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neekoshimmer32 's review for:
Hopeless
by Elsie Silver
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a really fun book. It’s my third in this series.
I have mixed feelings about both main characters of this book. First up, Bailey Jansen. She feels like a good kid from a bad family. Her family and job situation all made you feel like going “poor Bailey”, but it honestly sucks thinking about how long she’s put up with mistreatment from her town, her job, her family and really everyone around her.
Beau seems like the only one normal in her life, so I can understand her appreciation and also confusion at what being normal feels like. But also as a city girl reading a small town series, Bailey and Beau were definitely the first (that I’ve read so far) that really just wanna make it out of there. And I can personally relate. All her struggles, especially the mistreatment from the town, I can’t really understand the appeal of a small town at all. Especially for someone as young as Bailey.
I can’t really relate to Bailey’s personality, which is super random and curious and also inexperienced at times. Like yes, I can understand that but she just says some random and kinda inappropriate things at times. I’m glad Beau does go “Bailey, you can’t just say that” sometimes, but yeah. I’m kinda polite so I can’t imagine being Bailey sometimes, at least out loud, while sometimes having the same kind of curiosity. Bailey’s personality I understood the least of the heroines I read. I do love that every character Elsie silver writes is distinct and separable, so it’s amazing that this does show her talent.
My biggest issue with this book was also a part of Bailey’s personality/characteristics. Aka, specifically it’s the focus on her being a virgin. (Ig it’s a personal red flag in a book?) I really went into it thinking of it positively, like relatability-wise. My issues is that in the first part of the book, she just couldn’t wait to lose her virginity. Now is that a problem? Hell no! To some extent I can understand her. But for me, I’d typically see this is teen books and also irl in some ppl that haven’t been all that understanding to me personally. So maybe this is just a personal gripe that it really irked or Icked me out.
Don’t get me wrong though, (as a woman) I don’t want women to feel uncomfortable, ashamed or afraid of their bodies and sexuality at all. I want it to be celebrated. I just want people to be careful in whom they trust, especially irl. So maybe I was a little concerned for Bailey there. Also, there wasn’t a lot of purity culture in here exactly, just her losing her virginity was made to be a big deal as in that it was for “someone special”. But other than that, not much purity culture stuff. Beau was also sweet enough to really not try and push her (Ig that is just the bare minimum).
I like Beau’s character, but again it wasn’t my favorite. He seemed super slow and almost a little dazed. Like he didn’t care for his life on the farm but he went through all the motions, just completely demotivated. Which was sad to see. His backstory, as a soldier in the war was kind of interesting and made him the town hero. But the town also bored him. If the only thing that really excited him was his new prospects with Bailey.
This book is an age-gap romance, with Beau been 13 yrs older (which is big for sure) so idk about this irl (ofc that being said, adults can kinda do whatever they want) but I do advise some caution. I can relate though, because sometimes you don’t fall for or like people by choice so it was sweet to see that there can be genuine feelings. As someone who’s not really into this irl life though, this is perfect for anyone who has that kind of fantasy.
The third act conflict happened kind of late in the book for me, and I am fully on Bailey’s side for that one. Beau really did mess up.
My overall feelings on this book were mixed. I loved the first few chapters, then got a little annoyed (it’s the Virgin talk) but once the couple was together it went back up and felt better. There were also some things I’ve never read before in a book involving a razor .
I really enjoyed the experience at the end. I’m definitely continuing with this series.
I have mixed feelings about both main characters of this book. First up, Bailey Jansen. She feels like a good kid from a bad family. Her family and job situation all made you feel like going “poor Bailey”, but it honestly sucks thinking about how long she’s put up with mistreatment from her town, her job, her family and really everyone around her.
Beau seems like the only one normal in her life, so I can understand her appreciation and also confusion at what being normal feels like. But also as a city girl reading a small town series, Bailey and Beau were definitely the first (that I’ve read so far) that really just wanna make it out of there. And I can personally relate. All her struggles, especially the mistreatment from the town, I can’t really understand the appeal of a small town at all. Especially for someone as young as Bailey.
I can’t really relate to Bailey’s personality, which is super random and curious and also inexperienced at times. Like yes, I can understand that but she just says some random and kinda inappropriate things at times. I’m glad Beau does go “Bailey, you can’t just say that” sometimes, but yeah. I’m kinda polite so I can’t imagine being Bailey sometimes, at least out loud, while sometimes having the same kind of curiosity. Bailey’s personality I understood the least of the heroines I read. I do love that every character Elsie silver writes is distinct and separable, so it’s amazing that this does show her talent.
My biggest issue with this book was also a part of Bailey’s personality/characteristics. Aka, specifically it’s the focus on her being a virgin. (Ig it’s a personal red flag in a book?) I really went into it thinking of it positively, like relatability-wise. My issues is that in the first part of the book, she just couldn’t wait to lose her virginity. Now is that a problem? Hell no! To some extent I can understand her. But for me, I’d typically see this is teen books and also irl in some ppl that haven’t been all that understanding to me personally. So maybe this is just a personal gripe that it really irked or Icked me out.
Don’t get me wrong though, (as a woman) I don’t want women to feel uncomfortable, ashamed or afraid of their bodies and sexuality at all. I want it to be celebrated. I just want people to be careful in whom they trust, especially irl. So maybe I was a little concerned for Bailey there. Also, there wasn’t a lot of purity culture in here exactly, just her losing her virginity was made to be a big deal as in that it was for “someone special”. But other than that, not much purity culture stuff. Beau was also sweet enough to really not try and push her (Ig that is just the bare minimum).
I like Beau’s character, but again it wasn’t my favorite. He seemed super slow and almost a little dazed. Like he didn’t care for his life on the farm but he went through all the motions, just completely demotivated. Which was sad to see. His backstory, as a soldier in the war was kind of interesting and made him the town hero. But the town also bored him. If the only thing that really excited him was his new prospects with Bailey.
This book is an age-gap romance, with Beau been 13 yrs older (which is big for sure) so idk about this irl (ofc that being said, adults can kinda do whatever they want) but I do advise some caution. I can relate though, because sometimes you don’t fall for or like people by choice so it was sweet to see that there can be genuine feelings. As someone who’s not really into this irl life though, this is perfect for anyone who has that kind of fantasy.
The third act conflict happened kind of late in the book for me, and I am fully on Bailey’s side for that one. Beau really did mess up.
My overall feelings on this book were mixed. I loved the first few chapters, then got a little annoyed (it’s the Virgin talk) but once the couple was together it went back up and felt better. There were also some things I’ve never read before in a book
I really enjoyed the experience at the end. I’m definitely continuing with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Alcohol