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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I want be super careful about my review for this book.
I understand that this is a book about an abusive relationship. Obviously the way he treated Grace was not accepted, or encouraged. But there were so many elements of this book that I found bad.
First off - Grace's attitude about sex was absolutely horrible. First she considers her virginity sacred (nothing at all wrong with this), but continues to shame everyone in her life who is not having sex. Even claiming her mum is jealous of her because she's having orgasms?? Further, she acts as if everyone needs a relationship. Not my thing at all.
She also finds the fact that Gavin tried to kill himself in the beginning of the book as tragic and beautiful? I know she later realises this was wrong but it's a terrible way to set up a relationship.
ANOTHER THING - Gavins parents!! enablers!! at the end of the book when Gavin (again) tries to commit suicide they blame grace? this was possible my biggest issue of the book. I think it is one of the most disgusting things to blame someone else for another's suicide - especially if he has tried to commit twice. NOT HER FAULT.
ALSO THIS IS THE CRINGIEST BOOK IVE EVER READ. A FEDORA IS NOT SEXY
I understand that this is a book about an abusive relationship. Obviously the way he treated Grace was not accepted, or encouraged. But there were so many elements of this book that I found bad.
First off - Grace's attitude about sex was absolutely horrible. First she considers her virginity sacred (nothing at all wrong with this), but continues to shame everyone in her life who is not having sex. Even claiming her mum is jealous of her because she's having orgasms?? Further, she acts as if everyone needs a relationship. Not my thing at all.
She also finds the fact that Gavin tried to kill himself in the beginning of the book as tragic and beautiful? I know she later realises this was wrong but it's a terrible way to set up a relationship.
ANOTHER THING - Gavins parents!! enablers!! at the end of the book when Gavin (again) tries to commit suicide they blame grace? this was possible my biggest issue of the book. I think it is one of the most disgusting things to blame someone else for another's suicide - especially if he has tried to commit twice. NOT HER FAULT.
ALSO THIS IS THE CRINGIEST BOOK IVE EVER READ. A FEDORA IS NOT SEXY
This is a love story, but this is not that kind of a love story. Bad Romance follows the story of Grace who deals with a consuming yet fragile relationship with Gavin. She is consumed by him, as he is with her. But at the title suggests, their relationship is far from perfect (or healthy).
This is a story that follows possessive, unhealthy, and toxic relationship and the damage that it can do on victims/survivors of it. But more importantly, it shows how love can persevere through anything (and by that, I do not mean romantic love. I mean the love you receive and have from your friends).
This story is and can be frustrating, heartwarming, and upsetting at times, as well as takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions. But the one thing I really appreciated was how realistic everyone turns out to be (as well as the issues/themes mentioned in the book).
This book gives a good perspective (and a realistic one) on abusive relationship (and the power dynamic that can arise/come from it), but it also touches upon other themes such as neglect, verbal abuse, and emotional abuse.
This is not an easy book to read. It can be triggering (abusive relationships and abusive households are two of which I can name without spoiling the book), and there is one scene that is very triggering.
With that said, the best part of this book was Grace's two best friends: Lys and Nat. They stick with her through everything, always having her back, and, honestly they are probably the most well-written best friends to have ever existed in books.
Rating: 5/5 stars
This is a story that follows possessive, unhealthy, and toxic relationship and the damage that it can do on victims/survivors of it. But more importantly, it shows how love can persevere through anything (and by that, I do not mean romantic love. I mean the love you receive and have from your friends).
This story is and can be frustrating, heartwarming, and upsetting at times, as well as takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions. But the one thing I really appreciated was how realistic everyone turns out to be (as well as the issues/themes mentioned in the book).
This book gives a good perspective (and a realistic one) on abusive relationship (and the power dynamic that can arise/come from it), but it also touches upon other themes such as neglect, verbal abuse, and emotional abuse.
This is not an easy book to read. It can be triggering (abusive relationships and abusive households are two of which I can name without spoiling the book), and there is one scene that is very triggering.
With that said, the best part of this book was Grace's two best friends: Lys and Nat. They stick with her through everything, always having her back, and, honestly they are probably the most well-written best friends to have ever existed in books.
Rating: 5/5 stars
wow. made me feel so many emotions, this is one amazing book.
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gripping and important read about a young girl who’s trying to get out of a toxic relationship. It can be tough but I really enjoyed this book because you really get inside her head as it’s essentially her reflecting as she’s about to break up with him and we see why this teenage girl is so in love with him and will dismiss all the red flags and how her friends want her to break up with him as well as her toxic family. There’s a lot going on but you root for Grace the main character the whole way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Stalking
This book was haunting and an important conversation starter. It showed how easy it is to get stuck in a cycle of abuse. Everyone should read this book.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. Triggering. Abusive relationship. Controlling. But really good.
I will definitely be writing a full review of this on my blog because this book was a throat punch emotionally.
Bad Romance is one of those novels that perfectly captures the whirlwind drama and immaturity that comes with being in high school.
Here's the thing. That isn't necessarily a place I ever wanted to revisit.
Having been in an abusive relationship for several years in high school, I think this book hits the nail on the head for the sinking, clawing feeling of helplessness that you get when you know someone is bad for you, but you stick with them anyway. The suffocating terror that Grace experiences in her relationship will be familiar for anyone who experienced this life, no matter the amount of time spent in that situation. I also feel that the cycle of abuse is illustrated quite nicely, with Grace being unable to see that she is being abused by Gavin because that is all she's experienced in her other male relationships (her father and The Giant).
All that said, the prose was tough to swallow for me. The feeling that a 40 year old is trying to write in teen lingo eases up about a quarter of the way through the book and mellows out into something more readable, but man, that first quarter is torture.
The book ends with a strange sense of open-endedness that I felt did not match up with the rest of the novel. The relationship just...ends. After all the fight and struggle, we don't get to see Grace take charge of her life. She is just as meek and downtrodden at the end of the book as she is in the beginning. Gavin, uncharacteristically, puts up zero resistance to being broken up with prior to graduation.
Grace goes on to describe how important her friends are to her recovery and mentions that "Oh yeah, he probably broke in and stole my things.", but we get no wrap-up on why his (adult) mother thought it was Grace's responsibility to take care of her child, or why she and her mother have a sudden meeting of the minds towards the end of the book. Grace's other relationships are completely sidelined in favor of letting us know that Gavin is likely going to stalk her when she goes to USC.
Overall, I did enjoy this book a lot, but I did have some feeling of "incompleteness" at the end.
Here's the thing. That isn't necessarily a place I ever wanted to revisit.
Having been in an abusive relationship for several years in high school, I think this book hits the nail on the head for the sinking, clawing feeling of helplessness that you get when you know someone is bad for you, but you stick with them anyway. The suffocating terror that Grace experiences in her relationship will be familiar for anyone who experienced this life, no matter the amount of time spent in that situation. I also feel that the cycle of abuse is illustrated quite nicely, with Grace being unable to see that she is being abused by Gavin because that is all she's experienced in her other male relationships (her father and The Giant).
All that said, the prose was tough to swallow for me. The feeling that a 40 year old is trying to write in teen lingo eases up about a quarter of the way through the book and mellows out into something more readable, but man, that first quarter is torture.
The book ends with a strange sense of open-endedness that I felt did not match up with the rest of the novel. The relationship just...ends. After all the fight and struggle, we don't get to see Grace take charge of her life. She is just as meek and downtrodden at the end of the book as she is in the beginning. Gavin, uncharacteristically, puts up zero resistance to being broken up with prior to graduation.
Grace goes on to describe how important her friends are to her recovery and mentions that "Oh yeah, he probably broke in and stole my things.", but we get no wrap-up on why his (adult) mother thought it was Grace's responsibility to take care of her child, or why she and her mother have a sudden meeting of the minds towards the end of the book. Grace's other relationships are completely sidelined in favor of letting us know that Gavin is likely going to stalk her when she goes to USC.
Overall, I did enjoy this book a lot, but I did have some feeling of "incompleteness" at the end.
