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breecreative's review
3.0
Let me start out by saying two things: I love Ellen Hopkins work (I've read all her books other than Tilt, her latest YA novel), and I agree with her political views, albeit I'm not an American. However, this one fell short for me.
I found that it was a little bit *too* political in nature, although, yes, it was talking about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it could have been talking about ANY war. It felt like she was writing so that she could put her political stance out there on paper.
But, other than that, I just didn't feel as emotionally invested with these characters as I usually do. I thought Darian was irritating and a bit of a baby, Ashley needed to grow up and decide she was doing, and I definitely didn't like Cole. Of course, that's the way he was portrayed. But I've seen other authors write about the effects of war on the human psyche and do it well, this wasn't quite there. If instead, the book was supposed to be about how hard it is to see your husband/wife off to war repeatedly and resisting the temptations that are associated with that, it still didn't do a good enough job.
I also felt that the writing was a little bit off. Normally her free verse is amazing, but this was more like a story just broken into stanzas and not much else. The poetry written by Cole and Ashley were more up to par with Hopkins' writing style. So that was also a bit of a disappointment for me.
This doesn't mean I won't be reading more of her work, as I said earlier, I'm a big fan. This one just didn't do it for me. Hopefully the next one will!
I found that it was a little bit *too* political in nature, although, yes, it was talking about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it could have been talking about ANY war. It felt like she was writing so that she could put her political stance out there on paper.
But, other than that, I just didn't feel as emotionally invested with these characters as I usually do. I thought Darian was irritating and a bit of a baby, Ashley needed to grow up and decide she was doing, and I definitely didn't like Cole. Of course, that's the way he was portrayed. But I've seen other authors write about the effects of war on the human psyche and do it well, this wasn't quite there. If instead, the book was supposed to be about how hard it is to see your husband/wife off to war repeatedly and resisting the temptations that are associated with that, it still didn't do a good enough job.
I also felt that the writing was a little bit off. Normally her free verse is amazing, but this was more like a story just broken into stanzas and not much else. The poetry written by Cole and Ashley were more up to par with Hopkins' writing style. So that was also a bit of a disappointment for me.
This doesn't mean I won't be reading more of her work, as I said earlier, I'm a big fan. This one just didn't do it for me. Hopefully the next one will!
krystafig's review
4.0
Please read my full review at Born a Booklover.
I really appreciated the "rewind" sections, because they gave the reader a reason to feel something for Ashley and what she was going through. Anyone that has ever fallen in love could relate to what Ashley was going through and immediately connect with her.
At the same time, I was still an outsider to the story, and in being an outsider, it was easy to see the warning signs as Cole's military career changed the very essence of his being and molded him into someone else.
I appreciated that Collateral felt like a real-life love story that could apply to any evolving relationship; not only military couples.
While I fully support the military and believe that they need better help assimilating in to civilian life after their time has been served, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone either in, or considering beginning a relationship with someone in the military. Collateral is real, it is heartbreaking, it is eye-opening, and it is an all too common story.
I really appreciated the "rewind" sections, because they gave the reader a reason to feel something for Ashley and what she was going through. Anyone that has ever fallen in love could relate to what Ashley was going through and immediately connect with her.
At the same time, I was still an outsider to the story, and in being an outsider, it was easy to see the warning signs as Cole's military career changed the very essence of his being and molded him into someone else.
I appreciated that Collateral felt like a real-life love story that could apply to any evolving relationship; not only military couples.
While I fully support the military and believe that they need better help assimilating in to civilian life after their time has been served, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone either in, or considering beginning a relationship with someone in the military. Collateral is real, it is heartbreaking, it is eye-opening, and it is an all too common story.
tarora's review against another edition
5.0
I've read nearly all of Ellen Hopkins' books. This was, by far, the most realistic and heart breaking of them. I can't imagine how difficult this would be to read if you are a military spouse, to see some of the reality that doesn't seem to get discussed. Definitely a good read, and eye opener, told in Ellen's signature style that leaves you wanting more.
nibech's review against another edition
3.0
I'm only going to give this book a score of three stars, and here is why: I've read pretty much all of Hopkins novels, except for a few. This novel, while it is well written in her verse style that the author is well known for, was not as eventful as her other adult novel, Triangles, or others. The climax of the book wasn't until the last fifty pages of the book, and I feel like there wasn't enough build up to it, or maybe I wasn't paying attention well enough to the smaller details, like when Cole accused Ashley of cheating on him while on deployment. Regardless, I like all of her books quite a bit, but this one was the most dry to read.
hezann73's review against another edition
3.0
Not the tear-jerking, tug on your heartstrings kind of book that I'm used to from this author. It kind of left me wondering how anyone makes any marriage work. Dark around the edges and sad.
macabrereadersam's review against another edition
5.0
I've loved every book of Ellen Hopkins's that I've read, and considering I've read every one of her books I guess that means I've loved everything this woman has written! Hopkins takes a very real, very sensitive, very current topic: the United States military and how it effects those in the military but their families as well. From the very beginning I was attached to all of the characters. I quite literally devoured this book once I could break away from work! Any one who wants a quick, but amazing, read should definitely read this book.
socialpsysteph's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the prose, as always. Really enjoyed the characters in this one but I felt like they could have had more depth.
purplespecslms's review against another edition
3.0
I usually love Ellen Hopkins style, but maybe it was the story but I didn't like it as much as some of her other works. The poetry is, as it always is, excellent. I don't know... I don't think that I really like reading poetry, I don't know why, but I just never have. Oh, well, you win some... you lose some...
booksndjunk's review against another edition
4.0
This was a little bit different than I was expecting, but overall it was enjoyable. It had its flaws but the main characters were interesting to read from and of course the writing style is amazing!
swilcox2's review
2.0
Hopkins tries to put too much military lingo into this book. I found it distracting and disingenuous how hard she tried to saturate the plot with terms.