Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Shatter Me

and i’m done after almost a month😳 this book took so long as i had difficulties continuing it as the characters were unbearable🧍‍♂️the only character i like is kenji as he reminds me of jesper from soc and everyone else is just so serious and horny like i know humanity is destroyed but u need to calm down, juliette apparently is the only girl to exist at this point where all three male leads crave her and for what reason idk. i get she has one of a kind powers and that is fascinating but anything else i don’t get 😐talking about romance in this…i hate it! i’ve mentioned i’m not a romance reader and this is one of the examples of romance i can’t stand, this book has more spicy moments than i want cuz i honestly don’t care about that, i would rather you build something emotional bonding together and tension than straight up making out every few chapters. okay so world building i liked, it’s very similar to “the maze runner” where humanity is destroyed and only the gov exist with some people who are either slaved or have powers, this is many ways parallels to the real world. last line “superhero” okay mileven… i know adam and juliette are not endgame and it’s warner and juliette but i’m intrigued how this enemies to lovers will work for them as so far juliette hates warner with a passion but i know warner is going to have this angsty sad backstory that will make me like him. i wish i get more badass juliette ALONE i don’t need a man to save her🙄 like if she can punch through metal walls i think she can save herself. there were some lines i underlined that i liked and related to but a lot of cringey lines overlooked this sadly. in terms of creating a villain i’m intrigued to see how warner is viewed even tho he probably isn’t a villain later on as i don’t trust adam (he’s just too nice). warner reminds me of 001 was stranger things except he probably has a better storyline lmao and also c!dream🤭😩 i could honestly like him until i know his true motif and backstory to change me like always just like kaz being seen as a bad guy but isn’t but no one can compare to kaz and his gloves (mentioned to touch juliette) just like kanej endgame so… the writing style i actually really like at the start with the cross outs but it just randomly disappeared all of a sudden and barely returned, it made more sense to make it slowly fade out to the end of the book as it’s supposed to highlight juliette’s insecurity but it wasn’t as frantic? i’ll be reading the rest of the series i hope cuz with how it ended i’m interested to see this war i guess with the minority vs the corrupt. but i’m not in the fantasy/dystopian mood i think that’s why my rating is low but if i read this last year i would have enjoyed it. for me personally why it isn’t a higher rating is the characters’ dialogue it was cringe and nothing added much than they were very horny😐 but honestly my brain is doing the work to think of situations these characters than can be in and arcs they could have until i read the rest of the books but this series has potential for me to actually enjoy!

my annotation guide:

grey = growth (character arc/world building)
peach = parallels to the real world (world issues)
white = quotes i love
pink = romance/love/family

Content Warnings

gothmiku's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

samflowerv6's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective tense

3.75

I previously DNF’d but gave it another chance and really enjoyed it. The writing is poetic and authentic. Juliette is such a complex and troubled character. And many side characters were very enjoyable. I enjoy her and Adam but I know the really party is with her and Warner. Kenji is my fav and I can’t wait to learn more about these characters. I’m enjoying the ride.

“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.
In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”

“You're absolutely delicious when you're angry."
"Too bad my taste is poisonous for your palate.”

Content Warnings

hiraeth_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I liked that the writing style was directly influenced by Juliette's state of mind, that way it seemed very realistic and touching, but it was also a little bit annoying and exhausting sometimes. In the beginning I had the feeling the world wasn't as rich and well designed, but then again I feel like it was the writer's intention that we learn about the world together with the MC. A little bit cringe sometimes but the main audience is 14-20 years old so maybe I was a little bit out of the intended target group. If I had read this at 14/15 years old I would've eaten that shit up!

Content Warnings

wahreads's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Content Warnings

bisquii's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book is best read when in middle school or with the intention to not think too critically about it.
For a dystopia, the world building is very underwhelming, and for a romance, both of Juliette’s love interests are like walking Red Flags (not to mention they are only in love with what she represents to them tbh).
However, I really enjoyed Juliette’s character and her development! She’s consistent in her personality and, in the face of literally everyone and their dog telling her what to do, she calculates all her options and uses her own judgement to make her choices. That’s rare for a female character! I found her sense of loyalty and trust issues to be incredibly consistent and relatable! Her POV really elevates this series.

Content Warnings

that_reader_naomi's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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