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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
This book started so strong. I was really interested; Jon’s kidnapping was fascinating, the childlike love and friendship between Chloe and Jon was sweet. Suddenly we’re thrust into action - Jon is being hunted.
Then Jon wakes up. He’s been kidnapped and kept asleep for four years. He’s in a strange body, a man’s body, no longer the child he was when he was kidnapped. Something’s strange, and wrong and he fears he has monstrous powers.
Sounds fascinating, right? Except the very moment that Jon wakes up turns out to be the highlight of the book. I waited for the rest of the plot to unravel - a confrontation with the kidnapper, a deeper exploration of his new powers, a growing relationship between Jon and Chloe.
None of that happens. Jon pads through the book, changing not at all, Chloe flits from page to page, leaving no impression, never growing, never having her own real storyline. Their relationship stays bland, shallow, based only in schoolyard crushes. You are told repeatedly that these characters just love each other, they’re perfect for each other, they’re the only ones who understand each other. And yet they have zero chemistry. Their conversations are awkward, stilted, unrelentingly childish. There is no actual exploration of the powers, or the kidnapper’s theories. Any hopes of discussion with him or his old mentor, or exploration within the house, were swiftly crushed, as though Kepnes was terrified that we might accidentally find something interesting in a confrontation- god, any kind of confrontation.
In short, this is a YA novel with a paranormal element that the author simply doesn’t seem to know what to do with. It’s all idea, no substance. I’m really disappointed. I loved You. I liked Hidden Bodies. I’ll be reading her next work, because I know she can do better than this. But this one? Suffice it to say if I ever have to read about marshmallow fluff as an allegory for love again, I’m going to microwave myself.
Then Jon wakes up. He’s been kidnapped and kept asleep for four years. He’s in a strange body, a man’s body, no longer the child he was when he was kidnapped. Something’s strange, and wrong and he fears he has monstrous powers.
Sounds fascinating, right? Except the very moment that Jon wakes up turns out to be the highlight of the book. I waited for the rest of the plot to unravel - a confrontation with the kidnapper, a deeper exploration of his new powers, a growing relationship between Jon and Chloe.
None of that happens. Jon pads through the book, changing not at all, Chloe flits from page to page, leaving no impression, never growing, never having her own real storyline. Their relationship stays bland, shallow, based only in schoolyard crushes. You are told repeatedly that these characters just love each other, they’re perfect for each other, they’re the only ones who understand each other. And yet they have zero chemistry. Their conversations are awkward, stilted, unrelentingly childish. There is no actual exploration of the powers, or the kidnapper’s theories. Any hopes of discussion with him or his old mentor, or exploration within the house, were swiftly crushed, as though Kepnes was terrified that we might accidentally find something interesting in a confrontation- god, any kind of confrontation.
In short, this is a YA novel with a paranormal element that the author simply doesn’t seem to know what to do with. It’s all idea, no substance. I’m really disappointed. I loved You. I liked Hidden Bodies. I’ll be reading her next work, because I know she can do better than this. But this one? Suffice it to say if I ever have to read about marshmallow fluff as an allegory for love again, I’m going to microwave myself.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know how to feel about this book. The first few chapters were amazing and then it was just tense and didn’t really go anywhere. But the characters had such depth and relatability. I like the authors writing but not the storyline coz nothing really happened or got any answers. I don’t know. The characters were good though.
Eh.
Sadly with "You" being my favourite book the expectations were high causing more disappointment than was necessary. It certainly was no "You" and quite tedious and boring. I couldn't work out whether the characters were tolerable or annoying. No one spoke to me, none were relatable it was a frustrating read. Years wasted pining with not so much as a text, to then end on texts
Sadly with "You" being my favourite book the expectations were high causing more disappointment than was necessary. It certainly was no "You" and quite tedious and boring. I couldn't work out whether the characters were tolerable or annoying. No one spoke to me, none were relatable it was a frustrating read. Years wasted pining with not so much as a text, to then end on texts
I never have and never will read Lovecraft, but this Lovecraft Fanfic was great.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really unusual novel with a unique writing style that I really enjoyed. I'll be thinking of "Kissed. fixed." for a long time.
Focusing on the power of human connection, love and fighting against the circumstances you can't control with a sci-fi plot.
Focusing on the power of human connection, love and fighting against the circumstances you can't control with a sci-fi plot.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes