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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
This was a little underwhelming for me overall - it felt like not a lot actually happened. I liked the story for the most part, but I did find myself skimming over some parts which means I wasn't completely invested. However, I really felt for the two main characters and how strongly they had been affected by the poverty in their area. I didn't like the few small instances physical violence used by Ten towards Kyland when she was angry. Good for a quick emotional read but not a very exciting or gripping read.
3 to 3.5 Stars
I loved the story of Kyland and Tenleigh – it was beautiful, sweet and heartbreaking. Still, there are the three things stood out for me and that kept me from giving this a four or five-star-rating:
1.The timeline was too choppy - the story kept jumping forward and I felt like there was too little dialogue and too many descriptive passages, telling me how the characters were feeling rather than experiencing it in action (so to speak).
2. Secondly, in the blurb it was all about the scholarship and how much they both wanted it, but it seemed like only Kyland was really desperate for it while Tenleigh didn't appear to think about it all that much except that it meant one of them would be leaving. I was missing Tenleigh's inner struggle about the impossibility and unfairness of having to choose between two things she desperately wanted – the boy she loved and the better future she always dreamed of.
3.The ending felt rushed and somewhat anti-climactic.
So, all in all, I loved the book, but I felt too detached from the characters to truly enjoy it. I wasn't sucked into the story, wasn't swept up in all the deep emotions and struggles Tenleigh and Kyland had to go through, but I do think I would read it again, just to see if I felt differently the second time around.
I loved the story of Kyland and Tenleigh – it was beautiful, sweet and heartbreaking. Still, there are the three things stood out for me and that kept me from giving this a four or five-star-rating:
1.The timeline was too choppy - the story kept jumping forward and I felt like there was too little dialogue and too many descriptive passages, telling me how the characters were feeling rather than experiencing it in action (so to speak).
Spoiler
For example, I loved how Kyland and Tenleigh were friends first - how they wrote each other notes and talked about books - it was so sweet! But that soon seemed to fade into the background and it became more and more about how attracted they were to each other and how beautiful the other was. The descriptive passages mentioned them deepening their friendship but it was more like: "In the next few weeks we hung out a lot, talked a lot and had fun." Moving on with the story. For me this made it hard to really connected with the characters.2. Secondly, in the blurb it was all about the scholarship and how much they both wanted it, but it seemed like only Kyland was really desperate for it while Tenleigh didn't appear to think about it all that much except that it meant one of them would be leaving.
Spoiler
And as soon as she found out that Kyland would be competing for the scholarship as well, she seemed to give up on that dream for herself anyway. We are told Tenleigh is competitive, but I never really witnessed here competing with Kyland for the scholarship. I get why in the end she bombed her finals, wanting Kyland to win it, but up until that point I never got the impression of her really wanting it. Did she really give up her dream of a better future for her and her family so easily?3.The ending felt rushed and somewhat anti-climactic.
Spoiler
Again, I felt like there was too little dialogue and everything got cleared up way too quickly and too easily. After all the heartbreak and sacrifice and drama the characters went through, I would have expected their reunion and reconciliation to be…more…emotional, maybe…to feel less descriptive. I mean Kyland sacrificed his dreams and his future for Tenleigh, making her hate him and leaving them both miserable for four years with no certainty that he would ever see her again and all I get is a short (descriptive!) conversation of the whys and hows, a few measly tears and some make-up-sex. Really? That’s it?!So, all in all, I loved the book, but I felt too detached from the characters to truly enjoy it. I wasn't sucked into the story, wasn't swept up in all the deep emotions and struggles Tenleigh and Kyland had to go through, but I do think I would read it again, just to see if I felt differently the second time around.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
it's honestly been a while since the last time i got sucked into a story like this. i enjoyed the feeling. love the characters and their developement. there are times when i got mad though. then sad. overall it's a solid punch from mia sheridan. look forward to read more.
I’m a sucker for Sheridan’s writing! A solid sappy love story. (Paperback)