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blueberry31's review against another edition
3.0
I'm disappointed by this book because the story and concept were brilliant but it was all poorly executed. Let's start with the negative: the writing wasn't that great, it felt very superficial, as a mediocre YA bool would. The dialogues lacked depth and the narration was incredibly repetitive (this often gives me the feeling that the author thinks its readers are idiots...). It's really a shame because the recipe for an awesome book was there. This book tells a dystopian story, it is based on an exageration of our society's deep issues and contratictions when it comes to gender stereotyping and traditional gender roles. In fact it amplifies them and takes them to the highest possible level, to reveal how limiting they are, but also how incredibly ridiculous and even dangerous these gender roles can be. I just wish it had been done in a more subtle way, instead of spelling everything out for the reader. A lot of people compare this book to The Handmaid's Tale, but unlike Margaret Atwoods' (amazing) novel, this one is just too simplistic in the way it brings up the topic of gender issues. A lot more could have been brought forward than "all girls need to be thin, but curvy in the right place, but still at target weight" (which is what comes up the most). The idea of "always be willing, never say no, but don't be a slut" was super interesting because it really puts the finger on our modern societies' impossible expectations for women, but it's not well exploited in the book, too cliché. And actually, we never really understand why freida and her friend are not receptive to the system like the others, we feel they are different throughout the whole book, not fully embracing it the way their peers are, but the explanation we get at the end is far from satisfying (what, so it's just a mere design thing?).
I did like the end, I did not see it ending any other way, and at least it wasn't cheesy. Though when you think about it, freida never really put up any sort of fight, she's a weak character (but perhaps that was the point...).
So, quick easy read, worth reading if you like the concept, but don't expect great prose.
I did like the end, I did not see it ending any other way, and at least it wasn't cheesy. Though when you think about it, freida never really put up any sort of fight, she's a weak character (but perhaps that was the point...).
So, quick easy read, worth reading if you like the concept, but don't expect great prose.
acmarinho3's review against another edition
4.0
Este livro é doentio e revoltante... até me faltam palavras para fazer esta review. Um livro ficcional extremamente atual: a preocupação pela aparência, a imagem a manter, o estatuto a obter. Surreal, impactante, doloroso. Foram várias as vezes em que me apeteceu gritar e pousar o livro, mas não o podia fazer por Freida - queria saber como iria avançar, se mudaria aquela necessidade absurda de agradar tudo e todos. Acho que carrega uma mensagem que seria uma chapada de luva branca para muitos. A aparência não é tudo nada vida. É importante relembrar que a personalidade de uma pessoa diz mais sobre ela do que o seu aspeto.
jaclyncrupi's review
4.0
This book is INTENSE. And challenging and terrifying and spectacular. I will have nightmares. It's The Handmaid's Tale meets The Bachelor with a twist of Mean Girls. I hope to never read anything like it again. Only because I couldn't hack it. I would love to hear teenagers talking about this book. O'Neill is an unflinching writer.
secretmagic's review against another edition
4.0
I don't really know what to say about this book. ONLY EVER YOURS was a mix of extreme social expectations that are thrown at women, with a sci-fi twist - and I couldn't help thinking throughout the whole book that there was no chance of a happy ending.
Our main character - freida (specifically with a lower case first name) - is one of 30 girls scientifically designed to please the men of her age group in her society. Trained and indoctrinated for 17 years to always be willing. To want to raise her sons. To be thin, pretty, ranked in order of beauty. To be obedient. To not seek information or appear intelligent. To destroy any emotion that may be seen as over-active in a young girl. To never really live without always thinking of how a man might approve or disapprove of her actions. The brutal way Louise O'Neill describes her society is seriously frightening. Like a world of stereotypical airheads fighting for the right to birth a future generation of sons, and if you can't get there, it'll be ok, because you will be the concubines that entertain the men if they're feeling a little kinky. I cannot imagine a life like that, even when our own society is already pretty obsessed with body image and the treatment of women.
Right from the start you had to wonder where the story was hoping to end. I know - often in YA - the whole point of dystopian novels is to recognise a faulty system of living, that has been around for generations, and then the characters find a way to twist their existence into something more acceptable and less destructive. But at no point in this novel did I think freida could change her standing. Part of her was always slightly in love with her best friend isabel, although female love was obviously strictly forbidden. But to become the companion - or wife - of one of the men of her age group would just be conforming to the society already built; and hope for running away was non-existent.
I couldn't work out how it was going to end or what I really wanted to happen. Did I hope freida would be the starting point of a revolution? Or did I know it was hopeless, that nothing could change? ONLY EVER YOURS kept me on my toes towards the end. Part of me was expecting what happened, but I also feel like it took a while to get there, so you're not 100% sure until it happens.
A confronting look at society, the treatment of women and the inability to change views at the drop of a hat.
4/5 stars
Our main character - freida (specifically with a lower case first name) - is one of 30 girls scientifically designed to please the men of her age group in her society. Trained and indoctrinated for 17 years to always be willing. To want to raise her sons. To be thin, pretty, ranked in order of beauty. To be obedient. To not seek information or appear intelligent. To destroy any emotion that may be seen as over-active in a young girl. To never really live without always thinking of how a man might approve or disapprove of her actions. The brutal way Louise O'Neill describes her society is seriously frightening. Like a world of stereotypical airheads fighting for the right to birth a future generation of sons, and if you can't get there, it'll be ok, because you will be the concubines that entertain the men if they're feeling a little kinky. I cannot imagine a life like that, even when our own society is already pretty obsessed with body image and the treatment of women.
Right from the start you had to wonder where the story was hoping to end. I know - often in YA - the whole point of dystopian novels is to recognise a faulty system of living, that has been around for generations, and then the characters find a way to twist their existence into something more acceptable and less destructive. But at no point in this novel did I think freida could change her standing. Part of her was always slightly in love with her best friend isabel, although female love was obviously strictly forbidden. But to become the companion - or wife - of one of the men of her age group would just be conforming to the society already built; and hope for running away was non-existent.
I couldn't work out how it was going to end or what I really wanted to happen. Did I hope freida would be the starting point of a revolution? Or did I know it was hopeless, that nothing could change? ONLY EVER YOURS kept me on my toes towards the end. Part of me was expecting what happened, but I also feel like it took a while to get there, so you're not 100% sure until it happens.
A confronting look at society, the treatment of women and the inability to change views at the drop of a hat.
4/5 stars
bluubleuu's review against another edition
4.0
➸ 4 stars
what have i just read.
It really creeps me out how this is *somehow* actually happening in our society.
TW: eating disorder
what have i just read.
It really creeps me out how this is *somehow* actually happening in our society.
TW: eating disorder
scoutgreimel's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I’ve read this book four times now, from the time i was in high school to age twenty four. Every time I read it, I get something new from it. I wouldn’t say that it’s The Handmaid’s Tale for teens, because it’s something else entirely. It’s definitely more influenced by contemporary societal aspects, and goes deeper into the objectification, dehumanization, and othering of women in a whole other way that honestly scares the shit out of me. And the ending is just completely inevitable; you only realize it once you’re there, and that makes it hurt all the more!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia
letxpaiva's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
katiescho741's review
4.0
I read this book in a day because it was so intense! For a book with a Barbie doll on the cover, it's not fun or happy-go-lucky as you'd think.
Only Ever Yours is set in some future UK where girl babies can no longer be conceived naturally. So, the females (eves) are made in labs and designed to be perfect for the men. A girl in this world has three options (not that she's the one who gets to pick): become a companion to a man who choses her and bear him sons, become a concubine for the pleasure of whichever men wants them, or become a chastity, which is like a nun/teacher in the centre where the girls are brought up.
The females in the novel don't even warrant a capital letter at the start of their names.
The book takes place entirely in the centre where the girls are raised and it's a heightened version of school that any girl will recognise. All the subtle bullying, passive aggressive friendships, and social anxiety is exacerbated because the girls are competing with each other for beauty rankings. The whole place is covered with mirrors and the girls are asked to compare each other on a regular basis.
This book covers some dark topics like anxiety, eating disorders, body image issues and mental breakdowns and it's surprisingly bleak for a YA novel.
My copy has the tagline "A girl to own forever", but I think that's quite misleading because the book is about this horrific and harsh "girl world" in the eve centre and the men who will own the girls only show up later in the book. And so, it's not all about the relationship between men and women in this warped future, it's about the relationships women have with each other - always comparing bodies and looks, and always trying to decide whose better.
This is a creepy and haunting read that I would definitely recommend!
Only Ever Yours is set in some future UK where girl babies can no longer be conceived naturally. So, the females (eves) are made in labs and designed to be perfect for the men. A girl in this world has three options (not that she's the one who gets to pick): become a companion to a man who choses her and bear him sons, become a concubine for the pleasure of whichever men wants them, or become a chastity, which is like a nun/teacher in the centre where the girls are brought up.
The females in the novel don't even warrant a capital letter at the start of their names.
The book takes place entirely in the centre where the girls are raised and it's a heightened version of school that any girl will recognise. All the subtle bullying, passive aggressive friendships, and social anxiety is exacerbated because the girls are competing with each other for beauty rankings. The whole place is covered with mirrors and the girls are asked to compare each other on a regular basis.
This book covers some dark topics like anxiety, eating disorders, body image issues and mental breakdowns and it's surprisingly bleak for a YA novel.
My copy has the tagline "A girl to own forever", but I think that's quite misleading because the book is about this horrific and harsh "girl world" in the eve centre and the men who will own the girls only show up later in the book. And so, it's not all about the relationship between men and women in this warped future, it's about the relationships women have with each other - always comparing bodies and looks, and always trying to decide whose better.
This is a creepy and haunting read that I would definitely recommend!
bellabee98's review against another edition
4.0
The book was not what I was expecting. Its definitely shocking in ways and not for the faint hearted