Reviews

Pretending by Holly Bourne

mtmbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

livrawds's review

3.0

I don’t have much to say it entertained me the story was fluent I never felt bored and it talks about topics that I’m very passionate about so when those parts came up the lines bourne wrote did resonate with me that’s why it’s at a 3

I also despite what she does in the book really like our protagonist she’s very relatable

However, there’s some moments when she’s doing something completely normal not any of the serious moments or topics like just hanging out with her roommate Megan (btw who’s character I liked a lot too) that writes like 2011-2013 tumblr which can be entertaining but I didn’t love

And the main love interest Josh - lovely guy great how he dealt with everything

(Besides the bland sex) which I thought was actually a really good thought out thing actually put in by the author to represent how April’s past stays with her I really liked that

But other than that Josh as an outlined character? He’s in my opinion at least one note bland, like a stick figure man she drew on a page labelled as ‘nice northern Brit guy.’ Now maybe that’s the point that everything she’s gone through she falls for just a nice simple normal guy which is clever and good for April but you would hope to catch that on the writing and if that’s the original intention I didn’t personally there’s nothing that made me like him or think of him as anything but just an agent of change for April becoming a better version of herself and learning to come to terms with her trauma

WHICH I LOVE this honestly would have been boosted to a 4

charwal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective

3.0

beccamc02's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Whilst quite an interesting read about the female experience dealing with and trying to date men. I felt like the protagonist completely hated all men and let her judgement show a bit too much. It's fair enough that she would have this opinion after what her ex did, but she doesn't really seem to be learning much or changing her opinion. She pretends to be someone she's not in order to succeed in dating and I feel bad for Joshua in this instant. 

The chapter with just text messages between April & Megan and Gretel (April) & Joshua with messages received by the charity was quite effective. It was a little bit sad seeing the messages. 

I do feel bad for Joshua as he was definitely a victim to April. Although she did learn a bit of a lesson by the end of it. 

Quotes
"I wondered silently what he did to her in the relationship to make her insecure enough to be obsessed with getting married. Or what he didn't do. His poor ex". - I don't know. I feel like she's just seeing the absolute worst in men straight away. I get that's the point but blaming him for being a certain way to make the ex seem insecure is a jump. Why is automatically the man's fault?

lena09's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

eliciareads's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

gabie_east's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bibliobethreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

carolineh5698's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

catherineamerica's review against another edition

2.0

More like a 1.5. April/Gretel was annoying, self-centered, and crazy. I don’t think she really learned anything in the end. She didn’t really “evolve.” The only redeeming scenes were the boxing scenes. Joshua deserved better. As a victim of the same stuff April went through, who has worked with other victims like April does (but in person), I found her to still be off her rocker.