feldy's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
thikrayat's review
4.0
The story was really nice, it started getting me frustrated toward the end, then it had a sad ending :(
eve_polvay11's review
3.0
What a haunting story! Reading the summary, I loved the idea of a secret connection between Olivia and West. And that is exactly what they had. Something about being in an accident or similar health crisis kind of strips people down to their core. Suddenly, the things you thought were so important are suddenly not. I like reading about characters who are going through these kinds of situations. These kinds of stories are just so compelling to me.
Once I started Blink Once, I knew there was no way I could go to bed without knowing what was going to happen to West. I am usually not a fan of a male first-person narrative, but I really liked West. He was so open and raw, and I appreciate that in a character. I sped through Blink Once in just a few hours. The narrative was written beautifully, and the plot was paced so well, that I just could not stop reading.
The only thing that bothered me about this book, and this was a big thing for me, is that is was almost a ghost story. And if you know me, you know that I don't do ghost stories. Not even if they are friendly ghosts. There was a thriller-type element to Blink Once, almost a ghostly kind of thing, that freaked me out. The combination of this book and being up late got me kind of scared. I am such a ninny, I know. But I wanted to warn others---if you scare easily, this one may not be for you.
The ending was not quite the happily-ever-after I was hoping for, but it was very appropriate and moving. I loved watching West grow and change throughout the story, for me that was the best part of the book. I would definitely read Cylin Busby again. I loved her writing style and her emotional plot. Overall, I would recommend Blink Once.
Once I started Blink Once, I knew there was no way I could go to bed without knowing what was going to happen to West. I am usually not a fan of a male first-person narrative, but I really liked West. He was so open and raw, and I appreciate that in a character. I sped through Blink Once in just a few hours. The narrative was written beautifully, and the plot was paced so well, that I just could not stop reading.
The only thing that bothered me about this book, and this was a big thing for me, is that is was almost a ghost story. And if you know me, you know that I don't do ghost stories. Not even if they are friendly ghosts. There was a thriller-type element to Blink Once, almost a ghostly kind of thing, that freaked me out. The combination of this book and being up late got me kind of scared. I am such a ninny, I know. But I wanted to warn others---if you scare easily, this one may not be for you.
The ending was not quite the happily-ever-after I was hoping for, but it was very appropriate and moving. I loved watching West grow and change throughout the story, for me that was the best part of the book. I would definitely read Cylin Busby again. I loved her writing style and her emotional plot. Overall, I would recommend Blink Once.
booradley93's review
3.0
This book totally threw me across a brick wall of despair. Starting out with West waking up, I knew this was going to be tough to handle but I didn't know the extent was going to be that heartbreaking. I was rooting for West to regain motion and hoping that Olivia would recover and that they could walk off into the beautiful sunset but that just did not happen. The moment he found out about the coma, I knew it was about to take a turn for the worst. It was just enough to keep you at the edge of your seat right up until the big plot twist where they push you off your seat right into a fiery pit of doom. This story had me smiling like a fool, crying like a baby, and pretty much launching the book across the room all in just a few chapters. I thought it was beautifully written and the characters were just so real the whole time and I think that made the plot twist even more shocking. I wanted to give it 5/5 but I'm holding a grudge over the ending. I refuse to forgive the author for doing that to my heart.
booksonhermind's review
5.0
http://shesgotbooksonhermind.blogspot.com/
West hasn't always been popular and good looking but when he's starting High School he has a friend in Mike. Mike a curly red haired wannabe ladies woman who rides bike. Mike saved him from being this geeky outcast when he saw potential in him. He had gotten his braces off, got contact lenses, and grew taller. West like Mike is also a bike rider and when doing one of his tricks to impress Allie his girlfriend he lands... wrong. He becomes paralyzed.
Now you may be wondering what's up with the girl on the cover? I was to but don't worry. There is a girl the same age as him. A very odd kind of scary girl that he can't help but like. She's constantly trying to get rid of her feeding thing... I forgot what's it's called but basically it's because she's anorexic. She wants to become friends with him. He can't really do anything about it since he's strapped down and can't move but he looks forward to her visits and likes to even write about something's that are bothering him like the strange nightmares that plague him about a girl full of blood and a man as the culprit.
I loved this duo. I loved this story. I sort of kind of loved the ending. West is very lovable. Thank goodness even if he's a pretty boy that he doesn't let it go to his head. He does care about his girlfriend Allie. Allie who he hasn't seen and when he does... She's just not like Olivia. Olivia is the girl next door by the way and I sort of thought right along with West that she might be a bit crazy and at one point trying to kill him. Seeing everything from his point I would feel that way about everyone. But she's a little bit special. She really wants him to stay and be friends with her. Her mother hardly ever comes over and her so called friends never come over so she acts jealous sometimes and angry at West but not in an irritating sort of way. She's just sad and you get that but she isn't a very mopey type like I explained before she acts... different. But that's good! It's always good.
There's this mystery with West and his nightmares. They all mean something even if you don't know it or think about it right away. It all concludes to this crazy ending yet kind of satisfying ending. I didn't even think about different possibilities as how the ending was going to be like or how the story is. It's caught me by surprise and I know I usually am but I do have some different ideas but I guess I was just going with the book and too mesmerized by it to think of anything else. It's an absolutely amazing read... it's just that it's sad... I kind of want a sequel but I know it's not going to happen. Sad to see the book go but happy I got to enjoy the ride.
West hasn't always been popular and good looking but when he's starting High School he has a friend in Mike. Mike a curly red haired wannabe ladies woman who rides bike. Mike saved him from being this geeky outcast when he saw potential in him. He had gotten his braces off, got contact lenses, and grew taller. West like Mike is also a bike rider and when doing one of his tricks to impress Allie his girlfriend he lands... wrong. He becomes paralyzed.
Now you may be wondering what's up with the girl on the cover? I was to but don't worry. There is a girl the same age as him. A very odd kind of scary girl that he can't help but like. She's constantly trying to get rid of her feeding thing... I forgot what's it's called but basically it's because she's anorexic. She wants to become friends with him. He can't really do anything about it since he's strapped down and can't move but he looks forward to her visits and likes to even write about something's that are bothering him like the strange nightmares that plague him about a girl full of blood and a man as the culprit.
I loved this duo. I loved this story. I sort of kind of loved the ending. West is very lovable. Thank goodness even if he's a pretty boy that he doesn't let it go to his head. He does care about his girlfriend Allie. Allie who he hasn't seen and when he does... She's just not like Olivia. Olivia is the girl next door by the way and I sort of thought right along with West that she might be a bit crazy and at one point trying to kill him. Seeing everything from his point I would feel that way about everyone. But she's a little bit special. She really wants him to stay and be friends with her. Her mother hardly ever comes over and her so called friends never come over so she acts jealous sometimes and angry at West but not in an irritating sort of way. She's just sad and you get that but she isn't a very mopey type like I explained before she acts... different. But that's good! It's always good.
There's this mystery with West and his nightmares. They all mean something even if you don't know it or think about it right away. It all concludes to this crazy ending yet kind of satisfying ending. I didn't even think about different possibilities as how the ending was going to be like or how the story is. It's caught me by surprise and I know I usually am but I do have some different ideas but I guess I was just going with the book and too mesmerized by it to think of anything else. It's an absolutely amazing read... it's just that it's sad... I kind of want a sequel but I know it's not going to happen. Sad to see the book go but happy I got to enjoy the ride.
weweresotired's review
3.0
See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.
If I had to give this book a tag line, it would be "way sadder than expected". For some reason, I was expecting Blink Once to be a creepy story. West has terrible nightmares, there are dangerous secrets... this is grade A horror story territory, but the book took a totally different approach and turned it into a very poignant story about love and loss and illness, with a side serving of creepy. I didn't expect to find myself touched by the realizations that West slowly comes to as the book goes on, but there I was, steadfastly blinking back (blink, hey, get it?!) tears.
In a way, this is an insta-love story -- they meet, he falls for her -- but it makes more sense here than in so many other stories. West has no one else who understands what he's going through -- not his friends, who don't know how to act around him, or his parents, who want what's best for him but have different ideas of what that is. The only person who understands him and treats him like he's really, fully human, is Olivia, so it's natural that he starts to develop feelings for her, even if he never speaks a word to her. Even if something seems just the tiniest bit off about Olivia. The way their budding friendship-slash-romance plays out is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
If I had to give this book a tag line, it would be "way sadder than expected". For some reason, I was expecting Blink Once to be a creepy story. West has terrible nightmares, there are dangerous secrets... this is grade A horror story territory, but the book took a totally different approach and turned it into a very poignant story about love and loss and illness, with a side serving of creepy. I didn't expect to find myself touched by the realizations that West slowly comes to as the book goes on, but there I was, steadfastly blinking back (blink, hey, get it?!) tears.
In a way, this is an insta-love story -- they meet, he falls for her -- but it makes more sense here than in so many other stories. West has no one else who understands what he's going through -- not his friends, who don't know how to act around him, or his parents, who want what's best for him but have different ideas of what that is. The only person who understands him and treats him like he's really, fully human, is Olivia, so it's natural that he starts to develop feelings for her, even if he never speaks a word to her. Even if something seems just the tiniest bit off about Olivia. The way their budding friendship-slash-romance plays out is beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
forevermorepages's review
1.0
It took me five months to read this book. I think that says something about how awful it was.
readakins's review
2.0
2.5 Stars
Contains mild spoilers
Before I start reading I usually take a quick look at the ratings. Half the time it won't matter if the majority of the readers rate it 3 stars or less or 4-5 stars, chances are I'll still give it a chance.
So when I found the majority had rated 4-5 stars I had pretty high expectations. Unfortunately I was disappointed.
I got pretty bored during the first half. I understand that when writing about someone who is paralyzed, there's only so much you can write about them, while at the same time keeping the readers interested.
But it just felt like there was no point in writing it, you'd expect that with what happened to West, the book would finish with some sort of change in his attitudes and behaviors towards others.
Truth is, his character was a pretty good one. He came off as sweet on occasion so it wasn't as though it was a selfish individual who learns to be more selfless. West didn't seem to change at all.
The second half really bothered me too. When he went looking for answers about Olivia, he made it look like he was desperate to find out what happened, just so maybe she'd wake up I think. But when he visited the guy nothing happened. I understand that he was lost for words at the time, I mean what do you say to someone who put the girl you love in coma, the girl who no one remembers but you ?
But then he just got over it. Not Olivia, I don't think he'd forget about her that early on, but he just carried on. I just think that it suited his character more if he were more determined to find answers.
Contains mild spoilers
Before I start reading I usually take a quick look at the ratings. Half the time it won't matter if the majority of the readers rate it 3 stars or less or 4-5 stars, chances are I'll still give it a chance.
So when I found the majority had rated 4-5 stars I had pretty high expectations. Unfortunately I was disappointed.
I got pretty bored during the first half. I understand that when writing about someone who is paralyzed, there's only so much you can write about them, while at the same time keeping the readers interested.
But it just felt like there was no point in writing it, you'd expect that with what happened to West, the book would finish with some sort of change in his attitudes and behaviors towards others.
Truth is, his character was a pretty good one. He came off as sweet on occasion so it wasn't as though it was a selfish individual who learns to be more selfless. West didn't seem to change at all.
The second half really bothered me too. When he went looking for answers about Olivia, he made it look like he was desperate to find out what happened, just so maybe she'd wake up I think. But when he visited the guy nothing happened. I understand that he was lost for words at the time, I mean what do you say to someone who put the girl you love in coma, the girl who no one remembers but you ?
But then he just got over it. Not Olivia, I don't think he'd forget about her that early on, but he just carried on. I just think that it suited his character more if he were more determined to find answers.
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