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breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
this one is even better than the first one. I really like that christian is really tring in this one.
tina_booklover's review against another edition
5.0
Here's the second book of the "Shades of Grey"-Trilogie and I have to say: I really love the books. I've already read them twice, but i never knew reading them again would be so exciting.
So the story of Ana and Christian continues and their relationship gets more serious than before. And if someone says "if you really love someone than you shouldn't ask them to change for you", just show them these book and they will overthink their opinion. Of course you have to change yourself a little bit, when you're in a relationship. That's what makes them so special! Someone loves you enough to abstain from certain things and try new things. That's what love is about.
I really had fun reading this book again and it was so exciting, because I knew certain things would happen and I always anticipated these moments. And I realised that Ana and Christian met just a few weeks ago! It's so crazy what can happen in this short span of time.
And yes I know, it's just a book, but the author just writes these books in a style, where you can loose yourself completly into the story.
So the story of Ana and Christian continues and their relationship gets more serious than before. And if someone says "if you really love someone than you shouldn't ask them to change for you", just show them these book and they will overthink their opinion. Of course you have to change yourself a little bit, when you're in a relationship. That's what makes them so special! Someone loves you enough to abstain from certain things and try new things. That's what love is about.
I really had fun reading this book again and it was so exciting, because I knew certain things would happen and I always anticipated these moments. And I realised that Ana and Christian met just a few weeks ago! It's so crazy what can happen in this short span of time.
And yes I know, it's just a book, but the author just writes these books in a style, where you can loose yourself completly into the story.
kait_kosub's review against another edition
3.0
I'm glad we got to know more about Christian and Elena. But I'm glad they left out some parts with Christian and Leila like him bathing her and dressing her... I don't know that bothered me. I found the parts about Ray in the hospital interesting and made me feel more connected to Ana and Christian and their relationship. But still I found them a bit one toned.
faeonyx's review against another edition
1.0
A year after beginning this book, and quite some time after beginning the series, I finally managed to finish it. I wish I could say that the writing style, the characters, and the story itself improved in the second book, but I can't. Again, I read this trilogy because I was told that I couldn't comment on it if I hadn't. I thought I might quit after the first book, but decided to continue on. That has been a mistake.
The story itself is still as stale as it was in the first book, and every time a little drama gets stirred up or something interesting seems to happen, it gets shut down only a couple of pages later. For example, Bella... sorry, Ana's best friend discovers an email about the original contract. This email had been left in the pocket of one of Christian's jackets (I believe, sometimes things aren't clear) which had been left at the apartment Ana was decidedly not sharing with Kate anymore. What could have led to a really interesting exploration of characterization and an interesting turn in character development for Kate, Christian, AND Ana, turned out to be little more than a false flag at heightened drama. Two pages later and Kate forgets about the entire thing, but chapters later (and in fact into the next book) Christian is still hesitant to trust Kate and distant and cold to her, even though she is clearly 100% over it.
Another example is the issue with Charlie Tango going down and everyone thinking that Christian was dead or severely injured and missing. Conveniently, he couldn't/wouldn't call because of his jealousy over the fact that Ana was home alone with Jacob, sorry... Jose. Then, shock and horror, when he did arrive home and everyone was so worried about him, he was surprised that his family cared. This trope had gotten old in the first book, and reinforcing it over and over again is simply annoying.
Book two is also where the author really tried to stage Christian as a delicate, wounded bird. She is still using the BDSM lifestyle as a character flaw, which speaks volumes about how the author herself must view the community. The entire scene with Ana speaking to Christian's therapist had me rolling my eyes. It was not believable by any stretch of the imagination and seemed to be put in for the author to say "SEE! THE THERAPIST SAYS IT'S NORMAL SO YOU CAN'T ATTACK MY REPRESENTATION!" Well, do I have news for you... The representation of Christian's attitude in relation to BDSM as well as the way he feels about it is enough of a statement to turn me away from this book. I soldiered through because, damn it, my friend was right and I can't comment on something I haven't read. This is the first and last time I will make that mistake.
I was not endeared to any of the characters and found myself laughing at how quickly the relationship developed. I love you. I hate you. I don't do hearts and flowers, oh wait yes I do. MARRY ME ANA! YES, CHRISTIAN! YES! and it's all peppered with some of the worst porn/smut/whatever you want to call it that I have ever, EVER read. I've gotten to the point where I skip over the sex scenes because there are SO many of them it's exhausting and the description is flat and lackluster at best. Other times, it is downright cheesy and laughable.
If you soldiered through the first book, congratulations. If you made it through this one, I truly, truly feel for you. If you haven't started yet - STOP YOURSELF before it's too late. Do not let this drag you down.
The story itself is still as stale as it was in the first book, and every time a little drama gets stirred up or something interesting seems to happen, it gets shut down only a couple of pages later. For example, Bella... sorry, Ana's best friend discovers an email about the original contract. This email had been left in the pocket of one of Christian's jackets (I believe, sometimes things aren't clear) which had been left at the apartment Ana was decidedly not sharing with Kate anymore. What could have led to a really interesting exploration of characterization and an interesting turn in character development for Kate, Christian, AND Ana, turned out to be little more than a false flag at heightened drama. Two pages later and Kate forgets about the entire thing, but chapters later (and in fact into the next book) Christian is still hesitant to trust Kate and distant and cold to her, even though she is clearly 100% over it.
Another example is the issue with Charlie Tango going down and everyone thinking that Christian was dead or severely injured and missing. Conveniently, he couldn't/wouldn't call because of his jealousy over the fact that Ana was home alone with Jacob, sorry... Jose. Then, shock and horror, when he did arrive home and everyone was so worried about him, he was surprised that his family cared. This trope had gotten old in the first book, and reinforcing it over and over again is simply annoying.
Book two is also where the author really tried to stage Christian as a delicate, wounded bird. She is still using the BDSM lifestyle as a character flaw, which speaks volumes about how the author herself must view the community. The entire scene with Ana speaking to Christian's therapist had me rolling my eyes. It was not believable by any stretch of the imagination and seemed to be put in for the author to say "SEE! THE THERAPIST SAYS IT'S NORMAL SO YOU CAN'T ATTACK MY REPRESENTATION!" Well, do I have news for you... The representation of Christian's attitude in relation to BDSM as well as the way he feels about it is enough of a statement to turn me away from this book. I soldiered through because, damn it, my friend was right and I can't comment on something I haven't read. This is the first and last time I will make that mistake.
I was not endeared to any of the characters and found myself laughing at how quickly the relationship developed. I love you. I hate you. I don't do hearts and flowers, oh wait yes I do. MARRY ME ANA! YES, CHRISTIAN! YES! and it's all peppered with some of the worst porn/smut/whatever you want to call it that I have ever, EVER read. I've gotten to the point where I skip over the sex scenes because there are SO many of them it's exhausting and the description is flat and lackluster at best. Other times, it is downright cheesy and laughable.
If you soldiered through the first book, congratulations. If you made it through this one, I truly, truly feel for you. If you haven't started yet - STOP YOURSELF before it's too late. Do not let this drag you down.
salgalruns's review against another edition
1.0
Seriously. Still awful. Yes, I still read it. Waiting for the part that everyone tells me gets better with the 2nd and 3rd books. Um. Not yet.
mghill40's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dnandrews797's review against another edition
1.0
Another awful installation in a series I continue to torture myself with for reasons unknown. The best I can say about this series is it’s funny. Given that this isn’t intentional, it’s rather tragic. This book can best be described as watching a close, yet dumb friend of yours get involved with a man you keep subtly warning her about, ignoring all the red flags and warnings from her other family members, and then doubling down by marrying him. The pacing of this book is another problem. It’s basically porn without a plot. They keep finding reasons to have sex without any forward movement in the rough outline of a story. It gets repetitive and dull very quickly. Not to mention the circular inane monologue of the main character. I want to murder both her “inner goddess” and “subconscious” then tape her mouth shut so she can’t say “oh my” again. I’m so tired of both of those words I could vomit.
trishthegemini's review against another edition
2.0
The “love story” is semi good. But honestly, this book is just plain boring.
maryplu's review against another edition
4.0
Thank goodness she skipped some of the sex scenes on this one. Still pretty detailed, cheesy, and a play on all of the characters from Twilight. But a good read. Better than the first.