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hbhalliwell's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book. I enjoyed it much more than the first in the series. I like the suspense, I like the characters, I like her different style of writing, and (of course) I like the romance.
courtneydindin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
west_dynasti's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
emeszee's review against another edition
2.0
[2/5]
"Laters" and/or "Laters, baby" count: 21
This book was slightly better. Say a microscope just appeared right now. But even if that microscope had extremely enhanced zooming capabilities, even all the way to the atom, you'd barely be able to see the tiny sliver of "better" this book was. That "better" only lasted for one scene. One scene. But of course, the rest of this fantastical novel scarred me for eternity. After Fifty Shades of Grey Nonsense, Anastasia Steele, the legend herself, runs away from Christian. But guess what? She comes running back after 5. freaking. days. During that entire time frame, she was miserable. How did she even live before knowing him?? As the book continues, many other things that make no sense happen. I can't even fathom to remember them now. Like her boss at that publishing company. Somehow, he's worse than Christian, and that's saying something. He was a creep the whole time, and I hated it. But anyway. So after knowing each other for maybe 2 months, they decide to get engaged. Wow, I love irrational decisions!1!1! Also, Christians constantly flexes, leaving me hurt deep....inside my soul.
I think I'm ready to power through the final (thank god) book in this atrocious saga, [b:Fifty Shades Freed|13536860|Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)|E.L. James|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1336418837s/13536860.jpg|18034963]. Wish me luck and laters, baby!1!1!
"Laters" and/or "Laters, baby" count: 21
This book was slightly better. Say a microscope just appeared right now. But even if that microscope had extremely enhanced zooming capabilities, even all the way to the atom, you'd barely be able to see the tiny sliver of "better" this book was. That "better" only lasted for one scene. One scene. But of course, the rest of this fantastical novel scarred me for eternity. After Fifty Shades of Grey Nonsense, Anastasia Steele, the legend herself, runs away from Christian. But guess what? She comes running back after 5. freaking. days. During that entire time frame, she was miserable. How did she even live before knowing him?? As the book continues, many other things that make no sense happen. I can't even fathom to remember them now. Like her boss at that publishing company. Somehow, he's worse than Christian, and that's saying something. He was a creep the whole time, and I hated it. But anyway. So after knowing each other for maybe 2 months, they decide to get engaged. Wow, I love irrational decisions!1!1! Also, Christians constantly flexes, leaving me hurt deep....inside my soul.
I think I'm ready to power through the final (thank god) book in this atrocious saga, [b:Fifty Shades Freed|13536860|Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)|E.L. James|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1336418837s/13536860.jpg|18034963]. Wish me luck and laters, baby!1!1!
gracelyn's review against another edition
3.0
“You wanted hearts and flowers,” he murmurs. I blink at him, not quite believing what I’m seeing. “You have my heart.” And he waves toward the room. “And here are the flowers,” I whisper, completing his sentence. “Christian, it’s lovely.” ~ Anastasia Steele
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rereading Fifty Shades Darker, I noticed that the writing hadn’t improved much, but that makes sense since it was years between Grey and this one. The sex scene after Ana learns about Christian’s mother didn’t feel fully consensual, which bothered me. Going back to Anastasia’s POV reminded me why I prefer Christian’s perspective—Anastasia is still as annoying as ever. And to my surprise (I don’t remember) these is no BDSM in this book which I’m actually disappointed about. But definitely better than Fifty Shades of Grey.
Tropes/Themes
billionaire
second chance
stalker
bhalstead04's review against another edition
5.0
The liked the first book because I really liked Ana. I did not really care for Christian at all. I hated how it ended. In fact, I almost did not read the second book because of the ending. I am so glad I forged on.
I loved the second book. Christian made me like him. Now we know what's wrong with him! Leila's arrival and addition to the story was great. I wish there would have been more of that. She could have really messed with them. Or maybe she did and we will find out in book 3? I doubt it, I bet there are different suprises in book 3. Can't wait to start the final book.
I loved the second book. Christian made me like him. Now we know what's wrong with him! Leila's arrival and addition to the story was great. I wish there would have been more of that. She could have really messed with them. Or maybe she did and we will find out in book 3? I doubt it, I bet there are different suprises in book 3. Can't wait to start the final book.
haruko's review against another edition
1.0
Fifty Shades Darker takes place five days after Anastasia Steele breaks up with Christian Grey. It is noted that out of those five days, Ana has chosen not to eat for three of them, so the reader gets to experience every character in the book gasping and exclaiming at the sight of Ana's weight loss and Ana's comments on how her clothes don't fit right anymore. On page 10, when Anastasia gets back together with Christian, he comments that she looks like she's lost five pounds. If losing weight was this easy, we wouldn't have an obesity problem in America. But I digress.
Most conversations in this book has Anastasia constantly monologuing or making outspoken comments about how fucked up Christian is, and Christian constantly telling Anastasia to eat.
Also I noted every female mentioned in the book wants to bang Christian, except for his relatives, and every male mentioned has at least some attraction to Ana. At the end of the book, when Christian announces he's going to marry Ana, all the women in the room has some type of disgusted or jealous expression at the announcement and the author proceeds to write some shallow commentary of these other character's in Ana's voice.
Anywho, let's read some memorable excerpts from the book:
This one makes me want to see my dentist:
"I gasp, and his mouth swoops down. He's kissing me, violently. Briefly our teeth clash, then his tongue is in my mouth."
When I imagine this being said out loud, it hurts:
"So help me God, Anastasia, if you don't eat, I will take you across my knee here in this restaurant, and it will have nothing to do with my sexual gratification. Eat!"
When someone buys you stuff, that's true love:
"He must have some feelings for me. He must. This iPad, these songs, these apps -- he cares. He really cares."
Ana likes hair in her mouth:
"I want nothing more than to run my tongue through his chest hair to savor his taste."
Jesus:
"Gazing at us both in the mirror -- his beauty, his nakedness, and me with my covered hair -- we look almost biblical, as if from an Old Testament Baroque painting."
He's only 27:
"He grins at me with his boyish, carefree, I'm-only-twenty-seven smile, and my heart lurches into my mouth."
Throughout the book, Ana has an "inner goddess" who acts as her conscience and does weird things like this:
"My inner goddess is doing a triple axel dismount off the uneven bars, and abruptly my mouth is dry."
"My inner goddess does three back flips over the gym floor as I grasp his hand."
"My inner goddess performs a perfect triple Salchow in her ice skates."
"My inner goddess performs a quick arabesque."
"My inner goddess is limbering up in the background, doing her floor exercises -- a great wide smile on her face."
"I flush, and my inner goddess grabs a rose between her teeth and starts to tango."
"'Yes, I want a demonstration. I like being tied up,' I whisper as my inner goddess pole vaults from the bunker onto her chaise longue."
"It's like he's addressing me below the waist...my inner goddess performs four arabesques and a pas de basque."
And last but not least, here are E.L. James' favorite phrases and how many times she uses them throughout this book:
"Oh my" - 30x (George Takei would be so proud.)
"Oh shit" - 24x
"Holy shit" - 29x
"Holy cow" - 22x
"Holy fuck" - 23x
Most conversations in this book has Anastasia constantly monologuing or making outspoken comments about how fucked up Christian is, and Christian constantly telling Anastasia to eat.
Also I noted every female mentioned in the book wants to bang Christian, except for his relatives, and every male mentioned has at least some attraction to Ana. At the end of the book, when Christian announces he's going to marry Ana, all the women in the room has some type of disgusted or jealous expression at the announcement and the author proceeds to write some shallow commentary of these other character's in Ana's voice.
Anywho, let's read some memorable excerpts from the book:
This one makes me want to see my dentist:
"I gasp, and his mouth swoops down. He's kissing me, violently. Briefly our teeth clash, then his tongue is in my mouth."
When I imagine this being said out loud, it hurts:
"So help me God, Anastasia, if you don't eat, I will take you across my knee here in this restaurant, and it will have nothing to do with my sexual gratification. Eat!"
When someone buys you stuff, that's true love:
"He must have some feelings for me. He must. This iPad, these songs, these apps -- he cares. He really cares."
Ana likes hair in her mouth:
"I want nothing more than to run my tongue through his chest hair to savor his taste."
Jesus:
"Gazing at us both in the mirror -- his beauty, his nakedness, and me with my covered hair -- we look almost biblical, as if from an Old Testament Baroque painting."
He's only 27:
"He grins at me with his boyish, carefree, I'm-only-twenty-seven smile, and my heart lurches into my mouth."
Throughout the book, Ana has an "inner goddess" who acts as her conscience and does weird things like this:
"My inner goddess is doing a triple axel dismount off the uneven bars, and abruptly my mouth is dry."
"My inner goddess does three back flips over the gym floor as I grasp his hand."
"My inner goddess performs a perfect triple Salchow in her ice skates."
"My inner goddess performs a quick arabesque."
"My inner goddess is limbering up in the background, doing her floor exercises -- a great wide smile on her face."
"I flush, and my inner goddess grabs a rose between her teeth and starts to tango."
"'Yes, I want a demonstration. I like being tied up,' I whisper as my inner goddess pole vaults from the bunker onto her chaise longue."
"It's like he's addressing me below the waist...my inner goddess performs four arabesques and a pas de basque."
And last but not least, here are E.L. James' favorite phrases and how many times she uses them throughout this book:
"Oh my" - 30x (George Takei would be so proud.)
"Oh shit" - 24x
"Holy shit" - 29x
"Holy cow" - 22x
"Holy fuck" - 23x