Scan barcode
A review by meganelizax
When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke
2.0
Man, I really wanted to love this more than I did.
I thought that the topic of body positivity was going to be great. I love fantasy and paranormal stories, but the main character is not often plus-sized. As someone who is also not thin, I thought it was going to be so refreshing to read this. However, I found myself rather annoyed with Lily. I understand the thing she felt, like feeling like people only interact with you out of pity or that a person would only hit on you if you lost a bet, but her insecurities were honestly too much. Again, I 100% get it, but when every response that she has to any character doing anything nice to/for her, she immediately doubts them and their intentions and if often rude about it, especially with Tristian. Even when Cat expresses that Lily has made her feel bad about herself because of the comments that Lily has made, she apologizes and it feels like she goes right back to doing the same things that she was going before. Having any sort of body image issues or any other insecurities doesn't automatically make you the victim or negate any awful behavior that you display.
Also, her view on her body took a completely random 180. She hates her body the entire time and then is magically okay with her body because she survived a little danger. The journey to loving yourself is not something that is instant. It feels like it was written by someone who has never experienced this feeling before.
My other issue with the story is Lily and her mother's relationship. I know that the story left it a little open ended about them having to 'talk' and them 'being strangers', but Rose is the main culprit of Lily's insecurities and I feel like it was glossed over too much. If that is a plot point that is referenced a few times, then it should be fleshed out.
Now for Tristian and Lilly. Every issue that they have would've been solved if they just had a simple conversation. That fact that he couldn't reveal why Gideon was mad at him was silly and pointless. She was so completely mistrusting and awful towards him.
I also need older authors to learn how young people, especially those in their 20s, talk if they're going to right about them. There was waaaaaaay too many sentences started with 'Obvi". Same with "fuck the fuck off". As a 26-year-old, no one talks like that.
I read the majority of this in a single day and it kept me entertained, but the more i think about it, the more issues I find with the story.
I thought that the topic of body positivity was going to be great. I love fantasy and paranormal stories, but the main character is not often plus-sized. As someone who is also not thin, I thought it was going to be so refreshing to read this. However, I found myself rather annoyed with Lily. I understand the thing she felt, like feeling like people only interact with you out of pity or that a person would only hit on you if you lost a bet, but her insecurities were honestly too much. Again, I 100% get it, but when every response that she has to any character doing anything nice to/for her, she immediately doubts them and their intentions and if often rude about it, especially with Tristian. Even when Cat expresses that Lily has made her feel bad about herself because of the comments that Lily has made, she apologizes and it feels like she goes right back to doing the same things that she was going before. Having any sort of body image issues or any other insecurities doesn't automatically make you the victim or negate any awful behavior that you display.
Also, her view on her body took a completely random 180. She hates her body the entire time and then is magically okay with her body because she survived a little danger. The journey to loving yourself is not something that is instant. It feels like it was written by someone who has never experienced this feeling before.
My other issue with the story is Lily and her mother's relationship. I know that the story left it a little open ended about them having to 'talk' and them 'being strangers', but Rose is the main culprit of Lily's insecurities and I feel like it was glossed over too much. If that is a plot point that is referenced a few times, then it should be fleshed out.
Now for Tristian and Lilly. Every issue that they have would've been solved if they just had a simple conversation. That fact that he couldn't reveal why Gideon was mad at him was silly and pointless. She was so completely mistrusting and awful towards him.
I also need older authors to learn how young people, especially those in their 20s, talk if they're going to right about them. There was waaaaaaay too many sentences started with 'Obvi". Same with "fuck the fuck off". As a 26-year-old, no one talks like that.
I read the majority of this in a single day and it kept me entertained, but the more i think about it, the more issues I find with the story.