Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Good book, quick read. I feel like I've read another book with virtually the same subject/storyline.
2.5/5. I was really interested in this book and really wanted to like it. It was such an interesting premise, kind-of Jodi Picoult-like, and I think with a lot more nuance it could have been a really strong book. Overall, though, even though the story itself was compelling, the characters and writing style were not. The style was simpering and saccharine, and the characters were predictable tropes -- it felt like the book version of a Hallmark movie. I did think the author got into Morgan's perspective the best, found her chapters to generally be the most interesting and nuanced, although at times her voice didn't sound young enough. I found the ending to be predictable. Actually, no. What I hated the most was the fact that the author named a character's dog, literally, Dog. With no explanation (this could work fine in a satire or with a specific reason). Just... so... lazy, and representative of the lazy characterization/trope-ness in general.
I was also not impressed by the homophobia on Morgan's part; though she claims that's not the motivation for her actions after awhile, it still really comes off that way through her continuing to sideline Ethan and make odd/awkward comments to him. Supposedly this book was set in 2011/2012, and I feel like a teenager should've been, honestly, a little more woke at that time. It was also a bit ableist but more in terms of the author's writing style and characterization of Dinah. Dinah only sees her disabled twins as disabled and is constantly flashing back to their dramatic time in the NICU, instead of appreciating them more as the unique kids they are today. While this rang somewhat true to me I also thought it was a bit of a cliche and surface reading of a mom of a severely ill child. I actually thought the twins were some of the more intriguing characters, especially Jared and his new friends! Such a different, but honestly true choice for someone who feels like an outsider. I would've liked more unique moments like that.
So in general: not really a hate read, I didn't find it terrible, but I also didn't really *like* it either, which mostly comes down to the tone and characterization. Just not for me. If you're looking for a similar story, I LOVED The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos.
Spoiler
I honestly was possibly most upset about how Rain has this realisation that TJ is mildly abusive towards her. I didn't see this supported earlier in the text, and it again feels cliche. It would've been so much more of an interesting character study (as a CHARACTER, not defending this type of action IRL of course!) if he actually had just simply been a devoted husband who got burnt out on the stress of infertility and went after a student! And she left him anyway because she can!I was also not impressed by the homophobia on Morgan's part; though she claims that's not the motivation for her actions after awhile, it still really comes off that way through her continuing to sideline Ethan and make odd/awkward comments to him. Supposedly this book was set in 2011/2012, and I feel like a teenager should've been, honestly, a little more woke at that time. It was also a bit ableist but more in terms of the author's writing style and characterization of Dinah. Dinah only sees her disabled twins as disabled and is constantly flashing back to their dramatic time in the NICU, instead of appreciating them more as the unique kids they are today. While this rang somewhat true to me I also thought it was a bit of a cliche and surface reading of a mom of a severely ill child. I actually thought the twins were some of the more intriguing characters, especially Jared and his new friends! Such a different, but honestly true choice for someone who feels like an outsider. I would've liked more unique moments like that.
So in general: not really a hate read, I didn't find it terrible, but I also didn't really *like* it either, which mostly comes down to the tone and characterization. Just not for me. If you're looking for a similar story, I LOVED The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos.
i really enjoyed this one. i feel that the three different perspectives of morgan, rain, and dinah made the actual story that much more interesting and gave it dimensions that it otherwise wouldn't have. this topic is something i've never read about and i'm glad the first one was a great experience.
also the last paragraph of the book was creepy.. in the best way possible.
also the last paragraph of the book was creepy.. in the best way possible.
I stayed up till 1:30 last night finishing this book, so I obviously enjoyed it somewhat. It had a disturbing storyline: a high school senior has an affair with her young married calculus teacher, they are caught and he is prosecuted, but she continues supporting him. I liked that it was told from the perspective of three characters: the young girl, her mother, and the teacher's wife.
Overall, though, it was pretty disturbing to see how the young girl thought she was making such a mature choice and believed the relationship to be equal, but the self-indulgent teacher was using her to stroke his ego. When I was a senior in high school a girl in our class had "an inappropriate relationship" with our choir director, and I remember wondering how on earth those boundaries were ever crossed. This fictional account let me see how easily it could happen (which is sickening to me, since my daughter is a senior in high school).
Anyway... 3.5 stars.
Overall, though, it was pretty disturbing to see how the young girl thought she was making such a mature choice and believed the relationship to be equal, but the self-indulgent teacher was using her to stroke his ego. When I was a senior in high school a girl in our class had "an inappropriate relationship" with our choir director, and I remember wondering how on earth those boundaries were ever crossed. This fictional account let me see how easily it could happen (which is sickening to me, since my daughter is a senior in high school).
Anyway... 3.5 stars.
An interesting story about an uncomfortable topic. I found myself not liking certain characters at the beginning of the story, to caring about them by the end. I think the topic was handled well and found this to be an easy read.
I keep trying to make myself read more than YA.
This reminded me when we all were in love with our student teacher.
This also made think of how insane PLL is to make it out to be a positive thing to have a relationship like this.
Not a bad book, I didn't love any of the characters really but I was sucked in.
This reminded me when we all were in love with our student teacher.
This also made think of how insane PLL is to make it out to be a positive thing to have a relationship like this.
Not a bad book, I didn't love any of the characters really but I was sucked in.
2.76. Would have been better if the characters were actually likeable. Also, very anticlimactic which is sometimes fine but not in this case.
I enjoyed this book. I think the characters are what kept me reading. I didn't like any of them (I think that was intentional on the authors part), however, I was able to empathize with one character as she totally got the shortest end of the stick out of everyone.
One bone to pick: I was so tired of hearing about Morgan's scar by the end of the book though (just me?). I don't know what the huge emphasis about her scar was. I don't know if I was missing something but she kept covering it up, then showing it, then feeling like it was engulfing her....I just could not with that scar.
But overall, the book was surprisingly good. I was recommended this one from Booktube and I liked it. It makes you think because stuff like this book happens all the time, sadly enough. You will hate certain characters by the end of the novel. I did. And still do. This book leaves you with an eerie feeling by the end, like you were a fly on the wall watching the whole thing play out. And by the end you kinda just want to tell your perspective. Good read!
One bone to pick: I was so tired of hearing about Morgan's scar by the end of the book though (just me?). I don't know what the huge emphasis about her scar was. I don't know if I was missing something but she kept covering it up, then showing it, then feeling like it was engulfing her....I just could not with that scar.
But overall, the book was surprisingly good. I was recommended this one from Booktube and I liked it. It makes you think because stuff like this book happens all the time, sadly enough. You will hate certain characters by the end of the novel. I did. And still do. This book leaves you with an eerie feeling by the end, like you were a fly on the wall watching the whole thing play out. And by the end you kinda just want to tell your perspective. Good read!
A lot of the dialogue and language in this novel did not seem natural or organic, but I couldn't put this book down for the last half. I was hooked on finding out what would happen between Morgan and TJ, TJ and Rain, and Morgan and her parents.
Good book, handled a disturbing topic quite deftly. I liked seeing the story from 3 different points of view. I will probably read more by this author in the future.