Reviews tagging 'Death'

Breathless by Jennifer Niven

6 reviews

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to read this book because I wanted to read more work from authors that I've enjoyed previously. I enjoyed All the Bright Places and I’ve seen this book in bookshops and online that I thought I would give it a go. This book hurt my head and I didn’t really care for the main characters. 

This book is based on Claudine Henry, and she wasn’t supposed to be spending her summer on this remote island off the coast of Georgia. She was supposed to be on a road trip with her best friend and spending every minute together before they go to college. But after her father makes a shock announcement, she is exiled with her shaken mother, with no phone service and no one she knows. She is completely cut off. Until she meets Jeremiah who is free spirited, mysterious and beautiful. Their chemistry is immediate and irresistible. They both know that whatever they have can only last the summer, but maybe one summer is enough. 

My issue with this book is that nothing happens. Absolutely nothing interesting. It just sort of moves along, there are no twists, no turns. It was very predictable. Coming of age learns her father is a cheater and now she has daddy issues and she hates her mother for ruining her summer, she falls out with her best friend because her mother ruins their summer, she falls in love with the bad boy, they have sex, they fall out, get back together and then they leave to carry on with their lives. I wasn’t shocked or hooked, I was getting bored, and I had a headache from rolling my eyes too much. Claudine was annoying me for like 65% of this book, her thoughts were exhausting, and she was making everything sound like the end of the world. Miah was just shut off and then became too emotional when the flip was switched, I would’ve liked to see more of a slow change. The ending wasn’t the ending, because it felt like it was setting itself for a sequel that hasn’t happened.  

Like most people, I liked the island aspect of it and I would have LOVED for this to be a self-growth journey for Claud rather than the fact that she spend 20% complaining about the fact that she was a virgin and wanted to sleep with someone else and then she loses her virginity and all of a sudden she’s not self-conscious or overthinking anything? Bullshit.  

I just wanted more from this book, I think my expectations was way too high after All the Bright Places and I don’t know if I will be reading Holding Up the Universe after reading this.  
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_mm_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I liked the vibe of this book and the way this story is very personal for the author and there really is a reallife Jeremiah! Butttt it felt like there was no plot at all!
And why include ghosts in the story if you’re not gonna do anything with it?! (Such a short piece in the story) Andd at the beginning of the book we heard about the splitting from the parents and i was like okay so the dad has cheated. So in my head i already knew the plot so for me there was no plot at all! I was very disappointed by that.
For me this book was such a slow read because nothing really happend! The ending also didn’t really surprise me (it was kinda predictable) So i’m disappointed. 2.5/5 
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maddy_sofie's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

3.75

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maple_dove's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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dlrosebyh's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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kajasversion's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book broke me.

I mean my heart is broken to pieces… and then this book took it and threw it on the floor and stepped on it.

The whole book was such a lovely story to read and i love how vulnerable the characters got with each other… but the ending… the ending had me bawling my eyes out.

There were moments so raw and intense you could tell the storyline  was really close to the author. 

I just finished reading the novel and i still can’t comprehend it. The quotes in this book are next level and the tension between the characters is just *chef’s kiss*. 

I love how the characters are flawed and that’s what book mostly focuses on because it is an actual depiction of how people are.

 I will definitely recommend it to everyone looking for a good summer read… just be warned about the ending.

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