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mehsi's review against another edition
1.0
Let's say this book started out great, it was a real 4 star for the first few pages, but around the middle that turned into 3, and soon after that 2 and with the ending it turned into one star.
I am sorry, but the story was interesting, but it just lacked. For most of the time I didn't understand why Caleb and Summer were still together, if they are together at all. They totally don't match. Caleb is quite oblivious to lots of things, Summer is just a bit too demanding at times, so yeah, most of the time I only knew they were together because they stared at each other, or if they give a few rare kisses.
Then we got Val, OH GOD, I hated Val, even after I knew her history, I just couldn't resist wanting to smack her. She was so annoying, pushing Caleb and Summer away from each other, knowing full well what the hell she was doing and she did a whole lot more of stuff that I just didn't like. She was lying about various other things, and sure if you know her history it might be all ok, but for me no, definitely no.
Then I soon find out that this book won't be a standalone, and that disappoints me too. I think everything could have easily be handled in one book, but the author just kept making new plot twists here and there to keep the book from stopping at one book.
The band thing was fun, and interesting, but for a manager Summer wasn't all that good. She hid stuff (while logical, but come on, give your new band a bit of credit), gave them less chances and more stuff.
So yeah, I wouldn't recommend this book.
I am sorry, but the story was interesting, but it just lacked. For most of the time I didn't understand why Caleb and Summer were still together, if they are together at all. They totally don't match. Caleb is quite oblivious to lots of things, Summer is just a bit too demanding at times, so yeah, most of the time I only knew they were together because they stared at each other, or if they give a few rare kisses.
Then we got Val, OH GOD, I hated Val, even after I knew her history, I just couldn't resist wanting to smack her. She was so annoying, pushing Caleb and Summer away from each other, knowing full well what the hell she was doing and she did a whole lot more of stuff that I just didn't like. She was lying about various other things, and sure if you know her history it might be all ok, but for me no, definitely no.
Then I soon find out that this book won't be a standalone, and that disappoints me too. I think everything could have easily be handled in one book, but the author just kept making new plot twists here and there to keep the book from stopping at one book.
The band thing was fun, and interesting, but for a manager Summer wasn't all that good. She hid stuff (while logical, but come on, give your new band a bit of credit), gave them less chances and more stuff.
So yeah, I wouldn't recommend this book.
lastpaige111's review against another edition
4.0
Cute story with very accurate high school and beyond band culture description :-)
lexingtonreads's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
I ACTUALLY HATED THIS BOOK OH MY GOODNESS. Let me tell ya if i didn't like this book whenver i was in my reading era of loving everything...that speaks volumes. I remember there being no chemsitry between the characters like at all. i don't remember what it exactly was but, i know i was upset about the mental health representation?? I don't know, but what i do know is i did not enjot this book-
thepaperreels's review against another edition
DNF AT 59%
Sorry, can't take it anymore. So I just dropped it then skimmed the rest.
Exile started really great for me. Summer, the MC, was a a little bit over dramatic and demanding. But she manages bands! That's why her attitude is yeah, reasonable. I love how descriptive this book is. You really get inside Summers' life.. But you know what ruined this for me?
The Romance. The non sense relationship of Caleb and Summer. I don't even know why these two are together. But you know what, I tried to ignore that because the mystery really caught my attention. It's really interesting.. Imagine solving the death of a rockstar legend.
Then this girl came. Val. Part of me is thankful that she showed up because it helps the readers realize how crap of a boyfriend Caleb is. The other part is just plain annoyed. But whoah! There's a twist! And I did not see that coming! You see, it's part of the mystery. There's a reason why this annoying Val showed up after all. But when I found out, it's too late already. My annoyance can't be erased any more and Caleb is still a jerk to me.
Caleb's like a robot guys. Seriously, Summer liking him doesn't make sense.
Anyway, this was disappointing. The Music references and the mystery pulled me in a little but the under developed romance ruined it for me.
tswanson103's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I absolutely adore this series. The mystery + the band and Summer’s work managing them are the perfect recipe for me. My only complaint upon reread is that Caleb and Summer’s relationship is very insta-love with no real development beyond one or two dates. However, the development of the band as they work through everything being thrown at them balances out the lack of development in the relationship. This series stole my heart the first time I read it, and it is just as charming as I remember. I wish it had gained more attention than it has.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
softpinecone's review against another edition
5.0
I loved exile. It is such a cute book, with an amazing story, and tons of plot twists. You fall in love with the characters, and I could not put it down until I finished it and found out what happened to all the characters! I am so excited that there is going to be a sequel and I can't wait to read it.
reviewsfromabookworm's review against another edition
3.0
For more reviews and giveaways, go to http://reviewsfromabookworm.blogspot.co.uk
The blurb is one of those vague ones that doesn't really tell you what the book is about. From that alone, I had assumed this would be a contemporary that was about Summer falling for Caleb. Not an amazingly unique or exciting storyline, but an easy, enjoyable read. But, it was actually about a lot more than that and is part one of a series apparently. I can't give too much away when it comes to the book because I don't want to spoil anything. It's probably why the blurb is so vague, because they don't want to ruin any of the surprises that are coming your way. It did deliver on being an easy enough read, and it was quite enjoyable but it wasn't much else. I wasn't excited by it or moved by it. I just read it, finished it and that was it.
Summer is one of those characters who is just not very likeable. She's not a horrible person, but she's just very irritating. She took being a band manager too far, she couldn't separate herself from that role even when trying to be a girlfriend to Caleb. She was pretty much always a manager first and a girlfriend second. Even when he was opening up to her about important stuff in his life, she would solely focus in on how it could benefit the band. It was frustrating and I did wonder why Caleb wanted to be with her. She also gets very jealous about other girls, even though he has given her no reason not to trust him.
Caleb was quite a nice character; he plays guitar and writes his own music. He was the typical brooding lead singer of a rock band, which I actually liked about him. This did make me miss Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover though. This song contains a lot of lyrics and I can never imagine the songs, I would have loved a soundtrack to go along with it so I could listen to them.
The romance in this book develops ridiculously quickly, it's one of the quickest I have seen in a while. Within the first day of meeting each other he asks her out, they go on a date, tells her a huge secret about himself and then they kiss. It was all too fast for me and not very realistic. I feel like you would at least want to get to know someone a little better before you tell them this life changing secret about yourself the way Caleb does.
I liked the scavenger hunt that you find in this book, but there wasn't enough of it. I had no idea this was a series and I can't understand why it is. It feels like it should be one standalone contemporary and nothing else. The hunts were stretched out a bit too much so that we could have another book, but I don't see why we need it. The end was unbelievably frustrating because it wasn't an end, it felt like your copy cuts off halfway through the book. It was only then that I realised I had started another series that is unnecessarily a series. This could have been wrapped up within one book.
2.5/5 Butterflies
It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, it was just that it didn't excite me all that much. It started out quite well and was probably a solid three star read, but then the end ruined it. It was far too abrupt and feels like your copy cuts off, not like you have come to the end of the first book in a series. The storyline doesn't justify the need for more than one book. I believe this whole story could be told within one book. It hasn't made me want to continue the series, but it was an enjoyable enough read.
The blurb is one of those vague ones that doesn't really tell you what the book is about. From that alone, I had assumed this would be a contemporary that was about Summer falling for Caleb. Not an amazingly unique or exciting storyline, but an easy, enjoyable read. But, it was actually about a lot more than that and is part one of a series apparently. I can't give too much away when it comes to the book because I don't want to spoil anything. It's probably why the blurb is so vague, because they don't want to ruin any of the surprises that are coming your way. It did deliver on being an easy enough read, and it was quite enjoyable but it wasn't much else. I wasn't excited by it or moved by it. I just read it, finished it and that was it.
Summer is one of those characters who is just not very likeable. She's not a horrible person, but she's just very irritating. She took being a band manager too far, she couldn't separate herself from that role even when trying to be a girlfriend to Caleb. She was pretty much always a manager first and a girlfriend second. Even when he was opening up to her about important stuff in his life, she would solely focus in on how it could benefit the band. It was frustrating and I did wonder why Caleb wanted to be with her. She also gets very jealous about other girls, even though he has given her no reason not to trust him.
Caleb was quite a nice character; he plays guitar and writes his own music. He was the typical brooding lead singer of a rock band, which I actually liked about him. This did make me miss Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover though. This song contains a lot of lyrics and I can never imagine the songs, I would have loved a soundtrack to go along with it so I could listen to them.
The romance in this book develops ridiculously quickly, it's one of the quickest I have seen in a while. Within the first day of meeting each other he asks her out, they go on a date, tells her a huge secret about himself and then they kiss. It was all too fast for me and not very realistic. I feel like you would at least want to get to know someone a little better before you tell them this life changing secret about yourself the way Caleb does.
I liked the scavenger hunt that you find in this book, but there wasn't enough of it. I had no idea this was a series and I can't understand why it is. It feels like it should be one standalone contemporary and nothing else. The hunts were stretched out a bit too much so that we could have another book, but I don't see why we need it. The end was unbelievably frustrating because it wasn't an end, it felt like your copy cuts off halfway through the book. It was only then that I realised I had started another series that is unnecessarily a series. This could have been wrapped up within one book.
2.5/5 Butterflies
It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, it was just that it didn't excite me all that much. It started out quite well and was probably a solid three star read, but then the end ruined it. It was far too abrupt and feels like your copy cuts off, not like you have come to the end of the first book in a series. The storyline doesn't justify the need for more than one book. I believe this whole story could be told within one book. It hasn't made me want to continue the series, but it was an enjoyable enough read.