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prettyoddpages's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
loribree83's review
2.0
Did not like the main character, Tara, AT ALL. Just couldn't connect with the book. :(
candority's review against another edition
3.0
I was mildly disappointed with this book. The synopsis led me to believe that much more would happen - but it never did. The whole novel built suspense for what I assumed would be an amazing ending, but it fell short. The ending really ruined the book for me - I expected more...
whimsicallymeghan's review against another edition
3.0
Tara has lived a life pretty much all alone. Estranged from her crazy mother, and four divorces later Tara finds herself in a ski accident with her sister only to meet the main of her dreams. Cavin is the man any woman is looking for, he’s thoughtful, says all the right things, but could he be hiding something? Could Tara be hiding things? This is Hopkins first attempt at an actual novel; her poetry is still embedded into the story, but this is all prose. It’s well written, if not for the repetition of certain words, and the circles the reader goes through. She tries to make the reader think one thing, while really meaning another, which leaves the reader a little confused at times as to what is really going on. Even as the novel ends it feels eerily unfinished, and its attempt for a major plot twist kind of just flop when it doesn’t seem like it’s over. Hopkins’ definitely tried to make the novel intriguing and as chapter ended, the need to read more was there, it was just the plot that would get muddy. Her characters were good, and like all her previous novels flawed to the max. This was a good novel with some thriller-esque theme, but lacked in execution.
alittlebrittoffun's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story but for the most part it was pretty uneventful. I found the ending to be quite abrupt and unsatisfying too.
thatreadhead's review against another edition
3.0
The starting I didn't like that much. All in all, nothing much happened. The ending totally sucked. Got no clue what even went on. It was so different to her other books, I definitely did not like it as much.
*Edit* Damn didn't realise it was a series. Ugh that's annoying. Now I'll feel compelled to read the rest and I didn't even like the book.
*Edit* Damn didn't realise it was a series. Ugh that's annoying. Now I'll feel compelled to read the rest and I didn't even like the book.
justacatandabook's review against another edition
2.0
Tara is a lovely forty-year who is once widowed, twice divorced. She's independent, both financially and in her relationships. She had a tough childhood with an unpredictable and volatile mother. Then, while skiing with her sister, Tara injuries her knee. As such, she meets Cavin, a handsome orthopedic surgeon. Tara quickly finds herself falling for Cavin, who is charismatic and wealthy. After her surgery, she moves in with Cavin and is dependent on him while she heals. She also meets his awkward teenage son, Eli, who doesn't seem too happy to have Tara in his life. Tara starts receiving odd threats and other strange things begin happening. Is Tara safe--and who is responsible for these bizarre occurrences?
This was one of those strange books that I didn't really enjoy, yet I couldn't stop reading. It takes a very long time to build up to its description--and I'd argue that it never really delivers on what it promised. Yes, there's a lot of simmering, ominous things that occur in the background (threats, texts), but I was expecting more outright terror and abuse. Honestly, not much really happens, you know? The big twist comes on literally the last two pages. Now, it's a good twist, and it's probably enough that I'll eventually track down and read the second book, but sheesh. I would have liked a little more excitement during the rest of the book, instead of it all jammed into the last few pages.
Still, the book was interesting enough that I felt drawn to Tara. The book revolves very much around her and her perspective. The background events keep you confused and wondering if more is going to occur (it doesn't, really). I'll be intrigued to see what happens in book #2. 2.5 stars.
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This was one of those strange books that I didn't really enjoy, yet I couldn't stop reading. It takes a very long time to build up to its description--and I'd argue that it never really delivers on what it promised. Yes, there's a lot of simmering, ominous things that occur in the background (threats, texts), but I was expecting more outright terror and abuse. Honestly, not much really happens, you know? The big twist comes on literally the last two pages. Now, it's a good twist, and it's probably enough that I'll eventually track down and read the second book, but sheesh. I would have liked a little more excitement during the rest of the book, instead of it all jammed into the last few pages.
Still, the book was interesting enough that I felt drawn to Tara. The book revolves very much around her and her perspective. The background events keep you confused and wondering if more is going to occur (it doesn't, really). I'll be intrigued to see what happens in book #2. 2.5 stars.
jamiebooksandladders's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders
I am a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins, so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review her newest adult fiction novel! I wasn't too sure about the idea of prose over poetry, but I do think that it was still laid out in a good, Hopkins style.
But this wasn't great, it was good. I was expecting a thriller with a lot of who to trust, who not to trust, and being on the edge of my seat the entire time. But that isn't what I got. It fell kind of flat some times and the ending was a little unsatisfying. I thought there were some loose ends and unanswered questions, but since this is a series I am sure there is more to come that will explain this.
Eli, though, he was my favorite character. I loved not knowing whether to trust him or not, let alone his intentions. He was probably the best character overall. I am thinking that maybe this will be like Triangle and Tilt with one book from the parent's perspective and then one from the child's.
The ending was unfulfilling. I thought there was too much build up for what the result was.
Overall: 3.5/5 stars for this one. I hope the rest of the series has more to it than this one did!
This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders
I am a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins, so of course I jumped at the chance to read and review her newest adult fiction novel! I wasn't too sure about the idea of prose over poetry, but I do think that it was still laid out in a good, Hopkins style.
But this wasn't great, it was good. I was expecting a thriller with a lot of who to trust, who not to trust, and being on the edge of my seat the entire time. But that isn't what I got. It fell kind of flat some times and the ending was a little unsatisfying. I thought there were some loose ends and unanswered questions, but since this is a series I am sure there is more to come that will explain this.
Eli, though, he was my favorite character. I loved not knowing whether to trust him or not, let alone his intentions. He was probably the best character overall. I am thinking that maybe this will be like Triangle and Tilt with one book from the parent's perspective and then one from the child's.
The ending was unfulfilling. I thought there was too much build up for what the result was.
Overall: 3.5/5 stars for this one. I hope the rest of the series has more to it than this one did!
caidyn's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn't that great. For me, I was expecting a huge thriller with tons of twists. Who to trust, who not to trust. But, that was the last thing I got. On the roller coaster I expected, all it had were some flat lines and a few hills. All the things described in the description happened about 70% in. It was definitely more women's fiction than anything. Tara's, our main character, journey through finding her fourth husband and choosing to stay with him despite her distrust of him and his son paralleled her sister's, Mel, journey with hiw she just stayed with her husband.
Don't get me wrong, this was a good book. I didn't like Tara at first, but she grew on me as the time went on. At the end, I didn't like her much for her choice, but I could understand why she did it. Cavin was another interesting character. I don't have much to say on him really.
Eli, though, he was my favorite character. I loved not knowing whether to trust him or not, let alone his intentions. Maybe I'm biased from Hopkin's YA novels, but I wanted the story told my him. Perhaps Hopkins will make this a story like Triangle and Tilt; one book from the parent's perspective and then one from the kid's.
I also wish this was in poetry, not prose. She wrote a mean story, but poetry would have just slimmed it down more to the point of this whole thing. Again, I might be biased from the YA side of things.
The ending was lackluster. I finished it and I paused for a moment, then side. So much build up for completely nothing. And literally, it really was nothing to get excited about.
Don't get me wrong, this was a good book. I didn't like Tara at first, but she grew on me as the time went on. At the end, I didn't like her much for her choice, but I could understand why she did it. Cavin was another interesting character. I don't have much to say on him really.
Eli, though, he was my favorite character. I loved not knowing whether to trust him or not, let alone his intentions. Maybe I'm biased from Hopkin's YA novels, but I wanted the story told my him. Perhaps Hopkins will make this a story like Triangle and Tilt; one book from the parent's perspective and then one from the kid's.
I also wish this was in poetry, not prose. She wrote a mean story, but poetry would have just slimmed it down more to the point of this whole thing. Again, I might be biased from the YA side of things.
The ending was lackluster. I finished it and I paused for a moment, then side. So much build up for completely nothing. And literally, it really was nothing to get excited about.
bookishemm's review against another edition
3.0
This review is also posted on my blog The Little Book Affair.
I’ve read all of Ellen Hopkins’ young adult books that are currently published. I don’t normally read her adult books but there was just something about this book that interested me. So I bought it. And I didn’t love it.
I’m not sure why but the story just didn’t flow for me like her other books usually do. Maybe it was because I was reading from a 40 year old woman’s point of view, but I just couldn’t really connect to the main character, Tara, very much. I enjoyed the main character though, if that makes sense. I thought she was a very interesting character, and I never felt bored with her. There were certain things the character said or did that I didn’t like, but overall I thought the main character was okay. I really liked the sexy doctor love interest, and Tara’s sister. I actually enjoyed most of the characters in the book.
The writing of the story is what really made me bored with the book. I usually drool over Ellen Hopkins writing, but she usually writes her YA novels in free verse so maybe that’s why. I’m not used to reading an Ellen Hopkins novel like a regularly written novel. I also just found the writing to be very slow. For a 300-something page book the story feels like it drags. While I was reading it I felt like I had been reading forever but the story was going nowhere. Sometimes when I put the book down and I had little to no desire to pick it back up again; which is probably why it took me a few months to read it. The sexy scenes in the book were pretty sexy, though, and I enjoyed them. I never felt like they were over the top.
Love Lies Beneath wasn’t totally terrible; I have it 3 stars because it has it’s redeemable qualities. I’m still a die hard Ellen Hopkins fan, but I think I’ll just stick to her YA books.
I’ve read all of Ellen Hopkins’ young adult books that are currently published. I don’t normally read her adult books but there was just something about this book that interested me. So I bought it. And I didn’t love it.
I’m not sure why but the story just didn’t flow for me like her other books usually do. Maybe it was because I was reading from a 40 year old woman’s point of view, but I just couldn’t really connect to the main character, Tara, very much. I enjoyed the main character though, if that makes sense. I thought she was a very interesting character, and I never felt bored with her. There were certain things the character said or did that I didn’t like, but overall I thought the main character was okay. I really liked the sexy doctor love interest, and Tara’s sister. I actually enjoyed most of the characters in the book.
The writing of the story is what really made me bored with the book. I usually drool over Ellen Hopkins writing, but she usually writes her YA novels in free verse so maybe that’s why. I’m not used to reading an Ellen Hopkins novel like a regularly written novel. I also just found the writing to be very slow. For a 300-something page book the story feels like it drags. While I was reading it I felt like I had been reading forever but the story was going nowhere. Sometimes when I put the book down and I had little to no desire to pick it back up again; which is probably why it took me a few months to read it. The sexy scenes in the book were pretty sexy, though, and I enjoyed them. I never felt like they were over the top.
Love Lies Beneath wasn’t totally terrible; I have it 3 stars because it has it’s redeemable qualities. I’m still a die hard Ellen Hopkins fan, but I think I’ll just stick to her YA books.