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mrs_byrne's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet, raw and humbling. West and Grace are the world!
ladymczyta's review against another edition
4.0
Grace Shaw kiedyś była typową popularną dziewczyną, która miała wszystko. Dzisiaj jest obiektem drwin i bolesnych żartów.
West St. Claire jest jej przeciwieństwem, pan popularny z łatką tajemniczego złego chłopca.
Dziewczyna próbuje trzymać się od niego z daleka, jednak on robi wszystko, by ich drogi się krzyżowały nawet częściej, niż powinny. Chociaż z pozoru różnią się wszystkim, to jest coś, co ich łączy — bolesna przeszłość, która odcisnęła na nich piętno.
Uwielbiam tę książkę. Mamy dwie silne postacie, które są przy tym zaskakująco ludzkie. Zarówno Grace, jak i West to osoby, z którymi można się utożsamić.
Bardzo podoba mi się to, jak została przedstawiona droga Grace. Kiedyś miała wszystko, a dzisiaj jest obiektem żartów, które są okrutne. Czy ma momenty zwątpienia? Oczywiście. Chociaż jest pewna siebie i pyskata, tak, gdy bliżej się ją pozna, to odkryjemy, że to wszystko jest tylko pozą. Kocha aktorstwo i właśnie z tym wiązała swoją przyszłość, a nieszczęśliwy wypadek sprawił, że zamiast w blasku fleszy, znajduje się w food trucku bez klimatyzacji.
West przed znajomymi jest zupełnie kimś innym niż podczas chwil spędzonych z naszą bohaterką. Chociaż sporo się droczą, to jednocześnie są dla siebie komfortem i bezpieczeństwem.
Dostaniemy tutaj słodko gorzką historię, która zapewni nam wciągnięcie do świata wykreowanego przez L.J. Shen.
Jest to jedna z moich ulubionych książek autorki i zdecydowanie jeszcze kiedyś do niej wrócę.
stormessed's review against another edition
4.0
a bad boy romance where he's not an abusive asshole? rare and wholesome, liked this way more than expected
hyena's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lmrivas54's review against another edition
5.0
This author is officially the queen of YA angsty stories, in my opinion! What a brilliant story, with so many facets, characters with such strong issues, and how they helped each other overcome. There’s a lot of redemption and acceptance in this story!
Grace used to be a beauty. Stuck in this little Texas town, she was counting on her beauty and a modeling career as her ticket out of town. When she was severely burnt in a fire, her beauty gone, and alone taking care of her grandmother, she was stuck. She’s studying in the town’s Sheridan Univ, majoring in Art & Theatre, an ironic choice given her plight. She lives an invisible life, with only one friend Karlie.
West has no regard for his life. There’s a lot of self-hate, lack of self love or a wish to survive. He’s merely living one day at a time, fighting underground to send his parents money on a weekly basis. Even though there’s guilt and a need to compensate, he refuses to answer their calls and keeps isolated. His only friends are Easton, a childhood friend who came with him from Maine, and Reign, a douche who is as obnoxious as he is handsome.
“He wasn’t an athlete, but he was by far the most infamous out of the three. Best known for being a hotheaded bully who dominated the local underground fight ring unchallenged. Rude, crass, and flat-out unresponsive to people who weren’t in his tight circle.”
When West and Grace start working together in the taco truck, two things happen: West starts breaking the emotional chains that keep Grace tied down and unable to fulfill her goals; and Grace starts to give West a reason to enjoy life.
“In a lot of ways, the food truck felt like our bubble. A snug confession booth. The rules were different in the truck. Like we shed our primary skin, of our stigma and reputation and social status. Here we were simply … us.”
Their story is fraught with squabbles, bantering, challenges and chemistry. They are an unlikely pair, she’s withdrawn and he’s sought after. No one would believe he’s after her, least of all Gracie. And yet, they work.
“She put a mirror to my face. I put a mirror to hers. We saw each other at our best and worst. We made each other face our fears and insecurities and loneliness.”
I loved this story, loved both characters. LJ Shen typically writes her heroes as a-holes with no apparent feelings, and as you peel off their layers, you find a broken man in need of redemption. I love how she presents their brokenness and makes us love the person inside, in spite of past behaviors. Her heroines are strong, sassy, intelligent and driven. In this case, Grace had lost her spunk after the fire, but she found it pretty fast with West. Her sarcasm and dark humor was the spice that livened their squabbles. Bravo for another blockbuster!
Grace used to be a beauty. Stuck in this little Texas town, she was counting on her beauty and a modeling career as her ticket out of town. When she was severely burnt in a fire, her beauty gone, and alone taking care of her grandmother, she was stuck. She’s studying in the town’s Sheridan Univ, majoring in Art & Theatre, an ironic choice given her plight. She lives an invisible life, with only one friend Karlie.
West has no regard for his life. There’s a lot of self-hate, lack of self love or a wish to survive. He’s merely living one day at a time, fighting underground to send his parents money on a weekly basis. Even though there’s guilt and a need to compensate, he refuses to answer their calls and keeps isolated. His only friends are Easton, a childhood friend who came with him from Maine, and Reign, a douche who is as obnoxious as he is handsome.
“He wasn’t an athlete, but he was by far the most infamous out of the three. Best known for being a hotheaded bully who dominated the local underground fight ring unchallenged. Rude, crass, and flat-out unresponsive to people who weren’t in his tight circle.”
When West and Grace start working together in the taco truck, two things happen: West starts breaking the emotional chains that keep Grace tied down and unable to fulfill her goals; and Grace starts to give West a reason to enjoy life.
“In a lot of ways, the food truck felt like our bubble. A snug confession booth. The rules were different in the truck. Like we shed our primary skin, of our stigma and reputation and social status. Here we were simply … us.”
Their story is fraught with squabbles, bantering, challenges and chemistry. They are an unlikely pair, she’s withdrawn and he’s sought after. No one would believe he’s after her, least of all Gracie. And yet, they work.
“She put a mirror to my face. I put a mirror to hers. We saw each other at our best and worst. We made each other face our fears and insecurities and loneliness.”
I loved this story, loved both characters. LJ Shen typically writes her heroes as a-holes with no apparent feelings, and as you peel off their layers, you find a broken man in need of redemption. I love how she presents their brokenness and makes us love the person inside, in spite of past behaviors. Her heroines are strong, sassy, intelligent and driven. In this case, Grace had lost her spunk after the fire, but she found it pretty fast with West. Her sarcasm and dark humor was the spice that livened their squabbles. Bravo for another blockbuster!
beeya_bookreads's review against another edition
3.0
grace got on my nerves. which is unfortunate cus i liked the story and west but the girl was hella stubborn.
raplam's review against another edition
5.0
5+ "HOT as FIRE" stars
"Because at the end of the day, we are all just phoenixes, rising from our own ashes, taking flight to an unknown destination, our wingtips forged by flames."
"Because at the end of the day, we are all just phoenixes, rising from our own ashes, taking flight to an unknown destination, our wingtips forged by flames."
platkovskayaa's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I enjoyed it. The protagonist is a strong and attractive girl, I adore her