is his name even mentioned?)
The series have hunger games vibe. Probably because they are both YA and dystopian. 🤣
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
lisa_m's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
So little actually happened in this book it's comical. I have a really hard time actually explaining what happened in this book. There were some more explanations of how Illia came to be which was interesting but I don't know if I actually still support America and Maxon.
I mean Maxon is mostly great and I understand his decisions. America on the other hand got more and more annoying and I can't identify with her at all anymore. I'm almost hoping Kris will win.
These books are clearly a fantasy. The female reader is supposed to see themselves as America and feel the rush of being so loved by two people. That did not however work for me. I don't understand what anyone sees in America. It is constantly stated how bland and inadequate she is but still everyone absolutely loves her. Her actions are so ridiculous and over exaggerated. Maxon keeps telling her how much he cares about her and then he looks at someone else once and she immediately assumes the worst. She really doesn't trust in his words.
I will still be reading the next book in the series because as annoyed as I was it was still great entertainment. I am invested in the characters and their relationships even though I don't particularly like them.
The whole book is quite patriotic and I just wish we got to see more of the rebels. They show up every few chapters to destroy stuff and steal books and that's it. For a moment I was actually hoping they would kidnap America and she would then join them. That would have at least brought a bit of excitement into the story. I feel like a lot of plot points have been set up and very under explained. The series has the potential if an amazing finally but I'm worried the author will go in the more simple direction and just leave a lot of stuff unexplained.
I mean Maxon is mostly great and I understand his decisions. America on the other hand got more and more annoying and I can't identify with her at all anymore. I'm almost hoping Kris will win.
These books are clearly a fantasy. The female reader is supposed to see themselves as America and feel the rush of being so loved by two people. That did not however work for me. I don't understand what anyone sees in America. It is constantly stated how bland and inadequate she is but still everyone absolutely loves her. Her actions are so ridiculous and over exaggerated. Maxon keeps telling her how much he cares about her and then he looks at someone else once and she immediately assumes the worst. She really doesn't trust in his words.
I will still be reading the next book in the series because as annoyed as I was it was still great entertainment. I am invested in the characters and their relationships even though I don't particularly like them.
The whole book is quite patriotic and I just wish we got to see more of the rebels. They show up every few chapters to destroy stuff and steal books and that's it. For a moment I was actually hoping they would kidnap America and she would then join them. That would have at least brought a bit of excitement into the story. I feel like a lot of plot points have been set up and very under explained. The series has the potential if an amazing finally but I'm worried the author will go in the more simple direction and just leave a lot of stuff unexplained.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Medical content, Body horror, Infidelity, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny and Miscarriage