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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
There are a few similarities between this book and [b:Call Me Irresistible|8437379|Call Me Irresistible (Wynette, Texas #6)|Susan Elizabeth Phillips|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327880626s/8437379.jpg|13300953] by the same author. A woman in a small town, broke and down on her luck, being persecuted by pretty much the entire town. A teenager turns to the heroine for advice. The plucky heroine endures the cruelty and the town gradually warms to her.
I think Call Me Irresistible had a much harder, bordering on the vicious, edge. For that reason alone I preferred this book. It's formulaic but it works and I enjoyed it a lot.
I think Call Me Irresistible had a much harder, bordering on the vicious, edge. For that reason alone I preferred this book. It's formulaic but it works and I enjoyed it a lot.
One of my favorite books by SEP. Second time reading this book. I love a good redemption arc, and I know a book is good when my chest tightens and I want to cry and root for the heroine at the same time.
Certainly a fun read. Love the main characters and the secondary love story. The end spoiled it a bit for me tough.
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I wouldn’t rave about it like i’ve seen others doing.
Also I can’t lie Colin was kind of fucking annoying? I don’t know the ending kind of annoyed me I wouldn’t love that pressuring.
Having said that I was entertained though so. Passed the bechdel test ;)
Also I can’t lie Colin was kind of fucking annoying? I don’t know the ending kind of annoyed me I wouldn’t love that pressuring.
Having said that I was entertained though so. Passed the bechdel test ;)
The 4-star rating for this book is largely on the strength of the audio book version. The magnificent Anna Fields reads this book and gives it a life and a flair that I didn't find on the written page when I initially read it several years earlier.
4'5 estrellitas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
//RELECTURA//
Ay, lo he disfrutado tantísimo... Le mantengo la nota pero reconozco que mis impresiones leyendo han sido distintas a la primera vez en varias cosas, especialmente en lo que me costó conectar con determinados personajes cuando que lo leí. Ahora he sido capaz de empatizar con todos, lo que ha hecho la lectura muchísimo más croquetil. Adoro a Sugar Beth y adoro muchísimo a Colin
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
//RELECTURA//
Ay, lo he disfrutado tantísimo... Le mantengo la nota pero reconozco que mis impresiones leyendo han sido distintas a la primera vez en varias cosas, especialmente en lo que me costó conectar con determinados personajes cuando que lo leí. Ahora he sido capaz de empatizar con todos, lo que ha hecho la lectura muchísimo más croquetil. Adoro a Sugar Beth y adoro muchísimo a Colin
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was hesitant going into this book as I didn’t really like the sound of Sugar, but she quickly became a great character.
I really liked Sugar and I know that you’re not really supposed to because she used to be a bully, but she recognised that what she did was wrong, and she never tried to hide from it. I really liked how strong she was and how she withstood everyone’s revenge, and chance to humiliate her.
I liked Colin too and I really liked their interactions as they were really funny. The scene with Colin’s party was great to read as it showed Colin seeing Sugar in a different light and I really liked Sugar’s responses when Colin tried to stop what he started.
I liked the idea of Delilah, but she wasn’t shown enough to really like her. I liked how close Sugar said they were, but I wanted to see more of their conversations, and I thought that near the end Delilah could have met Colin.
The thing that I really didn’t like about this book was Winnie. I know that she was the victim so you’re supposed to like her, but that was many years ago and she already forgave all of her other bullies, and in the present, she seemed like a horrible character. I hated her personality and how everyone saw her as a victim as well as a saint because apparently she was so good for the town, but I couldn’t get over her treatment of Ryan. First, she traps him into a marriage by lying to him that she’s on the pill, when in fact she just wanted to get pregnant so that she could trap him. Then for all these years she’s felt so guilty that she’s made herself miserable, but when Sugar comes back to town, she blames everything on her and Ryan and moves out. Then Winnie makes Ryan beg her for forgiveness, even though he’s done absolutely nothing wrong, and she’s the one who made their marriage into something she couldn’t deal with anymore. I didn’t like Winnie at all, so all the scenes that were told from her POV annoyed me, and I didn’t really like how quickly Sugar and Winnie became friends at the end.
The ending of this book was interesting and different, and I found it funny. I wanted to see more scenes before the epilogue though.
I really liked this book, and how it made me react to the characters in an unexpected way. Sugar was amazing, despite her past, while I hated Winnie because her entire character seemed so fake and deceitful.
What do I even say about this book other than the fact that I'm actually upset I couldn't give it a 5 star rating? because trust me. it deserves it. it really does. it has all the elements in it to make a great book.
• a perfect plot that's not overused and cliché and that actually keeps you wanting more.
• a heroine who's not at all perfect but is still the best fucking thing ever.
• a hero who's seen everything and knows what's up and who isn't a jerk for no reason.
• a backstory that doesn't seem annoying but rather provides a depth that hits you in the gut.
• a set of side characters who aren't really side characters cause they shape the story and give content to the plot.
• the writing and dialogues which induce a waterfall of emotions ranging from guilt, angst, regret, love, acceptance, forgiveness and finally happiness.
• an ending which leaves you with a smile on your face.
• and the overall book which makes you think about it. makes you want to read it again.
AS YOU CAN SEE. PERFECT.
so i couldn't understand why i didn't give it the rating it deserves. i thought about the book for weeks. i knew i really really liked it and enjoyed it. very much. and i admired everything about it.
so i thought..... what happened?
and i realised.
AND I HATE TO SAY IT.
but.... i didn't really buy into the h and H's relationship. i didn't see why they fell for each other. and let me clarify, the characters individually were phenomenal. but together, i didn't really see the spark. obviously a lot of people will disagree and list a lot of reasons why they were perfect and trust me i agree. even i hate feeling like this. because i really loved them. but i do feel like this. and i don't see it changing.
i can't list all the reasons why cause i've been brooding over it for weeks now and don't remember all tiny details. but one that stands out is about the second book the H wrote. i felt like i couldn't breathe after that. it provided what was necessary to the plot and the story. yes. but i personally was too upset and couldn't get over it. also the whole relationship just didn't reach me in that deep core level that i'd expected it to.
they were perfect but they didn't touch me.
i also couldn't get past the entire town teaming up on the h. i get it. she deserved it. but some of them hating on her were purely illogical. they almost had no reason to except to pick on her just cause they couldn't when they were back in high school.
if it weren't for that, this would've gone straight into my list of favourites and i only have 8 of them. at the moment.
and all those elements made the book better but i simply had too much time to think about it and now i feel like i can't get past it.
i really really liked it.
but i didn't love it.
or rather i loved it.
but i didn't love love it.
because of those details.
which others can ignore.
ANYWAY.
great book.
i know i'm in the minority of readers who felt like that. prolly not even minority. just sucky lil me. but whatever, i'll recommend this to anyone who likes to read. because this is a gem. and the beauty of it lies in the fact that even though i didn't love it, i understand and know and recognise that others will. and that's not something one can say about a lot of books.
4½ "stupid lil me" stars
READ THIS. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.
• a perfect plot that's not overused and cliché and that actually keeps you wanting more.
• a heroine who's not at all perfect but is still the best fucking thing ever.
• a hero who's seen everything and knows what's up and who isn't a jerk for no reason.
• a backstory that doesn't seem annoying but rather provides a depth that hits you in the gut.
• a set of side characters who aren't really side characters cause they shape the story and give content to the plot.
• the writing and dialogues which induce a waterfall of emotions ranging from guilt, angst, regret, love, acceptance, forgiveness and finally happiness.
• an ending which leaves you with a smile on your face.
• and the overall book which makes you think about it. makes you want to read it again.
AS YOU CAN SEE. PERFECT.
so i couldn't understand why i didn't give it the rating it deserves. i thought about the book for weeks. i knew i really really liked it and enjoyed it. very much. and i admired everything about it.
so i thought..... what happened?
and i realised.
AND I HATE TO SAY IT.
but.... i didn't really buy into the h and H's relationship. i didn't see why they fell for each other. and let me clarify, the characters individually were phenomenal. but together, i didn't really see the spark. obviously a lot of people will disagree and list a lot of reasons why they were perfect and trust me i agree. even i hate feeling like this. because i really loved them. but i do feel like this. and i don't see it changing.
i can't list all the reasons why cause i've been brooding over it for weeks now and don't remember all tiny details. but one that stands out is about the second book the H wrote.
Spoiler
he basically immortalised all the wrong things the h had done in school. and i remember she stated after the book was published that "she felt like she was raped."they were perfect but they didn't touch me.
i also couldn't get past the entire town teaming up on the h. i get it. she deserved it. but some of them hating on her were purely illogical. they almost had no reason to except to pick on her just cause they couldn't when they were back in high school.
if it weren't for that, this would've gone straight into my list of favourites and i only have 8 of them. at the moment.
and all those elements made the book better but i simply had too much time to think about it and now i feel like i can't get past it.
i really really liked it.
but i didn't love it.
or rather i loved it.
but i didn't love love it.
because of those details.
which others can ignore.
ANYWAY.
great book.
i know i'm in the minority of readers who felt like that. prolly not even minority. just sucky lil me. but whatever, i'll recommend this to anyone who likes to read. because this is a gem. and the beauty of it lies in the fact that even though i didn't love it, i understand and know and recognise that others will. and that's not something one can say about a lot of books.
4½ "stupid lil me" stars
READ THIS. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.
I kind of loved this story of redemption and there are some really good quotes in here, about life, about books, about love, including the importance of romance novels' happy endings. It gets 4 stars because I'm considering a re-read/listen for those. Ain't She Sweet was really enjoyable. Sugar was awful and admirable and fictional proof that people can change.
This it the 3rd SEP audiobook I've listened to in a month. For an author who was not even on my tbr, somehow she's become a favorite. Leave it to taking a road trip and being desperate to have something to listen to. Nothing beats the laugh out loud response I had to [b:Nobody's Baby But Mine|73080|Nobody's Baby But Mine (Chicago Stars, #3)|Susan Elizabeth Phillips|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298032580s/73080.jpg|776136]. I didn't enjoy [b:It Had to Be You|73070|It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars, #1)|Susan Elizabeth Phillips|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297088239s/73070.jpg|2268839] nearly as much with the triggering backstory. I'm going to stop now. I've got over 200 books in my TBR and I need to read some of them. Or I need to stop driving.
ETA: 2/17/16 I re-listened to the last half of this again. I didn't mention them before, but Ryan and Winnie are a fantastic secondary couple. Or primary. I loved this long time married couple rekindling their marriage. I loved Winnie. Her desire for her husband, her bitterness, her kindness. She's a great character.
This it the 3rd SEP audiobook I've listened to in a month. For an author who was not even on my tbr, somehow she's become a favorite. Leave it to taking a road trip and being desperate to have something to listen to. Nothing beats the laugh out loud response I had to [b:Nobody's Baby But Mine|73080|Nobody's Baby But Mine (Chicago Stars, #3)|Susan Elizabeth Phillips|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1298032580s/73080.jpg|776136]. I didn't enjoy [b:It Had to Be You|73070|It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars, #1)|Susan Elizabeth Phillips|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297088239s/73070.jpg|2268839] nearly as much with the triggering backstory. I'm going to stop now. I've got over 200 books in my TBR and I need to read some of them. Or I need to stop driving.
ETA: 2/17/16 I re-listened to the last half of this again. I didn't mention them before, but Ryan and Winnie are a fantastic secondary couple. Or primary. I loved this long time married couple rekindling their marriage. I loved Winnie. Her desire for her husband, her bitterness, her kindness. She's a great character.