Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth

4 reviews

lolajh's review

Go to review page

emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

First of all, any potential readers know that Saoirse’s name is pronounced Seer-sha and I only found that out at the end of the book where she explains it and it’s not something like say-or-rees or say-ors or freaking ‘sauce’ like I’ve been pronouncing in my head the past two weeks of reading this. Anyways! Here’s the review!

I just want to say that I am ANGRY. This book right up until literally the last chapter was an absolute five-star read. I hated the ending and feel so underwhelmed.
You’re telling me these lesbian ass bitches didn’t drop their futures to break the rule of the montage and “having to break up” (because they didn’t have to at all) to be gay in Ireland together? What the fuck! WHO IS VERONICA. FUCK OFF I NEED SAOIRSE AND RUBY TO BE ENDGAME HELLO? Where was their wedding? I cannot tell you how much I NEEDED the (what I thought would be) predictable cheesy plot twist where it isn’t literally JUST A SUMMER THING and they’d JUST FUCKING DATE. Sorry. I’m so opinionated about this book. Where was the “happily ever after” that’s literally above the book’s blurb, the thing that’s foreshadowed throughout the whole book? The meet cute happened, the falling in love montage, the big fight, the hero realising they’re wrong, the grand gesture, now where is the happily ever after? I thought my fucking book was printed wrong and missing the actual last pages. I’m so pissed off.


Now, onto what I liked. So, Saoirse, let me tell you I loved to hate her. Why? Because she’s ME. She is the most relatable character I’ve ever read the perspective of. Her life and character all has such human reason it feels like she really is real. Flawed characters are the best <3

And I FUCKING LOVED RUBY (among other characters like Oliver and Beth and not really Saoirse’s dad) She is a lovable little ball of sunshine that in some parts maybe deserved more than Saoirse and shouldn’t have forgiven her so many times, but that’s okay. 

I don’t have much else to say. Maybe if the ending was different I’d be able to appreciate the parts of this book that I loved so much, but I really feel like I can’t. I’m going to be resorting to ao3’s alternate endings to this book immediately to fill the void in my heart that I now have because of that ending.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bernieem's review

Go to review page

emotional informative lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


Unfortunately this wasn’t the romcom that beats all romcoms for me.

I thought the most interesting part of this book was about Saorise’s Mum having dementia and how it impacted her family. Reading about her interactions with her mum was sad, and really gives you an insight to how dementia (early-onset) is devastating.

The romance between Saoirse and Ruby was cute, but honestly I didn’t feel the chemistry between them that intense and electrifying. I liked the grand gesture referencing the Imagine me and You movie. I was a bit surprised at how abrupt the end was, and I was left really unsatisifed. I didn’t get the closure I wanted for what happened between Saoirse and Rubys relationship. The writing style wasn’t my cup of tea either and it took me some time to get into the story. Overall it was good-ish, I really wanted to give this one a higher rating.

Quotes
History is who we are. The past shapes us. Even the parts you can’t remember

Sometimes the best feelings in the world don’t last forever. They’re explosions in the body or heart or both at once, and you know that you’ll never be the same as before, but it’s OK because you can always build something new in the wreckage. (p. 375)
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The book is well written, I just didn't like it. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

nicolinebl's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.0

I definitely had to get into this book, it's definitely very much a YA and it had been a while since I read one. Once I "accepted" that, I very much enjoyed the book though. 

Saoirse is very much a rebellious teenager but I understand why she would act like that. The characters felt very real in that sense. Oliver might have actually been one of my favourite characters by the way, I really liked Saoirse and his talk at his last mentioned party. 

The book deals with very heavy topics which I certainly hadn't expected but I think it was dealt with respectfully and I really enjoyed the book.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...