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2.75 AVERAGE
2.75 AVERAGE
****SPOILERS****
I liked this book. I agree with other opinions that the voice is very young and that there a lot of useless details and anecdotes. The author does it because the character has ADD, and has a hard time focusing.
I didn't think the pace was bad. I thought it was fitting. I finished the book quickly. I think Gillies did a good job of showing how groups of wealthy, teen girls talk, think, and behave. As a native NYer, I did not think she wrote the book in keeping with how teens in NYC speak. But other details were great.
This book is about how a group of friends navigate getting older. A boy named Nolan introduces a lot of firsts and makes the friend change. Reagan and Nolan get together while he is still with Wren. She did a similar thing to Vati and Oliver. Charlie goes a date with a guy. Vati and Oliver end up happy together. But Wren is left broken hearted with most of her friends.
I'd recommend it if you wanna read a highly implausible book. All these books are the same in how two teenagers fall so quickly and magically in love. Can we get a book about the second time someone falls in love and how practical it is???
I liked this book. I agree with other opinions that the voice is very young and that there a lot of useless details and anecdotes. The author does it because the character has ADD, and has a hard time focusing.
I didn't think the pace was bad. I thought it was fitting. I finished the book quickly. I think Gillies did a good job of showing how groups of wealthy, teen girls talk, think, and behave. As a native NYer, I did not think she wrote the book in keeping with how teens in NYC speak. But other details were great.
This book is about how a group of friends navigate getting older. A boy named Nolan introduces a lot of firsts and makes the friend change. Reagan and Nolan get together while he is still with Wren. She did a similar thing to Vati and Oliver. Charlie goes a date with a guy. Vati and Oliver end up happy together. But Wren is left broken hearted with most of her friends.
I'd recommend it if you wanna read a highly implausible book. All these books are the same in how two teenagers fall so quickly and magically in love. Can we get a book about the second time someone falls in love and how practical it is???
At first I wasn't the biggest fan of this book. It felt kind of childish. But then as I hit the ending and sat with the book and I realized it is childish but it's realistic. I made bad choices in high school. Some of the choices I made were because I thought I was in love or because I wanted people to see me a certain way. And that's exactly what Wren and her friends do. They make choices because they are in high school.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book because it feels like a really realistic portrayal of high school. I don't know what it is like to be a high schooler in NYC, but all the emotions felt real.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book because it feels like a really realistic portrayal of high school. I don't know what it is like to be a high schooler in NYC, but all the emotions felt real.
For a full review, commentary, or point of view on this book, feel free to go to https://inkishkingdoms.wordpress.com/
This book is for the fangirling girl's generation that worshiped Twilight. It gives me the idea that the author wanted to create the new Gossip Girl kind of girls... *sigh* I will be honest, the part that I liked most about this book was the house. Jesus the description of the house what a picture. A new yorker, persianish, and artfully 5-story house. I can imagine the opulence all lightly illuminated by lampshades... Just so cozy and beautiful.
Now, that aside, I think we see in depth the life of teenagers which is dramatic unrealistic and these ones, privileged. Why unrealistic? Because for them is either doom, perish, distraction, and out of proportion negative or just mental fairy tale... Which I hate to admit I like. (Keep reading, it all changes at the end)
Read the full review on the blog!
This book is for the fangirling girl's generation that worshiped Twilight. It gives me the idea that the author wanted to create the new Gossip Girl kind of girls... *sigh* I will be honest, the part that I liked most about this book was the house. Jesus the description of the house what a picture. A new yorker, persianish, and artfully 5-story house. I can imagine the opulence all lightly illuminated by lampshades... Just so cozy and beautiful.
Now, that aside, I think we see in depth the life of teenagers which is dramatic unrealistic and these ones, privileged. Why unrealistic? Because for them is either doom, perish, distraction, and out of proportion negative or just mental fairy tale... Which I hate to admit I like. (Keep reading, it all changes at the end)
Read the full review on the blog!
for my full review, check out my blog: https://vicsense.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/starry-night/
This book sounded so promising. At first, I was drawn in by the teenage love story, that sounded so relatable and brought back memories of my own teenage years. However, the initially cutesy narrative soon took a backseat to a very annoying, boring, and drawn-out plot. I’m not kidding, the middle of the book was so long and boring, I stopped reading and put the book aside for–wait for it– 8 MONTHS. I only *just* pushed through the last 100 pages, just to say I’d have something solid to review. Yes, it was that painful.
Somewhere around the middle mark, the characters became increasingly more and more juvenile. As in, acting like ten year olds rather than fifteen year olds. I’m sorry but, I was 15 once too, and I definitely wasn’t as air-headed as these characters.
The language was beyond annoying with all of the “oh my gosh!!1!1!!” and “… like…” in every two sentences. I was especially offended when Wren meets a French lady at the museum and, in true stereotypical fashion, the lady’s dialogue is written like this:
"Zis is one of ze great paintings in all of time, in all of ze world. It’s Ze Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, a genius" (Starry Night, p.312).
I mean come on, really?? French people don’t speak like that. As a native French speaker, I am legit insulted.
My other problem with this book was the side story of one of her friends, Farah.
I just want to erase this whole book from my memories. It's going straight into my goodwill pile (although, I do feel sorry for the next person who'll pick it up... but honestly, I can't stand having it on my shelf any longer).
2 STARS OF SHAME FOR THIS VAN GOGH INSPIRED FAILURE.
This book sounded so promising. At first, I was drawn in by the teenage love story, that sounded so relatable and brought back memories of my own teenage years. However, the initially cutesy narrative soon took a backseat to a very annoying, boring, and drawn-out plot. I’m not kidding, the middle of the book was so long and boring, I stopped reading and put the book aside for–wait for it– 8 MONTHS. I only *just* pushed through the last 100 pages, just to say I’d have something solid to review. Yes, it was that painful.
Somewhere around the middle mark, the characters became increasingly more and more juvenile. As in, acting like ten year olds rather than fifteen year olds. I’m sorry but, I was 15 once too, and I definitely wasn’t as air-headed as these characters.
The language was beyond annoying with all of the “oh my gosh!!1!1!!” and “… like…” in every two sentences. I was especially offended when Wren meets a French lady at the museum and, in true stereotypical fashion, the lady’s dialogue is written like this:
"Zis is one of ze great paintings in all of time, in all of ze world. It’s Ze Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, a genius" (Starry Night, p.312).
I mean come on, really?? French people don’t speak like that. As a native French speaker, I am legit insulted.
My other problem with this book was the side story of one of her friends, Farah.
Spoiler
This girl (read: child) of only 15 years, is dating a 30 year old man, who encourages her to snort cocaine (?!?!?), have sex with him, and dress like a 40 year old. As much as Wren’s story of abandoning her dream was frustrating, Farah’s story was downright sickening. I can’t believe that the author thought this would be a good idea to incorporate in her book, which is targeted at (emotionally vulnerable and impressionable) teenagers. PEDOPHILIA IS NOT OKAY. FORCING A MINOR TO TAKE DRUGS IS NOT OKAY. What the hell was she thinking, turning this into a weird side-romance to go along with the main love story. EWW. Yes, the other characters constantly point out that Farah’s relationship to this man is twisted, BUT NONE OF THEM DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. How come these so-called best friends can’t find the courage to tell an adult about this?!? This is ILLEGAL for crying out loud.I just want to erase this whole book from my memories. It's going straight into my goodwill pile (although, I do feel sorry for the next person who'll pick it up... but honestly, I can't stand having it on my shelf any longer).
2 STARS OF SHAME FOR THIS VAN GOGH INSPIRED FAILURE.
Rating:
★★★★★ = I loved this book and would reread it in the future.
Genre:
Young Adult Contemporary
Plot:
This story follows teenage Wren and her friend who attend a gala event at the Met. While there Wren runs off with the object of her affection, a boy who plays in a band. She falls for him and he ends up breaking her heart.
Pros:
1.) This book is written sort of like a journal entry. It's personal and relatable if you have ever been a 15 year old girl.
2.) The cover art is beautiful!
3. ) There are quite a few references to art in this book which I love. Art is something I always enjoy reading about.
Cons:
1.) This is a quick read or at least, it was for me. If you like that type of thing then this obviously wouldn't be a con.
2. ) Im back and forth with the characters, sometimes they seem immature but other times they are doing things and dealing with issues that would have been unimaginable to my 15 year old self
My thoughts:
I start out every YA review like this: I generally HATE YA books. So, when I find one I actually like it's rare. I liked this book. A lot! I really feel like I can relate to Wren. I can't relate to some YA main character females so the fact that some of her reminded me of myself was pretty cool. Even the way she handled her break up with Nolan reminded me of myself when I was her age. I sure wasn't dating when I was 15 but if I had been I am pretty sure I would have done it a lot like she did with my hear on my sleeve. I read a lot of this book relating to Wren but because I am a parent now, I considered how I would feel if I had been Wrens parents. I found myself so disappointed in her decision to sacrifice studying abroad all because of some dumb boy. It makes sense though that she couldn't see the enormity of her decision at the time since she was blinded by love. Overall I really enjoyed this book. I definitely cried at the end! I will read it again when I am in the mood to be sent back to my younger years. I have already and will continue to recommend this book to friends.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I finished this book December 7, 2014.
I really think I would have liked this if I was 13.
I had so many problems with this I don't know where to begin...
First thing: there was not even a plot!
Next: All the character were one-dimensional. I did not connect with any if them, I could care less. Also, whenever the girlfriends would get together guess what they talked about--boys! only about boys!
Third: Not a big fan of the writing
Last (there might be more actually): So unrealistic and the conversations the characters had with each other was soooo blaahhh. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot while reading this.
Do not recommend it unless you want a really, really, really fluffy YA contemporary.
side note: The main character, Wren, reminded me a lot of Frankie from Degrassi: The Next Class. Also she made a lot of stupid decisions. Her only redeeming quality is that she had another passion besides boys: ART (but of course she ruined it for a boy!)
I had so many problems with this I don't know where to begin...
First thing: there was not even a plot!
Next: All the character were one-dimensional. I did not connect with any if them, I could care less. Also, whenever the girlfriends would get together guess what they talked about--boys! only about boys!
Third: Not a big fan of the writing
Last (there might be more actually): So unrealistic and the conversations the characters had with each other was soooo blaahhh. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot while reading this.
Do not recommend it unless you want a really, really, really fluffy YA contemporary.
side note: The main character, Wren, reminded me a lot of Frankie from Degrassi: The Next Class. Also she made a lot of stupid decisions. Her only redeeming quality is that she had another passion besides boys: ART (but of course she ruined it for a boy!)
Alright, alright, alright time for a review where I will try to restrain myself from ranting too much about the things that really irked me about this book.
First, let me begin by saying that this book has some of the most immature/childish characters I've read about in my life. The ages of the main cast of characters in this book ranges from 15-18 and may I just say that it seems as if the author studied eight year olds for her inspiration for these characters. There was no forethought as to if teenagers actually act this way—and as a teenager myself it's incredibly demeaning to be portrayed this way by someone who clearly has put no thought into how we truly act. I want to read about relatable characters, not ones who make me irritable.
Next I would like to mention the fact that the main character, Wren, gave up a dream she had been working towards for years for some boy who in the end turned out to be something he wasn't. Wren was written as a very weak and childish character who seemed to not have any free will or decision making skills of her own. The decision she made to not listen to those around who truly cared about her well being in regards to a boy is stupid at best. The only truly redeeming thing about Wren is her artistic talent.
I also found Wren's friends to be even worse than her (with the exception of Padmavati). The entire Farah and Cy plot line was very unnecessary and unrealistic (and quite frankly disgusting), and Reagan was the worst of them all: a follower who doesn't know how to stand alone, and she certainly proved herself to be just that. From the start I found Nolan to be less than desirable (I don't think having a gold hoop earring with super long hair is attractive but to each his own). Almost as soon and he and Wren began dating, he was a tad controlling but it seemed to be masked by the sweet romantic gestures that were written for him.
All in all I find that authors who write weak and immature female characters who don't think logically and rely entirely on the direction of an older male love interest, tend to lose my interest rather fast. I had to propel through this book in the hopes that maybe something redeeming would come of the end (I will say that Vati and Oliver's relationship and Wren's sister Dinah were probably the only things keeping me in check during my reading of this book). Overall, I guess I could give this book 2.5 stars out of 5, but an author really loses me when she writes about lovesick 15 year olds who have no idea how to stand on their own. :(
P.S. sorry for the copious amounts of parenthesis and ranting
First, let me begin by saying that this book has some of the most immature/childish characters I've read about in my life. The ages of the main cast of characters in this book ranges from 15-18 and may I just say that it seems as if the author studied eight year olds for her inspiration for these characters. There was no forethought as to if teenagers actually act this way—and as a teenager myself it's incredibly demeaning to be portrayed this way by someone who clearly has put no thought into how we truly act. I want to read about relatable characters, not ones who make me irritable.
Next I would like to mention the fact that the main character, Wren, gave up a dream she had been working towards for years for some boy who in the end turned out to be something he wasn't. Wren was written as a very weak and childish character who seemed to not have any free will or decision making skills of her own. The decision she made to not listen to those around who truly cared about her well being in regards to a boy is stupid at best. The only truly redeeming thing about Wren is her artistic talent.
I also found Wren's friends to be even worse than her (with the exception of Padmavati). The entire Farah and Cy plot line was very unnecessary and unrealistic (and quite frankly disgusting), and Reagan was the worst of them all: a follower who doesn't know how to stand alone, and she certainly proved herself to be just that. From the start I found Nolan to be less than desirable (I don't think having a gold hoop earring with super long hair is attractive but to each his own). Almost as soon and he and Wren began dating, he was a tad controlling but it seemed to be masked by the sweet romantic gestures that were written for him.
All in all I find that authors who write weak and immature female characters who don't think logically and rely entirely on the direction of an older male love interest, tend to lose my interest rather fast. I had to propel through this book in the hopes that maybe something redeeming would come of the end (I will say that Vati and Oliver's relationship and Wren's sister Dinah were probably the only things keeping me in check during my reading of this book). Overall, I guess I could give this book 2.5 stars out of 5, but an author really loses me when she writes about lovesick 15 year olds who have no idea how to stand on their own. :(
P.S. sorry for the copious amounts of parenthesis and ranting
No. Don’t read this book. I’m only giving it two stars for the rare parts where Wren would shut the f*ck up bc she was speechless at some stupid crap that came out of Nolan’s ugly mouth. I knew going into this I would not rate it over 3 stars bc the writing is like a diary (and not in a good way), but the fact that the ending was the way that it was just made me go even lower. If we’re being honest, 2 stars are pity. This thing barely deserves one star. You are sick and twisted if you liked this book. Everyone in it was so over dramatic about literally everything. Reagan is a literally b*tch for hooking up with TWO of her “best friends” guys. Literally what the f*ck Reagan? And the fact that this didn’t even unfold until like the last 2 chapters? HELLO????? Literally the worst book I’ve ever read. I will rate all the books I’ve read in English class better than this crap. DO. NOT. READ. THIS. BOOK.
What we learnt from this experience is that I should stop buying books for their pretty covers. I didn't like it and ended up DNFing. There wasn't one single thing which was wrong with the book, but something didn't click and I got bored. I didn't particular care about the characters and I didn't like how it began going backwards to give you backstory of the characters. I'd have rather read it with a straight storyline. And, despite the short chapters, I was bored. The pacing was completely off and normally when there are short chapters that never happens.
You win some you lost some and at least I didn't spend loads on a copy. Now I just need to try and give it away.
You win some you lost some and at least I didn't spend loads on a copy. Now I just need to try and give it away.