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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I read a proof copy of this, supplied by work.
Points for:
- making me read it in one sitting, even though I felt like I could have put it down at any point, it still held interest enough for me to keep reading.
- making me laugh at least a few times.
- decent writing.
Everything else was okay. If anything really annoyed me, it was the formatting. In the beginning of the book there's a lot of switching between past story line and the present storyline, as well as diary entires. And then halfway through the book it just tapers out. There was no set format through the entire 400 pages of it, and even though I enjoyed the second half far better because it didn't switch back and forth as much (or at all) I think that says something about the formatting in general. Although I have a feeling the sequel will do something of the same, so I'm not sure if I'll be bothered to read it, I'll probably do it anyway.
Other than that, pretty predictable plot, two dimensional characters, and enough drama to keep you reading.
Points for:
- making me read it in one sitting, even though I felt like I could have put it down at any point, it still held interest enough for me to keep reading.
- making me laugh at least a few times.
- decent writing.
Everything else was okay. If anything really annoyed me, it was the formatting. In the beginning of the book there's a lot of switching between past story line and the present storyline, as well as diary entires. And then halfway through the book it just tapers out. There was no set format through the entire 400 pages of it, and even though I enjoyed the second half far better because it didn't switch back and forth as much (or at all) I think that says something about the formatting in general. Although I have a feeling the sequel will do something of the same, so I'm not sure if I'll be bothered to read it, I'll probably do it anyway.
Other than that, pretty predictable plot, two dimensional characters, and enough drama to keep you reading.
She loved him even when he broke her heart. She loved him desperately, with every ounce of her being...
...she was also sexually frustrated.
This was how I saw "Juliet".
I was expecting something more from this book but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, I didn't think it was horrid but it just wasn't extraordinary. Basically Ethan and Cassie have an intense love-hate, passionate relationship. They are extremely attracted to each other but somehow Ethan keeps breaking her heart. It was okay I guess. A little predictable but who cares? What I didn't like was Cassie's immaturity and sexual frustration. It disturbed me how much she wanted to get into his pants. Yes, love needs intimacy and passion but it doesn't have to be physical all the time. I didn't like how sexual activity was portrayed in this book. But that's just me. Overall, I would recommend this book to my romance loving buddies but I wouldn't want to re-read this ever again.
...she was also sexually frustrated.
This was how I saw "Juliet".
I was expecting something more from this book but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, I didn't think it was horrid but it just wasn't extraordinary. Basically Ethan and Cassie have an intense love-hate, passionate relationship. They are extremely attracted to each other but somehow Ethan keeps breaking her heart. It was okay I guess. A little predictable but who cares? What I didn't like was Cassie's immaturity and sexual frustration. It disturbed me how much she wanted to get into his pants. Yes, love needs intimacy and passion but it doesn't have to be physical all the time. I didn't like how sexual activity was portrayed in this book. But that's just me. Overall, I would recommend this book to my romance loving buddies but I wouldn't want to re-read this ever again.
It's live! Amazon buy link -> http://amzn.to/1r9IutZ
A story about mad passionate attraction and love between a brooding, tortured hero and a naïve, hilarious virgin who is the only one that has any hope in helping him. It was complete sexual tension escapism.
A quick note, this will be a two part review. The first is a hopefully short diatribe and then the actual book review. For those of you who want to get to the nitty gritty I’m going to hide my pre-review in a spoiler block, but there are no spoilers.
Spoiler
While checking out book lists I came across a pinkish cover with a shattered heart that coupled with the title turned my thoughts to the most famous Romeo of all time, and I was almost goner. See, I thought I’d spend December knitting and crocheting instead of reading. Who was I kidding!I go to GR to check out reviews and I see it has a good average rating and that several of my GR friends want to read it. But the first two reviews from people I follow come up with a 2 and a 5 star rating. I’m more than curious after reading both, because even when they coincide about the angst and good writing style, they obviously differ in everything else.
Doing more research (probably too much judging from my review’s length) I find out this was originally a fanFiction story called The Diva Diaries (now the heroine’s diary entries make more sense). It also turns out, that the fanFic was originally based on the two characters that hooked me into reading: Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. The file has been pulled from the site for rewrites and publishing, but there were still a few out-takes which gave me some perspective from Ethan’s POV.
I just wanted to explain my mindset while reading Bad Romeo. Before this dubiously starts to look like a diary entry from the heroine’s book (I’ll remember not to comment on how weird it seemed that a 25 year old would keep a diary) I’ll get to the actual review.
While trying to get into a most prestigious school of arts, emotionally challenged but incredibly talented Ethan Holt meets equally gifted Cassandra Taylor. And although their onstage chemistry while playing the most famous star crossed lovers of all time is remarkable, their offstage connection runs even deeper, frightening Ethan into strengthening his emotional armor. But even when Cassie is compliant with the rest of the world, she’s fiery and determined with Ethan and she’ll stop at nothing to get past the walls he’s erected.
“I’m going to ruin you for all other women.”
But even after their three years in school and in a relationship, Ethan seems to still be fearful of failure, rejection and being a Bad Romeo. Deciding to walk away from Cassie right after graduation.
“I thought I was cutting the cancer that was me out of your life.”
Three years later he has realized that leaving her was the biggest mistake of his life. He’s matured, grown and sought help to better himself because failure to get the woman he loves is not an option. Can he convince a now bitter and jaded Cassandra?
“We’ve never been over. You know it as well as I do. Even when I was halfway around the world and you hated my guts, we weren’t over.”
Bad Romeo starts off in present time when Cassie and Ethan have once again been cast opposite one another in a romantic Broadway play. And while she’s angry at Ethan, there’s no denying their attraction and the fact that her feelings for him haven’t died but been buried deep. The story and even Cassie’s diary entries alternate between past and present while revealing their story.
I wasn’t sure I would like Cassie at first. I like strong, independent woman, so reading solely from the perspective a girl with no identity or backbone seemed unappealing. But besides me understanding where that lack of character came from, she could laugh at herself,
“If there were a Nation of Stupid People, I would be their queen.”
she was general funny especially when it came to her obsession with vaginas, penises and sex,
“You rubbed your girl flower on his love muscle.”
and was forward when it came to Ethan.
And Ethan, the ultimate tortured soul, completely opposed to love, but was sweet and even fragil underneath his moodiness. He had betrayal and abandonment issues and knew he was not an easy person to get along with. He tried so hard to resist and push away Cassie. For her sake as well as his.
“If Romeo thought he loved Rosaline and she broke his heart, why wouldn’t he be terrified of Juliet, considering his connection to her is a hundred times stronger?”
Even though I had read the outtakes from his perspective, we get to know him slowly and once I got a better picture I understood where he was coming from.
I really enjoyed their love-to-hate-you parrying, even when at times it felt like two children were arguing.
“It’s an I’m-a-dick-achino”
“Huh. Smells like plain old hot chocolate to me.”
“Yeah, well, it turns out they were out of dick-achinos. I offered to make some more, but they said I was overqualified.”
Not to mention their scorching intense connection.
“The way we react to each other is elemental. Candle wax and flame.”
I did feel that their present story never really moved forward and their past was only half told. But I never felt any angst, probably due to my research (see hidden diatribe) and because I found the author’s hints telling of what was to come. I also thought that since Romeo+Juliet is such a timeless classic, I would get some sort of rinse, wash and repeat of it. But I found more similarities with Twilight and given its origin, it would have been weird not to.
In the end the writing was addictive. I smiled, swooned (I wish I could share all the swoon worthy highlights) and had some pretty good laughs while reading Ethan and Cassie’s story. I would’ve liked to have read Broken Juliet immediately after to see if my unresolved questions get answers.
I recommend this book if you like coming of age and second chance romances. There is no cheating, no triangle and no happy ending but certainly the promise of one in the next book.
“Sometimes it’s not about trying to fix something that’s broken. Sometimes it’s about starting again and building something new. Something better.”
Buy link -> http://amzn.to/1HfyDXo
* I was given an ARC of this book for an honest review via Netgalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *
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OMG!! Me reí, lloré y hasta sentí con ellos. Increíble como escribe la autora, unos personajes increíbles. No podía dejar de leer ! A ver ahora como sigue la historia...
Told from a past and present perspective, we see Ethan and Cassie meeting each other and getting to know one another, to whatever they are now. After being separated they must play the roles they once knew so well, but will their chemistry still be there? Ethan and Cassie seem to have switched personalities where Cassie is the one pushing Ethan away. This reunion has brought back the painful, romantic memories of the past and Cassie doesn’t know if that’s something she’s ready to face head-on yet.
I love this book. I do. I love the fact that it takes place in acting school. I’m so tired of the tattoo parlor bad boy (I’m actually not. Bring it on). I needed something new and fresh and I got exactly that. I’ve read this before, but the third book in the series came out and I’m excited for it; Instead of jumping right into it though.. I wanted to reread the first two and revisit the greatness that these two were.
I POSTED A FULL REVIEW HERE
Este libro me ha encantado. Tiene una historia sencilla, pero es una lectura fresca, con diálogos ocurrentes, también tiene partes de romanticismo y erotismo y es absolutamente divertida. Además, que esté narrada en dos tiempos es algo que me gusta mucho y los personajes protagonistas están muy bien construídos. Sin duda, 4 estrellas de 5. ;)
emotional
slow-paced
Ok, so, I struggled with this one. I loved the first half of the book. It was great. I loved how she was telling the story and I didn't want to put it down. But then it got shitty. I lost all interest in Cassie. I hated her when she was a horny virgin. I thought it was so cliche. I am sick of the virgin thing. Please stop writing that shit. I wasn't in love with Ethan. He was ok. He read as "too perfect" for me. I didn't like it. The story was compelling but not enough for me to pick up the second book. I HATED the cliffhanger. Don't do that shit either. I want to read a completed story.
