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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Felt like an action packed teenage rom com but I ate it up lol
When I was reading it and caught up in the novel, I thought it would end up as a solid 3. But I can only suspend my disbelief so far. When a teenager is out smarting the FBI and her father and mobsters and gang members... What.
Also she's a ballet dancer. Who can climb buildings like she was born to be a thief because I've heard that ballet and free climbing overlap. And she happens to meet a sexy good boy who's down on his luck and so hot. Did we mention that? We're running for our lives but let's ogle each other.
And the stereotyping... I can't with it or with the leaps of logic. All the good will I initially had for this book was siphoned away as I spent more time with the main character.
Also... This is petty, but I hate that they took the name Jaime and shortened it to Jay.
Also she's a ballet dancer. Who can climb buildings like she was born to be a thief because I've heard that ballet and free climbing overlap. And she happens to meet a sexy good boy who's down on his luck and so hot. Did we mention that? We're running for our lives but let's ogle each other.
And the stereotyping... I can't with it or with the leaps of logic. All the good will I initially had for this book was siphoned away as I spent more time with the main character.
Also... This is petty, but I hate that they took the name Jaime and shortened it to Jay.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Let me start off by saying I enjoyed the idea of the premise of this book, but I feel like it was executed poorly. It was mostly ruined by the racist undertones that came from Olivia's stupidity and ignorance.
First, she automatically assumed that Jamie, the MMC, was in a gang because he had a bandana. Like girl, you're supposed to be this worldy, cultured person who grew up around the world, you should know there's plenty of other uses for a bandana.
Second, she asked Jamie where he was from and he replied New York. And she said "No, I mean, your heritage. Where are your family from, originally?" GIRL, this is cultural awareness 101. That feels so racist to me. I get she meant it as an innocent question but Jesus. She then proceeds to mock his Cuban accent, after he had literally just complimented hers.
I feel like the author was really trying to push the Latinx stereotypes. When we meet Jamie's cousin, Marisa, they go to a club and Marisa wants to make Olivia change because the clothes she's wearing will make her "stand out like a habanero chili in an icecream store". Like what are you even talking about lmfao
Idk this book just left a bad taste in my mouth. So much time is spent building up Olivia's background in being raised in foreign countries, so you would think she would know how to address and communicate with other cultures, but she's lowkey racist and it was frustrating.
First, she automatically assumed that Jamie, the MMC, was in a gang because he had a bandana. Like girl, you're supposed to be this worldy, cultured person who grew up around the world, you should know there's plenty of other uses for a bandana.
Second, she asked Jamie where he was from and he replied New York. And she said "No, I mean, your heritage. Where are your family from, originally?" GIRL, this is cultural awareness 101. That feels so racist to me. I get she meant it as an innocent question but Jesus. She then proceeds to mock his Cuban accent, after he had literally just complimented hers.
I feel like the author was really trying to push the Latinx stereotypes. When we meet Jamie's cousin, Marisa, they go to a club and Marisa wants to make Olivia change because the clothes she's wearing will make her "stand out like a habanero chili in an icecream store". Like what are you even talking about lmfao
Idk this book just left a bad taste in my mouth. So much time is spent building up Olivia's background in being raised in foreign countries, so you would think she would know how to address and communicate with other cultures, but she's lowkey racist and it was frustrating.
Hmm, not my favourite of Sarah Aldersons books. Although it was one that I enjoyed, enjoyed enough to rate it a 3 star, I still wouldn't put it up there with the best of hers. I've read all of Sarah's books to date, including the ones by her other pen name, and this one fell sort of flat. It's a shame really because I always anticipate a new Sarah Alderson book and this one was no different. I loved the blurb and I loved the cover, that I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
It wasn't a bad start, I was intrigued and engaged from the first page but it took me a little longer to read, it took me a while to connect with the characters. I guess more than anything, I went in with high expectations because I'm such a fan of her books and her previous ones have been excellent, but this one didn't quite meet the expectation I wanted. The overall concept of the story is great, and I think with a little more umph to it, it would have been a fabulous book. I felt a few things could have been done differently, but if it had the focus that I would have liked, it would have ended up being similar to Hunting Lila.
My 3 stars mostly go to the story concept and Sarah herself. Although this book (for me) wasn't up to Sarah Aldersons standard (purely my opinion) it is a good read and an engaging one at that, but it's just a little slower in pace and character connection as a reader that had me holding back. This won't stop me from reading Sarah Alderson, nope. This is merely a bump and I'm over it and look forward to her next book :)
It wasn't a bad start, I was intrigued and engaged from the first page but it took me a little longer to read, it took me a while to connect with the characters. I guess more than anything, I went in with high expectations because I'm such a fan of her books and her previous ones have been excellent, but this one didn't quite meet the expectation I wanted. The overall concept of the story is great, and I think with a little more umph to it, it would have been a fabulous book. I felt a few things could have been done differently, but if it had the focus that I would have liked, it would have ended up being similar to Hunting Lila.
My 3 stars mostly go to the story concept and Sarah herself. Although this book (for me) wasn't up to Sarah Aldersons standard (purely my opinion) it is a good read and an engaging one at that, but it's just a little slower in pace and character connection as a reader that had me holding back. This won't stop me from reading Sarah Alderson, nope. This is merely a bump and I'm over it and look forward to her next book :)
This book is a nice fast paced quick read. The characters are for the most part likable but the plot is semi-predictable. Completely unrealistic but I guess that is the point of these books. Had the typical YA tropes, some cringe romantic scenes. However, overall the book was something different and I got through it quickly without wanting to DNF it. Definitely a good read for traveling or wanting to relax the mind.
Full review to come. Good little YA thriller. Decent chemistry, no sex, mild violence for the subject matter. Nothing earth shattering, but not a bad way to spend a few hours.
Action-packed and fast paced I enjoyed both Liv and Jay's characters. I also liked the way Liv kept thinking back to what Felix had taught her. He was huge part of her life with a lasting impact and that showed. But given the dramatic events in her life I actually wanted to know what is next for her so while I enjoyed the rooftop kiss it wasn't enough information for me to be completely happy with the ending.