ljrinaldi's review
4.0
This YA novel is loosely based, apparently, on a ‘90s movie, which I never saw, because I was otherwise busy doing other things in the 90s.
The basic plot is that Millie, who has been hurt in the past, by getting too close to people she thought were her friends, has decided that at the new school she is going to, you will just study, and volunteer at the local hospital, and that’s that.
She has a fantasy boyfriend, a football player, that she runs into, at the local diner, and he flirts with her.
And then he is brought in to the self-same hospital, and because she recognizes him, the nurses tease that he must be her boyfriend.
And then other people think he is her secret girlfriend, and it spirals on out from there. Because Wesley is in a coma, to make sure he recovers, and all his cool friends think she has a relationship with him, so they bond with her.
And after swearing off friendships, she goes along with this, even though she knows that once he wakes up, that this fantasy will be all over.
What is interesting about this novel is that it starts out as a little lie. And how it grows into a huge lie, and as often happens. Even though she knows, when she is discovered, it will all be over.
Is it worth living a lie, even for a little bit, to have the kind of life you’ve always dreamed of having? For Millie, it is.
I like how the novel builds on this, how Millie justifies each step of the way, while always knowing it could all come tumbling down on her.
If you’ve read any of Cheyanne’s other books, you’ll find this one enjoyable too. If you haven’t read her other books, you need to seek them out.
Thanks to the publisher to making this book available for an honest review.
The basic plot is that Millie, who has been hurt in the past, by getting too close to people she thought were her friends, has decided that at the new school she is going to, you will just study, and volunteer at the local hospital, and that’s that.
She has a fantasy boyfriend, a football player, that she runs into, at the local diner, and he flirts with her.
And then he is brought in to the self-same hospital, and because she recognizes him, the nurses tease that he must be her boyfriend.
And then other people think he is her secret girlfriend, and it spirals on out from there. Because Wesley is in a coma, to make sure he recovers, and all his cool friends think she has a relationship with him, so they bond with her.
And after swearing off friendships, she goes along with this, even though she knows that once he wakes up, that this fantasy will be all over.
What is interesting about this novel is that it starts out as a little lie. And how it grows into a huge lie, and as often happens. Even though she knows, when she is discovered, it will all be over.
Is it worth living a lie, even for a little bit, to have the kind of life you’ve always dreamed of having? For Millie, it is.
I like how the novel builds on this, how Millie justifies each step of the way, while always knowing it could all come tumbling down on her.
If you’ve read any of Cheyanne’s other books, you’ll find this one enjoyable too. If you haven’t read her other books, you need to seek them out.
Thanks to the publisher to making this book available for an honest review.
ccleeds7's review
4.0
*The author sent me an e-arc of the hook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Before You Wake is a new reimagining of the classic film, While You Were Sleeping. Millie’s had a crush on Wesley Reyes ever since she first saw him in a high school football poster on the wall of her favorite diner. She’s overjoyed when she accidentally runs into him - literally - and he asks her on a date. But the next day Wesley turns up at the hospital Millie volunteers at in a coma, and Millie’s the only person who can ID him. Soon after she is mistaken as Wesley’s girlfriend and the lie keeps spreading to his friends and family - including Sloane, Wesley’s best friend, before Millie can figure out how to correct the mistake. Millie’s been avoiding making friends ever since she was betrayed by her best friend at her previous high school, but she finds herself drawn to Sloane. Soon Millie has been swept into Wesley’s group of friends, and while she knows the lie will have to come out eventually, and feels horrible for lying to her new friends, she wants to enjoy having friends she loves and trusts for a little bit.
I really enjoyed this story. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Millie at first, but you can tell that she’s written to initially come off as a bit annoying and standoffish, but this behavior is actually incorporated into the plot, so I did end up liking and empathizing with Millie. Honestly, my main issue with her is her steadfast opinion that Jane Austin seems to be the only author worth reading (or books inspired by Austin’s works). I fins it to be an overdone trope with both real and dictional people when they say their favorite book is written by Jane Austin. However they are good, and it works well with the theme in the book of Millie reading to patients, as the stories (at least P&P) are well-known and that can make them comforting. I rid love that the had special collectors editions, as I like to collect multiple copies of books, as well. Also I loved the all chocolate pie. I really want chocolate pie now.
But I really did enjoy the book. It’s well-written, well-crafted, and with distinct voices for each character. It was easy to empathize with Millie as she’s trying to be honest but also wants to be friends with Wesley’s friends. I did also really like the ending. Despite having a bit open-ended resolution, which I don’t normally like, but I think it really worked for this story.
Before You Wake was a really enjoyable read, and if you like While You Were Sleeping or stories centering around friendship over romance or stories with mistaken identities, I definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the author’s works.
Before You Wake is a new reimagining of the classic film, While You Were Sleeping. Millie’s had a crush on Wesley Reyes ever since she first saw him in a high school football poster on the wall of her favorite diner. She’s overjoyed when she accidentally runs into him - literally - and he asks her on a date. But the next day Wesley turns up at the hospital Millie volunteers at in a coma, and Millie’s the only person who can ID him. Soon after she is mistaken as Wesley’s girlfriend and the lie keeps spreading to his friends and family - including Sloane, Wesley’s best friend, before Millie can figure out how to correct the mistake. Millie’s been avoiding making friends ever since she was betrayed by her best friend at her previous high school, but she finds herself drawn to Sloane. Soon Millie has been swept into Wesley’s group of friends, and while she knows the lie will have to come out eventually, and feels horrible for lying to her new friends, she wants to enjoy having friends she loves and trusts for a little bit.
I really enjoyed this story. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Millie at first, but you can tell that she’s written to initially come off as a bit annoying and standoffish, but this behavior is actually incorporated into the plot, so I did end up liking and empathizing with Millie. Honestly, my main issue with her is her steadfast opinion that Jane Austin seems to be the only author worth reading (or books inspired by Austin’s works). I fins it to be an overdone trope with both real and dictional people when they say their favorite book is written by Jane Austin. However they are good, and it works well with the theme in the book of Millie reading to patients, as the stories (at least P&P) are well-known and that can make them comforting. I rid love that the had special collectors editions, as I like to collect multiple copies of books, as well. Also I loved the all chocolate pie. I really want chocolate pie now.
But I really did enjoy the book. It’s well-written, well-crafted, and with distinct voices for each character. It was easy to empathize with Millie as she’s trying to be honest but also wants to be friends with Wesley’s friends. I did also really like the ending. Despite having a bit open-ended resolution, which I don’t normally like, but I think it really worked for this story.
Before You Wake was a really enjoyable read, and if you like While You Were Sleeping or stories centering around friendship over romance or stories with mistaken identities, I definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the author’s works.
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