The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
illbefinealone's review against another edition
2.0
This book is on such an important subject, and (this is the writer in me speaking) so much could've been done. Characters who have survived trauma are always interesting to read, each and every one of them can have a different way to deal with the events.
However, in this book, the main character seems to not have any opinion or feeling after surviving a traumatic event. She's just... empty. Which also stands for the completely unrealistically written book.
However, in this book, the main character seems to not have any opinion or feeling after surviving a traumatic event. She's just... empty. Which also stands for the completely unrealistically written book.
megansendlessreads's review against another edition
5.0
I really fell in love with this book!
Once Confronted tells the imaginative and heartbreaking story of a girl affected after getting robbed at her job. This novel follows her after that frightening night and all of the places it leads her to as she struggles with facing death (and maybe worse) in the face and surviving. This was definitely a survivor's story and I loved the struggle of the characters being brought to life as they all seem to handle their demons in different ways.
The best part about this book was how easy it was to be biased by the main character and how each character devolves or evolves after the event. I am super excited to see what happens next!
Once Confronted tells the imaginative and heartbreaking story of a girl affected after getting robbed at her job. This novel follows her after that frightening night and all of the places it leads her to as she struggles with facing death (and maybe worse) in the face and surviving. This was definitely a survivor's story and I loved the struggle of the characters being brought to life as they all seem to handle their demons in different ways.
The best part about this book was how easy it was to be biased by the main character and how each character devolves or evolves after the event. I am super excited to see what happens next!
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
3.0
Once again, a good book, covering a tough subject, in this case it is what happens to you after you are assaulted, how do you move on?
Because the assault happens at the beginning of the book, we have the whole rest of the book to see the best way to overcome it. Maddy takes one approach, her co-worker, Evan, another.
And I get that this is trying to show how long it takes, but I felt as though I was moving through mud to get to the conclusion. For the conclusion, for the process, I give it three starts, but it was so slow and drawn out, I almost didn't finish this.
This would probably be good for those who want to know it will get better. Not sure if the average reader could keep going through.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Because the assault happens at the beginning of the book, we have the whole rest of the book to see the best way to overcome it. Maddy takes one approach, her co-worker, Evan, another.
And I get that this is trying to show how long it takes, but I felt as though I was moving through mud to get to the conclusion. For the conclusion, for the process, I give it three starts, but it was so slow and drawn out, I almost didn't finish this.
This would probably be good for those who want to know it will get better. Not sure if the average reader could keep going through.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
saarahn's review against another edition
4.0
At the risk of sounding spoilt, I want a sequel!
Initially, I was very much indifferent with this book, there was no emotional entanglement on my part. I'm surprised I got all the way through to the end. But now, I have a very mixed reaction. One thing I'm certain of, though, is I want there to be a sequel.
But I will graciously allow you to make your own decision: so the book begins with Maddy at her summer job at a bookstore in Sydney Australia. She's grumpy about it (which is actually surprising since we later learn that she's always a positive, happy, nice optimist), she would much rather be out travelling. At this point I could care less about her woes as we don't know much about her. Anyway, perhaps the only good thing that comes out of this job, is the cute guy working alongside her- Evan. He seems okay, but we don't learn much about him either.
Push forward, to a few weeks later, there's an incident at the bookstore: an armed robbery, Maddy and Evan are the only two people present. Evan gets taken out, cash is stolen and they are both understandably traumatised: the event brings them together. They start dating, and it's all they talk about. Their relationship turns long distance, as Maddy has to return home- to Brisbane. There, she takes on a new challenge, social work. This leads her on the path to wanting to forgive the two men who robbed the bookstore (only Jeremy is alive though, but it would have been almost too interesting if they had both been). This, she thinks, is the only way for her to do well in her studies. Her friend encourages her to think about partaking in a restoration conference, she is reluctant but we all know she will go for it.
So she meets Jeremy, the robber, she observes how he has successfully made a life for himself (following his release from prison). He does pretty much the same thing as her: social work, heping out disadvantaged kids. Evan, through the whole thing is against the idea of them meeting this guy, but Maddy pays no heed. Her parents, friends and her aunt are all supportive of it. Her decision creates a crack in her relationship with Evan, he isn't doing so good. He's falling apart, seeking revenge on the man who stole his life. What will come of it? Is Jeremy really all safe? Is social work good for Maddy?
The book was slow, and there were no endearing characteristics with any of the characters, nothing to have the reader care about them: there were no quirks, nothing funny, cute, or even remotely intriguing. Sure, they all had their stories: Jeremy's was distressing, but I just had no emotional investment of their turn out. I just didn't care. Initially.
Don't get me wrong though, the writer wrote well. It was just how the characters were introduced: you either loved them or hated them. As is the case with most books, the characters make up the story. You don't like the characters, you don't like the book. What I did like, however, was the children in the book, they were more real, more anger, more passion. Perhaps because they were children, I was more sympathetic, but they were written extremely well. And, the bits of their stories that were hinted at signified darmer undertones. Mysterious, and I wanted to know more. As is clear, I was invested in them- but they only really served as the backdrop for Maddy's story, the props if you will.
The story did end well, better than the book's beginning. I was glad that there was no romance between ex-criminal and victim, that would have been too much too soon, even though there was obvious sexual tension. But, I can see the possibility of this happening in the second book (I really hope there will be another!) It was also pretty awesome how the writer was able to create a vibe with the characters. Very near the beginning, Evan was annoying and off putting, I even thought he'd been involved in the crime (I would have liked that, a sort of inside job). Scandalous, though at the end of the day it was only a bookstore- not a bank vault. But with his later actions, I wonder will Maddy ever be able to forgive him? He was closer to her heart, or will there be a role reversal: Jeremy lenient, and Maddy not so much? I feel this was brilliantly foreshadowed at the beginning with Maddy and Evan's reaction towards Jeremy. Except, this time, Maddy might not be as forgiving. Hopefully, we'll find out what happens in a second book?
I received this book through NetGalley.
Initially, I was very much indifferent with this book, there was no emotional entanglement on my part. I'm surprised I got all the way through to the end. But now, I have a very mixed reaction. One thing I'm certain of, though, is I want there to be a sequel.
But I will graciously allow you to make your own decision: so the book begins with Maddy at her summer job at a bookstore in Sydney Australia. She's grumpy about it (which is actually surprising since we later learn that she's always a positive, happy, nice optimist), she would much rather be out travelling. At this point I could care less about her woes as we don't know much about her. Anyway, perhaps the only good thing that comes out of this job, is the cute guy working alongside her- Evan. He seems okay, but we don't learn much about him either.
Push forward, to a few weeks later, there's an incident at the bookstore: an armed robbery, Maddy and Evan are the only two people present. Evan gets taken out, cash is stolen and they are both understandably traumatised: the event brings them together. They start dating, and it's all they talk about. Their relationship turns long distance, as Maddy has to return home- to Brisbane. There, she takes on a new challenge, social work. This leads her on the path to wanting to forgive the two men who robbed the bookstore (only Jeremy is alive though, but it would have been almost too interesting if they had both been). This, she thinks, is the only way for her to do well in her studies. Her friend encourages her to think about partaking in a restoration conference, she is reluctant but we all know she will go for it.
So she meets Jeremy, the robber, she observes how he has successfully made a life for himself (following his release from prison). He does pretty much the same thing as her: social work, heping out disadvantaged kids. Evan, through the whole thing is against the idea of them meeting this guy, but Maddy pays no heed. Her parents, friends and her aunt are all supportive of it. Her decision creates a crack in her relationship with Evan, he isn't doing so good. He's falling apart, seeking revenge on the man who stole his life. What will come of it? Is Jeremy really all safe? Is social work good for Maddy?
The book was slow, and there were no endearing characteristics with any of the characters, nothing to have the reader care about them: there were no quirks, nothing funny, cute, or even remotely intriguing. Sure, they all had their stories: Jeremy's was distressing, but I just had no emotional investment of their turn out. I just didn't care. Initially.
Don't get me wrong though, the writer wrote well. It was just how the characters were introduced: you either loved them or hated them. As is the case with most books, the characters make up the story. You don't like the characters, you don't like the book. What I did like, however, was the children in the book, they were more real, more anger, more passion. Perhaps because they were children, I was more sympathetic, but they were written extremely well. And, the bits of their stories that were hinted at signified darmer undertones. Mysterious, and I wanted to know more. As is clear, I was invested in them- but they only really served as the backdrop for Maddy's story, the props if you will.
The story did end well, better than the book's beginning. I was glad that there was no romance between ex-criminal and victim, that would have been too much too soon, even though there was obvious sexual tension. But, I can see the possibility of this happening in the second book (I really hope there will be another!) It was also pretty awesome how the writer was able to create a vibe with the characters. Very near the beginning, Evan was annoying and off putting, I even thought he'd been involved in the crime (I would have liked that, a sort of inside job). Scandalous, though at the end of the day it was only a bookstore- not a bank vault. But with his later actions, I wonder will Maddy ever be able to forgive him? He was closer to her heart, or will there be a role reversal: Jeremy lenient, and Maddy not so much? I feel this was brilliantly foreshadowed at the beginning with Maddy and Evan's reaction towards Jeremy. Except, this time, Maddy might not be as forgiving. Hopefully, we'll find out what happens in a second book?
I received this book through NetGalley.
kathryn08's review
4.0
An easy read about a subject that I imagine is anything but easy if you’ve experienced what the main character has experienced. I liked the characters - Maddy especially was lovely! I think I’d have liked to see a bit more depth in the characters, however the fact that they aren’t as fleshed out as I might like may be due to this book being more YA than I normally read. But having said that it slots into the YA category and has a young adult for the main character, I don’t mean to imply that this book doesn’t have relevance for adults as well, because dealing with the issues of being hurt and choosing whether to forgive or allow bitterness to take over is applicable whatever our age.
I look forward to reading more of Lynne Stringer’s work.
I look forward to reading more of Lynne Stringer’s work.
siajng's review
3.0
While reading this story it felt like I was reading a diary. It was interesting to read about the two characters with PTSD and the different ways they dealt with it. Maddy's story sends a powerful message of forgiveness, how to cope with trauma and move on from painful situations.
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