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alexisfay13's review against another edition
1.0
I've had this book on my to read list for years and finally decided to give it a go. I was really excited to read this, but was almost immediately disappointed upon starting. I thought there must be something wrong with me for not liking this. But I just can't. I found nothing I liked. I almost gave up, but I had to power through it since I stopped reading a book I really was into to sneak this one in.
I don't want to rant too much and point out everything wrong with this book (many other reviews do this much better) so I will just touch on the biggest things for me.
-Sooooo much telling, and no showing. This is a huge thing for me, especially since I am very aware of this in my own writing and have been really working on it lately. Everything was so boring and flat and I could not get a good image and feel of anything because it was just straight telling.
-I felt no attachment to any of the characters. They were boring and flat as well.
-The names. So stupid. And I read fantasy where half the characters have ridiculously crazy names. But these names were just so.... they just didn't.
-The worldbuilding/history were terrible. Terrible.
And the one thing that really got me the most, if your family struggles to put food on the table on a fairly regular basis, why are you making popcorn to watch tv every week?!?!
And I'm done. Rant over. I am curious though, do the rest of the books get any better?
I don't want to rant too much and point out everything wrong with this book (many other reviews do this much better) so I will just touch on the biggest things for me.
-Sooooo much telling, and no showing. This is a huge thing for me, especially since I am very aware of this in my own writing and have been really working on it lately. Everything was so boring and flat and I could not get a good image and feel of anything because it was just straight telling.
-I felt no attachment to any of the characters. They were boring and flat as well.
-The names. So stupid. And I read fantasy where half the characters have ridiculously crazy names. But these names were just so.... they just didn't.
-The worldbuilding/history were terrible. Terrible.
And the one thing that really got me the most, if your family struggles to put food on the table on a fairly regular basis, why are you making popcorn to watch tv every week?!?!
And I'm done. Rant over. I am curious though, do the rest of the books get any better?
littlefeather's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun and enjoyable ride. I didn't bother to read the synopsis ha ha, so I was surprised and intrigued by the instant love and chemistry between Aspen and America. I really loved Aspen and everything he did for this story. I've only read the first three books and I thought this one was the strongest because America is unabashedly herself and it's fun to watch what she does. As she cares more about Maxon in the series I felt like she wasn't as true to herself at times and that bugged me. Either way, fun and I liked the messages about girls being kind to girls (and guys) and America's phrase she says at the end -- I'm choosing me.
loup1832's review against another edition
4.0
Re-read : January 2024
Qu'est-ce que j'aime ces livres mon dieu ! Ils ont leurs défauts, c'est pas trop le type d'ambiance que j'aime habituellement mais ils sont tellement comforting, c'est vraiment un câlin ambulant, j'adore y retourner ! Et puis Maxon >>>>
Qu'est-ce que j'aime ces livres mon dieu ! Ils ont leurs défauts, c'est pas trop le type d'ambiance que j'aime habituellement mais ils sont tellement comforting, c'est vraiment un câlin ambulant, j'adore y retourner ! Et puis Maxon >>>>
missgab721's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? Yes
4.25
sakibunreads's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it! Easy quick read, although the main character can get a little annoying.
pianogurl330's review against another edition
4.0
At first I thought it was a Bachelor's (which I don't care for) meets Hunger Games, but it wasn't all like that! There's girls competing for the Prince's hand in marriage. America had a secret relationship that ended when he realized that he couldn't provide for them like he wanted to. I liked the love triangle. I just hope that she wind up with either one because she's a strong character that knows what she wants- including telling the prince that she's just there to help her family financially. But as she gets to know him he's not like what she thought he was & she starts to fall for him (reminded me of Pride & Prejudice). And her ex boyfriend comes to work as a guard it gets even confusing for her. Can't wait to read the next one!
angie_mccarthy's review against another edition
3.0
I asked myself "WHY" so many times and I just kept reading.
rosalindmgh's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. An interesting premise in need of more consistent worldbuilding and deeper consideration behind the characters' choices. For instance, in a post-WWIII setting, heightened paranoia and security should make it next to impossible for ragged rebels to physically assault the palace with bricks. And no one ever notices the not-very-well-hidden rapport between the main characters or remarks upon the fact that when one of them performs a certain gesture, the other repeats it. Many small occurrences move the story along while remaining unrealistic for the future to which the author hints. I also kept having the disconcerting feeling that I was reading another story altogether, but that may just be me.