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lau1187's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chrissireads's review against another edition
4.0
I was immediately pulled into the synopsis of Consumed. It sounded like something that I’d really enjoy reading. I have to admit, I can be a little bit touchy when it comes to books centred around mental health. I have read far too many books which just don’t seem to ‘get’ mental illness. However, even though some parts of the book are a little unbelievable (I could get past it!) I think Abbie Rushton has written a fantastic book which kept me turning the pages!
This book centres around Myla and Jamie. Both have problems, but they don’t expect to be able to help each other as much as they do. Jamie is new to town and is introduced to Myla. Myla hasn’t left her house for years after experiencing the loss of her sister. A day that she keeps repeating in her head and wondering ‘What if?’ Jamie is running away from issues at home and living with his Aunt. Jamie finds it hard to eat, but can’t even begin to explain why. Myla and Jamie get closer and we learn more about their secrets.
I was intrigued by Myla’s friendship with her online friend, Eve. It was intriguing. I really enjoyed the online aspect of this book. It felt very real. I can imagine that many people with agoraphobia find solace online. It was pretty creepy at the same time and I doubted who Eve was at times.
I found it hard to put this book down. I was desperate to know who had killed Asha. I had my suspicions throughout but was never quite sure. There certainly are some unpredictable characters within this story. As I mentioned, it’s a real page turner. It didn’t take long to devour at all. I highly recommend it!
This book centres around Myla and Jamie. Both have problems, but they don’t expect to be able to help each other as much as they do. Jamie is new to town and is introduced to Myla. Myla hasn’t left her house for years after experiencing the loss of her sister. A day that she keeps repeating in her head and wondering ‘What if?’ Jamie is running away from issues at home and living with his Aunt. Jamie finds it hard to eat, but can’t even begin to explain why. Myla and Jamie get closer and we learn more about their secrets.
I was intrigued by Myla’s friendship with her online friend, Eve. It was intriguing. I really enjoyed the online aspect of this book. It felt very real. I can imagine that many people with agoraphobia find solace online. It was pretty creepy at the same time and I doubted who Eve was at times.
I found it hard to put this book down. I was desperate to know who had killed Asha. I had my suspicions throughout but was never quite sure. There certainly are some unpredictable characters within this story. As I mentioned, it’s a real page turner. It didn’t take long to devour at all. I highly recommend it!
linkallyson's review against another edition
1.0
love doesn’t cure mental illness let’s stop writing books like this in 2018 please and thank you
notverydapper's review against another edition
3.0
This book is quite good, it's just...
Jamie is in Stratten for the summer, with Ness, his aunt, believing that his mum kicked him out, so she could have time with her new boyfriend Damian. In short, he finds Myla, who hasn't left the house in two years, and has panic attacks all the time. He basically helps her be free outside again.
I don't think that bulimia, agoraphobia, romance And a kinda murder mystery go together very well.
Jamie is in Stratten for the summer, with Ness, his aunt, believing that his mum kicked him out, so she could have time with her new boyfriend Damian. In short, he finds Myla, who hasn't left the house in two years, and has panic attacks all the time. He basically helps her be free outside again.
I don't think that bulimia, agoraphobia, romance And a kinda murder mystery go together very well.
j0ri3n's review against another edition
2.0
Yikes. The only reason I'm not giving it 1 star is because I read this book fairly quickly.
There's a few things that really bothered me.
First, I did not like the writing style at all, especially Jamie his part. It really felt like "let's write how kids talk" but it was unsuccessful in my eyes.
Also, let's stop pretending love fixes mental illness. I hate the way this was portrayed.
And then, it was all so obvious from the start. I literally predicted everything that happened at the end after just a few chapters.
Truly do not recommend this book, I'd say it's a waste of time.
There's a few things that really bothered me.
First, I did not like the writing style at all, especially Jamie his part. It really felt like "let's write how kids talk" but it was unsuccessful in my eyes.
Also, let's stop pretending love fixes mental illness. I hate the way this was portrayed.
And then, it was all so obvious from the start. I literally predicted everything that happened at the end after just a few chapters.
Truly do not recommend this book, I'd say it's a waste of time.
horrorgirlsophie's review against another edition
4.0
This book definitely surprised me. I wasn't sure how I felt when I started it, but my opinion soon changed. I really liked how this book included a male character with an eating disorder and how anxiety was written. The plot twist at the end also threw me, I was screaming!
shesmyhanona's review against another edition
4.0
It's 1am I've just finished and I'm an emotional mess
I've got to be up in 5 hours omg
This book was more than I expected and I loved it. Jamie and Myla omg just amazing
I've got to be up in 5 hours omg
This book was more than I expected and I loved it. Jamie and Myla omg just amazing
rosienreads's review against another edition
5.0
Summary
Consumed is Abbie Rushton’s second book and, luckily for me, one of my friends knows the author. I borrowed her copy of the book and was instantly drawn into the story. Consumed followed two teens, both who are struggling with mental health issues. Myla has not left her house since her sister’s murder while Jamie struggles to eat even the smallest of meals. Their paths end up crossing and the book follows their growing friendship and the mystery surrounding Myla’s sister’s murder.
Plot
The Myla and Jamie friendship storyline was what really kept me reading. I loved how we got to see it grow despite their initial resentment at being forced together and the interference of the adults around them. However, the mystery part of the novel did not quite do it for me as much as the character growth part. I guessed who it was fairly early on, and so seeing them still struggling to figure it out was a little frustrating. It also felt a bit rushed at the end and I had a few misgivings about the various motivations. That being said, it was still a thrilling climax to the novel.
Characters
Both Myla and Jamie were realistic characters and neither were defined by their mental health issues – something which is always a danger of occurring with these kind of books. Instead, this was a very sympathetic approach to their struggles. I loved both the main characters, although I think Myla and her love of baking inched her way into the lead. Unfortunately, I felt the other characters to feel a little bit forced, and there were a few stereotypes being played (over-protective father being one). Having a few more adult characters playing a role was quite refreshing, however, and helped make the novel seem more life-like than if only teenaged characters were involved.
World/Setting
This book is set in a sea-side town over the course of a summer. While we do see some of the town, the one place featured most prominently is Myla’s house as that is the only place she feels safe. Her attempts to overcome her agoraphobia mean that we see a combination of claustrophobic settings, such as the house, and wide reaches of space such as a clifftop. The setting does a great job at revealing more about the characters while also matching the tone and events of the book.
Final thoughts
While Consumed did have its drawbacks, it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It was an easy read, despite the difficult subject matter, and I found it quite refreshing and fun. While the mystery is predictable, Myla and Jamie make the book well worth the read.
Consumed is Abbie Rushton’s second book and, luckily for me, one of my friends knows the author. I borrowed her copy of the book and was instantly drawn into the story. Consumed followed two teens, both who are struggling with mental health issues. Myla has not left her house since her sister’s murder while Jamie struggles to eat even the smallest of meals. Their paths end up crossing and the book follows their growing friendship and the mystery surrounding Myla’s sister’s murder.
Plot
The Myla and Jamie friendship storyline was what really kept me reading. I loved how we got to see it grow despite their initial resentment at being forced together and the interference of the adults around them. However, the mystery part of the novel did not quite do it for me as much as the character growth part. I guessed who it was fairly early on, and so seeing them still struggling to figure it out was a little frustrating. It also felt a bit rushed at the end and I had a few misgivings about the various motivations. That being said, it was still a thrilling climax to the novel.
Characters
Both Myla and Jamie were realistic characters and neither were defined by their mental health issues – something which is always a danger of occurring with these kind of books. Instead, this was a very sympathetic approach to their struggles. I loved both the main characters, although I think Myla and her love of baking inched her way into the lead. Unfortunately, I felt the other characters to feel a little bit forced, and there were a few stereotypes being played (over-protective father being one). Having a few more adult characters playing a role was quite refreshing, however, and helped make the novel seem more life-like than if only teenaged characters were involved.
World/Setting
This book is set in a sea-side town over the course of a summer. While we do see some of the town, the one place featured most prominently is Myla’s house as that is the only place she feels safe. Her attempts to overcome her agoraphobia mean that we see a combination of claustrophobic settings, such as the house, and wide reaches of space such as a clifftop. The setting does a great job at revealing more about the characters while also matching the tone and events of the book.
Final thoughts
While Consumed did have its drawbacks, it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It was an easy read, despite the difficult subject matter, and I found it quite refreshing and fun. While the mystery is predictable, Myla and Jamie make the book well worth the read.
ruthparker16's review against another edition
3.0
It was... ok.
I thought the writing about the issues the two main characters face was good, believable. Interesting.
But the characters themselves were boring.
And the plot was strange. It felt like two or three different books meshed together. I think I’ve been generous with 3 stars.
I thought the writing about the issues the two main characters face was good, believable. Interesting.
But the characters themselves were boring.
And the plot was strange. It felt like two or three different books meshed together. I think I’ve been generous with 3 stars.
meganlouise815's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not going to lie, I only really bought this book because it was on sale at my local bookstore. It wasn’t until I got home that I realised it was by an author I’ve read and enjoyed before, which made me feel less guilty for my impulse buy.
But, I’m so glad I did buy it because I thought it was excellent. It deals with mental illness (both an eating disorder, and anxiety) and I feel like Abbie Rushton really did a good job of exploring these illnesses and how it affects the lives of teenagers today.
Consumed is a novel about loss and love and grief and fear. I felt so many emotions as I read it. I felt sadness whenever Myla talked about her sister, pity whenever Jamie was narrating, empathy whenever Myla had a panic attack, I even felt happy at some points. I even felt myself smiling and mentally cheering at what was happening in the book.
I think a small disappointment was that I worked out the truth quite soon into the book. I’ve worked out how and when, but I won’t spoil it for people.
When the truth was finally revealed, almost at the end of the novel, I instantly thought I was going to have to give the book a four-star review, even though it was totally worth five stars. However, as I got even nearer to the last few pages, it started to redeem itself and I thought: Yes. This is going on my favourites shelf. This is definitely worth five-stars.
Although the novel was not based around the romance between the two narrators, it was a nice addition and wasn’t too over-done. I actually think it worked quite well with the story and was more of a relationship built on friendship and trust, rather than the over-used ‘insta-love’. So that was good.
All in all, an excelled read. So worth my impulse buy.
But, I’m so glad I did buy it because I thought it was excellent. It deals with mental illness (both an eating disorder, and anxiety) and I feel like Abbie Rushton really did a good job of exploring these illnesses and how it affects the lives of teenagers today.
Consumed is a novel about loss and love and grief and fear. I felt so many emotions as I read it. I felt sadness whenever Myla talked about her sister, pity whenever Jamie was narrating, empathy whenever Myla had a panic attack, I even felt happy at some points. I even felt myself smiling and mentally cheering at what was happening in the book.
I think a small disappointment was that I worked out the truth quite soon into the book. I’ve worked out how and when, but I won’t spoil it for people.
When the truth was finally revealed, almost at the end of the novel, I instantly thought I was going to have to give the book a four-star review, even though it was totally worth five stars. However, as I got even nearer to the last few pages, it started to redeem itself and I thought: Yes. This is going on my favourites shelf. This is definitely worth five-stars.
Although the novel was not based around the romance between the two narrators, it was a nice addition and wasn’t too over-done. I actually think it worked quite well with the story and was more of a relationship built on friendship and trust, rather than the over-used ‘insta-love’. So that was good.
All in all, an excelled read. So worth my impulse buy.
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