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A review by readbooks_eatapples
An Earl, the Girl, and a Toddler by Vanessa Riley
3.0
Update after going back to finish, skipping two full chapters: I upped this a star because it did get better in the second half. It’s probably a 2.5 for me, and it’s frustrating because this author has talent and there is some appeal to her style. There is a spiritual, preachy, church-like cadence to this I can’t describe super well, and it turns me off a bit but is also kind of compelling.
Her work desperately needs more thorough editing—for errors, yes, but mostly for flow and to cut the fat. The main characters are interesting and mostly complex, with side characters shifting into flat archetypes (Jane, Gladstone, Enna). I’m going to finish this series, she says with gritted teeth, and I’ll keep an eye out for future works to see how her style evolves. Please please please someone get her a new editor to work with. There’s good stuff here that requires some expert guidance.
Also, I can’t resist adding: the main character here is very difficult to picture because of the super weird descriptions. Ruby hair? But also wheat?
First “DNF” review:
I struggle with this author, and I think that her work is for those who enjoy meandering plots and predictability. The stutter-start flow with a million asides and characters and vague timelines prevent me from sinking into the story. There’s a teasing sameness to the women characters and a beta-like alpha male controlling nature of the male characters that prevents me from getting to know anyone. They’re essentially the same people with slightly different motivations and storylines. It’s the same story with different incidentals as the first in the series. I will maybe come back to this to find out what happens, but for now, DNF @23% (it felt like I HAD to be halfway through, wow).
Her work desperately needs more thorough editing—for errors, yes, but mostly for flow and to cut the fat. The main characters are interesting and mostly complex, with side characters shifting into flat archetypes (Jane, Gladstone, Enna). I’m going to finish this series, she says with gritted teeth, and I’ll keep an eye out for future works to see how her style evolves. Please please please someone get her a new editor to work with. There’s good stuff here that requires some expert guidance.
Also, I can’t resist adding: the main character here is very difficult to picture because of the super weird descriptions. Ruby hair? But also wheat?
First “DNF” review:
I struggle with this author, and I think that her work is for those who enjoy meandering plots and predictability. The stutter-start flow with a million asides and characters and vague timelines prevent me from sinking into the story. There’s a teasing sameness to the women characters and a beta-like alpha male controlling nature of the male characters that prevents me from getting to know anyone. They’re essentially the same people with slightly different motivations and storylines. It’s the same story with different incidentals as the first in the series. I will maybe come back to this to find out what happens, but for now, DNF @23% (it felt like I HAD to be halfway through, wow).