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ambeesbookishpages's review
1.0
The full review could be found at THE BOOK BRATZ!
To be honest, I am surprised I read this book from cover to cover. I think I had some faint hope that is was going to get better. (Spoiler Alert: It didn't)
My biggest problem with this book was the protagonist, Jen. She is rude, nasty, and beyond disrespectful. Being raised by an extremely religious father you would expect her to be a decent human being. She isn't. She continually complained about her father, calling him a wide variety of horrible names. I understand that she upset that he made her move and she was upset that her mother died. But I didn't find that enough of an excuse for her behavior. I also found Jen to be very insensitive to those around her.
For the first 50% of the book nothing interesting happened. I was expecting a horror story, but this wasn't scary. After a while it was just annoying because I knew it wasn't going to get better. But I still continued to read, because I try to believe the best in every book I read and figured that *MAYBE* it would get better. I also wanted my questions answered, and I finished Harmony House with more questions and almost no answers.
Like I said, I was surprised I finished this book considering I DNF books if I dislike them enough, and I couldn't tell you one thing I liked about Harmony House. I wouldn't recommend this one, to be honest.
*Thank you HarperTeen and Edelweiss for and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
To be honest, I am surprised I read this book from cover to cover. I think I had some faint hope that is was going to get better. (Spoiler Alert: It didn't)
My biggest problem with this book was the protagonist, Jen. She is rude, nasty, and beyond disrespectful. Being raised by an extremely religious father you would expect her to be a decent human being. She isn't. She continually complained about her father, calling him a wide variety of horrible names. I understand that she upset that he made her move and she was upset that her mother died. But I didn't find that enough of an excuse for her behavior. I also found Jen to be very insensitive to those around her.
For the first 50% of the book nothing interesting happened. I was expecting a horror story, but this wasn't scary. After a while it was just annoying because I knew it wasn't going to get better. But I still continued to read, because I try to believe the best in every book I read and figured that *MAYBE* it would get better. I also wanted my questions answered, and I finished Harmony House with more questions and almost no answers.
Like I said, I was surprised I finished this book considering I DNF books if I dislike them enough, and I couldn't tell you one thing I liked about Harmony House. I wouldn't recommend this one, to be honest.
*Thank you HarperTeen and Edelweiss for and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!*
juliriganti's review against another edition
1.0
Empecé este libro ayer después de tenerlo durante años en mi biblioteca esperando al momento justo. Me lo recomendaron en una librería cuando me estaba comprando Catacomb, parte de la saga de Asylum de Madeleine Roux, porque estaban publicitados como "si te gustó este, lee este otro", y por la tapa y la sinopsis confié y me lo llevé. La decepción que siento en este momento habiendo terminado el libro hace unas horas no tiene nombre.
Primero se sentía como si fuese el segundo libro en una saga de la cual no leí el primero. Faltaban explicaciones de ciertos eventos y los personajes estaban como hechos a medias. Jen honestamente me pareció una estúpida, y el único personaje que me pareció que tenía potencial era Colin, pero tampoco tenemos mucha información de el porque aparece y desaparece sin mucha explicación al respecto . No me voy a meter con el padre de Jen porque dios, siento que voy a matar a alguien.
La segunda mitad del libro fue una mezcla entre enormemente aburrida y terriblemente confusa. El autor siguió agregando cosas a la trama y conflictos a resolver pero no había suficientes páginas para que pudiese hacerse de manera satisfactoria, por lo que el final fueron 4 páginas (con suerte) como limpiándose las manos y diciendo "ah, si, terminé" y yo sentí que miraba a Homero Simpson armar la parrilla en el patio, mirando la caja con la imagen hermosa antes de ver el desastre que había hecho en el pedazo de cemento.
En fin. La lección de esta reseña es: si les gustó la saga de Asylum y alguien les recomienda este libro porque es similar, no es crean. Es una trampa.
Primero se sentía como si fuese el segundo libro en una saga de la cual no leí el primero. Faltaban explicaciones de ciertos eventos y los personajes estaban como hechos a medias. Jen honestamente me pareció una estúpida
Spoiler
desde el momento en que empieza a tener alucinaciones y no hace nada al respecto hasta que acepta su embarazo como si fuese completamente normal A PESAR DE QUE LITERALMENTE SALE DE LA NADA me di cuenta de que ninguna de sus acciones tenia una justificación mas que "¯\_(ツ)_/¯ porque no"Spoiler
era un fantasma? era otra alucinación? era el autor sacándose personajes del culo para un triste intento de romance con la protagonista? quien sabeLa segunda mitad del libro fue una mezcla entre enormemente aburrida y terriblemente confusa. El autor siguió agregando cosas a la trama y conflictos a resolver pero no había suficientes páginas para que pudiese hacerse de manera satisfactoria, por lo que el final fueron 4 páginas (con suerte) como limpiándose las manos y diciendo "ah, si, terminé" y yo sentí que miraba a Homero Simpson armar la parrilla en el patio, mirando la caja con la imagen hermosa antes de ver el desastre que había hecho en el pedazo de cemento.
En fin. La lección de esta reseña es: si les gustó la saga de Asylum y alguien les recomienda este libro porque es similar, no es crean. Es una trampa.
brokenchell's review
5.0
This was a very enjoyable book. It definitely held my interest the whole way thru from start to finish. The suspense was just right. Not too much but just enough that it didnt distract from the back story of Jen's mom and dad as well as Harmony House itself. Jen compares Harmony House to the hotel from The Shinning and I found myself doing this often as well. In the end tears came to my eyes it was so very bitter sweet. Really liked this book.
mellabella's review
3.0
I read Tweak. I didn't know that Nic Sheff wrote a horror novel. So, seeing his name on this book seemed coincidental. I like that he incorporated what he knew into the book. That being addiction.
Jen and her father move into Harmony House. Jen is 17. Her father is fanatically religious. Harmony House is abandoned, turned into a hotel and seemingly haunted. Jen's mother was an alcoholic. She died and, this is Jen and her dads new start. Jen starts having visions and experiencing things. Weird and scary happenings start occurring.
It's interesting that it's set in 1997. Before technology took over.
I thought it would be scarier. Or even just scary? The scariest moments to me were when Alex (town bully) made an appearance. I would have liked to know more about Colin. What happened to him after?
Also, more info on the previous tenants. The prologue got me worked up for no reason.
We might have been given a little more background on Jen. So her pregnancy wasn't so surprising.
This was a good effort though. Especially with The Shining feels. I would read more of his fictional work.
Jen and her father move into Harmony House. Jen is 17. Her father is fanatically religious. Harmony House is abandoned, turned into a hotel and seemingly haunted. Jen's mother was an alcoholic. She died and, this is Jen and her dads new start. Jen starts having visions and experiencing things. Weird and scary happenings start occurring.
It's interesting that it's set in 1997. Before technology took over.
I thought it would be scarier. Or even just scary? The scariest moments to me were when Alex (town bully) made an appearance. I would have liked to know more about Colin. What happened to him after?
Also, more info on the previous tenants. The prologue got me worked up for no reason.
We might have been given a little more background on Jen. So her pregnancy wasn't so surprising.
This was a good effort though. Especially with The Shining feels. I would read more of his fictional work.
scearceka's review
2.0
Not the worst book I've ever read, all things considered, but definitely not a horror by any means. Started off really well but quickly went off the rails and never really pulled itself back together to the point that I cared about any of the characters. It was like watching a movie or TV show where most of the actors are just annoying and you kinda hope they take a long walk off a short pier so you don't have to deal with them anymore...
disnelyse's review
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
freddybingsu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
kitsunebi_reads's review
2.0
So much was wrong with Harmony House. None of it scary, unless you count the writing. So repetitive. Head hurts, throw up, dry swallow pill and drink from faucet, repeat. None of the characters really made me feel a connection. Not even Jen, who you spend the most time with. Others are brought into the story only to be forgotten about (Colin). And it is so cliche. I am pretty sure just about all the material for this story was borrowed from Stephen King. So save yourself the bother and read The Shining and Carrie.
juliachumlea's review
2.0
Idk... I'm thinking I'll give this one a 2.5 stars when I review it. It really has little to do with the actual storyline... I just personally was not a fan of the concept of the book.
Review coming soon!
Review coming soon!