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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
Completely unbelievable and morally iffy, but it was hilarious and I enjoyed it.
I don't even know what to say about this book. 2/3 of the book I kept wondering why I was reading it. Then it through me for a loop and I couldn't put it down the last 1/3. It's not my favorite Shannon Hale. For me she either has hits or she has misses and this was a miss for me. Pretty unbelievable and far fetched but I guess that's why it's called fiction. I was glad to be done with the book. I'd sooner reread Austenland again before I picked this one up again.
I loved the back-and-forth banter/dialogue. All the characters were believable --three dimensional. It made me think about things and question what would I do in similar circumstances. Thanks for sharing, Joella!
I have thought and thought about what to say about this book. And my conclusion? I felt pretty much the same as Shannon Hale's husband on this one. I thought it was funny and sweet and even moving at times, I liked some of the supporting characters, but I'm happy never to read it again.
The biggest problem? It took me almost half of the book to believe that Becky and Felix were actually best friends. How could they be best friends? Their relationship wasn't based on anything real! She didn't talk to him about religion, because it made him uncomfortable. She didn't talk to him about her kids, because it made him bored. If she couldn't share these things of substance with him, then what did they really have?
The next biggest problem: I was more interested in the people who didn't get a lot of page time. Becky's husband and kids, Felix's relationship with his wife and mom.
And frankly, I was really distressed by where the plot went near the end.
But, it was well written, and I certainly never wanted to stop reading it. So, there you go.
The biggest problem? It took me almost half of the book to believe that Becky and Felix were actually best friends. How could they be best friends? Their relationship wasn't based on anything real! She didn't talk to him about religion, because it made him uncomfortable. She didn't talk to him about her kids, because it made him bored. If she couldn't share these things of substance with him, then what did they really have?
The next biggest problem: I was more interested in the people who didn't get a lot of page time. Becky's husband and kids, Felix's relationship with his wife and mom.
And frankly, I was really distressed by where the plot went near the end.
But, it was well written, and I certainly never wanted to stop reading it. So, there you go.
<<>>
I had a real hate/love/hate relationship with this book, in that order. I've never read this author before. I read it for a book club in spite of bad reviews and feeling like I’ve outgrown most LDS fiction. The beginning and how Becky and Felix fell into their banter was so far-fetched my head was spinning. You don't just meet a total stranger, famous or not, and start tossing out insults for no reason. Plus, the whole bit about the baby kicking in the womb and how they were brought together for a reason had me groaning out loud. Why does so much LDS fiction insist on bringing some higher purpose into the storyline? I was angry with the main character during the entire first half of the book. Even if she didn't cross any lines, she was in too much of a gray area for a healthy marriage. I was furious about her choices. I wanted everything to go horribly wrong for her. My curiosity is the main thing that kept me reading.
I loved the good parts of her relationship with her husband (which is another reason it was so unrealistic she should have to have this other friendship to complete her). I loved how she felt toward her kids. I even loved crying over her grief and sympathizing over how it must feel to lose a husband. Hale is a pretty good storyteller. Her writing has plenty of emotion and fun dialogue, although I would have liked a little more indication of who was speaking at times.
That being said, I hated the cheap writing tactics used to eliminate the love triangle. Why make her choose someone when you can kill someone off, right? But, after all that, we were left with only Felix and Becky, both single and full of opportunity to explore their relationship romantically. In spite of my frustrations, I found myself getting sucked in. I decided to accept the fact that this was not a story based in reality. It was quite clearly shooting for the fantasy, what-movies-are-made-of realm where regular housewives sell screenplays, become friends with movie stars, act alongside said movie star friends, and the heavens align so they are free to give their hearts to each other. So I sat back to enjoy the romance (I’m a sucker for a friends-turned-lovers romance) and waited for the ever important first kiss. Then, Hale, after leading us on for some 300 pages, decides to try to convince us this is not a fantasy book at all; it’s a book where two friends find they are not and never were attracted to each other at all. And everything that happened along the way was God’s plan to help Becky through her husband’s death and teach her that she could love again . . . someday . . . with someone besides Felix. Dumbest ending ever!!!! If I hadn’t lost all hope in LDS fiction before, this book certainly sealed the deal. What a contrived, idiotic way to try to teach people that God is with us through everything.
I had a real hate/love/hate relationship with this book, in that order. I've never read this author before. I read it for a book club in spite of bad reviews and feeling like I’ve outgrown most LDS fiction. The beginning and how Becky and Felix fell into their banter was so far-fetched my head was spinning. You don't just meet a total stranger, famous or not, and start tossing out insults for no reason. Plus, the whole bit about the baby kicking in the womb and how they were brought together for a reason had me groaning out loud. Why does so much LDS fiction insist on bringing some higher purpose into the storyline? I was angry with the main character during the entire first half of the book. Even if she didn't cross any lines, she was in too much of a gray area for a healthy marriage. I was furious about her choices. I wanted everything to go horribly wrong for her. My curiosity is the main thing that kept me reading.
I loved the good parts of her relationship with her husband (which is another reason it was so unrealistic she should have to have this other friendship to complete her). I loved how she felt toward her kids. I even loved crying over her grief and sympathizing over how it must feel to lose a husband. Hale is a pretty good storyteller. Her writing has plenty of emotion and fun dialogue, although I would have liked a little more indication of who was speaking at times.
That being said, I hated the cheap writing tactics used to eliminate the love triangle. Why make her choose someone when you can kill someone off, right? But, after all that, we were left with only Felix and Becky, both single and full of opportunity to explore their relationship romantically. In spite of my frustrations, I found myself getting sucked in. I decided to accept the fact that this was not a story based in reality. It was quite clearly shooting for the fantasy, what-movies-are-made-of realm where regular housewives sell screenplays, become friends with movie stars, act alongside said movie star friends, and the heavens align so they are free to give their hearts to each other. So I sat back to enjoy the romance (I’m a sucker for a friends-turned-lovers romance) and waited for the ever important first kiss. Then, Hale, after leading us on for some 300 pages, decides to try to convince us this is not a fantasy book at all; it’s a book where two friends find they are not and never were attracted to each other at all. And everything that happened along the way was God’s plan to help Becky through her husband’s death and teach her that she could love again . . . someday . . . with someone besides Felix. Dumbest ending ever!!!! If I hadn’t lost all hope in LDS fiction before, this book certainly sealed the deal. What a contrived, idiotic way to try to teach people that God is with us through everything.
I wanted to LOVE this book, but I just didn't...it was more in the "like" range. I thought the two main characters were very witty and I enjoyed their conversations and I loved her devotion to her husband and kids, but I just didn't grasp on to the storyline and find a connection.
I like Shannon Hale. I have enjoyed the other books of hers that I have read. She posted something on her blog that kind of changed my life. I'm excited to see Austenland (especially since it has Felicity!). She seems generally cool.
However, I could not stomach this book. It's about a housewife who meets a movie star and they have an inexplicable connection. He kind of wants to date her for a second and when she makes it clear that's not going to happen they become BFFs. And most of the book is spent explaining how their connection is so amazing and inexplicable and why it's not an affair and not weird. And I just couldn't keep going with it.
However, I could not stomach this book. It's about a housewife who meets a movie star and they have an inexplicable connection. He kind of wants to date her for a second and when she makes it clear that's not going to happen they become BFFs. And most of the book is spent explaining how their connection is so amazing and inexplicable and why it's not an affair and not weird. And I just couldn't keep going with it.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hate this book with a vengeance. Why didn't I DNF it? I don't know I'm asking myself the same thing. But I'm going to list all the things I hate about it.
The main character is annoying. ANNOYINGLY annoying. Seriously can't stand her and she never gets better.
The humor is SO DUMB. I can't. I just can't.
The relationship between the main character and the actor is SO unbelievable. And it's not because she's a mormon housewife and he's a british actor. But because there's never any development in their relationship. They meet, they don't really like each other, and then BOOM, they're BFFs who can't live without each other. And we're just supposed to believe that because the author told us to.
Although it was fun reading about Nielsen's Frozen Custard and my hometown, I think some aspects of this book hit a little too close to home.
The ending was actually horrific.You're going to buid up the two main characters' relationship this whole book, set it up so they're both single, put them on a romantic date where they can both picture their lives together, and then make them kiss and THAT'S when they decide they're not into each other? I literally can't think of a stupider ending.
I loved [book:Austenland|248483] and I loved [book:The Goose Girl|179064] so I'll forgive Shannon Hale for this.
But I won't forget.
The main character is annoying. ANNOYINGLY annoying. Seriously can't stand her and she never gets better.
The humor is SO DUMB. I can't. I just can't.
The relationship between the main character and the actor is SO unbelievable. And it's not because she's a mormon housewife and he's a british actor. But because there's never any development in their relationship. They meet, they don't really like each other, and then BOOM, they're BFFs who can't live without each other. And we're just supposed to believe that because the author told us to.
Although it was fun reading about Nielsen's Frozen Custard and my hometown, I think some aspects of this book hit a little too close to home.
The ending was actually horrific.
I loved [book:Austenland|248483] and I loved [book:The Goose Girl|179064] so I'll forgive Shannon Hale for this.
But I won't forget.
There hasn't been a novel of Hale's that hasn't surprised me in some way. She seems to enjoy twisting what traditionally happens in "boy meets girl" scenarios to help the reader consider how life in general is pretty unpredictable- even if you just so happen to meet your Hollywood crush. I enjoyed reading a story that covered a great amount of time (years) and examined how friendships can change, guide, and assist in a person's rediscovery of self-worth.
DNF. Perhaps unfair of me to rate it when I didn't finish it. But there was a cloying religious undertone that bothered me and I found the plot completely unbelievable (and believe me, I have a VERY high tolerance for having to suspend disbelief). Ridiculous.