Emi
2.5/5 stars
I'm not marking spoilers so proceed at your own risk.
Because of her popularity on TikTok, Colleen Hoover's books are more likely than ever to be read by people outside her age demographic. This book is going to be read by many people whose brains are not fully developed yet. People who may not fully understand the full extent of the consequences of drugs and alcohol. But taking this into account, the idealization of driving under the influence was not okay to me. It felt tone-death.
I do understand that everyone makes mistakes and people should forgive and learn and grow from their situations, but drunk driving is a hard mistake with severe consequences. Kenna's actions killed a man and maybe I'm just heartless, but I don't those are any sort of mistakes that can be forgiven in 330 pages. Yes, she was upset about what happened and yes, she went through a lot. But driving under the influence is a choice, that she made, and it killed a man.
And maybe I'd also be less annoyed at Kenna if she went the legal way of trying to meet the child she birthed. I know the government ain't shit, but there's still programs out there that would be able to help her. What did she even think was going to happen? Just trying to ambush this family at their house??? Um no.
I definitely don't think the grandparents raising Diem (the child) were ever the villains here. I back them up entirely for taking full custody of the child. Yes, the book addresses this at the very end, but I don't feel like this was prominent enough.
And one thing that was never addressed? Ledger had absolutely no right showing Kenna pictures of Diem, especially considering at the moment Diem's guardians were very clear that they did not want Kenna in her life. It is basic respect.
And why does every CoHo male love interests have to have a weird name and lots of money? Why did Ledger have to own the bar? After he was a professional football player? And owns tow houses? Why couldn't he just be the bartender? There was no reason for him to be super rich and successful 26-year old.
Idk this entire book just didn't sit with me. I can see why people might like it or why Colleen Hoover is so addicting to some people, but the more I read her books, the more I wish she didn't touch some subjects.
3.75/5 stars
This book was beautifully written with compelling perspectives on societal standards of women and the pressures there are to use ourselves and our bodies to gain respect that already should be given. Emily's insights were fascinating and heartbreaking at times, and honestly I'd recommend everyone to read this.
However, I struggle to rate this book any higher than what I've given it due to the fact that in the rare moment when these topics weren't discussed, there was a palpable disconnect between reader and author.
4/5 stars
Ahh this book was such a pleasant surprise. I absolutely loved it.
There was so many important conversations about race and stereotypes and unnormalizing racism and internalized sexism. And it was done so beautiful, in a way that I think some books strive to do but often miss the mark.
And the main character, Alina, was so consistent. I absolutely loved her. The way she acted and responsed to events that took place around her seemed so realistic for a 17-year-old girl trying to reevaluate her life.
I loved this and not enough people are talking about it. Highly recommend.
2.5/5 stars
Honestly, this series isn't bad at all. If you like dystopians and Marie Lu's other books you'll love it. It's just not for me and I'm thanking God it's over.
Maybe I'd round up to three stars if I felt any sort of attachment to the characters, but I feel more chemistry towards the rocks in my driveway then I do anyone in this book.
2/5 stars
My brain is telling me to give this book three stars, because it really wasn't that bad and I'm probably being overdramatic, by my heart wants to give it two stars just because Aaron Blackford creeped me out so much. Just urgh. No. I hate possessive men.
I'm gonna sleep on this and rate it tomorrow.
Actually, nevermind. I'm not sleeping on it. I'm giving it two stars bc it's been 20 minutes my hatred for Aaron is growing uncontrollably.
Most of the time when it comes to romance books, I don't love them and I 100% know that I'm the problem. Romance books aren't for me. But this is different. As I sit and stew on what I read, I think I'm actually right this time when I say this isn't great.
Lina literally gave us an entire page about how she hates being called Catalina and what did Aaron call her the entire time? That man definitely had the audacity. If someone did that to me, since I also go by a shorted version of my name because I literally despise myactual first name, his ass would have been left at the airport. I would not be getting in a giant flying tube with that man. Please respect my basic requests.
And also the chemistry? Where was it? Nobody told me this was gonna be a Where's Waldo book. We literally went to “he hates me. I know it” to him asking Lina how wet she is for him in like .02578 seconds. Just urgh that's so awkward.
And like maybe I should judge bc I literally don't feel sexual attraction but he was so possessive? I returned the ebook to Amazon already bc I wasn't wasting $10 on this so I can't find exact moments to support my claim, but like he creeped me out. He seemed so demanding. Very much like “you're mine.
Everyone seems to skip over that? And small things like not telling her what the fundraiser was for just seemed very
