“How do you regret one of the best nights of your entire life? You don't. You remember every word, every look. Even when it hurts, you still rememb“How do you regret one of the best nights of your entire life? You don't. You remember every word, every look. Even when it hurts, you still remember.”
Yippee, I'm finally getting around to writing this ...more
dnf on page 33, I don't know how much percent that is because stupid goodreads is broken right now
anyways, I cannot bring myself to continue on with adnf on page 33, I don't know how much percent that is because stupid goodreads is broken right now
anyways, I cannot bring myself to continue on with a book about a woman in presumably her 30s who acts like a teenager, is rude to her best friend's girlfriends, and is super whiny.
Not to mention the girl best friend thing. Call me insecure or whatever, I don't care, but I don't think I'd be able to handle it if my boyfriend had a girl best friend, because I'd be worried that they'd be exactly like Bree and Nathan, and I'd be scared that they secretly loved each other deep down.
I also hate friends to lovers, so I'm biased, but I hate the dual pov friends to lovers even more because I can't feel any tension if I know that both of them like each other already, and they were both narrating about how much they wanted each other but how the other acted as if they were SIBLINGS, which is just weird as it is, and I was literally on 33 pages in, so yeah, not happening.
Not to mention, how fucking cringy some of these lines were, like just look at this:
"Well, Magic-8 Ball, what do you think? Should I tell my best friend that I love her?"
Like shut up, no one cares
I think I'm salty today or something but this irritated me beyond BELIEF
I'll write a better review later, I promise ...more
“Moments, when lost, can't be found again. They're just gone.”
I'll just start off this rant review by saying that younger me would have eaten thi“Moments, when lost, can't be found again. They're just gone.”
I'll just start off this rant review by saying that younger me would have eaten this up. Younger me who didn't care about characters or plot, younger me who just cared about the entertainment value. But even then, the entertainment value was low.
I'd gone into this with incredibly low expectations because I already knew I was going to like the show much more than the books based off of what I'd heard, and I was very, very correct.
The Plot
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The show and book are two such incredibly different things that it seems like the show tries to fix the many, many issues that this book has, and I find that very funny. The show managed to have more plot than the books do, which is very rare for a show to do.
This is your typical 2010's YA contemporaries, and usually, I would have enjoyed that. My issues I have come in later. There is so much drama and literally no action. There's just jealousy, beaches, love triangles, bad characters, and nothing.
I will give props to the summer vibes though- those were great. Everything else? Not so much.
“It's the imperfections that make things beautiful.”
The Characters
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And here is why my rant shall begin!
Now let's discuss Belly. I don't even remember her actual name, but I think it's spelled Isabel or something. Anyways, Belly is the worst, most stuck up, bratty, irritable, annoying, childish fifteen/sixteen year old I have ever read about. I honestly thought I was reading the perspective of a toddler or something because of how incredibly stupid she was. I was this close to throwing my book because of how bratty she was being to literally everyone around her.
Next up, Jeremiah. I will call him Jeremy until the day I die. I do not understand how anyone can possibly like him and I will not hear anyone out. He's alike to Belly in the fact that he acts like a child (he's better though) Now, this isn't from the first book, but after the 3rd book, I seriously don't know how anyone can still like him. Or how anyone likes him in the first place. He's just so jealous of Conrad and it makes literally no sense, but when it comes to Belly, he's always saying how he's better than Conrad, which just makes me confused (I can't remember if that happens in the 1st or 2nd book, it's all a blur.
Lastly because I don't care about anyone else, Conrad. Conrad is far superior in the show, but he's decent in the books. Even though I'm definitely team Conrad, I found myself annoyed by him a lot. Now I love the bad boy types, and I think Conrad was like that enough, but he also came off rude and there's a fine line between that. Either way, Conrad is better than Jeremy and nothing will sway my opinion on that.
I said I don't care but I'll give little shout-outs to these characters: -Susannah and Laurel are great, probably the best characters in this book, though they let their children get away with a lot of stuff -Taylor is far better in the show, which seems to be a trend amongst these characters
Overall: basically everyone's annoying.
“In the dark you can feel really close to a person. You can say whatever you want.”
The Romance
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Love triangles are a crime against humanity
Conrad is obviously the better choice, but honestly, why would anyone like Belly? I'm confused on how these two guys are fighting over this fifteen year old child who can't take a joke. anyways, I think no one has chemistry with anyone. Conrad and Belly have much more chemistry than Jeremy and Belly but not much more and it annoys me to no ends. If you're gonna have a love triangle, at least make it complicated or make it so that there's chemistry with everyone.
I'm team Belly ends up with no one.
“Would you rather live one perfect day over and over or live your life with no perfect days but just decent ones?”
Overall, I'm honestly not even disappointed, I'm not even surprised. At least I just proved to myself that the show is so much better.
1.5 stars
“Victory is a thousand times sweeter when you're the underdog.”
<><><><><><><><> y'know, I had very low expectations. very, very low expectations. Somehow, they weren't even reached. the show is so, SO much better than the books, and Belly is the whiniest, most annoying character I have EVER had the displeasure of reading about
this is going to be a very fun review to write
rtc (1.5 stars)
<><><><><><><><> Pre-read: Eh, I decided I'd put this on my to-read list, because why not? Don't know why, since I HATE love triangles, but I want to watch the show, and I like reading the books before watching the show or movie so ...more
“To the world, she is formidable. To me? She is the world.”
This series, in my opinion, just went downhill ever since Restore Me. I've said this m“To the world, she is formidable. To me? She is the world.”
This series, in my opinion, just went downhill ever since Restore Me. I've said this many many times, but it seriously should've just ended at Ignite Me, which is still the best book in the series.
I'm going to pretend that this trilogy doesn't exist and Warner and Juliette in Ignite Me lived happily ever after. Though I SUPPOSE the upside to this extra trilogy is Kenji and Nazeera. But I will tell myself they met after Ignite Me and fell in love. Let me live in my imagination.
Just because I finished this book in like 1-2 hours (roughly, I wasn't keeping track of time) doesn't mean I liked it. I literally FLEW through this book, and I honestly have no idea how I did it. I wanted to dnf it so many times but once I reached the halfway point, there was no point in turning back.
I rated Restore Me and Defy Me 3 stars I think, so this 1.5 stars is definitely a drop. There was just literally nothing I liked about this except for Kenji. I didn't even like the epilogue, which I was sure I would because I love cute stuff like that.
The Plot
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I literally had no idea what the hell was going on in this book. Like, Defy Me ended happily, everyone celebrating Warner's birthday but then in this book the beginning was all darkness, madness, chaos and death, and I thought I was reading a flashback. I'm sure it was explained later, which I'm pretty sure it was because I vaguely remember skimming over something (yes, I may have skimmed a little bit, but I don't have any regrets) that was talking about it, but I honestly do not care.
It felt like everything was going so fast, but it was odd, because it felt so....unfinished, I guess. Like once I reached the end, I was like, oh I have a few pages left, this must be another chapter and then the epilogue, BUT NO. The epilogue was straight afterwards, and I was so confused because what even happened at the ending??
It was all just so rushed and annoying.
“Imagine me master of my own universe I am everything I ever dreamed of.”
The Characters
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And just like the other books in this second trilogy, the characters were absolutely awful. Except Kenji. Kenji is the highlight of the second trilogy.
I despise Juliette. She literally has no personality, especially in this book when she was literally just under some sort of weird "spell" (obviously not a spell but whatever) where she was practically a robot. She's like a piece of cardboard. Why Warner would want her, I don't know. But I don't even know who WARNER is anymore.
He went right back to the asshole he was in Shatter Me (to be fair, I loved Shatter Me Warner) and he literally made me close my book. James had just woken up and Warner decided to INTERROGATE THE CHILD ABOUT WHERE JULIETTE COULD POSSIBLY BE. DUDE. STOP. He was so rude to everyone, threatening to kill everyone, and literally killing people. It's like his whole freaking personality revolved around Juliette, which I HATED. In my review of Defy Me I was hoping that wouldn't happen, BUT, WHOOP DE DOO, IT SURE DID. The only upside to his character was his machete.
Kenji carried this book. No, he carried this entire trilogy. He's so kind, caring, funny, and trying to make light of dark moments but Warner has to be all moody and brooding and threatening to kill him literally any chance he got. Kenji cares so much about Juliette (don't ask me why, I've got no idea) and he risked his life to save her, which I admire. I will forever be a Kenji lover. I need a Kenji and Nazeera spin off.
The side characters were also meh. I liked them but didn't feel any strong emotions. I feel like Nazeera wasn't really present in this book, even though she was literally part of the rescue mission to get Juliette. It felt like she was there but also not. Which makes no sense.
“Come back to life, love. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
The Romance and Friendships
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And I'm definitely going to hate. By now you can probably figure out my feelings for the romance in this.
Maybe this could've redeemed Warner and Juliette for me, but they were apart for literally the WHOLE BOOK. And Warner was a psychopath when Juliette was kidnapped, which didn't help at all, because I HATE when that happens. I wanted them both to shut up so badly.
I love Nazeera and Kenji, but I need MORE. We got hardly anything with them, just small little talks here and there but that is literally NOTHING.
I love Winston and Brendan though. They're so cute. I want a book on them too. We should've gotten books on Nazeera and Kenji and Winston and Brendan instead of this unnecessary trilogy.
Also, when Juliette was attracted to Anderson, I wanted to puke. No, just no, absolutely not.
The friendships in this book are amazing though, I must admit. Kenji and Juliette are amazing as friends and deeply care for each other and I did enjoy Warner and Kenji's banter, even though Warner was pissing me off the whole time.
“Here. This. My bones against his bones. This is my home.”
So here we are, I have finally finished the Shatter Me series. I am still going to be reading Believe Me, because I've heard that it's basically just a cute spicy novella with no wedding and there's also Kenji, and I want that. Will I be angry with Warner and Juliette the entire time? Maybe. But I don't care.
1.5 stars
“It is only in the desperate seconds before death that we realize the windows against which we broke our bodies were only mirrors, all along.”
I skimmed through this book, I got kind of bored. I've gotten spoiled for this series, and I don't really care to continue on. (view spoiler)[EspecialI skimmed through this book, I got kind of bored. I've gotten spoiled for this series, and I don't really care to continue on. (view spoiler)[Especially since I learned that the only character I really liked dies. I don't think Maven killed any babies, though I don't even remember that part in the book, 'cause I didn't really care. But Google has heeded my answer and says he didn't kill babies (hide spoiler)] I freaking HATE Cal and I don't know why. I just don't. And Mare is SO annoyinggg. I wish I had enjoyed this more, but it's just not for me, unfortunately....more
Oh, whyyyy. I really thought I was going to enjoy this book! But- Nope, I did not. I've read both books, and I wish I loved them, but no. First of allOh, whyyyy. I really thought I was going to enjoy this book! But- Nope, I did not. I've read both books, and I wish I loved them, but no. First of all, I do not like Eadlyn. She's a brat to her parents, and she just annoys me. I wish I could see more of America and Maxon, but we hardly saw them, and they seem like different people! Sure, parenthood has probably changed them, but I see nothing of America in America anymore! Also, I wish there was more romance. There was so much politics, and not enough romance! One of the main reasons I read this series was for romance, but there was hardly any. Also, I did not like the ending couple in The Crown. So, overall, I am just going to forget this is part of the series. ...more
I was really disappointed with this book, considering how much I loved her other series. Probably won't continue on with this series unfortunately. I was really disappointed with this book, considering how much I loved her other series. Probably won't continue on with this series unfortunately. ...more
I was disappointed in this book, because I had heard such great things, and I thought that I would enjoy it! But, I ended up DNFing this. It might've I was disappointed in this book, because I had heard such great things, and I thought that I would enjoy it! But, I ended up DNFing this. It might've been because I wasn't in the mood for reading the book, but it was very boring for me. ...more
“For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.”
This is going to be a very fun review to write. So you probably “For the two of us, home isn't a place. It is a person. And we are finally home.”
This is going to be a very fun review to write. So you probably already saw the rating I gave this book. It seems like everything I would love: it's set in Paris, there's a cute love interest with an accent, it has an academic setting, there's some drama but NO.
This is by far the worst book I've read this year. My first one star rating of 2022. Wow.
The characters were awful, the romance was awful, and don't even get me STARTED on Anna.
The Plot
This consists of drama, cheating, and idiocy. Nothing much really happens except petty drama, Anna being an idiot, and the TeNSiOn between Anna and Étienne.
And there's also slut shaming and mean girls with no reason, and again CHEATING.
So I don't have much to say here because all of my other thoughts are directed to the next two topics.
But let me put this here because it made me so mad:
“Boys turn girls into such idiots.”
Hm? Are you sure about that because I'm sure not all girls turn into bumbling fools when they like a guy? Wonderful way of shoving all girls into one category.
“But give a college chick the chance to dress up like a slutty nurse, and she's gonna take it.”
ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
“It's Ellie. I nearly drop my towel. “Oh.” Slutty nurse. I don't believe it. Tiny white button-up dress, red crosses across the nipples. Cleavage city.”
AND THERE'S THE SLUT SHAMING.
The Characters
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And here's where the fun begins. I'll only be discussing Anna here because my complaints about her are enough to fill a book. I'll mention Étienne here and there.
Anna
“I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.”
Oh yes Anna, I'm very aware based off of how you fell head over heels in love with him after first seeing him, yes that's definitely a LITTLE distracted.
Anna is the definition of an idiot. She went to Paris for school and didn't bother to learn ANY French. She thought oui was spelled w-e-e. How?? Even before I took French in school I knew how to spell oui, it's just such a common word.
She also complained about going to a boarding school in PARIS. I would do anything to go to Paris just once, and here she is, complaining about being forced to go to a really nice school in PARIS??
When she went back to Atlanta she was suddenly so sad and wanted to go back to Paris when literally a few pages before she thought "like I wanted to go to Paris." MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
She also was too scared to order food from a cafeteria because she didn't know how to speak French, so she literally hid out in her room because she was "too embarrassed" to try and order off of the menu when no one was there to help her?? Girl just brave it and eat food, or just LEARN FRENCH.
Anna is also the classic "she doesn't know she's beautiful" girl.
“You’re beautiful.”
I trip and fall down on the sidewalk.
I look away as he takes my hand and helps me up. “I’m fine. Fine!” I say, brushing the grit from my palms. Oh my God, I AM a freak.
“You’ve seen the way men look at you, right?” he continues.
“If they’re looking, it’s because I keep making a fool of myself.”
Oh gee.
She ALSO didn't know that Paris is full of films and is apparently the film appreciation capital of the world, and she wants to work in the film industry??
AND she didn't want to look like an American walking around Paris (oh no, woe is me) so she put a FREAKING CANADIAN PATCH ON HER BAG OR WHATEVER SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T KNOW SHE IS AMERICAN.
“It turns out I am not a nice person.”
No you aren't Anna, not after imagining ripping out Ellie's eyeballs and pulling her hair out.
Let's not forget about the fact that she went after Étienne even when she knew he had a girlfriend. Which launches me right into the next topic.
But anyways, I could probably find many more complaints about Anna but that's all for now folks.
Also, I hate Étienne. Don't know why. Maybe because he used his girlfriend. And cheated on her as well. I hate everyone and everything in this book.
The Romance
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And here it is. The worst part of the book. Maybe I would've liked this if it hadn't consisted of the cheating trope.
Exhibit A:
“I cheated on her every day. In my mind, I thought of you in ways I shouldn't have, again and again. She was nothing compared to you. I've never felt this way about anybody before-”
*daps eyes with tissue* What a wonderful love confession, admitting that you literally cheated on your girlfriend in your mind with this girl instead of just telling her you didn't want to date anymore.
Exhibit B:
“I mean I didn't SLEEP sleep with him. Obviously. But I slept with him.”
Yes you did. You slept with a guy who has. A. Girlfriend. How do you think that YOU would feel if you found out your boyfriend was sleeping in the same bed TWO TIMES with another girl, Anna??
And then they KISSED when Étienne still had a FUCKING GIRLFRIEND. AND DID THEY SERIOUSLY NOT EXPECT TO GET CAUGHT, THEY WERE SHOVING THEIR TONGUES DOWN EACH OTHER'S THROATS IN FRONT OF LITERALLY EVERYONE.
And then Anna had the audacity for being mad that he went to his girlfriend's place because he AbAnDoNeD her again for HIS GIRLFRIEND. HE WAS LITERALLY GOING THERE TO TELL HER WHAT HAPPENED YOU IDIOT.
EXHIBIT C:
“Yes, St. Clair. I like you.
But I can't say it aloud, because he's my friend.”
AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE BECAUSE HE HAD A GIRLFRIEND.
And they also held hands all over the place, went out on NOT dates (psh), blushed and flirted and made eye contact and practically held hands at a movie theater.
I'm so done with this.
“Seriously, I don't know any American girl who can resist an English accent.”
Ok ok, I admit, I do like the accent.
But anyways, this felt very good to write about and I'm so glad I got all of this off of my chest. I love a good ol' rant review.
1 star
“I mean, really. Who sends their kid to boarding school? It's so Hogwarts. Only mine doesn't have cute boy wizards or magic candy or flying lessons.”
Oh no I got sent to Paris, the city of lights and love and I get to learn about so much stuff, so sad.
<><><><><><><><> I haven't had a one star read in a very long time. How fun
“Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that.”
I'm bored. “Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that.”
I'm bored. You know what that means: Avery's Reviews of Books She Hasn't Read in a Long Time! *applause*
I remember greatly disliking this book. Everything was flat. The world. The characters. The stupid love triangle. I hated this love triangle so much, the ones that *might* end up together have literally NO chemistry, and it was kinda insta-lovey. (I haven't completed this series, nor do I ever plan to, so I don't know if they actually end up together) And you know how much I DESPISE insta-love.
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I had to look up the name of the main character, because I couldn't remember her name (Cassia) and I'm usually good at remembering names-this says something about the impact this book had on me. I remembered the other two characters' names, Ky and Xander, though, so I don't even know anymore.
I took this book out from the library, and I remember vividly just sitting in my hotel room (we were on a vacation inside of a vacation), trying to read this book, and I think I said something along the lines of "This is so boring." Or something like that, it was a while ago.
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I like the idea of this book: the government controls every important aspect of your life, such as who you are supposed to love and all that, but I just found this boring and not very well executed.
And the fact that I also remember literally nothing about this book except the romance is saying something, so maybe you shouldn't trust me, cause what do I know anymore?
Anyways, all I did was feel bad for Xander, and feel literally nothing towards Ky and Cassia, who had literally zero chemistry between them.
Also, I don't even think I finished this book. I marked it as a DNF apparently, so I must've not finished it, which is saying something AGAIN. I know I'm being very repetitive.
ANYWHO, I was excited to read this book, but it was boring, bland, and screamed 2010s dystopian, not that I have read many books from that era :P