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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Teen girl in a harmful relationship - important topic for novels for this audience. Protagonist starts off a strong character but loses this and here lies the demise of both the relationship and the book. Story flowed well, and probably is a great book, I just have a hard time with this type of characterization. A bit emo and plenty topical, I would recommend but older teens, who are the ones dealing with this mostly, probably won't read.
I feel like it was just a little bit anti-climatic, like the whole story was nice and relaxing, but you can feel that it was building up to something that was suppose to scare you a lot, and be like a dun! Dun! DUN! (Dramatic music) BUT it kind of fell flat, I know that everything that happened in reality would be scary, and that SHOULD be terrifying, but when I read it, I really didn't feel much terror. The terror that I was supposed to feel didn't come, but reading the text, I kind of know at what point I was supposed to feel panic.
So the book was alright, but maybe you will enjoy it, don't let my review deter you from giving it a go~
So the book was alright, but maybe you will enjoy it, don't let my review deter you from giving it a go~
I found this to be a very well-written story! It did not take long at all to really sink into Clara's story.
I loved the setting: on the coast with lighthouse. Very atmospheric. I also loved the other characters involved in Clara's life as she tries to get past her relationship with Christian. When she meets Finn, I at first thought eek too soon!, but quickly changed my mind. It is impossible not to fall for Finn, and he really helps her overcome her past instead of helping her hide from it. That part of the story could have easily gone way off course, I'm so glad it didn't!
The story also constantly switches to the past and the way Clara met and got involved with Christian. Caletti does a very good job of balancing the "yes, I can see why she fell for him" with the "feeling of impending doom."
I'm not sure how I feel about how Clara ultimately ends up confronting her past: it seemed to suspend reality a tad. But then, I've never been in a situation that resembles hers at all, so maybe I just don't fully appreciate it. Either way - that part kept me from loving the book as much as I could have.
Regardless, I recommend picking up a copy of this if you're a fan of Deb Caletti or contemporary young adult fiction. You will lose yourself in Clara's journey and watch as she starts to leave her past behind. The book is released mid-April, so be on the lookout!
I loved the setting: on the coast with lighthouse. Very atmospheric. I also loved the other characters involved in Clara's life as she tries to get past her relationship with Christian. When she meets Finn, I at first thought eek too soon!, but quickly changed my mind. It is impossible not to fall for Finn, and he really helps her overcome her past instead of helping her hide from it. That part of the story could have easily gone way off course, I'm so glad it didn't!
The story also constantly switches to the past and the way Clara met and got involved with Christian. Caletti does a very good job of balancing the "yes, I can see why she fell for him" with the "feeling of impending doom."
I'm not sure how I feel about how Clara ultimately ends up confronting her past: it seemed to suspend reality a tad. But then, I've never been in a situation that resembles hers at all, so maybe I just don't fully appreciate it. Either way - that part kept me from loving the book as much as I could have.
Regardless, I recommend picking up a copy of this if you're a fan of Deb Caletti or contemporary young adult fiction. You will lose yourself in Clara's journey and watch as she starts to leave her past behind. The book is released mid-April, so be on the lookout!
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
It’s strange, isn’t it, how that idea of belonging to someone can sound so great? It can be comforting, the way it makes things decided. We like the thought of being held, until it’s too tight. We like that certainty, until it means there is no way out. And we like being his, until we realize we’re not ours anymore.
Ehhh. The side stories weren’t really interesting to me. I wish this book just focused more on its central theme of toxic/obsessive relationships and emotional manipulation, because its strength was in those bits. And that ending was a disappointment too. It felt like the protagonist’s problems were all just magically washed away.
Perfect. I now need to read every single one of Caletti's books. Review forthcoming.
I have never read anything by Deb Caletti but I have heard good things about this author. I was excited when I got this book from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab and started reading this book immediately. To be honest I didn't even know much about the book but I really liked the cover. What can I say? I'm a bit of a cover whore. Anyhow, I really liked the message in this book. I have only recently started reading YA and I have found that an alarming number of books center around love at first sight. I think this idea is dangerous for teens and this book shows you why that is the case. In this book Clara falls in insta-love with Christian after seeing him at a basketball game. The second time she sees him at the game she follows him outside, alone, and ends up kissing him right away. From this point, I started to get a bad vibe from this Christian character. I couldn't help but notice that throughout the book they never once have a real substantial conversation and their relationship slowly turns into something dangerous. Christian exhibits domineering character traits and often plays the victim. I couldn't stand this character and I suppose that is really Caletti's point. I liked that Clara had a good familial support system with her dad. I also really liked the writing style of this book. The author jumps from past to present and back again. It allows us to see snapshots of Clara's life now and this gives us insight into her life in her recent past. I think that while this book may be disturbing to some, it is important that teen girls read this book. It showcases just how dangerous certain relationships can be. Caletti does not make it seem easy to leave such relationships and that is the point. Once you are in something that dangerous it is difficult to leave. I also like the fact that Caletti doesn't make Christian's character to be over the top physically violent. This type of abuse is mostly psychological and in my opinion not many people take that as seriously as they should. Overall I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I believe that it sends an important message not just to teens but to any woman who reads this book.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
As a reader I love watching an author's writing style grow as I grow as a reader. I have said this before and I will say it again...I think that there are some authors who are creating books that should be placed in a genera that is directed for an older audience of teens. I am not saying that there shouldn't be books for teens I guess what I'm trying to say is that there should be a way to split the young adult or teen genera by age. Like books for 13-17 year olds could be considered young adult and books for 18-24 years of age could be considered emerging adult. I am only saying this because I feel as though some of the books that I have read recently have theme's that a 12 year old might not appreciate because he or she is not at that point in their life yet. We are at a day and age where teenagers tend to go through some tough times growing up.
^^sorry about that rant...now onto my review...
I have only read two of Deb Caletti's novels (and read half of another but gave up because i think i was two young for the topic). This book was an emotional roller coaster for me. I have never been in a situation to the extent that carla was in but I also think that Obsession can go both ways. I think this is the type of story that can change a persons perspective on life. I'm not being dramatic I'm being honest there are some people who are too young to appreciate everything that this book has to offer. Until the person reading the book is in a relationship and has said things and made promises which resulted in a broken heart when things didn't work out they way that person promised (or thought) they may not understand the deeper meaning of this story.
^^sorry about that rant...now onto my review...
I have only read two of Deb Caletti's novels (and read half of another but gave up because i think i was two young for the topic). This book was an emotional roller coaster for me. I have never been in a situation to the extent that carla was in but I also think that Obsession can go both ways. I think this is the type of story that can change a persons perspective on life. I'm not being dramatic I'm being honest there are some people who are too young to appreciate everything that this book has to offer. Until the person reading the book is in a relationship and has said things and made promises which resulted in a broken heart when things didn't work out they way that person promised (or thought) they may not understand the deeper meaning of this story.