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smart_girls_love_trashy_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
-POTENTIAL SPOILERS-
I really wanted so badly to like this book. It was a quick read, finished it in a day, which made me excited! A lot of books I read through quickly tend to be really good! But right now, I've been having bad luck. I haven't been reading good books. And sadly, this was one of them.
This book had a lot of good things in it. I liked the concept of a story where Tinker Bell fell in love with Wendy and had to deal with those feelings. I liked the various twists this story went through. I especially loved the ending, when Wendy and Tinker Bell finally get to reunite and turn Neverland into more than just an isolated island. I also really liked the fictional story about the history of Neverland, a book that's woven into the chapters of this one. The lore for Neverland is completely different from other retellings in that it takes almost nothing from the original play/book, instead being almost completely original to this. That was a brave thing to do, but very unique and I think it paid off, despite how long it took me to get used to it.
I also liked how this book addresses the issue of why Peter and Wendy really shouldn't be together. I get why people like the ship and it does have appeal, but only in Neverland. Peter is a being, not even human, but a being, who is from Neverland and specifically can't ever grow up and will never grow up. This book displayed how awful it would be to be in a relationship with someone like that, and Peter is honestly even trying, but he's just not mentally prepared for life as a mature man, and he never will be. That's not his nature. This book did an extremely good job of exploring and showing how in the real world, that relationship wouldn't last for very long.
However, because the book was so short, everything felt very underdeveloped. Tink and Hope just kinda get along after like two pages, the romance between Peter and Wendy and Wendy and Tinker Bell aren't very well developed, and major points, such as Peter Pan getting depression, are just glossed over. So many things needed more time to be expanded on and focused on. The romances just sort of happen, just take the book's word for it. The time period was very vague and confusing, which didn't help me get as invested. At first I assumed it was the 1900's like the original story, but after many references to technology and things like cars, I realized this was somehow in the present day, or very recent decades, likely the eighties or nineties. That was very strange and I wish the book was less vague about it.
Overall, this was a decent book with a great set-up and some nicely explored concepts, but the overall plot was too rushed, the characters weren't well-developed, and ultimately I was left feeling like a book that you can fly through in a day shouldn't also be a book that sacrifices the important plot elements for a faster pace.
I really wanted so badly to like this book. It was a quick read, finished it in a day, which made me excited! A lot of books I read through quickly tend to be really good! But right now, I've been having bad luck. I haven't been reading good books. And sadly, this was one of them.
This book had a lot of good things in it. I liked the concept of a story where Tinker Bell fell in love with Wendy and had to deal with those feelings. I liked the various twists this story went through. I especially loved the ending, when Wendy and Tinker Bell finally get to reunite and turn Neverland into more than just an isolated island. I also really liked the fictional story about the history of Neverland, a book that's woven into the chapters of this one. The lore for Neverland is completely different from other retellings in that it takes almost nothing from the original play/book, instead being almost completely original to this. That was a brave thing to do, but very unique and I think it paid off, despite how long it took me to get used to it.
I also liked how this book addresses the issue of why Peter and Wendy really shouldn't be together. I get why people like the ship and it does have appeal, but only in Neverland. Peter is a being, not even human, but a being, who is from Neverland and specifically can't ever grow up and will never grow up. This book displayed how awful it would be to be in a relationship with someone like that, and Peter is honestly even trying, but he's just not mentally prepared for life as a mature man, and he never will be. That's not his nature. This book did an extremely good job of exploring and showing how in the real world, that relationship wouldn't last for very long.
However, because the book was so short, everything felt very underdeveloped. Tink and Hope just kinda get along after like two pages, the romance between Peter and Wendy and Wendy and Tinker Bell aren't very well developed, and major points, such as Peter Pan getting depression, are just glossed over. So many things needed more time to be expanded on and focused on. The romances just sort of happen, just take the book's word for it. The time period was very vague and confusing, which didn't help me get as invested. At first I assumed it was the 1900's like the original story, but after many references to technology and things like cars, I realized this was somehow in the present day, or very recent decades, likely the eighties or nineties. That was very strange and I wish the book was less vague about it.
Overall, this was a decent book with a great set-up and some nicely explored concepts, but the overall plot was too rushed, the characters weren't well-developed, and ultimately I was left feeling like a book that you can fly through in a day shouldn't also be a book that sacrifices the important plot elements for a faster pace.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Car accident
Minor: Abandonment and Death of parent
annorabrady's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
The story was all over the place and the timeline impossible to follow. I genuinely have no idea how long Tink and Peter were on earth the first time. In the handful of months it was supposed to be, years worth of events happened. Somehow Wendy and Peter aged enough in that time to have a baby and to be the legal guardians of her brothers after they were orphaned? They also went from an era with records to an era with cellphones both as normal parts of everyday life? Additionally the "present day story" happens when Wendy's great grandchild is in college but malls are still a place where people go to hang out?
I also wasn't a fan of the filler content of the "editor's notes" about Neverland and fairy lore. It constantly ruined the flow of the story.
There was potential with the story but it got lost in the filler and the plot conveniences.
I also wasn't a fan of the filler content of the "editor's notes" about Neverland and fairy lore. It constantly ruined the flow of the story.
There was potential with the story but it got lost in the filler and the plot conveniences.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Self harm, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Car accident, Child death, and Death
notyoselin's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Queer bated during Pride Month? Feels like it.
While there are some sapphic elements (see: Tink’s supposed one-sided crush on Wendy turned requited when they’re older and scarred), the relationship between Wendy and Tink is far too underdeveloped to be satisfying.
The only thing I enjoyed from this novel was the fairy lore sprinkled between Tink’s chapters. Besides that, the rest of the story reads rushed and reminiscent of a novella with shocking twists and endings that are just there for shock value and to hide poor writing.
While there are some sapphic elements (see: Tink’s supposed one-sided crush on Wendy turned requited when they’re older and scarred), the relationship between Wendy and Tink is far too underdeveloped to be satisfying.
The only thing I enjoyed from this novel was the fairy lore sprinkled between Tink’s chapters. Besides that, the rest of the story reads rushed and reminiscent of a novella with shocking twists and endings that are just there for shock value and to hide poor writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident and Death
vaniavela's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What happens when Tinkerbell is in love with Peter Pan and Wendy?
I've never been a big fan of the Peter Pan story, but I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how the chapters changed from Then ( Peter and Tinkerbell met Wendy ) to Now ( Wendy and Peter's granddaughter discover Tinkerbell living in the old Darling house ) to Excerpts from Neverland: A History ( Historical information about Neverland and Tink and Peter's relationship ). This was such a creative and interesting idea and I loved reading these short excerpts.
Kelly Ann Jacobson's writing fits the story perfectly. The descriptions portray the setting and express the characters' feelings in a great way. It was lyrical and touching, blooming beautifully.
I would have liked more Sapphic elements in the story. All the books I've read before feature the typical story of Tink falling in love with Peter Pan, and when I read this premise I was thrilled. While we do get some scenes of Tink and Wendy together, we don't get the epic love story that this book promised. I was disappointed in this aspect.
Also, the plot has some plot holes, which I would have liked to see resolved or better explained.
Overall, the story was good and kept my attention. I would have liked some things to be different, but it's still a good book and I enjoyed it.
trigger warning: addiction, alcoholism, self harm, suicidal thoughts, medical content, grief, death, car crash, teen pregnancy, death of friend's parent, parental abandonment, use of ableist language, multiple deaths.
I've never been a big fan of the Peter Pan story, but I really enjoyed this book.
I loved how the chapters changed from Then ( Peter and Tinkerbell met Wendy ) to Now ( Wendy and Peter's granddaughter discover Tinkerbell living in the old Darling house ) to Excerpts from Neverland: A History ( Historical information about Neverland and Tink and Peter's relationship ). This was such a creative and interesting idea and I loved reading these short excerpts.
Kelly Ann Jacobson's writing fits the story perfectly. The descriptions portray the setting and express the characters' feelings in a great way. It was lyrical and touching, blooming beautifully.
I would have liked more Sapphic elements in the story. All the books I've read before feature the typical story of Tink falling in love with Peter Pan, and when I read this premise I was thrilled. While we do get some scenes of Tink and Wendy together, we don't get the epic love story that this book promised. I was disappointed in this aspect.
Also, the plot has some plot holes, which I would have liked to see resolved or better explained.
Overall, the story was good and kept my attention. I would have liked some things to be different, but it's still a good book and I enjoyed it.
trigger warning: addiction, alcoholism, self harm, suicidal thoughts, medical content, grief, death, car crash, teen pregnancy, death of friend's parent, parental abandonment, use of ableist language, multiple deaths.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
mals_library's review
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Self harm, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Death of parent
writewithapendragon's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Medical content, Child death, Chronic illness, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Addiction
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