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charharman's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not entirely sure how to sum up this read. The first part of this book I really enjoyed, it hooked me in and I was excited for where this was going to go. Then, the rest happened. Including the unsatisfying ending!
I found Claude a hard character to feel for, a lot of her choices I disagreed with and I didn’t feel like she had that much development by the end. I did enjoy the character of her mum.
Also - I feel as if the story following the women of the island never got tied up into a satisfying ending? I still have so many questions.
Really not sure what to make of this novel.
I found Claude a hard character to feel for, a lot of her choices I disagreed with and I didn’t feel like she had that much development by the end. I did enjoy the character of her mum.
Also - I feel as if the story following the women of the island never got tied up into a satisfying ending? I still have so many questions.
Really not sure what to make of this novel.
marikaaaa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
2.5
Very weird and forgettable. The characters didn't feel complete.
lunaartemis's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
halfbloodapril's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely! Please read my full review here.
Jennifer Niven has delivered yet another stunning, heartbreaking novel about growing up! Niven is fantastic at taking normal experiences and writing them into something extraordinary. Themes such as feeling betrayed and the fear of being unlovable were expressed and discussed wonderfully throughout the story. At times, I did tire of Claude’s naivety, but her heart was always in the right place, and it was nice to see her grow out of her privileged mindset. Miah was also a very well-written character. He acknowledged his flaws and always strived to do what was best for himself as well as Claude. With the gorgeous island setting and succinct writing style, this book was truly a cinematic experience. Breathless is perfect for fans of E. Lockhart’s [b:We Were Liars|16143347|We Were Liars|E. Lockhart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1402749479l/16143347._SY75_.jpg|21975829] or Niven’s own [b:All the Bright Places|18460392|All the Bright Places|Jennifer Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404331702l/18460392._SY75_.jpg|26113532], and for any soul, young or old, who feels like their life is changing.
--Thanks to Knopf Books and LitPick for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.
Jennifer Niven has delivered yet another stunning, heartbreaking novel about growing up! Niven is fantastic at taking normal experiences and writing them into something extraordinary. Themes such as feeling betrayed and the fear of being unlovable were expressed and discussed wonderfully throughout the story. At times, I did tire of Claude’s naivety, but her heart was always in the right place, and it was nice to see her grow out of her privileged mindset. Miah was also a very well-written character. He acknowledged his flaws and always strived to do what was best for himself as well as Claude. With the gorgeous island setting and succinct writing style, this book was truly a cinematic experience. Breathless is perfect for fans of E. Lockhart’s [b:We Were Liars|16143347|We Were Liars|E. Lockhart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1402749479l/16143347._SY75_.jpg|21975829] or Niven’s own [b:All the Bright Places|18460392|All the Bright Places|Jennifer Niven|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404331702l/18460392._SY75_.jpg|26113532], and for any soul, young or old, who feels like their life is changing.
--Thanks to Knopf Books and LitPick for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.
marielydias13_'s review against another edition
3.0
“Because after suffering a loss, you become a ghost in your own body. You observe yourself doing things and saying things that you might not normally do or say. You need something to ground you and prove to you that you’re still here. As a way of feeling something. Anything.”
Breathless was a bit weak for me. It is indeed a beautiful love story about discovering yourself and healing from the past, though it didn't sound too convincing. I believe that I would have loved this book if I was younger, but currently, it was so hard to connect to anything.
My least favorite of the author, after reading the acknowledgments, I realized it was based on her true love story. This explains my discomfort, I felt as a reader that I was not invited to this narrative, like a stranger peeking through a window. This explains also why I just couldn't connect with Jeremiah. The author was so in love with him that forgot to tell us what was so special and fascinating about him. I felt left out. Still, it is worth reading if you are looking into a light and heartwarming summer romance.
Breathless was a bit weak for me. It is indeed a beautiful love story about discovering yourself and healing from the past, though it didn't sound too convincing. I believe that I would have loved this book if I was younger, but currently, it was so hard to connect to anything.
My least favorite of the author, after reading the acknowledgments, I realized it was based on her true love story. This explains my discomfort, I felt as a reader that I was not invited to this narrative, like a stranger peeking through a window. This explains also why I just couldn't connect with Jeremiah. The author was so in love with him that forgot to tell us what was so special and fascinating about him. I felt left out. Still, it is worth reading if you are looking into a light and heartwarming summer romance.
kendra_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thisism3trying's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t know why, but Claude really pissed me off. She was so annoying. This book is a very good representation of what it’s like to be a teen wanting to be loved, but Claude was just so boy crazy, she put all of her worth into whether or not someone would want to have sex with her or not… and it just really annoyed me. I also didn’t like how selfish she was, complaining about when things didn’t go exactly how she wanted them to go. I really wanted to like this book, but I can’t. I really liked the summer vibes of the book though, that part slayed.
blurringpages's review against another edition
4.0
This was well written and it felt so real. Claudine's feelings and actions felt like someone true to that age. It was refreshing and made me realise how little we understand the world at that age. It was a wonderful 'growing up' book. It just felt a little young compared to my current reading style.
tiffb's review against another edition
DNF at 46%. I don't care about the plot or the characters.