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2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
I have a few issues with this book.
-Hawthorne was not sympathetic. At all. Throughout she only whined about how she has no friends and how everyone is incredibly mean to her. Toward the end, we learn Lizzie Lovett was probably not the happy go lucky person everyone thinks she is, and her response is to treat the person in her own class that is probably that class's Lizzie with no empathy. I suspect Mychelle Adler will be the next to commit suicide. All this to say, Hawthrone treated most everyone else in the exact same way they treated her.
-How does no one have a problem with her relationship with a 25 year old manchild?!? A few mention their concern because he is a potential suspect, but no one seems to care that a 25 year old man is spending all his time with a 17 year old girl. Don't get me wrong, when she is a few years older, I see nothing wrong with the age difference. When the girl is still in high school, there is a problem.
-I did not find the writing all that great.
-I expected there to be more layers to Lizzie. I wished there were more layers to Hawthorne.
-I liked Conner. And Sundog. And Emily.
-Hawthorne was not sympathetic. At all. Throughout she only whined about how she has no friends and how everyone is incredibly mean to her. Toward the end, we learn Lizzie Lovett was probably not the happy go lucky person everyone thinks she is, and her response is to treat the person in her own class that is probably that class's Lizzie with no empathy. I suspect Mychelle Adler will be the next to commit suicide. All this to say, Hawthrone treated most everyone else in the exact same way they treated her.
-How does no one have a problem with her relationship with a 25 year old manchild?!? A few mention their concern because he is a potential suspect, but no one seems to care that a 25 year old man is spending all his time with a 17 year old girl. Don't get me wrong, when she is a few years older, I see nothing wrong with the age difference. When the girl is still in high school, there is a problem.
-I did not find the writing all that great.
-I expected there to be more layers to Lizzie. I wished there were more layers to Hawthorne.
-I liked Conner. And Sundog. And Emily.
*I was provided a copy from NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review*
The way that Hawthorn is portrayed in this book made everything so cringy. I understand living in a fantasy world and wanting to disappear because high school sucks. But her outlook on things made me dislike this book. Her voice as a character as not something I could relate to.
I wanted to go in and like this book, I really did but the delusions that Hawthorn has and the way she treats her friends is painful. While I did appriciate the realness of losing friends and the views of what really happens after having sex for the first time, nothing could really make up for the rest of the books. The obsessiveness she has over Lizzie is shocking as well.
Everything about this book was just unhealthy. The 25 year old going after the 17 year old, using each other for the wrong reasons. I feel like the ending could have been done better but it makes sense with Hawthorn’s obsessiveness with the situation.
The redeeming quality for this book was the ending. Hawthorn grew up a little, she opened up to things and made this kind of a coming of age tale. That made it cute. But only like the last 30 pages.
The way that Hawthorn is portrayed in this book made everything so cringy. I understand living in a fantasy world and wanting to disappear because high school sucks. But her outlook on things made me dislike this book. Her voice as a character as not something I could relate to.
I wanted to go in and like this book, I really did but the delusions that Hawthorn has and the way she treats her friends is painful. While I did appriciate the realness of losing friends and the views of what really happens after having sex for the first time, nothing could really make up for the rest of the books. The obsessiveness she has over Lizzie is shocking as well.
Everything about this book was just unhealthy. The 25 year old going after the 17 year old, using each other for the wrong reasons. I feel like the ending could have been done better but it makes sense with Hawthorn’s obsessiveness with the situation.
The redeeming quality for this book was the ending. Hawthorn grew up a little, she opened up to things and made this kind of a coming of age tale. That made it cute. But only like the last 30 pages.
This book is problematic as hell. My review will be coming September 4th, and you'll be able to read all about why here.
medium-paced
Audiobook review. I just didn’t love the main character of this book. I was so annoyed with her decisions.
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-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
I struggled so much to finish this book and there were many times where I was tempted to add it to my dnf list. The entire book is about this girl who is obsessed with the life of Lizzie Lovett (for stupid reasons in my opinion) and she even goes so far as to date her mourning boyfriend. I found the adult/minor relationship really creepy and I got so frustrated every time someone would mention this to Hawthorn and she’d get defensive. I felt that Hawthorn was the reason for all of the issues she had and every stupid action she’d take made me stop reading for a while just to cool off. I’m so happy that I finished it though because the ending was a lot better than the rest of the book. This isn’t the worst book but I personally wouldn’t recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide
Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett is about growing up, perceptions, imagination, truth, lies, family, friendships, adolescence, adulthood, emotions, and so much more. At its core, it's about the lies we tell ourselves and others. I think this book allows teen readers to understand life a little better, embrace all the uncertainties, and still see the magic in everyday life.
Fans of Shirley Jackson will love The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett. It has the same kind of creepy, cool tone that is so predominant in Jackson's writing as well as an unreliable narrator, who is reminiscent of Merricat in We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but is also very much her own unique character.
My Review: FIVE STARS
This is one of the most unique books I've ever read. There's an almost psychological thriller feel to it, which isn't something that I've seen much of in YA contemporary fiction. Hawthorn makes for a fascinating main character and is such a perfectly unreliable narrator, she keeps you guessing until the very end.
In some ways Hawthorn is just so your stereotypical teenage protagonist: angst-filled, bullied by school mean girls, and selfish. But she is also so uniquely individual at the time. She sees the world through her own lens, and her perspective is so captivating to read through.
Her behavior seems absolutely bizarre one moment and then somewhat normal the next. You can never guess what she's going to do or how she's going to react. Because of her sometimes creepy demeanor, you can't help the tickle at the back of your mind that keeps you wondering if she had anything to do with Lizzie Lovett's disappearance.
The thing that makes Hawthorn entirely relatable, particularly for us avid readers, is the way she views regular life as boring. She longs so badly for excitement and adventure, she'll do some pretty, well, crazy things to try to find it.
This is one of the most interesting approaches to a tale of a self-discovery that I've ever read, and I'd highly recommend this to both young adult and adult readers alike. This book would be perfect for a book club, because there is just so much fuel for discussion here. It's an absolutely enthralling and totally unique read.
Cover Rating: THREE STARS
I'm torn on this cover. On one hand, I feel like it just doesn't fit the tone or story AT ALL. But on the other hand, I'm kind of like, well that actually makes complete sense. I really don't know how to explain that. You will have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about.
Swoon-Worthiness:
While there is a totally swoon-worthy and adorable character in this book. That is SOOO not what this book is about. This book is all about Hawthorn and her creeptastic journey towards self-discovery.
Fav Quotes:
"I knew all about reading a lot. About how it could take you to a world that was better than the real one. A world where there were adventures and mysteries and magic. Except, of course, books ended eventually, and then you had to go back to being yourself."
"Sometimes the crazy people turn out to be right though."
"The only thing I didn't like about movies was when the credits rolled and returned me to real life."
"As long as something was a mystery there was still the potential for amazement."
My Review: FIVE STARS
This is one of the most unique books I've ever read. There's an almost psychological thriller feel to it, which isn't something that I've seen much of in YA contemporary fiction. Hawthorn makes for a fascinating main character and is such a perfectly unreliable narrator, she keeps you guessing until the very end.
In some ways Hawthorn is just so your stereotypical teenage protagonist: angst-filled, bullied by school mean girls, and selfish. But she is also so uniquely individual at the time. She sees the world through her own lens, and her perspective is so captivating to read through.
Her behavior seems absolutely bizarre one moment and then somewhat normal the next. You can never guess what she's going to do or how she's going to react. Because of her sometimes creepy demeanor, you can't help the tickle at the back of your mind that keeps you wondering if she had anything to do with Lizzie Lovett's disappearance.
The thing that makes Hawthorn entirely relatable, particularly for us avid readers, is the way she views regular life as boring. She longs so badly for excitement and adventure, she'll do some pretty, well, crazy things to try to find it.
This is one of the most interesting approaches to a tale of a self-discovery that I've ever read, and I'd highly recommend this to both young adult and adult readers alike. This book would be perfect for a book club, because there is just so much fuel for discussion here. It's an absolutely enthralling and totally unique read.
Cover Rating: THREE STARS
I'm torn on this cover. On one hand, I feel like it just doesn't fit the tone or story AT ALL. But on the other hand, I'm kind of like, well that actually makes complete sense. I really don't know how to explain that. You will have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about.
Swoon-Worthiness:
While there is a totally swoon-worthy and adorable character in this book. That is SOOO not what this book is about. This book is all about Hawthorn and her creeptastic journey towards self-discovery.
Fav Quotes:
"I knew all about reading a lot. About how it could take you to a world that was better than the real one. A world where there were adventures and mysteries and magic. Except, of course, books ended eventually, and then you had to go back to being yourself."
"Sometimes the crazy people turn out to be right though."
"The only thing I didn't like about movies was when the credits rolled and returned me to real life."
"As long as something was a mystery there was still the potential for amazement."
It was a good book I really enjoyed it and the whole thing really intrigued me