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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
๏ MY RATING ๏ ☆4.2☆STARS - GRADE=B+
๏ Highlights ๏
The Aftermath of A Rape
Contemporary Romance
High School
Hamlet
Thespians in the Making
Favorite Author
๏ My Thoughts ๏
I love Emma Scott's writing and her characters...so genuine and heartfelt...and no necessary drama. Although, this particular book might have dabbled in some of that. Hence, my reason for rating only 4.2 Stars...but that rating is still good. I loved how the play of Hamlet is interwoven with the MC's own lives...it was portrayed beautifully, and even made some sense of Shakespeare for me. I was totally loving the story...up until the very end.
My problem was I didn't buy the ending. Seriously, three years later...I don't know, I could've gone with one, maybe one and a half because everything leading up to it was so amazing. Then things fell apart, at least somewhat. I know, this could be construed as spoilery, but I can't help it, I feel like I need to say something about it.
The epilogue had me feeling all smiles by the end, though. 😁 For reference, this is Young Adult that splashes into Adult by the end. It also deals with rape and the aftermath of that rape.
๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏
Plot⇝ 4.2/5
Characters⇝ 4.5/5
The Feels⇝ 4.7/5
Pacing⇝ 5/5
Addictiveness⇝ 4.7/5
Theme or Tone⇝ 4.2/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5
Ending⇝ 3.2/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Nope...
๏ ๏ ๏
Book Cover⇝ It's somewhat adequate...but that couple doesn't fit with high school seniors...in my opinion.
Setting⇝ Harmony, Indiana
Source⇝ Own Kindle eBook Version
๏ ๏ ๏
๏ Highlights ๏
The Aftermath of A Rape
Contemporary Romance
High School
Hamlet
Thespians in the Making
Favorite Author
๏ My Thoughts ๏
I love Emma Scott's writing and her characters...so genuine and heartfelt...and no necessary drama. Although, this particular book might have dabbled in some of that. Hence, my reason for rating only 4.2 Stars...but that rating is still good. I loved how the play of Hamlet is interwoven with the MC's own lives...it was portrayed beautifully, and even made some sense of Shakespeare for me. I was totally loving the story...up until the very end.
My problem was I didn't buy the ending. Seriously, three years later...I don't know, I could've gone with one, maybe one and a half because everything leading up to it was so amazing. Then things fell apart, at least somewhat. I know, this could be construed as spoilery, but I can't help it, I feel like I need to say something about it.
The epilogue had me feeling all smiles by the end, though. 😁 For reference, this is Young Adult that splashes into Adult by the end. It also deals with rape and the aftermath of that rape.
๏ Breakdown of Ratings ๏
Plot⇝ 4.2/5
Characters⇝ 4.5/5
The Feels⇝ 4.7/5
Pacing⇝ 5/5
Addictiveness⇝ 4.7/5
Theme or Tone⇝ 4.2/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇝ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)⇝ 5/5
Ending⇝ 3.2/5 Cliffhanger⇝ Nope...
๏ ๏ ๏
Book Cover⇝ It's somewhat adequate...but that couple doesn't fit with high school seniors...in my opinion.
Setting⇝ Harmony, Indiana
Source⇝ Own Kindle eBook Version
๏ ๏ ๏
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went through a million and a half emotions while reading this book: sadness, happiness, anger, etc,. This was so beautifully written. I felt every emotion that the author was trying to show on page. I was angry for the heroine. I was sad for the hero. But, I was happy that they found each other.
Summary
Willow (h) is a 17 year old girl that goes through an extremely traumatic event. She's having trouble coping with that happened to her which is causing her to spiral downwards. Her parents are extremely neglectful towards her, in that her dad is married to his job and her mom only cares about how they must present themselves to society.
Isaac (H) is a 19 year old boy from the 'wrong side of the tracks'. He hasn't had an easy day in his life. His mom passed away when he was really young which caused his dad to become an abusive alcoholic. He's poor and lives in a trailer on a junk yard where him and his dad struggle to get by. The one thing that helps him get by is acting which is does at the theater in town.
Willow and Isaac meet when Willow's dad is relocated to Harmony. They don't really begin interacting with each other until Willow lands the part of Ophelia in Hamlet and Isaac is chosen to play Hamlet. Although they feel a connection, their relationship is forbidden in every way. The entire town, but especially Willow's parents, are prejudice against Issac and try to do everything they can to keep them apart by using manipulation and threats. For that reason, they must hide their relationship...all while trying to battle with their own demons.
My thoughts
I absolutely loved Willow and Isaac. Their characters and their backstories are sooo well done. When I say you feel every emotion they're feeling, I mean it. Watching Willow finally take control of her life by the end of the book made me so happy. She finally realized her worth and that her story mattered, just like Isaac told her it did.
Oh my god, Isaac is just a fucking sweetheart. He cares so much for people even when they don't deserve it. Despite everything his dad has done to him, like physically and emotionally abusing him, he still cares. His love and protectiveness of Willow is also beautiful. Thank you Emma Scott for ch. 41, it was needed
Summary
Willow (h) is a 17 year old girl that goes through an extremely traumatic event. She's having trouble coping with that happened to her which is causing her to spiral downwards. Her parents are extremely neglectful towards her, in that her dad is married to his job and her mom only cares about how they must present themselves to society.
Isaac (H) is a 19 year old boy from the 'wrong side of the tracks'. He hasn't had an easy day in his life. His mom passed away when he was really young which caused his dad to become an abusive alcoholic. He's poor and lives in a trailer on a junk yard where him and his dad struggle to get by. The one thing that helps him get by is acting which is does at the theater in town.
Willow and Isaac meet when Willow's dad is relocated to Harmony. They don't really begin interacting with each other until Willow lands the part of Ophelia in Hamlet and Isaac is chosen to play Hamlet. Although they feel a connection, their relationship is forbidden in every way. The entire town, but especially Willow's parents, are prejudice against Issac and try to do everything they can to keep them apart by using manipulation and threats. For that reason, they must hide their relationship...all while trying to battle with their own demons.
My thoughts
I absolutely loved Willow and Isaac. Their characters and their backstories are sooo well done. When I say you feel every emotion they're feeling, I mean it. Watching Willow finally take control of her life by the end of the book made me so happy. She finally realized her worth and that her story mattered, just like Isaac told her it did.
"The fear I saw in your eyes...I drew it out, but I didn't put it there to begin with," he asked. "Did I?"
"No," I whispered.
"Who did?"
I swallowed hard. "It doesn't matter."
"Matters to me," he said, his voice gruff. "It fucking matters to me, Willow."
Oh my god, Isaac is just a fucking sweetheart. He cares so much for people even when they don't deserve it. Despite everything his dad has done to him, like physically and emotionally abusing him, he still cares. His love and protectiveness of Willow is also beautiful. Thank you Emma Scott for ch. 41, it was needed
I think the topic of sexual assault was handled well and I always love books that involve theatre. I’m giving this two stars because I found this story to be weirdly paced and just overflowing with stereotypes and tropes. I was listening to the german translation which may contributed to my lack of enjoyment, in this case I wasn’t a fan of the writing style/translation. also idk if it’s just me but as a 25 year old I felt kinda uncomfortable reading about a 17 year old teenager having sex, I think a college setting would have been the better choice. after listening to like 10 hours of the 13 hour audiobook I honestly just wanted it to be over.
Why must we endure so much cheesiness from the cover and title, when this is actually a pretty poignant book, I ask you? Goes to show you should never judge a book by its cover, because what looks like a silly romance (and honestly, at first glance the reviews strengthen that impression) hides a whole lot of depth.
It ended up being what I hoped it would be, aka Ophelia and Hamlet on a Midwest backdrop. It does get cheesy at times but it never veers into unintelligent-melodrama territory. In Harmony deals with recovery from rape/abuse, and is hella metafictional. The juxtaposition between narrative levels could have been carried out a tad more subtly as it tends to point neon flashing lights saying "look how the characters' lives align with what Shakespeare wrote 400 years ago, amazing right?!" But hey, any type of metafictional reflexion is a warm hug for my literature grad heart.
Stellar example of how a brilliant use of italics (and lack thereof) can have a person (me) IN TEARS.
It ended up being what I hoped it would be, aka Ophelia and Hamlet on a Midwest backdrop. It does get cheesy at times but it never veers into unintelligent-melodrama territory. In Harmony deals with recovery from rape/abuse, and is hella metafictional. The juxtaposition between narrative levels could have been carried out a tad more subtly as it tends to point neon flashing lights saying "look how the characters' lives align with what Shakespeare wrote 400 years ago, amazing right?!" But hey, any type of metafictional reflexion is a warm hug for my literature grad heart.
“God, it’s my mom,” I said, my voice trembling. “She’s going to tell my dad. I’ll lose Hamlet.” I swallowed hard. “I’ll lose Hamlet.”
Stellar example of how a brilliant use of italics (and lack thereof) can have a person (me) IN TEARS.
Wonderful Story. I loved it.. you really feel close to the characters and you understand everything they’re doing in the storyline. I was shocked, laughing, crying, angry and happy while reading it. Soooo good