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__ceecee__'s Reviews (414)
This book did NOT unfold as I expected it to. Although the cover is accurate (and I only realized how fitting it was after I finished it), it completely misled me into believing this was going to be a light, straightforward, cutesy little YA romance between a girl out to fix everyone and a shy but intelligent boy.
It wasn't. And I was pleasantly surprised by it.
In Love-shy, Penny Drummond is an overachiever, who dreams of becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Her first step? To write the greatest feature article ever published in her high school paper. When she accidentally finds out about a student who is love-shy, she thinks this will be the scoop of the year, and to find and help this boy would be her biggest achievement that year. Her quest begins.
I liked how Penny was this go-getter. She can be quite mean sometimes, because she is too focused on her goal to care about other people whom she thinks as lagging behind. Truth be told, at first I didn't know whether to like her or hate her. She was certainly a different character.
Actually, almost every character here is either a love-em or hate-em kind of person. They're not two-dimensional cardboard cutout characters. They're flawed and endearingly human, which is great. Penny is bossy and sometimes inconsiderate, but she is focused and knows what and how she will go about achieving her dreams. Nick Rammage, who is the love-shy boy, is painfully neurotic and not really your typical hero of the story. This boy is really fucked up and honestly hard to like, though he gets somewhat redeemed as the story moves along. And if I really think about it, I could identify with his love-shyness too.
The characters are either obnoxious or charming. There are many different layers to a person, and these idiosyncratic characters are no exception. Though they had mostly unlikable attributes, Wilkinson managed to make me sympathize with them. And that's a testament to the author's skills.
As Lily Wilkinson says, Love-shyness is a real condition, as well as other anxiety disorders, and we should know how to help these people. Which includes not letting them get away with their bullshit. I was kind of shocked at the level of misogyny some of the love-shy guys in here said. If they think and feel that way about women, something really needs to be done. The themes on feminism and misogyny were handled really well here. As well as the actual condition, and the psychological aspect of it.
Finally, and most of all, this is a brilliant coming-of-age story. Penny starts off as this girl who is overconfident in her skills, but who is blind to her faults. The love-shyness article that she slowly became obsessed about helped her realize that people are important too, not just the scoop.
*4 stars These will be hard characters to like. Some love-shy boys do border on stalker behavior, but I understand how painfully hard it is to approach a person you like, especially when you have a preconceived notion of that person and you elevate him/her in your eyes. WHICH IS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DEVELOP UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE. Things will never go the way you though it would.
But there will be funny moments too, and, yes, sweet moments that will leave you satisfied. Mainly because of that deceiving book cover, this might not unravel the way you'd think it would, but I think you'll still like it.
*P.S - Should all book covers be like this? So you go into a book with relatively low expectations, and then, BAM, you realized you've met your new favorite book.
*P.S.S - I find I've never been disappointed with Austaralian YA authors. They just write real, relatable and eventually satisfying stories.
It wasn't. And I was pleasantly surprised by it.
In Love-shy, Penny Drummond is an overachiever, who dreams of becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Her first step? To write the greatest feature article ever published in her high school paper. When she accidentally finds out about a student who is love-shy, she thinks this will be the scoop of the year, and to find and help this boy would be her biggest achievement that year. Her quest begins.
I liked how Penny was this go-getter. She can be quite mean sometimes, because she is too focused on her goal to care about other people whom she thinks as lagging behind. Truth be told, at first I didn't know whether to like her or hate her. She was certainly a different character.
Actually, almost every character here is either a love-em or hate-em kind of person. They're not two-dimensional cardboard cutout characters. They're flawed and endearingly human, which is great. Penny is bossy and sometimes inconsiderate, but she is focused and knows what and how she will go about achieving her dreams. Nick Rammage, who is the love-shy boy, is painfully neurotic and not really your typical hero of the story. This boy is really fucked up and honestly hard to like, though he gets somewhat redeemed as the story moves along. And if I really think about it, I could identify with his love-shyness too.
Spoiler
I couldn't like how he freaked out just because the girl he liked cut her long hair short, and got mad at that girl because she looked ugly. GUYS, IT IS NOT A GIRL'S DUTY TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL FOR YOU. WE WANT TO CUT OUR HAIR AND DRESS THE WAY WE LIKE FOR OURSELVES, NOT FOR YOUR BENEFIT. GET THE FREAKIN CONCEPT. Which is what Penny tells Nick, and I think that part was handled well. Also, it was understandable that Nick would become the way he is because of his parents, but some of his behavior was inexcusable.The characters are either obnoxious or charming. There are many different layers to a person, and these idiosyncratic characters are no exception. Though they had mostly unlikable attributes, Wilkinson managed to make me sympathize with them. And that's a testament to the author's skills.
Spoiler
Hamish was a douche, but a well made character because he represented a lot of guys who need work up in their interpersonal relationships. Basically, you should not act like Hamish. But then, maybe he'll get lucky and meet a girl who loves anime and manga like he does and who knows what that could do to him.As Lily Wilkinson says, Love-shyness is a real condition, as well as other anxiety disorders, and we should know how to help these people. Which includes not letting them get away with their bullshit. I was kind of shocked at the level of misogyny some of the love-shy guys in here said. If they think and feel that way about women, something really needs to be done. The themes on feminism and misogyny were handled really well here. As well as the actual condition, and the psychological aspect of it.
Finally, and most of all, this is a brilliant coming-of-age story. Penny starts off as this girl who is overconfident in her skills, but who is blind to her faults. The love-shyness article that she slowly became obsessed about helped her realize that people are important too, not just the scoop.
*4 stars These will be hard characters to like. Some love-shy boys do border on stalker behavior, but I understand how painfully hard it is to approach a person you like, especially when you have a preconceived notion of that person and you elevate him/her in your eyes. WHICH IS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DEVELOP UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE. Things will never go the way you though it would.
But there will be funny moments too, and, yes, sweet moments that will leave you satisfied. Mainly because of that deceiving book cover, this might not unravel the way you'd think it would, but I think you'll still like it.
Spoiler
Can I just say that I LOVED Hugh and Penny. It was so obvious that Hugh liked Penny but she was too focused on her career path, and was slowly falling in love with Nick to notice. But I'm so glad Penny met someone who appreciates her the way she is. CAN I HAVE A HUGH FORWARD? DAYUM.*P.S - Should all book covers be like this? So you go into a book with relatively low expectations, and then, BAM, you realized you've met your new favorite book.
*P.S.S - I find I've never been disappointed with Austaralian YA authors. They just write real, relatable and eventually satisfying stories.
I was too young to fully appreciate this. Back then I only wanted to read Fairy tales and I was new to the "realistic" children's fiction. I remember being impressed by it, though, and liked it despite myself. I may have to read this again.
I can definitely see its appeal. This is about breaking labels because we cannot be just "smart" or "brave" or "kind" or "selfless" or "truthful". We can be all of that. So the very premise of Divergent, that, long ago after a bitter havoc, America (?) decided to separate people into only 5 factions based on one main virtue is just so ridiculous. SEGREGATION HAS NEVER BEEN A GOOD IDEA. Who would ever carry out this plan, in a not-too-distant future??? You can't isolate one personality trait and disregard other key traits. In Harry Potter it was kind of cute to belong in a House with a main characteristic, but it was still foolish to think that a Slytherin can't be kind too. And Hunger Games also had a ridiculous premise, but I enjoyed that book. So I just went along with Divergent. [shrug] Okay.
And it was alright to suspend my disbelief for a while. Beatrice was a not unlikable heroine. I enjoyed her making friends and slowly understanding herself. And *ahem* falling in love. Who wouldn't fall in love with her hot instructor? Although even the romance part didn't quite get me in the way that I like to be caught.
Overall, it was okay. I felt that the issues handled in this book, like breaking conventional labels was good. Some of Beatrice's (I don't like calling her Tris)friends were from other factions but proved to be open-minded, kind people and not brimming with prejudice, so that was nice. Also, I loved Four and Beatrice together
But I still felt like how Beatrice handled her issues, of fear of losing control, of striving to do the right thing, was somehow lacking and could have been better.
I was frustrated by that ending. I know that in a war, casualties will be made. But, gah, I'll just hide my rant behind a spoiler tag.
First of all, I thought the Erudite were smart, so how could they not perceive that there were a lot of Divergents? In the first place, I find it hard to believe that there are so few Divergents since people have complex personalities! Like I said, the whole premise is ridiculous. And surely if they suspected Beatrice of being Divergent, then they would have picked up the tell-tale signs of her tests going awry and they could have spied on her harder? And the whole serum thing is too convenient and quite frankly they should have guarded the control room better. *mutters* Stupid villains.
Second, BEATRICE KILLED HER FRIEND LIKE OH MY GLOB. She spares her enemy then kills her friend like WTAF. I think Beatrice's reaction to it could have been better written. But I'm starting to think it could be attributed to shock, and I might see more of her PTSD in the next book.
Third, and most important of all, during the battle, it was Beatrice's goal to save the Abnegates and to not waste any more time. That's her excuse for killing her friend. BUT when she was confronted with Tobias/Four, she couldn't kill him and opted to be killed instead. HOW YOU GONNA SAVE YOUR PEOPLE IF YOU'RE DEAD, BEATRICE? I think that was a really big flaw, especially since she didn't know that brainwashed-Four wouldn't pull the trigger, right? All because of luuuurrrrvve. Gag.
*P.S. I also did not like how Beatrice disobeyed her mother's advice to keep to the middle of the rankings. To lie low and to avoid getting noticed. What did Beatrice do? She ranked number one. [Facepalm] She totally did not internalize the gravity of her mother's warning. How hard was it to stall for a few minutes in her fear simulation since she can manipulate the simulation? No, she had to do it in the easiest and fastest way. Ugh.
*2.5 stars It was okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't that great either. I constantly got that nagging feeling that it could have been better.
And it was alright to suspend my disbelief for a while. Beatrice was a not unlikable heroine. I enjoyed her making friends and slowly understanding herself. And *ahem* falling in love. Who wouldn't fall in love with her hot instructor? Although even the romance part didn't quite get me in the way that I like to be caught.
Overall, it was okay. I felt that the issues handled in this book, like breaking conventional labels was good. Some of Beatrice's (I don't like calling her Tris)friends were from other factions but proved to be open-minded, kind people and not brimming with prejudice, so that was nice. Also, I loved Four and Beatrice together
Spoiler
Even though they expressed their feelings too soon, IMO. It was just wrong timing okay.But I still felt like how Beatrice handled her issues, of fear of losing control, of striving to do the right thing, was somehow lacking and could have been better.
I was frustrated by that ending. I know that in a war, casualties will be made. But, gah, I'll just hide my rant behind a spoiler tag.
Spoiler
First of all, I thought the Erudite were smart, so how could they not perceive that there were a lot of Divergents? In the first place, I find it hard to believe that there are so few Divergents since people have complex personalities! Like I said, the whole premise is ridiculous. And surely if they suspected Beatrice of being Divergent, then they would have picked up the tell-tale signs of her tests going awry and they could have spied on her harder? And the whole serum thing is too convenient and quite frankly they should have guarded the control room better. *mutters* Stupid villains.
Second, BEATRICE KILLED HER FRIEND LIKE OH MY GLOB. She spares her enemy then kills her friend like WTAF. I think Beatrice's reaction to it could have been better written. But I'm starting to think it could be attributed to shock, and I might see more of her PTSD in the next book.
Third, and most important of all, during the battle, it was Beatrice's goal to save the Abnegates and to not waste any more time. That's her excuse for killing her friend. BUT when she was confronted with Tobias/Four, she couldn't kill him and opted to be killed instead. HOW YOU GONNA SAVE YOUR PEOPLE IF YOU'RE DEAD, BEATRICE? I think that was a really big flaw, especially since she didn't know that brainwashed-Four wouldn't pull the trigger, right? All because of luuuurrrrvve. Gag.
*P.S. I also did not like how Beatrice disobeyed her mother's advice to keep to the middle of the rankings. To lie low and to avoid getting noticed. What did Beatrice do? She ranked number one. [Facepalm] She totally did not internalize the gravity of her mother's warning. How hard was it to stall for a few minutes in her fear simulation since she can manipulate the simulation? No, she had to do it in the easiest and fastest way. Ugh.
*2.5 stars It was okay. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't that great either. I constantly got that nagging feeling that it could have been better.
These are the paranormal romances I like to read. Dark fairy tales combined with Indian and Persian folklore elements, what's not to love? The highlight short novel "Hatchling" is truly a wonderful creation.
For me, it was just the book I was looking for. To play the piano is probably one of my impossible dreams.
Do you see how cool it is? DO YOU?
This takes me back to the [b:Nodame Cantabile |1261277|Nodame Cantabile, Vol. 1 (Nodame Cantabile, #1)|Tomoko Ninomiya|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320457824s/1261277.jpg|1250120] days. It's one of the best slice-of-life fictions I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Yes, experience, because I devoured the manga, watched the anime and live-action version and listened to the classical pieces they played. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. (Even if you don't like anime, at least watch the live action series, seriously, please do me the favor).
So to find a book that gave me even a sliver of the feelings I had with Nodame Cantabile, that's precious. I can't even begin to be coherent because the way that music is incorporated in Nodame Cantabile gives me such feels. I tried to articulate that here.
FULL REVIEW TO COME. LATER. REALLY LATE.
Do you see how cool it is? DO YOU?
This takes me back to the [b:Nodame Cantabile |1261277|Nodame Cantabile, Vol. 1 (Nodame Cantabile, #1)|Tomoko Ninomiya|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320457824s/1261277.jpg|1250120] days. It's one of the best slice-of-life fictions I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Yes, experience, because I devoured the manga, watched the anime and live-action version and listened to the classical pieces they played. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. (Even if you don't like anime, at least watch the live action series, seriously, please do me the favor).
So to find a book that gave me even a sliver of the feelings I had with Nodame Cantabile, that's precious. I can't even begin to be coherent because the way that music is incorporated in Nodame Cantabile gives me such feels. I tried to articulate that here.
FULL REVIEW TO COME. LATER. REALLY LATE.
I've read two Nolan novels, and they were roughly about teens on the brink of insanity. I have to say I like reading those kinds of stories. This book got better and better as it went along. Nicely done. Full review to come. Very late.
Quick summary of my reactions to this book:
Kami and Jared had been able to read each other's thoughts and feelings since they were born. They each thought the other wasn't real, just an imaginary friend. But when they found out that they were real, they both freak out and get angry at each other, especially since their first face-to-face impression of each other wasn't pleasant. Now if you found out your imaginary friend was real, wouldn't it be awesome? And yet Brennan didn't go there. She explored the ways meeting someone you've always wanted to meet but didn't quite meet expectations. She explored how complicated the relationship of two people who can communicate their thoughts and feelings through telepathy can be. It resulted in awkward moments, and frustrating moments for the reader. In the end, I think it was realistic, the way paranormal YAs can be realistic. The heroine strives for truth, individuality, and avoids the codependency that such an ability could bring, and I applaud that.
And despite their reluctance to embrace each other as "soulmates", there's no denying the irredeemable bond that they formed when they were children, and in the end, Kami and Jared were ADORABLE.
The reveal of the antagonist was kind of a letdown, though, and the reviewers who said this ended in a cliffhanger weren't kidding. It makes you want to get the second book ASAP.
*4.5 stars Kick ass heroines with really good relationship development.
Kami and Jared had been able to read each other's thoughts and feelings since they were born. They each thought the other wasn't real, just an imaginary friend. But when they found out that they were real, they both freak out and get angry at each other, especially since their first face-to-face impression of each other wasn't pleasant. Now if you found out your imaginary friend was real, wouldn't it be awesome? And yet Brennan didn't go there. She explored the ways meeting someone you've always wanted to meet but didn't quite meet expectations. She explored how complicated the relationship of two people who can communicate their thoughts and feelings through telepathy can be. It resulted in awkward moments, and frustrating moments for the reader. In the end, I think it was realistic, the way paranormal YAs can be realistic. The heroine strives for truth, individuality, and avoids the codependency that such an ability could bring, and I applaud that.
And despite their reluctance to embrace each other as "soulmates", there's no denying the irredeemable bond that they formed when they were children, and in the end, Kami and Jared were ADORABLE.
The reveal of the antagonist was kind of a letdown, though, and the reviewers who said this ended in a cliffhanger weren't kidding. It makes you want to get the second book ASAP.
Spoiler
Mostly because Jared was such a jerk. I HATE JARED I HATE HIM I HATE HIM.*4.5 stars Kick ass heroines with really good relationship development.
I AM SO MAD AT JARED. UGH I WISH HE WOULD STOP ACTIBG SO EMO.
But anyway, this short story is written in Ash's POV and i must say that i feel deeply for him, after i doubted him in Unspoken. Brennan managed to develop ash into a character you could care for, who is not 2 dimensional. We meet him as this gorgeous and charming young man in Unspoken, albeit a suspicious one, but even though my suspicions were confirmed, in this little ebook, we find out that being the "bad guy" isn't all he is.
Brennan also effectively makes Lillian Lynburn a character to care about despite her iciness. I actually really like Lillian and Ash Lynburn after Unspoken's conclusion, and we get a further glimpse of their characters here.
Qute frankly, Ash is a strong contender for Kami's heart, if I didn't strongly feel Kami and Jared were end game. in a nutshell, I LOVE ASH.
But anyway, this short story is written in Ash's POV and i must say that i feel deeply for him, after i doubted him in Unspoken. Brennan managed to develop ash into a character you could care for, who is not 2 dimensional. We meet him as this gorgeous and charming young man in Unspoken, albeit a suspicious one, but even though my suspicions were confirmed, in this little ebook, we find out that being the "bad guy" isn't all he is.
Brennan also effectively makes Lillian Lynburn a character to care about despite her iciness. I actually really like Lillian and Ash Lynburn after Unspoken's conclusion, and we get a further glimpse of their characters here.
Qute frankly, Ash is a strong contender for Kami's heart, if I didn't strongly feel Kami and Jared were end game. in a nutshell, I LOVE ASH.