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apple_pie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tina_booklover's review against another edition
3.0
"When the Curtain Falls" tells the story of Olive Green, an upcoming star in the theatre scene of London who slowly falls in love with her Co-Star, Oscar Bright. Neither of them wants to admit that their relationship is getting serious, when some things happen and everything gets a little mixed up. 70 years earlier, in the same theatre, the same play was performed by Fawn Burrows. Except she fell in love with Walter, the boy from the theatre front door...
When an accident happens during the show, Fawn gets shot and haunts the theatre ever since...
I'm not exactly sure what I think about this book. I always feel like I expect a lot of Carries books because I follow her on social media and I really like her. But the truth is that if I didn't know as much about the author as I do about Carrie, I wouldn't care that much. So what if the Characters are based on real people? (I've read a lot complains about this in other reviews) I think that makes it so much more authentic. Saying that, I really liked Olive, how strong minded she was even if she didn't always get the respect she deserved. Oscar wasn't one of my favourite book characters, mainly because I don't like the whole "I want to be with you but I can't commit to a relationship" thing.
There where a few things I didn't like that much, like the way death was treated (Walter shot himself and everybody just bowed?!). One thing that generally irritates me in some books is when there are a lot of time leaps (I feel like that just destroys the story a little bit, as you get into it).
As always, I like the Ideas that Carrie comes up with, the story is so different than all the other romance books you usually read. The ending was a little abrupt, but I liked the way the author "solved the problem".
When an accident happens during the show, Fawn gets shot and haunts the theatre ever since...
I'm not exactly sure what I think about this book. I always feel like I expect a lot of Carries books because I follow her on social media and I really like her. But the truth is that if I didn't know as much about the author as I do about Carrie, I wouldn't care that much. So what if the Characters are based on real people? (I've read a lot complains about this in other reviews) I think that makes it so much more authentic. Saying that, I really liked Olive, how strong minded she was even if she didn't always get the respect she deserved. Oscar wasn't one of my favourite book characters, mainly because I don't like the whole "I want to be with you but I can't commit to a relationship" thing.
There where a few things I didn't like that much, like the way death was treated (Walter shot himself and everybody just bowed?!). One thing that generally irritates me in some books is when there are a lot of time leaps (I feel like that just destroys the story a little bit, as you get into it).
As always, I like the Ideas that Carrie comes up with, the story is so different than all the other romance books you usually read. The ending was a little abrupt, but I liked the way the author "solved the problem".
erin_x's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
luweebayy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
matosmary's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
dl2001's review against another edition
1.0
This book was absolutely terrible. I didn't have high expectations by any means but the whole thing was a shit show. I would not recommend it to anyone for any reason.
I've read Carrie's autobiography, All I Know Now and I liked it a lot. In my opinion, she should stick to non-fiction because When The Curtain Falls was an absolute travesty.
I had a really hard time rooting for Olive and Oscar. They seem entirely unsuited to each other. We were given no evidence of them being a good match at all. They had terrible communication. Olive expected him to read her mind. As far as I could tell, they didn't even have anything in common. Remind me again why these two were supposedly in love?
The dialogue was terrible. I don't know anyone in real life who would talk like any of these characters. Exhibit A (dialogue from the book)
"I'm sure lots of other people in the cast would happily take a free latte!"
"Yes, but this one literally has my name on it. And my honey in it"
"Honey? Really?"
"Yes, really, And don't call me honey!"
"Well, we've kissed now, so I feel like I know you well enough to call you honey, don't I?"
Their conversations were awkward at best and utterly cringeworthy at worst. It just highlighted their lack of chemistry and the fact that they really didn't know anything about each other.
I also hated the supernatural element of the story. It really did not fit with the rest of the book's tone. I found it hard not to laugh when Oscar came across Fawn's ghost. I just couldn't take it seriously. I found Fawn and Walter's relationship a lot more engaging and believable, I think the book would have at least been palatable if it had just been about their relationship.
Finally, the ending was atrocious. Possession? Really? It had never even been mentioned in passing before and it was a massive plot device. Apparently everyone except Olive and Oscar knew that they were madly in love with each other, of which I saw no evidence. Also, I found it hard to believe that Walter would only commit suicide after SEVENTY YEARS when the highlight of his life was seeing Fawn's ghost only once a year. It just made no sense.
I only finished this book out of spite, to be honest. Please do not read this. I wouldn't ask it of my worst enemy.
I've read Carrie's autobiography, All I Know Now and I liked it a lot. In my opinion, she should stick to non-fiction because When The Curtain Falls was an absolute travesty.
I had a really hard time rooting for Olive and Oscar. They seem entirely unsuited to each other. We were given no evidence of them being a good match at all. They had terrible communication. Olive expected him to read her mind. As far as I could tell, they didn't even have anything in common. Remind me again why these two were supposedly in love?
The dialogue was terrible. I don't know anyone in real life who would talk like any of these characters. Exhibit A (dialogue from the book)
"I'm sure lots of other people in the cast would happily take a free latte!"
"Yes, but this one literally has my name on it. And my honey in it"
"Honey? Really?"
"Yes, really, And don't call me honey!"
"Well, we've kissed now, so I feel like I know you well enough to call you honey, don't I?"
Their conversations were awkward at best and utterly cringeworthy at worst. It just highlighted their lack of chemistry and the fact that they really didn't know anything about each other.
I also hated the supernatural element of the story. It really did not fit with the rest of the book's tone. I found it hard not to laugh when Oscar came across Fawn's ghost. I just couldn't take it seriously. I found Fawn and Walter's relationship a lot more engaging and believable, I think the book would have at least been palatable if it had just been about their relationship.
Finally, the ending was atrocious. Possession? Really? It had never even been mentioned in passing before and it was a massive plot device. Apparently everyone except Olive and Oscar knew that they were madly in love with each other, of which I saw no evidence. Also, I found it hard to believe that Walter would only commit suicide after SEVENTY YEARS when the highlight of his life was seeing Fawn's ghost only once a year. It just made no sense.
I only finished this book out of spite, to be honest. Please do not read this. I wouldn't ask it of my worst enemy.
lazza's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mafaldawilton's review against another edition
4.0
Was expecting a bit more for a plot with so much potential in it. I really liked Walter and Fawn’s story, but Olive and Oscar’s was kind of boring to be honest. Guys getting drunk and messing up their relationship is too much of a cliché already.
Side note: it is very hard not to imagine Carrie and her current boyfriend as the main characters, which made me a bit uncomfortable.
Side note: it is very hard not to imagine Carrie and her current boyfriend as the main characters, which made me a bit uncomfortable.