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bookdust's review against another edition
3.0
2 1/2 to 3 stars. There are AO3 fics that have better character development and motivations. Not bad...but lacking.
qkat's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed about 3/4 of this book. I am not a Harley Quinn fan. I have never been a Harley Quinn fan, but it was interesting to read about her life as a child and as a psychiatrist. I had a problem with a certain section in the book that was added for no other reason but for a politically correct inclusion of a certain type of person. I have no problem with inclusion, if it was important to the story. This section that was added served no purpose and was unnecessary to the story, since the character does nothing to advance the storyline. It felt forced, it read as forced and it almost turned me off to the rest of the book. I did finish it and was disappointed in Harley's transformation in the end. I give it 4 stars because the first 3/4 of the book was so interesting enough to warrant that rating.
hari_ronin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
crochetchrisie's review against another edition
3.0
It was an interesting look into the mind of a character I wasn't all that familiar with. I knew she was a little crazy, and that Joker didn't treat her well and this book gave the backstory for that. Unfortunately I never really got into her character as much as I would have liked. Maybe I just can't connect to someone that would even remotely consider loving/obsessing over a psychotic killer. Oh well, interesting read anyway.
ankysbookbubble's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I'll come clean before starting on with this review. I'm not a batman fan. I've never read a single DC comic in my whole life. But after reading this book, I am a Harley Quinn fan. (Still not into Batman, though.)
I loved reading this book because though I hadn't read any of the DC comics, I read Catwoman last month, and I loved Harley's character. When I realized I could get a chance to know why she was the way she was, I knew I had to take it.
The transformation of HQ from Harleen Quinzel to Harley Quinn was so seamlessly narrated that I had to go back and read a few pages in order to pinpoint the moment it'd happened, the moment Harleen Quinzel, the young psychiatrist had disappeared and Harley Quinn, the tough Brooklyn-cookie/harlequin had appeared.
Harley's experience as a young girl changed her in many ways, some of which only showed up once she got in contact with the Joker. I loved how she transformed thrice, once when that incident from her childhood took place, and then when she met and fell for the Joker and then yet again when she realised that the Joker was a good-for-nothing Psycho killer.
All in all, Mad Love was full of madness—some awesome, some awful—and excitement. I didn't have a single dull moment.
I loved reading this book because though I hadn't read any of the DC comics, I read Catwoman last month, and I loved Harley's character. When I realized I could get a chance to know why she was the way she was, I knew I had to take it.
The transformation of HQ from Harleen Quinzel to Harley Quinn was so seamlessly narrated that I had to go back and read a few pages in order to pinpoint the moment it'd happened, the moment Harleen Quinzel, the young psychiatrist had disappeared and Harley Quinn, the tough Brooklyn-cookie/harlequin had appeared.
Harley's experience as a young girl changed her in many ways, some of which only showed up once she got in contact with the Joker. I loved how she transformed thrice, once when that incident from her childhood took place, and then when she met and fell for the Joker and then yet again when she realised that the Joker was a good-for-nothing Psycho killer.
All in all, Mad Love was full of madness—some awesome, some awful—and excitement. I didn't have a single dull moment.
emilyyjjean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was debating about DNFing at 25%. I stuck with it though, and it did get more interesting. It definitely picks up once Harleen starts meeting with the Joker.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
gemrox's review against another edition
4.0
With many adaptations of Harley Quinn’s story, this is a favourite as it makes her smart and shows her past trauma before she became The Harley Quinn. It also sticks very close to the comic version of Mad Love so is easy to recognise for those who have read the comics. However it is also progressive as it shows a more modern society and technology.
bookwonderer's review against another edition
5.0
I loved getting inside of Harleen Quinzel's head. I do wish there were more written scenes of her therapy with the Joker, but there is enough. I was surprised at how short they made Harley's "adventures" with the Joker, though the ending is quite amazing. I was hoping to see more of her thought processes while with the joker for a longer period of time, but the authors did a great job at summarizing it in detail with the shorter amount they wrote. I guess I was expecting more of the chaos, the breaking of Harley, and possibly more in depth of her recovery and possibly how she was helped (aka how many times did poison ivy try to keep her out of that crp with the joker?). I do like her not going back to the Joker after her first time out of Arkham Asylum. I just know she went back numerous times in the comics and was expecting that to be shoved in your face more with more excuses made, and possibly others trying to get her out, but the amount they chose to do was enough. I hope there is another book!
clare_tan_wenhui's review
4.0
Apart from being an engaging origins story fora beloved comic book villainous, this novelisation also serves as a interesting case study into the female propensity to self-destruction and attraction to toxic relationships.
rebeccareadsstuff's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, I'm a huge DC fan and a tad obsessed with Harley.
Very much pleased that Paul Dini was apart of this project.
The first few chapters for me were a little strange, I had to adjust to the writing style and I for sure thought I was about to hate this but I ended up devouring it. I stayed up all hours of the night to read and this book was on my mind when I woke up.
The ending bugged me, I was so invested in the way they hashed out the story I wanted more.
I always see myself cheering for Harley, she's a villan that shouldn't of been and its always nice to see her standing up to joke (a particularly limo scene had me smiling) .
Excited to read more of the dc books, I would love to see a Poison Ivy one.
Very much pleased that Paul Dini was apart of this project.
The first few chapters for me were a little strange, I had to adjust to the writing style and I for sure thought I was about to hate this but I ended up devouring it. I stayed up all hours of the night to read and this book was on my mind when I woke up.
The ending bugged me, I was so invested in the way they hashed out the story I wanted more.
I always see myself cheering for Harley, she's a villan that shouldn't of been and its always nice to see her standing up to joke (a particularly limo scene had me smiling) .
Excited to read more of the dc books, I would love to see a Poison Ivy one.