rosepetals1984's review against another edition
3.0
Pre-read: Couple of reasons why I'm reading this book:
1. I've read the author's work before, but unfortunately it wasn't really enough of an experience to really tell me anything about her writing style, so I figured I'd give her another shot and hope my experience with this was better than the last (though my perusals in the NA scheme have been mostly misses, I've had a few that struck me well. Here's to hoping this is one of the better ones).
2. The title's "Come As You Are" - which is the title of a Nirvana song and it immediately leapt to mind as I saw it listed on NetGalley. I'm wondering if that was intentional, because if it's evocative of the tone of the novel overall? I'd say: Good choice.
*crosses fingers*
Post-read: I think "Come As You Are" was a much better read in the scheme of the genres it was written in than a great many titles I've picked up this year. It's not the smoothest read to get through, and it touches upon some tough issues in light ways which I think could've been more developed in a full narrative, but I'll admit I followed Molly and Ian well for the most part. This felt real enough for me to follow and feel for the characters, though again - there were caveats.
Full review:
I think even quite some time after I've read this book, I'm still conflicted over my sentiments about it. "Come As You Are" is a much better book in the scheme of New Adult that I've picked up in recent measures. And yes, the title is a direct reference/allusion to the song of the same name by Nirvana, which was one of the reasons why I picked up and ended up reading compulsively through this story - there are significant ties to the song (as well as Nirvana's "Nevermind" album) given in the history of the main female character's life. But I'll admit the biggest thing that I had problems with in the beginning of this book was probably the leading female character, despite the compelling reasons behind her grief.
Here's the bare bones of where this story begins: Molly has just lost her adoptive father. She's grateful that the man who tormented her life is gone. It's not certain at first how he tormented her, but I think your first best guess would likely be the right one - I know I called it early on in the story, at least in part. Molly's in a rough emotional place, depressed, wanting to die, drinks herself into something of a stupor.
She meets a guy - a nice guy in fact. She forces herself onto him (yes, by that, I mean she nearly rapes him - and I was not happy with that factor, but at least the guy calls her out), but he's not having it, and he sees she's drunk and vulnerable. The two end up sharing a bed overnight, with Molly confused as to whether or not she slept with him. She leaves, ends up having to go to a meeting over what's left for her in her father's will.
Turns out the guy that she "slept" with is not only at the meeting, but she discovers that he's the adoptive brother (her adoptive father's son by blood) she's never known.
Things get very complicated from there (understatement).
I will admit that I really liked Ian. Some measures in the story made him *too* ideal of a love interest (meaning I almost lost my suspension of disbelief with aspects of his character), but he was far more of a refreshing male love interest than most I've come across in New Adult.
Even when Molly gets undercut by her foster father, Ian tries to give Molly as much as he can to help her out. It's frustrating to see Molly push him (and his efforts) away, but I'll admit it was realistic. I also liked how palpable their relationship was in spurts. I did see what Molly saw in Ian, though it was harder to see the reverse. I did think the additional backdrop of Nirvana references served as a nice touch for the thematics of the novel, and I applaud Weir on that factor.
I wished that the last part of the novel, where the reveals were made on behalf of Molly's tragic background and the truth in that, weren't as rushed as it was. It killed a part of the book for me because it didn't have the same time frame for build-up that the beginning of the novel had. I had a much harder time being able to take in Molly's coming to terms, and Ian's role in that, than I otherwise would've had.
The supporting cast of characters? They weren't as strong as the main two and I'll admit I wanted the characters collectively to have more flesh/presence than they did.
Overall, a decent read, but I had issues with parts of the narrative for theme and the overarching presentation.
Overall score: 2.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from Belfry Press.
1. I've read the author's work before, but unfortunately it wasn't really enough of an experience to really tell me anything about her writing style, so I figured I'd give her another shot and hope my experience with this was better than the last (though my perusals in the NA scheme have been mostly misses, I've had a few that struck me well. Here's to hoping this is one of the better ones).
2. The title's "Come As You Are" - which is the title of a Nirvana song and it immediately leapt to mind as I saw it listed on NetGalley. I'm wondering if that was intentional, because if it's evocative of the tone of the novel overall? I'd say: Good choice.
*crosses fingers*
Post-read: I think "Come As You Are" was a much better read in the scheme of the genres it was written in than a great many titles I've picked up this year. It's not the smoothest read to get through, and it touches upon some tough issues in light ways which I think could've been more developed in a full narrative, but I'll admit I followed Molly and Ian well for the most part. This felt real enough for me to follow and feel for the characters, though again - there were caveats.
Full review:
I think even quite some time after I've read this book, I'm still conflicted over my sentiments about it. "Come As You Are" is a much better book in the scheme of New Adult that I've picked up in recent measures. And yes, the title is a direct reference/allusion to the song of the same name by Nirvana, which was one of the reasons why I picked up and ended up reading compulsively through this story - there are significant ties to the song (as well as Nirvana's "Nevermind" album) given in the history of the main female character's life. But I'll admit the biggest thing that I had problems with in the beginning of this book was probably the leading female character, despite the compelling reasons behind her grief.
Here's the bare bones of where this story begins: Molly has just lost her adoptive father. She's grateful that the man who tormented her life is gone. It's not certain at first how he tormented her, but I think your first best guess would likely be the right one - I know I called it early on in the story, at least in part. Molly's in a rough emotional place, depressed, wanting to die, drinks herself into something of a stupor.
She meets a guy - a nice guy in fact. She forces herself onto him (yes, by that, I mean she nearly rapes him - and I was not happy with that factor, but at least the guy calls her out), but he's not having it, and he sees she's drunk and vulnerable. The two end up sharing a bed overnight, with Molly confused as to whether or not she slept with him. She leaves, ends up having to go to a meeting over what's left for her in her father's will.
Turns out the guy that she "slept" with is not only at the meeting, but she discovers that he's the adoptive brother (her adoptive father's son by blood) she's never known.
Things get very complicated from there (understatement).
I will admit that I really liked Ian. Some measures in the story made him *too* ideal of a love interest (meaning I almost lost my suspension of disbelief with aspects of his character), but he was far more of a refreshing male love interest than most I've come across in New Adult.
Even when Molly gets undercut by her foster father, Ian tries to give Molly as much as he can to help her out. It's frustrating to see Molly push him (and his efforts) away, but I'll admit it was realistic. I also liked how palpable their relationship was in spurts. I did see what Molly saw in Ian, though it was harder to see the reverse. I did think the additional backdrop of Nirvana references served as a nice touch for the thematics of the novel, and I applaud Weir on that factor.
I wished that the last part of the novel, where the reveals were made on behalf of Molly's tragic background and the truth in that, weren't as rushed as it was. It killed a part of the book for me because it didn't have the same time frame for build-up that the beginning of the novel had. I had a much harder time being able to take in Molly's coming to terms, and Ian's role in that, than I otherwise would've had.
The supporting cast of characters? They weren't as strong as the main two and I'll admit I wanted the characters collectively to have more flesh/presence than they did.
Overall, a decent read, but I had issues with parts of the narrative for theme and the overarching presentation.
Overall score: 2.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from Belfry Press.
lynseyt's review against another edition
2.0
Come As You Are Or Whatever
You know, the title here is kind of apropos - Just come as you are, wear whatever the hell you want, don't really try to look good or impress anyone. Whatevs. Who cares?
That sums up the amount of effort I feel went into making this book stand out in any way from the minefield of other books just like it. And it is a minefield, in that there are a few rare flowers that are actually good, and the rest totally bomb. Although, it actually does look good, doesn't it? That cover is very striking. Sadly, the filling is a lot less impactful.
Similar toall a lot of New Adult titles, COME AS YOU ARE, features a main character who's a little emotionally messed up due to some things that happened in her past. We join Molly's story on the day of her father's funeral, and quickly find ourselves watching her drink herself into a drunken stupor - public vomiting and all - and having to be helped home by a stranger. A stranger who turns out to have a rather unsavoury and off-putting connection to her, which totally deadened the romance for me.
There aren't really any other major plot points I can pick out after this - not because of spoilers, you understand, just because there weren't any. The plot was very weak and almost totally uneventful.
Also flat and lacklustre were the emotional scenes - and you know how much I love those normally. They just did nothing for me here. Whether because I hadn't been made to care about the characters (who weren't particularly likeable anyway) or because they were poorly executed, it's hard to tell. Or muster up the energy to care. Really, I can't think of a single way this book wasn't disappointing. Except for the cover.
High five, cover dude!
2 Stars ★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You know, the title here is kind of apropos - Just come as you are, wear whatever the hell you want, don't really try to look good or impress anyone. Whatevs. Who cares?
That sums up the amount of effort I feel went into making this book stand out in any way from the minefield of other books just like it. And it is a minefield, in that there are a few rare flowers that are actually good, and the rest totally bomb. Although, it actually does look good, doesn't it? That cover is very striking. Sadly, the filling is a lot less impactful.
Similar to
There aren't really any other major plot points I can pick out after this - not because of spoilers, you understand, just because there weren't any. The plot was very weak and almost totally uneventful.
Also flat and lacklustre were the emotional scenes - and you know how much I love those normally. They just did nothing for me here. Whether because I hadn't been made to care about the characters (who weren't particularly likeable anyway) or because they were poorly executed, it's hard to tell. Or muster up the energy to care. Really, I can't think of a single way this book wasn't disappointing. Except for the cover.
High five, cover dude!
2 Stars ★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
colormeblueex's review against another edition
4.0
4. 5 stars.
I don't know what to write about this story. It was pretty great, a little too short but pretty great. Molly and Ian find themselves connected in ways that many aren't. It starts out with a lie but it ends up being so much more. They share a great deal and both are hiding from their past in a way. Molly has some deep dark secrets and she avoids intimacy at all costs. When meeting Ian she almost wants to take that next step with him. I was hooked right from the beginning and read the entire book in one sitting. There were parts of this story that definitely were predictable but there were still secrets that were held up until the end. I really enjoyed reading this story and Ian just sounds like an all around great guy. He was kind and caring and such a bad drunk, which was strangely adorable. Even though this was quick and enjoyable there were still parts of this story that were pretty dark and I wish the author would have expanded and explained more parts of the story but overall I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading new adult books!
I don't know what to write about this story. It was pretty great, a little too short but pretty great. Molly and Ian find themselves connected in ways that many aren't. It starts out with a lie but it ends up being so much more. They share a great deal and both are hiding from their past in a way. Molly has some deep dark secrets and she avoids intimacy at all costs. When meeting Ian she almost wants to take that next step with him. I was hooked right from the beginning and read the entire book in one sitting. There were parts of this story that definitely were predictable but there were still secrets that were held up until the end. I really enjoyed reading this story and Ian just sounds like an all around great guy. He was kind and caring and such a bad drunk, which was strangely adorable. Even though this was quick and enjoyable there were still parts of this story that were pretty dark and I wish the author would have expanded and explained more parts of the story but overall I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading new adult books!
authorheatherw's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an angsty and dark read, much more so than I ever guessed. Molly is a tormented main character and the walls she had built up made it difficult to connect with her character. However, I liked Ian a lot and I felt like he was able to bring some light into Molly’s dark existence.
Molly is a complicated character and although many NA heroines are tortured—Molly is a NA heroine to the extreme. Thoughts of suicide are never far from her mind and some really awful crap has happened to her at the hands of her father. To make matters worst, her father dies and leaves her next to nothing in his will.
Ian was really a nice guy and I liked that he was always trying to do the right thing despite how difficult Molly could be. The beginning was really good and their chemistry was obvious despite the circumstances surrounding how they meet. Once the relationship happened between the two, it happened super fast and fizzled out just as quickly.
My main issue with the book was I felt like certain things were way too rushed. A few major reveals happen towards the end and they were never fully explored. The ending also felt like it came out of nowhere and too many things were unresolved.
I liked Come As You Are and I’d love to read another book by the author. I don’t believe there’s a sequel in the works but I believe there could be due to the abrupt ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!
Molly is a complicated character and although many NA heroines are tortured—Molly is a NA heroine to the extreme. Thoughts of suicide are never far from her mind and some really awful crap has happened to her at the hands of her father. To make matters worst, her father dies and leaves her next to nothing in his will.
Ian was really a nice guy and I liked that he was always trying to do the right thing despite how difficult Molly could be. The beginning was really good and their chemistry was obvious despite the circumstances surrounding how they meet. Once the relationship happened between the two, it happened super fast and fizzled out just as quickly.
My main issue with the book was I felt like certain things were way too rushed. A few major reveals happen towards the end and they were never fully explored. The ending also felt like it came out of nowhere and too many things were unresolved.
I liked Come As You Are and I’d love to read another book by the author. I don’t believe there’s a sequel in the works but I believe there could be due to the abrupt ending.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!
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