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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Quick and easy read.
I did have a few issues with the characters. They felt a little over exaggerated (especially Fab and Hilary) and at times I really didn't agree with their actions. While I liked Fab, his behavior sometimes bothered me. The entire week of asking her out, e.g., especially because I would be immensely triggered by it. He didn't take no for an answer and it bothered me sometimes. His polite ways and enjoyable characteristics kind of put it in perspective, so I am left conflicted about him.
(Edit: I've read in some other reviews that Annie did the same thing to him, which I hadn't realized until now, so now I'm even more conflicted.)
Other than that, it was okay.
Would have liked it more if it had actually focused more on an actual relationship between Fab and Annie instead of the leading up to. (Edit: and if it had been a healthy one.)
I did have a few issues with the characters. They felt a little over exaggerated (especially Fab and Hilary) and at times I really didn't agree with their actions. While I liked Fab, his behavior sometimes bothered me. The entire week of asking her out, e.g., especially because I would be immensely triggered by it. He didn't take no for an answer and it bothered me sometimes. His polite ways and enjoyable characteristics kind of put it in perspective, so I am left conflicted about him.
(Edit: I've read in some other reviews that Annie did the same thing to him, which I hadn't realized until now, so now I'm even more conflicted.)
Other than that, it was okay.
Would have liked it more if it had actually focused more on an actual relationship between Fab and Annie instead of the leading up to. (Edit: and if it had been a healthy one.)
I went on a contemporary spree right here and this just happened to be the first book that came into my hands. I'm sort of glad I read this, but also kind of not. It wasn't the most rewarding thing ever. Sure, there was lots to love, but there were a few things not to love as well. But I do appreciate a lot of things about this book! And it was a quick, easy, relatively fun read, so if you want something light to break up them heavy books you be reading (omg help me) then I suggest you try this! I liked it. In a sort of okaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy way.
Things to love:
~ So you know when sometimes contemporaries set in schools are sort of based around a book? Well I love those kinds of stories, and this was one of them! yay! And what made it even better was that it focused on Wuthering Heights, which is my all time favourite classic, which made me so happy to see. Also they actually visit the Bronte parsonage and the moors and the house that inspired Wuthering Heights so that was really cool because I would really like to go there myself!
~ It featured a main character with cerebral palsy, which I have never actually read before in a book! So points for that representation. I cannot speak for its accuracy, but I felt that it seemed like a pretty good depiction of it. This book also said a lot of really positive things about disabilities, and Annie would often challenge people's attitudes towards people in wheelchairs, for example.
~ It was a really quick, fun, readable book, and I'm pretty sure I read in a day, or just over. It was boring by any account, and it isn't very long. The writing is very easy to get through, and I think that was what I wanted in my contemporary? Maybe.
Things I didn't love:
~ The writing. So, I know I said that it was easy to read, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I prefer more sophisticated writing styles, and for me, the writing is a big part of the book, so I didn't really love it. It was just really simplistic and didn't really feel very mature, which was odd because Annie is actually in college or university (I'm not 100% sure which).
~ Annie herself. I don't know whether this was just me, but Annie was just so outgoing and so confident and extroverted and I just found it really difficult to relate, you know? I don't talk to people, and if she were real, I don't think she would be one of the people I would be friends with -not because she's horrible or anything, just really really different from me.
~ Fab, the love interest. He started out kind of sweet and cute, and I definitely see that the author wrote him like that one purpose. But he starts to get really possessive of Annie, not in a like a controlling way, but he is really horrible to her after she is seen kissing another guy BUT SHE ISN'T EVEN GOING OUT WITH FAB AT THE TIME and she ends up having to make it up to him for the rest of the book even though she shouldn't have to. And I mean, just no. I don't need that, even if the boy is like a cute puppy. He made the main character really upset, after pursuing her for weeks and not letting her say no to him.
So this was a mixed bag, but I think if you can handle the annoying love interest, this might be the book for you. It is light and fluffy and easy to read and all in all kind of fun. I loved the fact that the main setting was an English class and the book was Wuthering Heights and there was positivity about disabilities and representation that I hadn't read before. I just didn't love the way it was told, and the fact that it felt kind of juvenile. So. My contemporary spree was off to a solid "okay" start.
Things to love:
~ So you know when sometimes contemporaries set in schools are sort of based around a book? Well I love those kinds of stories, and this was one of them! yay! And what made it even better was that it focused on Wuthering Heights, which is my all time favourite classic, which made me so happy to see.
~ It featured a main character with cerebral palsy, which I have never actually read before in a book! So points for that representation. I cannot speak for its accuracy, but I felt that it seemed like a pretty good depiction of it. This book also said a lot of really positive things about disabilities, and Annie would often challenge people's attitudes towards people in wheelchairs, for example.
~ It was a really quick, fun, readable book, and I'm pretty sure I read in a day, or just over. It was boring by any account, and it isn't very long. The writing is very easy to get through, and I think that was what I wanted in my contemporary? Maybe.
Things I didn't love:
~ The writing. So, I know I said that it was easy to read, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I prefer more sophisticated writing styles, and for me, the writing is a big part of the book, so I didn't really love it. It was just really simplistic and didn't really feel very mature, which was odd because Annie is actually in college or university (I'm not 100% sure which).
~ Annie herself. I don't know whether this was just me, but Annie was just so outgoing and so confident and extroverted and I just found it really difficult to relate, you know? I don't talk to people, and if she were real, I don't think she would be one of the people I would be friends with -not because she's horrible or anything, just really really different from me.
~ Fab, the love interest. He started out kind of sweet and cute, and I definitely see that the author wrote him like that one purpose. But he starts to get really possessive of Annie, not in a like a controlling way, but he is really horrible to her after
So this was a mixed bag, but I think if you can handle the annoying love interest, this might be the book for you. It is light and fluffy and easy to read and all in all kind of fun. I loved the fact that the main setting was an English class and the book was Wuthering Heights and there was positivity about disabilities and representation that I hadn't read before. I just didn't love the way it was told, and the fact that it felt kind of juvenile. So. My contemporary spree was off to a solid "okay" start.
Update: my longer review is up at the blog now, Trish Talks Text to coincide with the UK review next week. Here in Australia on April 1st.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Longer review to come.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Longer review to come.
This is the story of Annie, who has cerebral palsy, as she starts college in a bid to make a more independent fresh start. We follow her as she makes new friends, and meets Fab, which sparks a will they won`t they romance I was rooting for completely. After being initially unsure, I loved them together, and there are some very swoony scenes between them. Annie was a wonderful main character; I loved her phenomenal, bitingly funny narration, which had little comments throughout that made me chuckle an awful lot as I read this. Though I can`t comment as to the accuracy of the cerebral palsy representation, it seemed well handled and I did like that Annie challenges the ableist attitudes she encounters. Another thing I enjoyed was the way Wuthering Heights was weaved throughout the plot, as despite never having read it, I never felt it was jarring and it added something to the plot. Finally, I have to mention that I loved seeing some cameos from characters who were in Stargazing for Beginners, in which Annie was a supporting character, and it`s made me very hopeful there may be a book for each member of the Broken Biscuit Club. 5/5
This was a quicker read then I expected.
I enjoyed that it wasn't a typical Insta love but instead took majority of the book to actually happen. Instead you have Annie realising her feelings and figuring out what to do about it.
I enjoyed that it wasn't a typical Insta love but instead took majority of the book to actually happen. Instead you have Annie realising her feelings and figuring out what to do about it.