Scan barcode
fairiesdust's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
misspippireads's review against another edition
"Heroes" is very different from SEP's usual novels. This piece was a bit more gothic, mysterious, and dangerous. It reminded me a bit of Northanger Abbey.
Time Period: Modern
Location: Peregrine Island, Maine, USA
Reviewed from a library copy.
Time Period: Modern
Location: Peregrine Island, Maine, USA
Reviewed from a library copy.
amlibera's review against another edition
3.0
Good fun, playing off of gothic tropes although there's a bit of a split personality happening in this one. All the pieces are there but the gothic trope frame keeps slipping away to reveal two main characters who don't quite belong there. Still satisfying and definitely a "read read"
rebroxannape's review against another edition
3.0
First things first. I love the iridescent dust jacket and endpapers. I am glad that the publishers are doing Susan Elizabeth Phillip's books right. Heroes Are My Weakness is built on the tropes of a Gothic Romance novel. It folds in a little Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Mistress of Mellyn, and probably a good many others. The book is dedicated to Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Phyllis Whitney among others. It was fun to figure out the many homages in this books to the various gothics I have read. The Hero (Theo) at first, seems dark and cruel, but of course we know the mystery of his past will be revealed and it will turn out that he is really a pussycat. I figured out the dark secret pretty quickly thanks to my familiarity with Rebecca. Annie, the Heroine, is all SEP: too quirky to live, and aided by, as in This Heart of Mine, some imaginary friends. In this case, not characters in a children book series, but puppets. I am glad to say the Puppets are actually fairly entertaining, and not annoying like Daphne and Benny in THOM. The typical Phillips humor is alive and well, much of it in the humorous way she plays on the cliches in a Gothic Novel. She could have wrapped it up a little sooner; the last few chapters kind of dragged a bit, but I guess she just couldn't resist inserting just one more scene common in many Gothics. I did love the setting on "Peregrine Island." It wasn't too hard to figure out that it was based on Monhegan Island, Maine. All in all, an entertaining read; Not her best, but well worth the time. I give it 3.5 stars, bumped up to 4 out of love and gratitude to the author for the many laughs and entertainment over the years.
zia_t's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
judithdcollins's review against another edition
2.0
Romance writer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips turns to puppets and horror gothic style, in her latest novel, Heroes Are My Weakness.
When Annie, a thirty-three year old ventriloquist returns to an isolated Maine Cottage (in February), in the heart of winter, where she spent her teenage years, as she is now homeless— She wants to get away to unwind and search for a legacy left by her mother. She is left with her puppets, (Dillie and Leo) in her suitcase and carries on a silly conversation with them?
What she finds when she arrives— a widower, sexy Theo Harp (teen who tried to kill her years ago), in the Gothic mansion manor house next door, on the hill, now a best- selling horror author, and Jaycie Mills, a quiet woman who once saved her life, working as his injured housekeeper and raising a mute four-year-old daughter, Livia with a tragic past.
After Annie’s illness with pneumonia and her present financial situation, she is looking forward to her stay at Moonraker Cottage, which her narcissistic mother left her along with a deathbed promise of a valuable treasure hidden there. She has not been back since her crush on Theo (the psychopathic boy who played with her emotions) year ago, or perhaps my reading style has greawr.
She finds herself drawn to the lives of the people at the Harp House, and the longer she stays the more apparent it is, someone does not want her there, but she wants to stay and see it through as she fights her way through the secrets and the truth.
I have not read Phillips in years, so thought I would give it a whirl. I listened to the audiobook, and thought the narrator, a bit silly, and even though it may appeal to those who like this gothic type genre—found it not my cup of tea. In addition, my reading style has changed over the years, so unfortunately, did not find this novel very appealing.
When Annie, a thirty-three year old ventriloquist returns to an isolated Maine Cottage (in February), in the heart of winter, where she spent her teenage years, as she is now homeless— She wants to get away to unwind and search for a legacy left by her mother. She is left with her puppets, (Dillie and Leo) in her suitcase and carries on a silly conversation with them?
What she finds when she arrives— a widower, sexy Theo Harp (teen who tried to kill her years ago), in the Gothic mansion manor house next door, on the hill, now a best- selling horror author, and Jaycie Mills, a quiet woman who once saved her life, working as his injured housekeeper and raising a mute four-year-old daughter, Livia with a tragic past.
After Annie’s illness with pneumonia and her present financial situation, she is looking forward to her stay at Moonraker Cottage, which her narcissistic mother left her along with a deathbed promise of a valuable treasure hidden there. She has not been back since her crush on Theo (the psychopathic boy who played with her emotions) year ago, or perhaps my reading style has greawr.
She finds herself drawn to the lives of the people at the Harp House, and the longer she stays the more apparent it is, someone does not want her there, but she wants to stay and see it through as she fights her way through the secrets and the truth.
I have not read Phillips in years, so thought I would give it a whirl. I listened to the audiobook, and thought the narrator, a bit silly, and even though it may appeal to those who like this gothic type genre—found it not my cup of tea. In addition, my reading style has changed over the years, so unfortunately, did not find this novel very appealing.
lylllukas's review against another edition
5.0
Alguses oli väga raske vedama saada, aga mida lõpupoole jõudsin, seda raskem oli pidama saada.
Väga hea raamat, soovitan!
Väga hea raamat, soovitan!
seagirl8907's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Annie is returning home to lay claim on a home from her past that she must inhabit for 60 days per an agreement between her mother and step father. She must return to this house in the dead of winter on an island off of Maine and tough it out while having memories of her childhood haunt her. Theo is a part of these childhood memories that are haunting and he is living in his family's home trying to work on his next novel.
Their love story was great. I loved the ups and the downs and the realizations they each had to make to get to where they ended up. My favorite secondary character was a young, sweet girl named Livia who had been through a lot, but actually helped the other characters learn more about themselves through her. She wins a prize for top secondary character in my book.
Annie is returning home to lay claim on a home from her past that she must inhabit for 60 days per an agreement between her mother and step father. She must return to this house in the dead of winter on an island off of Maine and tough it out while having memories of her childhood haunt her. Theo is a part of these childhood memories that are haunting and he is living in his family's home trying to work on his next novel.
Their love story was great. I loved the ups and the downs and the realizations they each had to make to get to where they ended up. My favorite secondary character was a young, sweet girl named Livia who had been through a lot, but actually helped the other characters learn more about themselves through her. She wins a prize for top secondary character in my book.