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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I felt a lot of different emotions when reading this. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry in frustration. I mostly wanted to vomit.
Did I like it at all? Well, the part I liked the most was how easy it was to make fun of it. Seriously, swap out rock star for vampire, Alabama for Forks, Washington and do a couple name swaps and you have almost the same exact premise as Twilight. I wish I was kidding.
My stomach was absolutely churning at some scenes. Sadie is presented as a very white, very Mary Sue, and VERY innocent main character. What’s sex? She doesn’t know. All she knows what to do is housework and become nauseated from certain sea foods. Take notes ladies, that’s what all the guys are looking for.
And Jax mother effing Stone. What does he know how to do? Well, he’s a “rock star” but he's "misunderstood," and has soulful eyes and stories about his childhood that would lure in any female or child predator. Seriously, it was a little heavy handed on the childhood stuff. I sometimes wondered if Sadie’s job description involved “babysitting a man child.”
But don't run away just yet! Jax isn't the only creepy dude in Sadie's life! Oh no! There's also Marcus! Who plays the "nice guy" card to the utmost extreme and is there to swoop in, literally (yes literally. He comes into her room/house without permission, through the window, when Sadie is distressed) when Sadie is feeling down about Jax. Which happens. A lot.
There's lot's of sighing, whimpering, and growling from all three parties too. So much so that I wondered if somewhere along the way they had indeed become werewolves or dogs. Or perhaps a murder mystery since both boys say they want to kill each other a lot. I mean really??? How perfect could Sadie be. Too perfect.
Did I hate it? Yes. Did I love hating it. YES. I'm by no means going to be picking up the rest of the series, even for fun, but I do need to reconsider visiting the Vincent Boys duology because I remember really liking those. This, however, was just a train wreck of stupidity and basically the death to feminism fictionalized and thrown into a 300 page book. I salute you Abbi Glines.
My problems with this book
1. My first problem with this book was the diction all the characters used. They ALL talked in this very proper way. I'm from the South. I've lived in the South my WHOLE life. And I can honestly say I've not once met someone who would speak like this: "I do not know what I am doing wrong" or "I am sorry" with no contractions when they're from the South. Come on, "Y'all" is probably one of the most used words in the South. We like to make sentences shorter and quicker. Plus, it was just a bit weird that the characters were almost always talking like that and in such a formal way. It especially bothered me with Marcus, who was born in raised in Alabama (where the story takes place) and he spoke in basically the same way. It just didn't seem that believable to me. The only character that I thought had the correct diction for where the book was set was Ms. Mary.
2. The next was with how quickly the book moved. There wasn't much of a plot, I guess would be the best way to describe it. It was very predictable and easy to guess what was coming next, and didn't seem to try to actually be a story. It seemed like their lives were just very shallow (even with what Sadie had to deal with at home) and as if nothing ever happened. It was just constant Jax and Sadie and no other plot points, or much of a plot, to go with it. There were a few bits, but again, it was just leading up to more of Jax and Sadie.
3. My third problem was with the characters themselves. Sadie got on my nerves SO MUCH. I didn't like her as the main character, or the narrator. I just didn't like her. Jax seemed like a bit of a spoiled brat, which I didn't like much either. Yeah, I get he's some big rock star, but he was still a bit too stuck up for my taste. I also didn't like how at the beginning, it was made a big deal about how Jax and his family were going to be there, but the mom shows up once and Jason is in the book maybe thee times. The dad was mentioned, but where he was I could not tell you.
The book was just very unrealistic. Everything happened so quickly, and just didn't seem as if any of it could be real. I honestly felt like I was reading a fan fiction on Wattpad at some parts, because they were THAT cliche.
What I did like
Breathe, even though no where near my favorite book I've read, was cute. It was a very quick read and defiantly got me in the mood for summer when school finally ends tomorrow.
But other than that, this book didn't do much for me. The characters got on my nerves, there wasn't much of a plot, and it was just highly unrealistic in every part of the story.
To be completely honest, I wouldn't recommend this book that much. Maybe if you're looking for a cute happy-ending-that-is-very-predictable book, then sure, go ahead. But this isn't something I'd recommend reading if you want to take something away from the book.
And just to let you know, I typically like Abbi Glines books. I really liked the Too Far Series, which is why I gave this one a try and stuck with it. This book just wasn't for me, and thats ok.
Let me tell you a short story about Mrs. Glines and I: We first met when I read her book, Existence. I hated that book; it was the first book I ever gave a 1 star rating to. So, naturally, I became wary of the idea of reading other books by her. But I knew that at some point, I should, because one book doesn't mean I'll hate all of her book; and she is such a well known and loved author. So I gave this one a try.
There were two things that made me like this book, despite it also sharing two of the very worst things about Existence:
A. I liked the characters.
B. I thought the two of them were really cute together.
The book is told from Sadie's point of view, and I really like this girl; She was honest and focused, pretty but unaware of it, mostly due to her mother and her being the adult in the family - she never had time for boys, and dating. She's independent and mature, and she may fall for rock star Jax, but it's not because of his rock star statues.
"She wasn't the best mom in the world, but she did belong to me."
As for Jax, I always love when those stars are nice, and considerate, and just really lonely. Though, honestly, that's about the most I know about this guy, aside for the fact he really cares and loves Sadie. I never felt like we got to know him much, but I liked the bits of him I did see.
Now, to the two issues I had with this book... that weren't all that bad, considering. If you're a long time follower, you know I usually react to them worse because they are some of my ultimate pet peeves. But as I said before, because I actually liked the plotline, the characters and the two of them together, it didn't matter all that much, aside for the occasional eye roll.
1. Insta Love
Again, I never felt like we got to know Jax all that well; because Sadie never did. She declares to us, in her head, that she knows "Jax" after two conversations, both of which they actually talked about her and not him. By their next meeting, she's fallen in love. And while they do get to know each other a bit better on the following days, it moved way too fast. However, they were kind of adorable. Very sweet and lovey-dovey. So, in this particular case... whatever.
2. The Bella Syndrome -
Naturally, from that description, you can guess correctly that Sadie does this. In fact, she goes to a full on no-eating no-drinking depression, dramatically declaring that she has lost her reason for breathing.
Yes, it sounds awful. Luckily for me, she get's back on her feet fairly quickly, even though she's still hurting, and again... characters, plot line and adorableness kept it from making me hate the book due to it
All in all, despite my misgivings about those two things, I really enjoyed this book, to my immense surprise. I admit I wasn't expecting much after Existence.
I recommend!