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heyjudy's review against another edition
2.0
~2 Stars
I've enjoyed Elkeles' books in the past, quite a lot really. So I didn't expect this, or to feel this way about it.
I will admit that the beginning of this book reminded me a bit of All the Pretty Horses, which is a book I hated when I read it in high school. Most of the book didn't really have that feel, though, once I got into it.
I don't want to spoil how any of this happens, but I will say this book does not have a happily every after. I didn't expect it to go this way for most of the book, even really until the end when it happened. It doesn't happen often, and I really don't care for tragedies. They're not my kind of thing.
To be fair, though, I also didn't really feel much for this book. The characters were okay, but I wasn't all that into the romance, I wasn't even really feeling the chemistry. In the beginning it felt okay, but instead of getting better, the plot just seemed to drag on. They were put in a pretty impossible situation, including where some adults could have helped and instead decided to keep them out of the loop on everything. And how it all wrapped up and the big surprise bad guy (which wasn't terribly surprising) ended up seeming rather unrealistic.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just don't think it was meant to be for me. It had a lot in the way of it, it seems. And I can even, kind of, maybe, see how that ending was okay. But mostly I'm just not happy about it.
I've enjoyed Elkeles' books in the past, quite a lot really. So I didn't expect this, or to feel this way about it.
I will admit that the beginning of this book reminded me a bit of All the Pretty Horses, which is a book I hated when I read it in high school. Most of the book didn't really have that feel, though, once I got into it.
I don't want to spoil how any of this happens, but I will say this book does not have a happily every after. I didn't expect it to go this way for most of the book, even really until the end when it happened. It doesn't happen often, and I really don't care for tragedies. They're not my kind of thing.
To be fair, though, I also didn't really feel much for this book. The characters were okay, but I wasn't all that into the romance, I wasn't even really feeling the chemistry. In the beginning it felt okay, but instead of getting better, the plot just seemed to drag on. They were put in a pretty impossible situation, including where some adults could have helped and instead decided to keep them out of the loop on everything. And how it all wrapped up and the big surprise bad guy (which wasn't terribly surprising) ended up seeming rather unrealistic.
I really wanted to like this book, but I just don't think it was meant to be for me. It had a lot in the way of it, it seems. And I can even, kind of, maybe, see how that ending was okay. But mostly I'm just not happy about it.
thecorioliseffect's review against another edition
3.0
That was... interesting, to say the least. I'll admit the end surprised me, and it was definitely bold. I suppose I should give her credit for that.
Otherwise the romance was pretty meh. It was very instalovey. It IS possible to write a standalone that isn't instalove, but this definitely was. Like. Chill. You don't have to say you'll die for someone you've known for two weeks. I didn't particularly feel any chemistry between them, and when Dalila told him she was falling in love with him, I was like YOU BARELY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!!!
I did listen to the whole thing in one sitting though on a long car drive. So it at least kept my attention for 6+ straight hours.
Otherwise the romance was pretty meh. It was very instalovey. It IS possible to write a standalone that isn't instalove, but this definitely was. Like. Chill. You don't have to say you'll die for someone you've known for two weeks. I didn't particularly feel any chemistry between them, and when Dalila told him she was falling in love with him, I was like YOU BARELY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!!!
I did listen to the whole thing in one sitting though on a long car drive. So it at least kept my attention for 6+ straight hours.
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
I received this as an eARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Ryan finds release in boxing, especially because his step family is the worst. Ever since his mother married a local policeman, Ryan has lost his place in his family. In attempt to get away and move on, Ryan leaves for Mexico, in hopes of training to compete as a boxer. Dalila crosses paths with Ryan when he starts training in his new Mexican gym. While the two should stay apart and Ryan should keep his head down, their chemistry keeps bringing them together. As drugs and gang violence surround the two, Ryan will need to stay strong if he is going to survive.
I had trouble with the insta-love because I had trouble warming up to the characters. It felt that everything that could go wrong did. It felt very Lifetime movie, which is something that some readers will want.
Ryan finds release in boxing, especially because his step family is the worst. Ever since his mother married a local policeman, Ryan has lost his place in his family. In attempt to get away and move on, Ryan leaves for Mexico, in hopes of training to compete as a boxer. Dalila crosses paths with Ryan when he starts training in his new Mexican gym. While the two should stay apart and Ryan should keep his head down, their chemistry keeps bringing them together. As drugs and gang violence surround the two, Ryan will need to stay strong if he is going to survive.
I had trouble with the insta-love because I had trouble warming up to the characters. It felt that everything that could go wrong did. It felt very Lifetime movie, which is something that some readers will want.
malloryeasterday15's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story was fine but it was too insta lovey for me and clingy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
lilith_walker's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
sara_stars567765's review against another edition
3.0
3/5 | I personally wouldn't recommend
⚠️SPOILER ALERT THROUGHOUT THIS REVIEW⚠️
Enjoyment
I was expecting to enjoy this book, and the fact that I stayed up until 2am proves that I did. There were some things that bugged me though, like how Simone wasn't descriptive enough for me. If a character gets punched, WHERE does he/she/they get punched???? And to be fair this book didn't bring out a lot of emotions as I think it was supposed to. But despite that I would have read the book again, if it wasn't for the ending. [Internally screaming]
Characters
Dalila, for all her 'I'm a tough woman attitude', is not a very tough woman. She was a bit needy, and wouldn't have gotten anywhere without Ryan. Ryan, on the other hand I absolutely loved
⚠️SPOILER ALERT THROUGHOUT THIS REVIEW⚠️
Enjoyment
I was expecting to enjoy this book, and the fact that I stayed up until 2am proves that I did. There were some things that bugged me though, like how Simone wasn't descriptive enough for me. If a character gets punched, WHERE does he/she/they get punched???? And to be fair this book didn't bring out a lot of emotions as I think it was supposed to. But despite that I would have read the book again, if it wasn't for the ending. [Internally screaming]
Characters
Dalila, for all her 'I'm a tough woman attitude', is not a very tough woman. She was a bit needy, and wouldn't have gotten anywhere without Ryan. Ryan, on the other hand I absolutely loved
lauren716's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this book! To see full review go to blog
https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/crossing-the-line-review
https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/crossing-the-line-review