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2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
This is one of those books that has a great story but you want to tell the character to listen to the adults. I understand her fascination but that doesn't mean she should put herself in some of the situations she did. The story would've been much different if she did though. It was kind of a sad book but I appreciate the feeling of possibility.
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."
https://rivermoosebooks.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/netgalley-review-the-hundred-lies-of-lizzie-lovett/
I received an e-arc of this book from netgalley and this is my honest review.
Everyone seems to either love or hate this book.
So yeah, its one of THOSE.
I requested this on Netgalley because 1) it sounded interesting and a I was on a contemporary binge and 2) People were raving.
I, however, didn’t hate it or love, it was just alright.
Let’s start with the good.
The plot is intriguing, it grabs you from the beginning. The characters are all interesting and complex. The writing was great. The voice of our main character unique.
But wow was she annoying as hell (Looks like were on the bad already).
Because yeah, Hawthorn was a complex character, with a unique and entertaining voice, but she was too old to be so stupid, and had too good a family to be so emotionally stunted. By the end of the book I was ready to strangle her.
This is very much a “life lessons, character growth” type of book. And I appreciated seeing how Hawthorne changed, and started treating people better. But the ending fell flat for me, it was too “I’m done now so all the complex mystery is this contemporary or is this thriller stuff I’ve been building is done now”. Its abrupt, (and Enzo needed a swift punch in the face).
So yeah, it was a good book, and I liked the lessons and the character growth, but the plot was ended weakly, like the author didn’t know how to end the book, which makes it just alright in my eyes.
I reccomand checking it out if you like these sorts of books. Though just a warning, there is sex in this book, non-explicits, but still. It sort of rubbed me the wrong way and made me want to stop reading (it was just so awkward).
I received an e-arc of this book from netgalley and this is my honest review.
Everyone seems to either love or hate this book.
So yeah, its one of THOSE.
I requested this on Netgalley because 1) it sounded interesting and a I was on a contemporary binge and 2) People were raving.
I, however, didn’t hate it or love, it was just alright.
Let’s start with the good.
The plot is intriguing, it grabs you from the beginning. The characters are all interesting and complex. The writing was great. The voice of our main character unique.
But wow was she annoying as hell (Looks like were on the bad already).
Because yeah, Hawthorn was a complex character, with a unique and entertaining voice, but she was too old to be so stupid, and had too good a family to be so emotionally stunted. By the end of the book I was ready to strangle her.
This is very much a “life lessons, character growth” type of book. And I appreciated seeing how Hawthorne changed, and started treating people better. But the ending fell flat for me, it was too “I’m done now so all the complex mystery is this contemporary or is this thriller stuff I’ve been building is done now”. Its abrupt, (and Enzo needed a swift punch in the face).
So yeah, it was a good book, and I liked the lessons and the character growth, but the plot was ended weakly, like the author didn’t know how to end the book, which makes it just alright in my eyes.
I reccomand checking it out if you like these sorts of books. Though just a warning, there is sex in this book, non-explicits, but still. It sort of rubbed me the wrong way and made me want to stop reading (it was just so awkward).
* ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
In the beginning, I didn't really like Hawthorn. I thought she was really annoying, self-centered, and behaved really immaturely for someone who is a senior in high school. As the story progressed, my opinion changed. Hawthorn continued to make silly comments and acted in an immature way but it was tempered with growing self-awareness of the way others perceive her. She stopped victimizing herself and became so much stronger. This whole story isn't really about Lizzie so if you are looking for some kind of thriller, you will be grossly disappointed. This novel is a coming-of-age story about a misfit who finally learns to love herself and appreciate her uniqueness. And for that reason, I loved the story. I could empathize with Hawthorn; I know what it's like to never fit in and deal with bullying on an everyday basis. I know what it's like to want to be loved and to have someone "get" you when no one else does. The author did a fantastic job showing how her desperation for these things leads to questionable decisions, and how she bounces back when things go south. The writing style also made this story an enjoyable read. With every word, I felt compelled to keep going, keep reading about Hawthorn and her family, and all the ways in which people are affected by tragedy. Overall, this is a great teen fiction story, and I can't wait to read more by this author!
In the beginning, I didn't really like Hawthorn. I thought she was really annoying, self-centered, and behaved really immaturely for someone who is a senior in high school. As the story progressed, my opinion changed. Hawthorn continued to make silly comments and acted in an immature way but it was tempered with growing self-awareness of the way others perceive her. She stopped victimizing herself and became so much stronger. This whole story isn't really about Lizzie so if you are looking for some kind of thriller, you will be grossly disappointed. This novel is a coming-of-age story about a misfit who finally learns to love herself and appreciate her uniqueness. And for that reason, I loved the story. I could empathize with Hawthorn; I know what it's like to never fit in and deal with bullying on an everyday basis. I know what it's like to want to be loved and to have someone "get" you when no one else does. The author did a fantastic job showing how her desperation for these things leads to questionable decisions, and how she bounces back when things go south. The writing style also made this story an enjoyable read. With every word, I felt compelled to keep going, keep reading about Hawthorn and her family, and all the ways in which people are affected by tragedy. Overall, this is a great teen fiction story, and I can't wait to read more by this author!
Dnf 42% I just couldn’t get into this. I tried, really I did. But Hawthorne reminded me of all the reason I am happy to no longer be a teenager. I like smart teenager characters. I like interesting teen characters. She was neither and her opinions of Lizzie were highly ridiculous. And don’t get me started on the side characters, like Hawthorne’s family. Oh dear lord. I just got too fed up that the mystery of what happened to Lizzie was no longer enough to keep me going.
Ehh, I really didn't like the main character and I had a hard time connecting with her, which meant I had a hard time caring about the things that she cared about.
When Lizzie Lovett goes missing after a camping trip with her boyfriend, Hawthorn becomes obsessed with the mystery. And yes, I know we all can get like that but she takes it to a whole other level. She starts working at the diner where Lizzie worked and starts kind of dating her boyfriend. (It's weird. They're mostly friends but there's this odd vibe about it.) She HAS TO KNOW what happened.
Hawthorn is an odd person to like. She's quirky, which I generally really approve of, but she acts like the only person in the history of the world to be misunderstood and like everyone else has it figured out while she is thrashing around. And she has a theory about Lizzie's disappearance that is so ridiculous that I can't even tell you about it. And I don't think she means it as a joke or ironically; I think she genuinely believes it.
And yet. She really DOES feel everything really deeply. So it's hard to like her but it's harder not to.
I think she'll get better in college.
Hawthorn is an odd person to like. She's quirky, which I generally really approve of, but she acts like the only person in the history of the world to be misunderstood and like everyone else has it figured out while she is thrashing around. And she has a theory about Lizzie's disappearance that is so ridiculous that I can't even tell you about it. And I don't think she means it as a joke or ironically; I think she genuinely believes it.
And yet. She really DOES feel everything really deeply. So it's hard to like her but it's harder not to.
I think she'll get better in college.
A very fast read, and an enjoyable one
The inside of Hawthorne's mind is very - almost painfully - familiar, full of what-ifs and projections and isolation and imagination and the teenage (and adult) desire for one's life to start being... more.
Worth a read for that alone.
The inside of Hawthorne's mind is very - almost painfully - familiar, full of what-ifs and projections and isolation and imagination and the teenage (and adult) desire for one's life to start being... more.
Worth a read for that alone.
I think my realization after reading this book was like Hawthorn's - it is not really about Lizzie Lovett. It is about the stories you construct, the facade you build, the multiple versions of you that exist because of other's perception of you. Hawthorne is sort of obsessed with the mystery of Lizzie - how a girl can be so perfect, so loved, and now that she has disappeared, how could have she? A thing to note her is that Hawthorn is fanciful - she often has a space in her head that she prefers to reality. It sort of reminded me of how my friends often complain of me in a similar manner. So, when Hawthorn spouts her impossible theory of Lizzie being a werewolf and starts to find her, suffice to say there aren't many to entertain her.
Searching for the mystery of Lizzie, she starts working in her job, hanging out with her boyfriend, Enzo. Enzo is distraught over Lizzie's disappearance and the hope of finding her draws him to Hawthorn. She is happy that he entertains her vivid notions, unlike the most of the people around her. But before you think romance, I should mention he is much older to her (25, and she 17) so while it was only friendship at first (which is still weird and should have been protested more by her family and friends) and later develops into more, there is still plenty to be skeeved out by. There is such a difference in the way they see the world, that I really feel someone should have stopped it before her heart gets eventually broken.
The writing is, in a word, offbeat. Sedoti has this way of displaying Hawthorn's quirky-ness is all its myriad forms. Her thoughts, her very reactions to everyday occurrences, her way of cursing people with random trivial but annoying things - all these build a character that is quite lonesome but also eager to be one with the world. While the story is centered around the idea of not creating mythical figures out of people you admire, or not assuming things, I felt the story sort of lost track around the middle. It wasn't until Lizzie's disappearance was resolved that the plot got back on track and moved towards an ending that was poignant and worthy of the coming-of-age book that this was. In conclusion, an evocative book that has moments of whimsy.
Received a free galley from Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley.
Searching for the mystery of Lizzie, she starts working in her job, hanging out with her boyfriend, Enzo. Enzo is distraught over Lizzie's disappearance and the hope of finding her draws him to Hawthorn. She is happy that he entertains her vivid notions, unlike the most of the people around her. But before you think romance, I should mention he is much older to her (25, and she 17) so while it was only friendship at first (which is still weird and should have been protested more by her family and friends) and later develops into more, there is still plenty to be skeeved out by. There is such a difference in the way they see the world, that I really feel someone should have stopped it before her heart gets eventually broken.
The writing is, in a word, offbeat. Sedoti has this way of displaying Hawthorn's quirky-ness is all its myriad forms. Her thoughts, her very reactions to everyday occurrences, her way of cursing people with random trivial but annoying things - all these build a character that is quite lonesome but also eager to be one with the world. While the story is centered around the idea of not creating mythical figures out of people you admire, or not assuming things, I felt the story sort of lost track around the middle. It wasn't until Lizzie's disappearance was resolved that the plot got back on track and moved towards an ending that was poignant and worthy of the coming-of-age book that this was. In conclusion, an evocative book that has moments of whimsy.
Received a free galley from Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley.
DNF: This didn't hook me at all, and after hearing from a friend it was problematic, I just didn't care to keep going.