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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
3.5 Stars. I was a bit disappointed, but I also went in with very high expectations.
There were a few superficial things that made it hard to relate to the main character (like her love of running, ugh) but far beyond that my issue with this book is how ... simplified it was.
When I was reading about the main characters’ trauma, I felt like I was reading someone’s second-hand understanding of what it would be like to live through that. Sure enough, in the acknowledgment section of the book, Jessica Park explained that not only had she not been through childhood abuse to any level even slightly comparable to Christopher’s but that she had very loving and supportive parents.
That rubbed me the wrong way, because it made me wonder why she felt she was the right person to write this book. I don’t think there was too much that offended me about the contents of the book, but I would have liked a bit more of a sophisticated exploration into the psychological impact of abuse if she’s going to make that the center point of the book.
But there were still a few good lines in the there, and the book had some fun characters and was pretty easy to read (except for the end).
There were a few superficial things that made it hard to relate to the main character (like her love of running, ugh) but far beyond that my issue with this book is how ... simplified it was.
When I was reading about the main characters’ trauma, I felt like I was reading someone’s second-hand understanding of what it would be like to live through that. Sure enough, in the acknowledgment section of the book, Jessica Park explained that not only had she not been through childhood abuse to any level even slightly comparable to Christopher’s but that she had very loving and supportive parents.
That rubbed me the wrong way, because it made me wonder why she felt she was the right person to write this book. I don’t think there was too much that offended me about the contents of the book, but I would have liked a bit more of a sophisticated exploration into the psychological impact of abuse if she’s going to make that the center point of the book.
But there were still a few good lines in the there, and the book had some fun characters and was pretty easy to read (except for the end).
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/left-drowning-by-jessica-park
Holy freaking oh my gawd, this book. It needs to be noted that Arielle DeLisle is fantastic as a narrator. I cannot honestly tell you whether or not I liked reading or listening to it more, they were both enjoyable and I highly recommend giving into my whims and doing at least one of them. You're welcome.
I wish I could put into words the feelings I had while experiencing this book. There's some pretty hilarious moments, but there's also some parts where I was curled into a ball on my bed and pretty sure I'd never be happy again for the rest of my life.
Jessica Park has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Highly recommend this and I CANNOT wait to read the second book.
Holy freaking oh my gawd, this book. It needs to be noted that Arielle DeLisle is fantastic as a narrator. I cannot honestly tell you whether or not I liked reading or listening to it more, they were both enjoyable and I highly recommend giving into my whims and doing at least one of them. You're welcome.
I wish I could put into words the feelings I had while experiencing this book. There's some pretty hilarious moments, but there's also some parts where I was curled into a ball on my bed and pretty sure I'd never be happy again for the rest of my life.
Jessica Park has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Highly recommend this and I CANNOT wait to read the second book.
I read Jessica Park's novel 'Flat-out Love' and was totally sucked into its world of family and love. There was sadness, sure, but underneath that, there was laughter and love and life.
With this one, it's more the other way around. On the surface, there are quirky siblings, close and affectionate towards each other, whose humour and snappy dialogue ultimately offer salvation to Blythe, but at its core, this book swims in sadness, grief and despair.
Is there too much sadness? I think maybe so. There is also a lot of explicit erotica. Those of you who know that I mostly post about YA fiction here better check this one at the door before you put it in your (high school) library. It is most definitely new-adult. It's definitely beautifully written, but man! It's also R+. Whew.
A lot of the reasons for the unhappy is revealed along the way, so I don't want to spoil too much. But I found all the coincidences, explained here as fate or even faith to some extent, a little too contrived.
But I did want these people saved. All of them. They all deserve so much better, and in finding each other, and loving each other, Blythe and Christopher save themselves, each other, and Jamie, Estelle, Eric and most of all, the totally adorable yet too-hyper Sabin. Love that there's a positive LGTB relationship depicted and I guess I should also let you know it's written in the first person present tense, which I know some people don't like. (Plus, there are all these really sad flashback scenes.)
I found this book sad, did you get that? HEA though, if that helps.
With this one, it's more the other way around. On the surface, there are quirky siblings, close and affectionate towards each other, whose humour and snappy dialogue ultimately offer salvation to Blythe, but at its core, this book swims in sadness, grief and despair.
Is there too much sadness? I think maybe so. There is also a lot of explicit erotica. Those of you who know that I mostly post about YA fiction here better check this one at the door before you put it in your (high school) library. It is most definitely new-adult. It's definitely beautifully written, but man! It's also R+. Whew.
A lot of the reasons for the unhappy is revealed along the way, so I don't want to spoil too much. But I found all the coincidences, explained here as fate or even faith to some extent, a little too contrived.
But I did want these people saved. All of them. They all deserve so much better, and in finding each other, and loving each other, Blythe and Christopher save themselves, each other, and Jamie, Estelle, Eric and most of all, the totally adorable yet too-hyper Sabin. Love that there's a positive LGTB relationship depicted and I guess I should also let you know it's written in the first person present tense, which I know some people don't like. (Plus, there are all these really sad flashback scenes.)
I found this book sad, did you get that? HEA though, if that helps.
When I started reading this book I was really confused. It felt like like I started halfway through the book because there was no proper introduction to any character and they all sort of jumped blindly into a relationship without following the normal pattern. But once I got used to that the story managed to grab my attention.
The is not just about Blythe or Chris and their Romance, its also about Chris' entire family. The main characters are not just Blythe or Chris, it also includes Sabin,Estelle,Eric,Zach and James. This was a story of the healing of all these characters.
Jessica Park managed to make all these characters so life like that they remain in your heart for a long time after you finish reading this book. Be i t Blythe with her incredible determination, Chris with his calm collected self, Sabin with his indomitable spirit, Estelle or Eric and the way they support and push Blythe to always do her best, it all makes you give them a piece of your heart.
All their stories especially the Shepherd siblings' story was heartbreaking. I cried buckets while reading Chris' story.
There were times I felt really angry with both Blythe and Chris when they did not fight for their love but after finishing the story I realize those portions were essential for the development of their characters.
Reading this book gave me an almost spiritual experience. I really loved it.
The is not just about Blythe or Chris and their Romance, its also about Chris' entire family. The main characters are not just Blythe or Chris, it also includes Sabin,Estelle,Eric,Zach and James. This was a story of the healing of all these characters.
Jessica Park managed to make all these characters so life like that they remain in your heart for a long time after you finish reading this book. Be i t Blythe with her incredible determination, Chris with his calm collected self, Sabin with his indomitable spirit, Estelle or Eric and the way they support and push Blythe to always do her best, it all makes you give them a piece of your heart.
All their stories especially the Shepherd siblings' story was heartbreaking. I cried buckets while reading Chris' story.
There were times I felt really angry with both Blythe and Chris when they did not fight for their love but after finishing the story I realize those portions were essential for the development of their characters.
Reading this book gave me an almost spiritual experience. I really loved it.
This is an ARC review.
I’ve read a few of Jessica Park’s books in recent months and they’re great. But none of them have come close to how Left Drowning has blown me away.
Park has written a story that pulls at the reader’s emotions. Pulls in many different directions, and it doesn’t let go even after the story’s over. It does this by creating characters that have so many great, loveable qualities, as well as many flaws and troubled pasts.
What I really felt was great about Left Drowning’s storyline is that it wasn’t just the story of Blythe coping with her tragic past and finding herself. It was also about the Shepherd family, who are in need of their own way to deal with the past. It’s a complicated journey, but that’s not a negative. It’s organized and won’t trip the reader up. There are so many different issues occurring at once that there isn't a boring part of this book. I kept on reading and reading and becoming more emotionally invested in each character as it went along.
Why is there a mention of sexual content in the description? Well, this book does get very steamy at times. And I feel like this wasn’t added in just for the sex appeal. I felt it was a great tool to show a unique bond between characters. It showed the passion, the hurt, the need for escape.
I haven’t come across a book like Left Drowning in a long time. It pushes the envelope in some aspects, but with a story like this it pushed just far enough without going over-the-top. It’s realistic. The characters drew me in. The overall emotional feel throughout captured my attention early on. When the characters relived their troubling events, I felt like I was there seeing it with them. I wanted to help in some way. Park is very effective when it comes to the descriptions in this book. There won’t be many readers with dry eyes, at times. But there will also be many smiles, especially when Sabin in involved.
I’ve read a few of Jessica Park’s books in recent months and they’re great. But none of them have come close to how Left Drowning has blown me away.
Park has written a story that pulls at the reader’s emotions. Pulls in many different directions, and it doesn’t let go even after the story’s over. It does this by creating characters that have so many great, loveable qualities, as well as many flaws and troubled pasts.
What I really felt was great about Left Drowning’s storyline is that it wasn’t just the story of Blythe coping with her tragic past and finding herself. It was also about the Shepherd family, who are in need of their own way to deal with the past. It’s a complicated journey, but that’s not a negative. It’s organized and won’t trip the reader up. There are so many different issues occurring at once that there isn't a boring part of this book. I kept on reading and reading and becoming more emotionally invested in each character as it went along.
Why is there a mention of sexual content in the description? Well, this book does get very steamy at times. And I feel like this wasn’t added in just for the sex appeal. I felt it was a great tool to show a unique bond between characters. It showed the passion, the hurt, the need for escape.
I haven’t come across a book like Left Drowning in a long time. It pushes the envelope in some aspects, but with a story like this it pushed just far enough without going over-the-top. It’s realistic. The characters drew me in. The overall emotional feel throughout captured my attention early on. When the characters relived their troubling events, I felt like I was there seeing it with them. I wanted to help in some way. Park is very effective when it comes to the descriptions in this book. There won’t be many readers with dry eyes, at times. But there will also be many smiles, especially when Sabin in involved.
Love,love love this book it shows the darker side of people's pasts and that there are things you have to overcome in order to move forward.
The plot of this book was great. I could not stop reading it! What I did do was skip over the naughty parts. Didn't want to read those but after having read flat out love, I had to read ms park's darker novel. I loved the development of the characters. I loved it all.