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2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
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."
More coming of age story than mystery, this is a about a teenager who doesn't fit in, trying to find her place. It's poignant and sometimes frustrating, and comes to an unexpected end. I found the few sympathetic characters around her to be one of the highlights of the book.
*TW: Suicide*
I think maybe if I hadn't listened to the audiobook this might've been 3.5 stars, but I did and the narrators voice just reaffirmed how annoying I thought Hawthorne was so this gets 3 stars from me.
That was my main gripe with this book, I thought the main character was annoying, selfish, and the plotline didn't make any sense in my opinion. I can't say exactly because spoilers, but just know for like a third of the book I was like "what??". Hawthorne's reasoning for hating Lizzie was superficial and obnoxious, and her obsession with her made absolutely no sense.
I think maybe if I hadn't listened to the audiobook this might've been 3.5 stars, but I did and the narrators voice just reaffirmed how annoying I thought Hawthorne was so this gets 3 stars from me.
That was my main gripe with this book, I thought the main character was annoying, selfish, and the plotline didn't make any sense in my opinion. I can't say exactly because spoilers, but just know for like a third of the book I was like "what??". Hawthorne's reasoning for hating Lizzie was superficial and obnoxious, and her obsession with her made absolutely no sense.
Hawthorn, the narrator of this story, is very likely on the autism spectrum, but the author never comes out and says so. It can be inferred from her actions and thought processes, however. She tells the story of popular girl, Lizzie Lovett, who goes missing from a camping trip with her boyfriend. Hawthorn becomes obsessed with the disappearance and starts trying to figure out what happened.
The plot is fine but I never found any of the characters overly engaging.
******SPOILER********SPOILER********SPOILER********
And I absolutely hate that Hawthorn got involved with Lizzie's boyfriend. Creepy in so many ways - but especially because he is 25 and she is only 17. ICK!!!!
The plot is fine but I never found any of the characters overly engaging.
******SPOILER********SPOILER********SPOILER********
And I absolutely hate that Hawthorn got involved with Lizzie's boyfriend. Creepy in so many ways - but especially because he is 25 and she is only 17. ICK!!!!
The narration of this book was /amazing/.
The book has a depth that, for me, was part charming, and part frustratingly YA. I'm the last person who can fault even a fictional character for over-reacting to things. That being said, Hawthorn is a bit difficult to like, even for me. The secondary characters were more appealing than the protagonist - although that might not have been the case if I had read this as a teenager :)
Overall, I really did enjoy this one. I definitely want to read more from this author.
The book has a depth that, for me, was part charming, and part frustratingly YA. I'm the last person who can fault even a fictional character for over-reacting to things. That being said, Hawthorn is a bit difficult to like, even for me. The secondary characters were more appealing than the protagonist - although that might not have been the case if I had read this as a teenager :)
Overall, I really did enjoy this one. I definitely want to read more from this author.
DNF @ 82%
So I don't really know what to say about this book. I wasn't feeling it at the start because the main character just really isn't it for me. She was very obsessed with herself, then very obsessed with Lizzie Lovett who she hated, then very obsessed with the most ludicrous and childish ideas or thoughts. Things that a person who is almost considered an adult shouldn't be thinking or believing. Like to put it in perspective she was legit trying to pedal the idea that Lizzie Lovett turned into a werewolf and ran away to live her best life as a wolf. The idea of someone her age genuinely believing this was so unrealistic and made her even worse than she already was-her detachment from reality was something that really irked me. She felt like everyone was out to get her, she constantly and childishly wishes bad things upon others, and then finds ways to make something serious seem silly-such as the disappearance of Lizzie. I hated how she detracted from it like it was some joke. She was so far out of it-that it irked me.
One of the bigger reasons as to why I dropped this book is the "relationship". Honestly, I am not putting this in spoilers just because like I just want to WARN anyone before they pick this book up that there is an age gap and an age difference that is WRONG and the relationship isn't really questioned at all. Hawthorne is like 17 and her love interest I think is 25(?) and like legit nobody questions it-at the start people do because of the predicament. But when things actually happen her brother who seems protective doesn't give a flying crap that she is hooking up with someone who is too old for her. LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!? HER PARENTS DIDN'T EVEN SEEM TO REALLY CARE!?!
It got to the point that I dreaded reading it knowing that nobody would really say anything about the inappropriateness of the relationship. So yeah no I couldn't deal with it. This along with the fact that the plot just dragged and the inability for Hawthorne to even SERIOUSLY try with investigating and as a result the whole Lizzie plot line lagged and got nowhere. I just couldn't continue on in the book.
So I don't really know what to say about this book. I wasn't feeling it at the start because the main character just really isn't it for me. She was very obsessed with herself, then very obsessed with Lizzie Lovett who she hated, then very obsessed with the most ludicrous and childish ideas or thoughts. Things that a person who is almost considered an adult shouldn't be thinking or believing.
One of the bigger reasons as to why I dropped this book is the "relationship". Honestly, I am not putting this in spoilers just because like I just want to WARN anyone before they pick this book up that there is an age gap and an age difference that is WRONG and the relationship isn't really questioned at all. Hawthorne is like 17 and her love interest I think is 25(?) and like legit nobody questions it-at the start people do because of the predicament. But when things actually happen her brother who seems protective doesn't give a flying crap that she is hooking up with someone who is too old for her. LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!? HER PARENTS DIDN'T EVEN SEEM TO REALLY CARE!?!
It got to the point that I dreaded reading it knowing that nobody would really say anything about the inappropriateness of the relationship. So yeah no I couldn't deal with it. This along with the fact that the plot just dragged and the inability for Hawthorne to even SERIOUSLY try with investigating and as a result the whole Lizzie plot line lagged and got nowhere. I just couldn't continue on in the book.
This book was really frustrating.
It started with a good promise - a girl disappears and the least popular girl in the school decides to investigate the mystery of her disappearance. But there is no investigation at all, no uncovering of Lizzie Lovett's hundred lies. Nada.
This is not a mystery book. The writing is great, the author depicts accurately the teenager's mind, but that title and that blurb is really misleading. I kept expecting for clues that will lead to a thrilling adventure, full of mystery and suspense, but nothing happened.
If you are not expecting to read a cozy mystery, it is an enjoyable book. Otherwise, you will be disappointed.
It started with a good promise - a girl disappears and the least popular girl in the school decides to investigate the mystery of her disappearance. But there is no investigation at all, no uncovering of Lizzie Lovett's hundred lies. Nada.
This is not a mystery book. The writing is great, the author depicts accurately the teenager's mind, but that title and that blurb is really misleading. I kept expecting for clues that will lead to a thrilling adventure, full of mystery and suspense, but nothing happened.
If you are not expecting to read a cozy mystery, it is an enjoyable book. Otherwise, you will be disappointed.
So I ended up skipping through and skimming through this book. I just couldn't handle Hawthorne. I get at her age kids are immature but I felt like mentally she was way younger.
Skimming didn't make me miss anything big. I just couldn't handle how whiny and immature Hawthorne was. She did grow a tiny smidgeon at the end but not much.
Skimming didn't make me miss anything big. I just couldn't handle how whiny and immature Hawthorne was. She did grow a tiny smidgeon at the end but not much.
I was provided an e-galley of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley.
Hawthorn Creely is not an ordinary teenage girl. She has a unique way of seeing things and not many people understand her point of view. So when her brother's old classmate, Lizzie Lovett, goes missing Hawthorn becomes a bit obsessed. And she stops at nothing to insert herself into Lizzie's life. Reading this novel took me back to my own awkward teenage years. It brought to memory the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak that changing friendships and first loves can often deliver. And as Hawthorn slowly, and painfully, learned more about herself and what being a true friend meant, I could identify with her journey.
Hawthorn Creely is not an ordinary teenage girl. She has a unique way of seeing things and not many people understand her point of view. So when her brother's old classmate, Lizzie Lovett, goes missing Hawthorn becomes a bit obsessed. And she stops at nothing to insert herself into Lizzie's life. Reading this novel took me back to my own awkward teenage years. It brought to memory the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak that changing friendships and first loves can often deliver. And as Hawthorn slowly, and painfully, learned more about herself and what being a true friend meant, I could identify with her journey.
I don't even know where to begin with the rating for this book....the blurb doesn't really do the story justice. This bills itself as a semi-mystery, when that's not the case at all. It's a coming of age story that also involves werewolves, which I really would have appreciated a heads up on beforehand - I'm not a huge werewolf/vampire/zombie fan, and there is a lot of supernatural talk in this book . A lot of the earlier writing style made me groan - it seems the author was trying too hard to mimic a teen voice, as evidenced by the first paragraph of the book:
I do think she really hit her stride though in the late middle/end of the book, so either Hawthorn's grating voice improved, or I just got used to it.
I did like the interesting conversations with Sundog, Hawthorn's mom's hippie friend that moved a caravan of people into their backyard.
The first thing that happened was Lizzie Lovett disappeared, and everyone was all, "How can someone like Lizzie be missing?" and I was like "Who cares?" A few days later, there was talk about Lizzie maybe being dead, and it was still kinda boring, but not totally boring, because I'd never known a dead person before.
I do think she really hit her stride though in the late middle/end of the book, so either Hawthorn's grating voice improved, or I just got used to it.
I did like the interesting conversations with Sundog, Hawthorn's mom's hippie friend that moved a caravan of people into their backyard.