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A review by writervid
If I'm Being Honest by Austin Siegemund-Broka, Emily Wibberley
4.0
3.75/5
Hello! Welcome to Anna Reads Things at 1AM.
I was initially really thrown off by the start of this. The narration felt a bit stilted and exposition-oriented, and Cameron was honestly a horrible person. I contemplated putting the book down in the first few chapters because of this; I really couldn't stand the protagonist, even while I could understand her motivation, and the world-building and side characters didn't grab me.
Outside of the weak start, though, I found myself quickly sucked into the world of the characters. This is 100% a story about character growth, and Cameron's character exploration and arc is done exceptionally well once you get past the initial hump. In the act of choosing to apologize for an elaborate plan, she ultimately conflicts with her deeper character motivation to be like and with her father. I loved the way it is ultimately Cameron's growths and regressions that cause the plot, and that Taming serves as a metaphor for Cameron and how she sees herself. This detail isn't given to all of the side characters, though; the mother, while having some interesting qualities, has little development, as does the father character. I know not every character can be progressing, but the parent figures lacked depth.
If you're looking for a Taming of the Shrew retelling, I honestly wouldn't recommend this. While there is clear attention paid to the original, it is extremely loose, and neglects so many of the things that I enjoy about the original (Bianca's entire character for one! Although this book's romance was FAR better than Petruchio and Katharine--they were absolutely adorable) This book serves as more of a question about how we view Katharine and her broader archetype in modern society. Is she a horrible person? Or is she in the right? How do we treat women and men differently in terms of empowerment and viewing what they do? (and so many more) I did enjoy these questions and the broader implications they pose, and would suggest this book to any Taming fans for that commentary, just not for a retelling.
I'm very happy I read it, and wouldn't be surprised if I picked it up again in the future--if not for the Shakespeare commentary, then for the super cute romance (VERY well developed and one of the better ones I've read in a while) and well developed friendships (and the Rocky Horror Picture Show being seen in a book!). Thank you for ending my quarantine reading slump, book! Here's hoping that Always Never Yours is added to Overdrive so I can keep reading quality Shakespeare inspired YA.
Hello! Welcome to Anna Reads Things at 1AM.
I was initially really thrown off by the start of this. The narration felt a bit stilted and exposition-oriented, and Cameron was honestly a horrible person. I contemplated putting the book down in the first few chapters because of this; I really couldn't stand the protagonist, even while I could understand her motivation, and the world-building and side characters didn't grab me.
Outside of the weak start, though, I found myself quickly sucked into the world of the characters. This is 100% a story about character growth, and Cameron's character exploration and arc is done exceptionally well once you get past the initial hump. In the act of choosing to apologize for an elaborate plan, she ultimately conflicts with her deeper character motivation to be like and with her father. I loved the way it is ultimately Cameron's growths and regressions that cause the plot, and that Taming serves as a metaphor for Cameron and how she sees herself. This detail isn't given to all of the side characters, though; the mother, while having some interesting qualities, has little development, as does the father character. I know not every character can be progressing, but the parent figures lacked depth.
If you're looking for a Taming of the Shrew retelling, I honestly wouldn't recommend this. While there is clear attention paid to the original, it is extremely loose, and neglects so many of the things that I enjoy about the original (Bianca's entire character for one! Although this book's romance was FAR better than Petruchio and Katharine--they were absolutely adorable) This book serves as more of a question about how we view Katharine and her broader archetype in modern society. Is she a horrible person? Or is she in the right? How do we treat women and men differently in terms of empowerment and viewing what they do? (and so many more) I did enjoy these questions and the broader implications they pose, and would suggest this book to any Taming fans for that commentary, just not for a retelling.
I'm very happy I read it, and wouldn't be surprised if I picked it up again in the future--if not for the Shakespeare commentary, then for the super cute romance (VERY well developed and one of the better ones I've read in a while) and well developed friendships (and the Rocky Horror Picture Show being seen in a book!). Thank you for ending my quarantine reading slump, book! Here's hoping that Always Never Yours is added to Overdrive so I can keep reading quality Shakespeare inspired YA.