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sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
3.0
'Meet Verona Cassidy. Dysfunctional. Delusional. Disturbed.
When the 15-year-old misfit sees the strikingly handsome garbageman outside her bedroom window, it's love at first sight. But love doesn't always look back the same way.
That won't stop Verona from winning his heart... at any cost. Sometimes people get used. Sometimes people get hurt. Sometimes people die.'
_______________________________
Uglyville is campy and funny and pretty ridiculous. The diary of moviestar wannabe that is 10,000 miles out of her mind and out of touch with reality. This is a really quick read and a unique storyline. I had fun reading it, but I also didn't find it very thrilling or shocking. It's hasn't been my favorite, but it is unique and that makes quite the difference for me.
It's written in the format of Cassidy's diary, which has been collected as police evidence. As a diary, the entire plot is shared through the wholly unreliable and delusional Cassidy's perception of events. She is selfish, manipulative, and lacks empathy. Clearly a sociopath and, as a result, she fails to care about either the feelings or well-being of those around her. As a sociopath, Cassidy is only looking out for herself and her own interests. So when shit hit the fan, I found that the choices she would make from there followed a clear path. And so as events begin to spiral, I found her actions fairly predictable.
It's amusing in a twisted way, simply by the frivilous way Cassidy is able to disregard even the most heinous of circumstances when they don't fit into her end goal. But it is also amusing due to the many instances when there is humor at Cassidy's expense but she embraces it instead of taking offense because she is unable to fathom the concept of someone withholding love and support from her, a goddess among the mere mortals.
I've seen a couple of reviews where people are wondering and questioning whether this is a true crime account, so obviously the author pulled it off. This is a work of fiction though, but I enjoyed it. And if you're okay with it being pretty twisted, then I think you'll enjoy it.
_____
I would like to thank the author, Sawney Hatton, BookSirens and Dark Park Publishing for sharing an eARC of Uglyville with me. This is my honest and voluntary review.
When the 15-year-old misfit sees the strikingly handsome garbageman outside her bedroom window, it's love at first sight. But love doesn't always look back the same way.
That won't stop Verona from winning his heart... at any cost. Sometimes people get used. Sometimes people get hurt. Sometimes people die.'
_______________________________
Uglyville is campy and funny and pretty ridiculous. The diary of moviestar wannabe that is 10,000 miles out of her mind and out of touch with reality. This is a really quick read and a unique storyline. I had fun reading it, but I also didn't find it very thrilling or shocking. It's hasn't been my favorite, but it is unique and that makes quite the difference for me.
It's written in the format of Cassidy's diary, which has been collected as police evidence. As a diary, the entire plot is shared through the wholly unreliable and delusional Cassidy's perception of events. She is selfish, manipulative, and lacks empathy. Clearly a sociopath and, as a result, she fails to care about either the feelings or well-being of those around her. As a sociopath, Cassidy is only looking out for herself and her own interests. So when shit hit the fan, I found that the choices she would make from there followed a clear path. And so as events begin to spiral, I found her actions fairly predictable.
It's amusing in a twisted way, simply by the frivilous way Cassidy is able to disregard even the most heinous of circumstances when they don't fit into her end goal. But it is also amusing due to the many instances when there is humor at Cassidy's expense but she embraces it instead of taking offense because she is unable to fathom the concept of someone withholding love and support from her, a goddess among the mere mortals.
I've seen a couple of reviews where people are wondering and questioning whether this is a true crime account, so obviously the author pulled it off. This is a work of fiction though, but I enjoyed it. And if you're okay with it being pretty twisted, then I think you'll enjoy it.
_____
I would like to thank the author, Sawney Hatton, BookSirens and Dark Park Publishing for sharing an eARC of Uglyville with me. This is my honest and voluntary review.
lauraslovellylibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Uglyville is a campy, quick read. Verona Cassidy lives in a world of old movies and her imagination. She believes in the type of love shown in every old movie... she’s too young to understand the real world doesn’t always work that way. Her behaviors have real world consequences that she fails to accept. Part funny, part tragic and part cautionary tale. I enjoyed the story.
I received this story for free from BookSirens. I leave this review voluntarily.
I received this story for free from BookSirens. I leave this review voluntarily.
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick, blackly comic read - though I'm not sure I would term it YA.
Our heroine is remorseless and obsessive, a stereotypical fifteen-year-old dialed up to a thousand, but alas for her not very bright. The author successfully walks the tightrope between making the reader feel sorry for Verona but not so sorry you want her to get away with it. I enjoyed all the hints dropped about the characters' pasts and the things left open to interpretation at the end. I thought the pacing of the book, especially in the first half, was a little awkward though. More insight into why Verona is as she is would have been interesting too.
I would recommend this book for those who are intrigued by the idea of naive psychopaths.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Our heroine is remorseless and obsessive, a stereotypical fifteen-year-old dialed up to a thousand, but alas for her not very bright. The author successfully walks the tightrope between making the reader feel sorry for Verona but not so sorry you want her to get away with it. I enjoyed all the hints dropped about the characters' pasts and the things left open to interpretation at the end. I thought the pacing of the book, especially in the first half, was a little awkward though. More insight into why Verona is as she is would have been interesting too.
I would recommend this book for those who are intrigued by the idea of naive psychopaths.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens. This is my honest and voluntary review.
bubblewombat's review against another edition
5.0
Verona Cassidy is a future movie star, who wrote her diary for our benefit, her dear fans. She wears glamorous makeup and dresses, watches Old Hollywood movies and is completely unconcerned by the fact that other girls are just jealous of her obvious beauty.
WRONG.
Verona is a fifteen year old girl whose childish fantasies have real world consequences.
Her entries start off simple enough, describing "only the most important" moments of her life, but it's when she meets HIM (the handsome garbage man) that the real action starts.
She'll do anything to get his attention, and when she finally does she'll do anything to keep it. She will have her happy ending by any means necessary.
I breezed through this book and let me tell you now, I love it. I wish it was longer. Dearest Verona, couldn't you have spared your precious time to grace us with a few more entries?
I knew from the way I laughed at the blurb that I'd laugh throughout the book, and I did, it was so funny. I feel kinda bad for saying it now but it's the truth. I needed this.
As delusional as she was, Verona stilll had good taste in movie stars and I couldn't be mad at her (too much).
I feel bad for Howie, poor boy just got used and didn't even know it.
RICK. I imagined Rick Springfield (in Z-Cavariccis??? my mind) which made the whole thing even better. He's not all sunshine and rainbows either. In some twisted way I do wish it could've worked out years later. Maybe it did, WE DON'T KNOW.
Verona's parents tried. Kinda, sorta, not really. I can see how she ended up the way she did. Always room for improvement though. Then again if the ending is what it might be...I hope she's happy now.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
WRONG.
Verona is a fifteen year old girl whose childish fantasies have real world consequences.
Her entries start off simple enough, describing "only the most important" moments of her life, but it's when she meets HIM (the handsome garbage man) that the real action starts.
She'll do anything to get his attention, and when she finally does she'll do anything to keep it. She will have her happy ending by any means necessary.
I breezed through this book and let me tell you now, I love it. I wish it was longer. Dearest Verona, couldn't you have spared your precious time to grace us with a few more entries?
I knew from the way I laughed at the blurb that I'd laugh throughout the book, and I did, it was so funny. I feel kinda bad for saying it now but it's the truth. I needed this.
As delusional as she was, Verona stilll had good taste in movie stars and I couldn't be mad at her (too much).
I feel bad for Howie, poor boy just got used and didn't even know it.
RICK. I imagined Rick Springfield (in Z-Cavariccis??? my mind) which made the whole thing even better. He's not all sunshine and rainbows either. In some twisted way I do wish it could've worked out years later. Maybe it did, WE DON'T KNOW.
Verona's parents tried. Kinda, sorta, not really. I can see how she ended up the way she did. Always room for improvement though. Then again if the ending is what it might be...I hope she's happy now.
*Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
daringreader13's review against another edition
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
I was given a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this true crime novella once I got past the like 30% mark. The first 30% is a lot of day to day activity plus Verona lusting after a man she shouldn’t. But after the 30% mark, things get crazy real fast and I really enjoyed it. The ending was all over the place in the best way possible and left me wondering what would happen next. I love that it was told in a diary format because I felt so much closer to Verona.
I was given a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this true crime novella once I got past the like 30% mark. The first 30% is a lot of day to day activity plus Verona lusting after a man she shouldn’t. But after the 30% mark, things get crazy real fast and I really enjoyed it. The ending was all over the place in the best way possible and left me wondering what would happen next. I love that it was told in a diary format because I felt so much closer to Verona.
xiaodejao's review against another edition
4.0
A quick, fun read.
Thanks to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this novella!
Really enjoyed it! It's a story about a young girl's obsession towards their garbage man. (Gorgeousman!)
Thanks to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this novella!
Really enjoyed it! It's a story about a young girl's obsession towards their garbage man. (Gorgeousman!)
san_'s review against another edition
2.0
It was a meh read with a little bit of WOW and EWW moments here and there,the writing wasn't juicey,neither did the author capture the complexity of Verona's situation, yes she was dreamy and passionate due to movies,but seriel effed up people are for more complex with Verona being super manipulative and mentally unstable.
Yes the author has well researched the time period to stay relevant. But there is lack of understanding characters and Verona's real moral compass,all the school and house life is under described.
Could be due to lack of sources,so the author didn't make up any of her character and stay as close to the sources provide. The synopsis is quite intriguing,but not the story.
Thank you to BookSirens for givging me this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.
Yes the author has well researched the time period to stay relevant. But there is lack of understanding characters and Verona's real moral compass,all the school and house life is under described.
Could be due to lack of sources,so the author didn't make up any of her character and stay as close to the sources provide. The synopsis is quite intriguing,but not the story.
Thank you to BookSirens for givging me this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.
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