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on May 7, 2017
This reminded me of Twilight without the vampires. Sad, unwanted, loner main female lead character. Super cute, unbelievably supportive, loving male lead character. The writing was redundant. Character experiences the same thing over and over and over without ever allowing anyone to help or snapping. I just wanted it to end. Read the preview for book two thinking now it'll move forward and evolve. Nope. I'm out.
on September 3, 2012
This book is unique in the YA genre, it stands alone in the current crop of books due to its disturbing theme. This is a book about child abuse, and it is very violent. There is more real violence in this book than you will find in a vampire novel, and it is more raw than The Hunger Games. Now this is an important topic because it is endemic in our culture, but this book doesn't take the right stance. The smart thing to do would have been to use a book like this to teach kids and teens how to deal with a situation like this, instead the book focuses on the main character being a powerless victim. She uses every excuse not to stand up and save herself. This is not a helpful message, it does not empower a reader who is also suffering to speak out and seek help.
Grammatically the book is a mess, it's almost painful to read in the beginning but eventually your brain will compensate because the story is interesting. And I will admit, it got to me I cried. I cried for the main character Emma and I cried in frustration as time and again she didn't take the opportunity to save herself.
Now everyone talks about the end, and yes it's shocking, but please remember it's a cliffhanger, this is book one in a series. I've read book two, it's better written, but the violence is still there and in someways worse - even more insidious. The second book is a bit self indulgent on the writer's part. It was not necessary to introduce new violent characters. What Emma went through in book one was enough for a lifetime, to introduce two new aggressors was just ridiculous. And yes, I cried again in book two.
This is definitely a book for older teens.
Grammatically the book is a mess, it's almost painful to read in the beginning but eventually your brain will compensate because the story is interesting. And I will admit, it got to me I cried. I cried for the main character Emma and I cried in frustration as time and again she didn't take the opportunity to save herself.
Now everyone talks about the end, and yes it's shocking, but please remember it's a cliffhanger, this is book one in a series. I've read book two, it's better written, but the violence is still there and in someways worse - even more insidious. The second book is a bit self indulgent on the writer's part. It was not necessary to introduce new violent characters. What Emma went through in book one was enough for a lifetime, to introduce two new aggressors was just ridiculous. And yes, I cried again in book two.
This is definitely a book for older teens.
on March 3, 2014
I wasn't really sure how I felt about this book.
SPOILER ALERT.
On the one hand, I read it pretty quickly, and I wanted to know what was going to happen. YA books that tackle abuse are important, and I wanted to see the main character finally do something about her abusive family situation.
On the other hand, almost all of the characters were totally one dimensional. The best friend loves boys and fashion and dressing up the main character. The abusive aunt is completely psycho and evil, and it's never explained why she is the way that she is or why she hates Emma so much. The author dragged the love story out WAY TOO LONG and Emma and Sara (the best friend) make WAY too big of a deal over things like "we fell asleep on the couch together." (I don't remember doing that when I was a teenager?)
It also seems incredibly ridiculous that this girl with a 4.0 GPA who is a star athlete would put up with this crazy level of abuse just to "save her young cousins." Obviously, if psycho crazy aunt is that abusive with her, don't you think at some point, she may have been abusive to her kids? Don't you think 4.0 GPA brilliant student would have come to that conclusion at some point? Don't you think speaking up about the abuse would be a better way to "save the cousins" than just saying nothing so they can continue living in an abusive household?
The ending was a real let down, too. It makes you think the main character (Emma) died, but obviously, she didn't because there are two more books. But I do want to know what happens and I may buy the second book, so obviously she must have done something good as a writer for making me care enough to buy the second book.
SPOILER ALERT.
On the one hand, I read it pretty quickly, and I wanted to know what was going to happen. YA books that tackle abuse are important, and I wanted to see the main character finally do something about her abusive family situation.
On the other hand, almost all of the characters were totally one dimensional. The best friend loves boys and fashion and dressing up the main character. The abusive aunt is completely psycho and evil, and it's never explained why she is the way that she is or why she hates Emma so much. The author dragged the love story out WAY TOO LONG and Emma and Sara (the best friend) make WAY too big of a deal over things like "we fell asleep on the couch together." (I don't remember doing that when I was a teenager?)
It also seems incredibly ridiculous that this girl with a 4.0 GPA who is a star athlete would put up with this crazy level of abuse just to "save her young cousins." Obviously, if psycho crazy aunt is that abusive with her, don't you think at some point, she may have been abusive to her kids? Don't you think 4.0 GPA brilliant student would have come to that conclusion at some point? Don't you think speaking up about the abuse would be a better way to "save the cousins" than just saying nothing so they can continue living in an abusive household?
The ending was a real let down, too. It makes you think the main character (Emma) died, but obviously, she didn't because there are two more books. But I do want to know what happens and I may buy the second book, so obviously she must have done something good as a writer for making me care enough to buy the second book.
on June 11, 2017
It's the setting of the book. It's because she's only 16, part of the why she's so helpless. We all know she's been abused. But the extent of it was so much I cringed. I'm sure there must be some reasons to explain Carol's behaviors. And the reason Emma stayed and didn't say anything was understandable. But her actions.. I got hooked from the beginning because she was so fierce and strong.. though later on I had to shake my head at her decisions and her actions. It's this feeling that you wish you could reach your arms into the book and shake her or protect her that gives this book a 5 stars.
And omg... Evan Matthews... <3
And omg... Evan Matthews... <3
on December 15, 2015
This was and outstanding story, but be warned there is abuse inside this book. Emma already suffered loss by her father dying and her mother abandoning her. Left to live with her dad's brother and his family. Emma lived in silent torture bidding it from those around her except her best friend Sara, she kept the secret for Emma but Sara did t k ow the whole truth as Emma guarded it close to her. Her uncle lived by a blind eye so to speak. Examined stay as invisible as she could by all around her until he turned her world upside. Evan was the new kid in town and he set his eyes on. The pretty quiet girl. He broke down Emma's defense's some and she started to live a little. But all good things come to an end don't they. Can Emma survive the torment she endures at home and keep it from prying eyes or will she looks her battle to Live one day one day at a time.
on August 19, 2014
-Possible spoilers ahead-
I just couldn't get into this book. I found myself struggling to complete it simply because I purchased it so I was going to finish it no matter what. I was torn between giving it two stars or three stars. There were moments in this book that were really great. But the main problem I had with this book is one that simply cannot be overcome, and that is the fact that I just did not care about the main character.
I cannot even recall what Emma supposedly looks like, besides having brown hair and almond shaped eyes - the latter I found out in the last quarter of the book. I'm not one for dwelling on a person's appearance but it would have been nice to have something to go on. I can't even visualize her because there is nothing to visualize. She is a void. She is supposedly breathtakingly attractive but doesn't know it (oh great another heroine with this complex) and every guy in the book wants to get in her pants. She is also amazingly smart and a superior athlete. She also has this uncanny ability to "blend in" but in every scene everyone in the school is watching her every move and she is always the topic of gossip. So apparently she's like a princess or something? I haven't been in high school in awhile but I'm pretty sure not even the prom queen has so many eyes on her watching and dissecting her every move. It was just a little annoying is all. Every place Emma went there were the same faceless people watching her and talking about her. I don't know about you but if that went on in my high school I would be more than a little creeped out.
It wasn't just Emma that I felt lacked dimension. All the guys in the book were interchangeable to me. They were all the same. Drew sounded like Jay who sounded like Evan who sounded like Jared and so forth. Although the main male protagonist Evan was definitely more detailed than Emma for sure. I could at least picture him, and I liked him as a character overall. It was hard to believe that he would want to continue to try to get to know Emma after being told off so many times but you have to give him points for his persistence.
I also enjoyed Sara's character. Again not too much to go on with her besides her having fiery red hair and a bubbly personality. Oh and she likes parties. There isn't too much backstory on how exactly she became best friends with the so-called "outcast" of the school Emma. I felt like knowing some of that would make their friendship more believable.
But back to Emma. Besides not being able to picture her I just couldn't root for her in the story. Aside from the brutal abuse she endured at the hands of her aunt of course. The basic premise behind her staying with her abusive aunt and nonchalant uncle was for her cousins sake. Wait, what? Even if I was a teenager I would have rethought that one. Her aunt Carol is a psychopath plain and simple. If she beats you to a bloody pulp over and over who is to say that she won't eventually do it to her own children when they get up in age? But instead you found it wise to let those poor children stay in a psychopath's house? I couldn't get behind this storyline just because I kept thinking this while I was reading it. I could understand it if maybe Emma was traumatized and kept thinking that maybe her aunt would change or something but nope. Emma knew she wasn't going to change and the author definitely didn't make Emma out to have some sort of psychological issue to explain her behavior. Again I believe the author wanted to get the point across that Emma was nothing but an empty shell devoid of emotion. Well you definitely made me believe that.
I don't know about anybody else but it felt to me that the scenes and stories that I wanted to hear about the author would gloss over in a sentence or two. Like Emma's trip to California for example. There was no description of the event. I felt like there should have been more to it, and that goes for many would-be scenes in the book. After awhile the book just became a flurry of random parties mixed in with one fancy party. Basically all that took place was lots of staring at Emma and random drunk guys hitting on her. I wish there had been different characters in this book. Not characters with all the same personality who are rich and apparently have amazing mansions. The author had no trouble describing furniture for paragraphs on end. I glossed over these parts. I would have loved detailed descriptions of the characters but instead we get the author going on and on about how amazing the furniture was. Whatever works for you.
Basically I was reading this book to see if Carol was going to get hers in the end. I knew this book was the start of a series however so I figured I wasn't going to get that satisfaction. I got about halfway through this book thinking I might buy the next one purely for that reason. But I have to be honest with myself and know that I just didn't care for this book. I'm usually not hard to please with books either. I saw the high ratings for this book but I wish I had read some of the reviews before purchasing. Just not my cup of tea overall. The book even ends with a cliffhanger and I have no urge to buy the next book. Pretty sad.
I just couldn't get into this book. I found myself struggling to complete it simply because I purchased it so I was going to finish it no matter what. I was torn between giving it two stars or three stars. There were moments in this book that were really great. But the main problem I had with this book is one that simply cannot be overcome, and that is the fact that I just did not care about the main character.
I cannot even recall what Emma supposedly looks like, besides having brown hair and almond shaped eyes - the latter I found out in the last quarter of the book. I'm not one for dwelling on a person's appearance but it would have been nice to have something to go on. I can't even visualize her because there is nothing to visualize. She is a void. She is supposedly breathtakingly attractive but doesn't know it (oh great another heroine with this complex) and every guy in the book wants to get in her pants. She is also amazingly smart and a superior athlete. She also has this uncanny ability to "blend in" but in every scene everyone in the school is watching her every move and she is always the topic of gossip. So apparently she's like a princess or something? I haven't been in high school in awhile but I'm pretty sure not even the prom queen has so many eyes on her watching and dissecting her every move. It was just a little annoying is all. Every place Emma went there were the same faceless people watching her and talking about her. I don't know about you but if that went on in my high school I would be more than a little creeped out.
It wasn't just Emma that I felt lacked dimension. All the guys in the book were interchangeable to me. They were all the same. Drew sounded like Jay who sounded like Evan who sounded like Jared and so forth. Although the main male protagonist Evan was definitely more detailed than Emma for sure. I could at least picture him, and I liked him as a character overall. It was hard to believe that he would want to continue to try to get to know Emma after being told off so many times but you have to give him points for his persistence.
I also enjoyed Sara's character. Again not too much to go on with her besides her having fiery red hair and a bubbly personality. Oh and she likes parties. There isn't too much backstory on how exactly she became best friends with the so-called "outcast" of the school Emma. I felt like knowing some of that would make their friendship more believable.
But back to Emma. Besides not being able to picture her I just couldn't root for her in the story. Aside from the brutal abuse she endured at the hands of her aunt of course. The basic premise behind her staying with her abusive aunt and nonchalant uncle was for her cousins sake. Wait, what? Even if I was a teenager I would have rethought that one. Her aunt Carol is a psychopath plain and simple. If she beats you to a bloody pulp over and over who is to say that she won't eventually do it to her own children when they get up in age? But instead you found it wise to let those poor children stay in a psychopath's house? I couldn't get behind this storyline just because I kept thinking this while I was reading it. I could understand it if maybe Emma was traumatized and kept thinking that maybe her aunt would change or something but nope. Emma knew she wasn't going to change and the author definitely didn't make Emma out to have some sort of psychological issue to explain her behavior. Again I believe the author wanted to get the point across that Emma was nothing but an empty shell devoid of emotion. Well you definitely made me believe that.
I don't know about anybody else but it felt to me that the scenes and stories that I wanted to hear about the author would gloss over in a sentence or two. Like Emma's trip to California for example. There was no description of the event. I felt like there should have been more to it, and that goes for many would-be scenes in the book. After awhile the book just became a flurry of random parties mixed in with one fancy party. Basically all that took place was lots of staring at Emma and random drunk guys hitting on her. I wish there had been different characters in this book. Not characters with all the same personality who are rich and apparently have amazing mansions. The author had no trouble describing furniture for paragraphs on end. I glossed over these parts. I would have loved detailed descriptions of the characters but instead we get the author going on and on about how amazing the furniture was. Whatever works for you.
Basically I was reading this book to see if Carol was going to get hers in the end. I knew this book was the start of a series however so I figured I wasn't going to get that satisfaction. I got about halfway through this book thinking I might buy the next one purely for that reason. But I have to be honest with myself and know that I just didn't care for this book. I'm usually not hard to please with books either. I saw the high ratings for this book but I wish I had read some of the reviews before purchasing. Just not my cup of tea overall. The book even ends with a cliffhanger and I have no urge to buy the next book. Pretty sad.
on October 21, 2013
First let me begin by saying if you have never been abused you may not understand the emotional roller coaster that one feels when it's happening and the destructiveness afterwards! If you are looking for a book to help you understand, this is the book for you! If you are living in your own fantasy world, having never been in this type of situation, thinking oh well, life goes on, you will truly have an eye opener to how a person really feels!
I am not a fan of cliffhanger type stories, so thankfully all 3 books were published before I read the first one! But I assure you if you have a heart in your chest, you will want to know what happens next!
I do not know if this is based on someone the author knows or maybe her own life, but it was eerily similar to my life and I think the author done an amazing job with TRUE and accurate accounts of an abused persons point of view!
Those of you who commented on the lead characters "whiney" personality, must have lived a perfect life, because I only pictured a young girl who was truly afraid! Life is not perfect and not all families know love! Great book! Great series!
I am not a fan of cliffhanger type stories, so thankfully all 3 books were published before I read the first one! But I assure you if you have a heart in your chest, you will want to know what happens next!
I do not know if this is based on someone the author knows or maybe her own life, but it was eerily similar to my life and I think the author done an amazing job with TRUE and accurate accounts of an abused persons point of view!
Those of you who commented on the lead characters "whiney" personality, must have lived a perfect life, because I only pictured a young girl who was truly afraid! Life is not perfect and not all families know love! Great book! Great series!
on July 21, 2016
Is this a youth series? Because I kept feeling like it was written for a high school girl. It was so poorly written and the premise is totally unbelievable. A friend recommended this book and I will not be taking any more suggestions from her! This book is terrible!
on December 22, 2013
I "bought" this book on a whim to try out the free prime borrowing program. I'm glad I did!
There is no way to sugarcoat this, this book deals with child abuse. That alone will turn people away from reading it, and it's unfortunate that more people won't be able to experience this wonderful story. The first person narrative draws you in and the characters are well written and interesting. You sympathize with the story's protagonist from the get-go and just want her to pull through. The abuse storyline parallels a romantic one that slowly builds throughout the story. It you are a fan of dark romantic stories, this would be right up your ally. The narrative voice is similar to that of "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, another book I highly recommend.
This one gets 5 stars from me, and if you are an Amazon Prime subscriber who is on the fence, you have no excuse! Use your month's free book rental on this one!
Edit: After reading other Amazon reviews on this book, I feel the need to add this to my review. Do your research people! This is a young adult book dealing with child abuse/high school romance. If you don't like stories of that nature, stay away! These are numerous poor reviews from people just not researching the book before borrowing/purchasing and leaving a negative review due to their ignorance.
There is no way to sugarcoat this, this book deals with child abuse. That alone will turn people away from reading it, and it's unfortunate that more people won't be able to experience this wonderful story. The first person narrative draws you in and the characters are well written and interesting. You sympathize with the story's protagonist from the get-go and just want her to pull through. The abuse storyline parallels a romantic one that slowly builds throughout the story. It you are a fan of dark romantic stories, this would be right up your ally. The narrative voice is similar to that of "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson, another book I highly recommend.
This one gets 5 stars from me, and if you are an Amazon Prime subscriber who is on the fence, you have no excuse! Use your month's free book rental on this one!
Edit: After reading other Amazon reviews on this book, I feel the need to add this to my review. Do your research people! This is a young adult book dealing with child abuse/high school romance. If you don't like stories of that nature, stay away! These are numerous poor reviews from people just not researching the book before borrowing/purchasing and leaving a negative review due to their ignorance.
