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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
5 stars!
To be honest, I only got this book because of the numerous TikTok videos I saw that suggested it was a good read. Never have I been happier about the fact that this annoying little app pointed me in the right direction, because damn, I think Hearing Red is the best book I have ever read – and I go through sapphic books at an alarming rate, so that says a lot.
I’m neither a fan of horror, nor do I like zombie apocalypse stories, so it came as a big surprise that the story of HR worked so well for me – and it did so because of the two main characters and the way their slowly blossoming feelings for each other were depicted. All the times they solo traveled or simply spend time together away from others felt special and more often than not ended up making me smile, even in the most intense and dire situations.
Maddie's blindness as well as Saff’s past traumas were also masterfully handled and ended up enriching the story – especially the way the point of view often shifts to Maddie who simply experiences the world in a different way, enhancing the feel of the surrounding chaos and danger but also at times making intimate moments that more impactful.
While it took a little while to get into the story and get to know the characters well enough to start caring about them, when I reached that point, the two of them slowly but surely managed to become what I would call “comfort characters”, or in other words, characters I would gladly read another 500 pages or even more pages about. I’m truly sad that this book had to end and now I’m left with the feeling that this probably pushed my standards for sapphic stories up so high that I won’t be able to enjoy other books for quite a while. Truly, this is one of those titles that I just wish I could erase from my memory to experience again for the first time....
To be honest, I only got this book because of the numerous TikTok videos I saw that suggested it was a good read. Never have I been happier about the fact that this annoying little app pointed me in the right direction, because damn, I think Hearing Red is the best book I have ever read – and I go through sapphic books at an alarming rate, so that says a lot.
I’m neither a fan of horror, nor do I like zombie apocalypse stories, so it came as a big surprise that the story of HR worked so well for me – and it did so because of the two main characters and the way their slowly blossoming feelings for each other were depicted. All the times they solo traveled or simply spend time together away from others felt special and more often than not ended up making me smile, even in the most intense and dire situations.
Maddie's blindness as well as Saff’s past traumas were also masterfully handled and ended up enriching the story – especially the way the point of view often shifts to Maddie who simply experiences the world in a different way, enhancing the feel of the surrounding chaos and danger but also at times making intimate moments that more impactful.
While it took a little while to get into the story and get to know the characters well enough to start caring about them, when I reached that point, the two of them slowly but surely managed to become what I would call “comfort characters”, or in other words, characters I would gladly read another 500 pages or even more pages about. I’m truly sad that this book had to end and now I’m left with the feeling that this probably pushed my standards for sapphic stories up so high that I won’t be able to enjoy other books for quite a while. Truly, this is one of those titles that I just wish I could erase from my memory to experience again for the first time....
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book destroyed me, would absolutely recommend
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF @ 60%. Skipped to the last few pages to see if I wanted to put it on hold again and nah.
Miiight pick this back up sometime since so many people say the slow burn is great. It just really didn't grab me. Neither main character feels like a real person, Saff's background doesn't add up, the writing needed a round or three of heavy editing (this could EASILY be halved in length) not to mention the typos... I wanted to like it for the disability rep but Maddie's blindness is handled so poorly. Someone who's blind from birth wouldn't communicate so much with subtle facial expressions. There were other examples I'm forgetting because I started this book months ago, that one is just the most constantly egregious. Both women acted like teens rather than competent adults.
Also the non-romance parts of the plot are often nonsensical. The timeline since the zombie outbreak felt wrong for how much food was left. How did Maddie's family survive in their gated vacation community? Saff was a hospital doctor but doesn't seem to have a specialty, and her training sounded closer to nursing. Even if she's a genius who started college early, the flashbacks to time with her dad don't sound like she had been set up for success in an academic environment. And there's no mention of a residency, just "shifts at the hospital" alongside lectures. Has the author at least watched Grey's Anatomy? Or gone camping? Hiking even? At one point Saff complains about being up before 6am, after weeks of pre-dawn hunting and telling Maddie she's never been able to sleep in. It was either boring, or skipping ahead without setting up the new scene, or making me want to throw the book across the room because nothing works like that. Details don't add anything when they're stupid or wrong.
The skipping ahead omitting useful details was also a lot. Like the dining hall in the village. We're on a Maddie chapter when they first go there so no description of the layout, and then every time they go back it's more confusing. Hundreds of people crammed in around small tables... Why aren't meals in shifts? We had multiple lunch periods from middle school on to keep the cafeteria manageable. And what is the building? They're supposedly in a residential neighborhood -- the clinic is in a house -- so is it a community center with full kitchens? A repurposed church? Pretty sure it's described as a house they're using as a dining hall during their tour with Maddie's dad.
Another dumb detail was early on: how quickly they walked from the city center to open country. My city is well outside the top 20 in the US for metro area population, and it's 15-30+ miles to get from downtown past the suburbs depending which direction you go. That is not half a day's walk. If it was described as a small-mediun city the timing makes enough sense, but they have a conversation while walking through the suburbs. AND one of them is injured.
Finally, I was basically 2/3 through and not a hint of romantic tension. I love a slow burn but this was a slog.
Miiight pick this back up sometime since so many people say the slow burn is great. It just really didn't grab me. Neither main character feels like a real person, Saff's background doesn't add up, the writing needed a round or three of heavy editing (this could EASILY be halved in length) not to mention the typos... I wanted to like it for the disability rep but Maddie's blindness is handled so poorly. Someone who's blind from birth wouldn't communicate so much with subtle facial expressions. There were other examples I'm forgetting because I started this book months ago, that one is just the most constantly egregious. Both women acted like teens rather than competent adults.
Also the non-romance parts of the plot are often nonsensical. The timeline since the zombie outbreak felt wrong for how much food was left. How did Maddie's family survive in their gated vacation community? Saff was a hospital doctor but doesn't seem to have a specialty, and her training sounded closer to nursing. Even if she's a genius who started college early, the flashbacks to time with her dad don't sound like she had been set up for success in an academic environment. And there's no mention of a residency, just "shifts at the hospital" alongside lectures. Has the author at least watched Grey's Anatomy? Or gone camping? Hiking even? At one point Saff complains about being up before 6am, after weeks of pre-dawn hunting and telling Maddie she's never been able to sleep in. It was either boring, or skipping ahead without setting up the new scene, or making me want to throw the book across the room because nothing works like that. Details don't add anything when they're stupid or wrong.
The skipping ahead omitting useful details was also a lot. Like the dining hall in the village. We're on a Maddie chapter when they first go there so no description of the layout, and then every time they go back it's more confusing. Hundreds of people crammed in around small tables... Why aren't meals in shifts? We had multiple lunch periods from middle school on to keep the cafeteria manageable. And what is the building? They're supposedly in a residential neighborhood -- the clinic is in a house -- so is it a community center with full kitchens? A repurposed church? Pretty sure it's described as a house they're using as a dining hall during their tour with Maddie's dad.
Another dumb detail was early on: how quickly they walked from the city center to open country. My city is well outside the top 20 in the US for metro area population, and it's 15-30+ miles to get from downtown past the suburbs depending which direction you go. That is not half a day's walk. If it was described as a small-mediun city the timing makes enough sense, but they have a conversation while walking through the suburbs. AND one of them is injured.
Finally, I was basically 2/3 through and not a hint of romantic tension. I love a slow burn but this was a slog.
my new favorite book.
I think I must mention that I bought this book as a huge TWD fan.
And I was not disappointed. The very first page felt familiar, and it got straight to the point, which made for a really smooth start.
The only thing I would've done differently, is the description of their surroundings, especially in the woods. More carcasses and bodies and maybe more zombies. But that's definitely not a reason to rate it any lower. I genuinely enjoyed this book in every way. I wasn't sure I'd be into the slow burn romance between these two, but this book totally changed my mind about slow burn romances. Saff & Maddie's dynamic reminded of Daryl & Beth, (even if their relationship was more like big brother & little sister) and I loved it. Grumpy and sunshine indeed. Their romance was so well written. Even though I'm typically a spice lover, I was actually so glad there was only one spicy scene and the build-up to it was also perfectly drawn out.
If I could give 10 stars, I would. Thank you, Nicole, for such a great book. It seriously made my heart race!
I think I must mention that I bought this book as a huge TWD fan.
And I was not disappointed. The very first page felt familiar, and it got straight to the point, which made for a really smooth start.
The only thing I would've done differently, is the description of their surroundings, especially in the woods. More carcasses and bodies and maybe more zombies. But that's definitely not a reason to rate it any lower. I genuinely enjoyed this book in every way. I wasn't sure I'd be into the slow burn romance between these two, but this book totally changed my mind about slow burn romances. Saff & Maddie's dynamic reminded of Daryl & Beth, (even if their relationship was more like big brother & little sister) and I loved it. Grumpy and sunshine indeed. Their romance was so well written. Even though I'm typically a spice lover, I was actually so glad there was only one spicy scene and the build-up to it was also perfectly drawn out.
If I could give 10 stars, I would. Thank you, Nicole, for such a great book. It seriously made my heart race!