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ashleighmacro's review against another edition
4.0
A Heart Bent Out of Shape was definitely a deviation for me when it comes to my reading habits. Usually, I stick to the YA genre, but once in a while I like to dip in to the Adult genre for a change. This time, I chose to read A Heart Bent Out of Shape, which happens to be the first book I’ve been sent through Bookbridgr (which is awesome, by the way).
I’ve never read Emylia’s acclaimed debut novel, The Book of Summers, but I thought that the blurb for A Heart Bent Out of Shape (which was published in America as The Swiss Affair) sounded intriguing, so decided to give it a shot and I’m really pleased that I did.
It was easy for me to immediately relate with Hadley, the main character in this book, because she’s just 20 years old and is a literature-loving uni student. I’m 23 and have already graduated but it wasn’t so long ago that I found myself in the same stage of life that she’s in.
The beginning of this novel is quite light-hearted, following Hadley as she nervously embarks on an adventure to Switzerland and meets new friends. But just by reading the blurb, I knew that the reading experience would soon change when a devastating accident occurs and makes living in Switzerland difficult for Hadley. I won’t tell you what happens, of course. You’ll have to find that one out for yourself.
From that moment onwards, the feel of the novel is sombre, with just little moments of happiness soon dismissed by waves of guilt and heartache. The romance is confusing. While powerful, Hadley’s love often falters and there’s always a sense of doubt. This is in part because the romance is a forbidden one (let’s face it, we all enjoy a bit of forbidden romance in a novel), but also because there’s never complete trust in their relationship.
I think I would have liked to have believed in the relationship more. I was never completely sure about it, and perhaps the reader isn’t supposed to be. But a stronger bond would have made the twists much more impactful and heartbreaking, though they did manage to be unexpected.
I did love the bond between Hugo, who became one of my favourite characters by the end, and Hadley. It’s unexpected and unusual, but true and heartwarming, a nice change from the fragile relationships dotted throughout the rest of the novel.
The ending left me a little disappointed, though. I felt like I wanted something more to give me that satisfying feeling that I love when I read the last page of a good novel, but it left things quite open and I know there won’t be a sequel. Maybe I’m just being greedy.
Overall, I really liked A Heart Bent Out of Shape. I can’t exactly say that I enjoyed it because it’s quite an upsetting and disheartening read at times, but Emliya’s writing style is beautiful, and I’ll definitely be reading her debut novel at some point in the near future.
Originally published on my blog, Ashleigh Online
I’ve never read Emylia’s acclaimed debut novel, The Book of Summers, but I thought that the blurb for A Heart Bent Out of Shape (which was published in America as The Swiss Affair) sounded intriguing, so decided to give it a shot and I’m really pleased that I did.
It was easy for me to immediately relate with Hadley, the main character in this book, because she’s just 20 years old and is a literature-loving uni student. I’m 23 and have already graduated but it wasn’t so long ago that I found myself in the same stage of life that she’s in.
The beginning of this novel is quite light-hearted, following Hadley as she nervously embarks on an adventure to Switzerland and meets new friends. But just by reading the blurb, I knew that the reading experience would soon change when a devastating accident occurs and makes living in Switzerland difficult for Hadley. I won’t tell you what happens, of course. You’ll have to find that one out for yourself.
From that moment onwards, the feel of the novel is sombre, with just little moments of happiness soon dismissed by waves of guilt and heartache. The romance is confusing. While powerful, Hadley’s love often falters and there’s always a sense of doubt. This is in part because the romance is a forbidden one (let’s face it, we all enjoy a bit of forbidden romance in a novel), but also because there’s never complete trust in their relationship.
I think I would have liked to have believed in the relationship more. I was never completely sure about it, and perhaps the reader isn’t supposed to be. But a stronger bond would have made the twists much more impactful and heartbreaking, though they did manage to be unexpected.
I did love the bond between Hugo, who became one of my favourite characters by the end, and Hadley. It’s unexpected and unusual, but true and heartwarming, a nice change from the fragile relationships dotted throughout the rest of the novel.
The ending left me a little disappointed, though. I felt like I wanted something more to give me that satisfying feeling that I love when I read the last page of a good novel, but it left things quite open and I know there won’t be a sequel. Maybe I’m just being greedy.
Overall, I really liked A Heart Bent Out of Shape. I can’t exactly say that I enjoyed it because it’s quite an upsetting and disheartening read at times, but Emliya’s writing style is beautiful, and I’ll definitely be reading her debut novel at some point in the near future.
Originally published on my blog, Ashleigh Online
trusselltales's review against another edition
4.0
I took too long reading this; I got a library book with a waiting list while I was part-way through and so had a stop-start reading experience. This book has an absolutely wonderful sense of place, first experiences and the powerful nature of friendships, it seemed to lose momentum a bit in the middle, but that might be due to picking it up again after a break of a few days. Very enjoyable.
heatherreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I generally dislike romantic books. They're full of clichés and generally make me want to vomit. But, as a part of my ladylike-ness can never quite shake my love of Bridget Jones, it's not impossible for me to get caught up in a little romantic story. It's unlikely. Not impossible.
And I really enjoyed this book. It's surprising, really. I think it's because, for all it seems like it'll be consumed with romance, it's not.
It's heavily romanticised - Hadley is consumed with every dreamy notion of Switzerland, and is generally an old romantic when it comes to literature. Needless to say, that transpired into her day to day living. And, sure, you could see who she would be with soon enough (sooner, if you read the blurb before you started, unlike me) but it was all very subtle, and I even found myself willing them to hurry up and get on with it.
The few days away for New Year were the culmination of what the book (I guess) wants you to want, and the fact that the year is what Hadley is noted to never forget, it really lies in those few days. Really, I think.
It's not a clean cut romance - the book is more consumed with tragedy, mystery and Hugo, an aging author who has lost, and subsequently rediscovers, his passion for writing. The romance fuels plot, and ultimately settles as a story to look back on from a year abroad.
I like the fact I'm disappointed by how shortlived it was, because I had expected myself not to care at all. How pleasantly surprising.
And I really enjoyed this book. It's surprising, really. I think it's because, for all it seems like it'll be consumed with romance, it's not.
It's heavily romanticised - Hadley is consumed with every dreamy notion of Switzerland, and is generally an old romantic when it comes to literature. Needless to say, that transpired into her day to day living. And, sure, you could see who she would be with soon enough (sooner, if you read the blurb before you started, unlike me) but it was all very subtle, and I even found myself willing them to hurry up and get on with it.
The few days away for New Year were the culmination of what the book (I guess) wants you to want, and the fact that the year is what Hadley is noted to never forget, it really lies in those few days. Really, I think.
It's not a clean cut romance - the book is more consumed with tragedy, mystery and Hugo, an aging author who has lost, and subsequently rediscovers, his passion for writing. The romance fuels plot, and ultimately settles as a story to look back on from a year abroad.
I like the fact I'm disappointed by how shortlived it was, because I had expected myself not to care at all. How pleasantly surprising.
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