keyyylo's review

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2.0

I’M SO FUCKING MAD RIGHT NOW.

So fucking lord Jesus help me, UGH.

This book started normal, not bad not good, just ok. We have Delilah, who seemed to be a pretty normal girl with two very cool best friends, George and Ronnie. Then we meet our male main character... and here’s where the clichés started.

Because yes, this shit is full of clichés. I’m not against clichés, sometimes they do work, and I thought this would be one of those times, but guess what? THEY FUCKING SUCK.

First, we have the typical oh new guy, such a bad boy, everyone is scared of him because he’s the suspected murderer of his sister. But obviously, he’s innocent because no one has proof against him so there’s no fucking point in this AT ALL.

At this point, I was like uh ok that’s an ok cliché.

Then, OF FUCKING COURSE, our female lead almost died drowned in a lake, and oh wow, the bad boy’s unexpectedly there to save her ass even if there’s no fucking explanation on why he’d be there.

And then we have this “psychic” aunt. Bitch, stop.

Right there, I started losing hope but kept reading because #helplessromantic.

Their love story was meh. It was kinda cute and I like that it wasn’t insta love. So I give that a 6/10.

When the full mystery shit began, I was surprised! Because it was turning out good. I was like what the fuck?!? But in a good way. So my hopes got high again. Just to have them crushed.

Then I got to the unfolding part and oh.fucking.God. It was so bad. So, so bad. It looked like the writer didn’t know how to put things on the table. It was rushed, not as twisted as the writer wanted us to believe. And that really disappointed me.

But what really got me mad about the unfolding part? That stupid nonsense going on. Shit, the bitch got shot because she stepped in so her love interest wasn’t harmed... and she was fucking smiling?!? Then the explanation after that? Like?!?!?! Dude, I can’t even.

2/5, and I’m being generous. UGH.

kenna92005's review

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2.0

I have loved and enjoyed Cookie O’Gorman’s books. They are filled with lovable characters, witty humor, and a storyline that just progresses so smoothly and at a comfortable pace. The UIU Truth About Ethan Wilder did not hold up.

The Characters
I loved the fierce heroine, Delilah. She was fiery and spunky, but there were also moments where she was so dense it bothered me. (Only because she seemed very attuned to everything else, and very smart, but somehow missed one glaringly key detail).
Ethan Wilder—I liked this character. I liked how he seemed very secretive and “too cool”, but also not the typical cool guy. However, as I read the book, I kept asking myself what do I really know about this character? 352 pages later, I still don’t know very much about him. He’s a very flat character.

A few things I didn’t care for in the book was some of the southern stereotypes. I feel like some are fine, but they felt pretty repetitive in this book. A question I also fought with trying to figure out was, if Delilah had grown up in Bowie and lived there her whole life how would she not have known Ethan Wilder before this year? How would she be in the dark about so many things if it’s such a small town and “everyone knows everyone.”

I still enjoy Cookie O’Gorman books. I just don’t think her mystery books are as good as her normal romantic comedies.

angelceit's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

Another great book by Cookie O’Gorman. The Unbelievable, Inconceivable,Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder (I personally love the title even though some reviewers have said its ridiculously long) is very different from Cookie’s other books. 

It still has a bit of romance but is definitely more of a mystery. The characters are all well written and the plot might be a little far fetched but it’s a work of fiction so that’s perfectly ok. I loved the interaction between Delilah and her friends/family/town folks but would have liked a bit more interaction between Delilah and Ethan. We really get to know and understand Delilah but it would have been nice to get a better understanding of Ethan. 

I also love the cover, it immediately tells you this is something different from the author’s other works. 

kspear22's review

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4.0

This is one of the longest titles for a book ever, I think. Or maybe it’s just all the long words used. Either way, after reading the description—and having loved Cookie’s debut book—I thought this sounded good. When offered the opportunity to review an early copy, I jumped on it.

This is a strange little book. At its heart is a mystery in need of solving. But that’s all buried underneath the high school life and story of Delilah Doherty. She is the main character. And while she isn’t a nerd, she’s definitely an outcast. This is due to who her mother and aunt are. Somehow, in this small southern town, who they are perceived to be reflects poorly on the teenager in their lives. But what I found to be a bit ridiculous (sorry) was the way one teacher constantly harassed Delilah with nasty comments about her mother. I may no longer be a teen, but I couldn’t fathom this actually taking place and for it to be so expected, overlooked, and allowed. It felt a little over the top. But the rest of it? Not so much. Especially the way in which football players are ‘above the law’ and given passes on every behavior.

As for the mystery, I guessed the truth about that very early on. It’s written there, clear as mud. You just need to read between all the lines. However, the one part I guessed about was never confirmed. The other death must have just been a fluke, even though I assumed THAT was what Ethan had been hiding from. (If you read the story and see the paybacks he pulls off, you’ll know what aspect I mean.)

I found Aunt B’s psychic gift to be a pretty cool addition to the story. It also made me nervous that this was going to turn into a paranormal story at one point. (The “ghost” or creature siting...) Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. Just a really fun, and at times serious, mystery/contemporary.

I loved Delilah. I loved her sass. I loved that she was comfortable with who she is. And Ethan? He’s kind of a typical, brooding male. One with a past that is questionable and makes him seem like more of a bad boy than he truly is. It was clear he didn’t truly murder his sister. There was far more to him than anyone knew. But, I don’t know who I loved more: George or Aunt B. Both are hilarious. I’ll say it’s a tie and admit to them being my favorite characters in the book.

O’Gorman has penned another winner. With the addition of a mysterious death, she turned the typical contemporary into something deeper, more thought-provoking, and fun. It has plenty of humor. Compelling characters. Wit and snark are also definite highlights. Ethan Wilder is perfect for those who like their contemporary reads with a bit more spunk.

kacibookishkingdom's review

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3.0

Agh... this book dragged a bit for me. It tried too hard to be a murder mystery when it obviously wasn’t...

gargoyle_girl's review

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5.0

Another excellent book!

Loved it. Crazy mystery and perfect HEA. Delilah is a trooper with a heart of gold. I have my Ethan IRL so really understood.👏🏻💕

aryelweasley's review

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5.0

4.5 Stars

Ethan Wilder you had me from the start. Before I even knew your name. This book was so much fun to read; romance, friendship, mystery, and murder! I didn't have the culprit pegged till about 50% through which is pretty late in the game for me when reading a book. Cookie O'Gorman is great at creating characters, I either love or hate them all she makes me feel strongly about them whether i like it or not.

slc333's review

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5.0

I love Cookie O'Gorman's books. They are the perfect cute, sweet YA read. All her heroines are different and incredibly likeable. The relationships are so cute and swoony. Deliah is great. She is strong and fiery but not too over the top. I love how she stands up for her friends and the way defends herself against McCready in his place after he crosses the line. The secondary characters are all great too. I did pick who the shooter was and figured out what was going on between Ethan & his dad.

caremary624's review

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4.0

Story centered around high schooler Delilah in a small conservative southern town. Her world is turned around when her life is saved by Ethan Wilder, an alledged murder who has come back to town after a 4 yr absence. This is a classic YA romance involving two outsiders who find eachother coupled with a mystery.

Overall I loved the book and a super quick read. Delilah is pretty awesome.... I would definitely want her in my girl squad.

I do kind of wish there was more to this book --- mostly because I enjoyed the characters and wanted more!!

Free on Kindle unlimited!

theestherhadassah's review

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5.0

DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS BOOK, THROUGH YA BOUND BOOK TOURS, AS PART OF A BLOG TOUR. THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW.

When I first read the title, I will be honest that I giggled a bit. Those are some large words. Makes the title feel longer than it is. But then the summary had me asking questions and I needed to know what the book was about. Ethan Wilder is everything. I cannot explain it, but he remind me of my best friend. Very similar personalities.

I had fun trying to solve the mystery. After I finished reading the book, I had an "Aha" moment. Everything just fell together and clicked. "I knew that," I said. No, I really didn't. Sometimes it takes me a bit to figure out a puzzle. I'm beginning to love Cookie O'Gorman's writing. I read Ninja Girl and loved it. I should definitely read Adorkable, too.