A review by alittlelou
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

2.0

up until the last 5 chapters, this was torturous. the writing is bad. the woman becomes a therapist for a broken man trope/savior complex is bad. the INNER GODDESS MONOLOGUES ARE HORRID. the whole quirky, shy, virgin dives head first into a hardcore BDSM relationship with contracts and rules and procedures— it’s super unrealistic and doesn’t even bother explaining why that MIGHT work (theoretically). the side characters are unbelievably. no best friend or mother i know would ever allow this to happen. overall? i’m shocked the movies were as good as they were, knowing this was the story they had to go off of. that being said, the last 5 chapters are a little glimpse into christian’s redemption arc. he’s funny, sweet, all of a sudden willing to give her more. it definitely peaks your interest in reading on, the way things are changing. HOWEVER, i’m not a teenager anymore. that “i can change him” mindset isn’t cute anymore. the entire plot to this story is basically just ana gaslighting herself into thinking if she’s just able to do XYZ he’ll love her back. and that’s so pathetic. and i say that with love because i’ve been there (not HERE, thank god but still) and i know how it can be. but it’s so clear she is nothing without him. she is a nobody with nothing and nowhere to go and even the people she has, the author wrote them in for christian’s character to be fully fleshed out. just to show how possessive and jealous he is. THIS ONLY GETS TWO STARS for the ending. how she stood up for herself and left his ass crying and moping around like a true manipulator. and the very end when she’s feeling her big heartbreak— that felt weirdly real, considering this author wrote pure fantasy (for some— a true nightmare for others) the entire time. will i continue reading? maybe. i think the actual PLOT starts in the second book when there’s something more interesting going on than ana getting the brakes beaten off at her and her saying oh thank you so much sir i love you let’s be together. will i be reading on anytime soon? absolutely not. i need a well deserved break from this author and her wattpad style storytelling.