foreverbeautifulbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This story was another one that drove angst to a whole other level. I'm not sure I would have liked this one as much as I did if I wasn't already on a roll with the whole needing more and more New Adult drama. I swear these authors think up the worst possibly situation and think "What is the worst way these people can handle it." And they write a book.
I didn't mind so much with this one because I really honestly liked both the main characters. The story telling was strong and drove the plot forward and had me needing to read more and more and see what happened. I read this book initially because it promised Whovian Fangirl/boy moments (There was one mention of this which kinda made me sad, I was hoping for a sit down of the last Christmas Special and have both people break it down from different POV.) Alas, they just shared their fav Doctors and it wasn't really all that of a surprise. Then they make it seem like it is going to be a whole John Tucker Must Die scenario. I happen to love and own that movie so I was all in.
I have to say that a lot did disappoint me because it ended up being a really sad. Also, people acted really irrational which had me blinking at my page. This is another book about how people handle violent loss in their life. Are there really this many people that don't cope well with loss? I mean the lead male had to be stuck in a loony bin. If I am being frank, I don't think that is what needed to be done. He wasn't crazy, he was just, well, acting out. And the sister stuck him in one like he was going crazy. Ok, sleeping with a lot chicks and partying your night away is not psycho behavior. Your filling up the system with a body that didn't need to be there. Even the lead male thought this and was basically shining his sister on so she would leave him alone.
I mean I get where she was coming from, she didn't want him to self-destruct and lose him like they lost their parents. It just seemed all a bit over the top for me. The only saving grace for me was the writing and I liked Ellie, and I liked Ellie and Julian when they are happy and together. It was just so depressing until the two leads finally kinda said forget everyone else and moved on away from everyone else and decided to give one another a chance. They both were damaged in my opinion I think they needed to move past the bad that had happened to them and just look forward. Although, the author still ended it a bit up in the air and sad if you want me to be honest. Like the characters still weren't over stuff. Yet, they were happy, but the author didn't want them to be happy.
It was disappointing and yet something about it endeared me to it enough to keep going and root for the two characters.
As a whole, it could have been better and less... well... sad.
*I received a copy of this book for free from Belfry Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I didn't mind so much with this one because I really honestly liked both the main characters. The story telling was strong and drove the plot forward and had me needing to read more and more and see what happened. I read this book initially because it promised Whovian Fangirl/boy moments (There was one mention of this which kinda made me sad, I was hoping for a sit down of the last Christmas Special and have both people break it down from different POV.) Alas, they just shared their fav Doctors and it wasn't really all that of a surprise. Then they make it seem like it is going to be a whole John Tucker Must Die scenario. I happen to love and own that movie so I was all in.
I have to say that a lot did disappoint me because it ended up being a really sad. Also, people acted really irrational which had me blinking at my page. This is another book about how people handle violent loss in their life. Are there really this many people that don't cope well with loss? I mean the lead male had to be stuck in a loony bin. If I am being frank, I don't think that is what needed to be done. He wasn't crazy, he was just, well, acting out. And the sister stuck him in one like he was going crazy. Ok, sleeping with a lot chicks and partying your night away is not psycho behavior. Your filling up the system with a body that didn't need to be there. Even the lead male thought this and was basically shining his sister on so she would leave him alone.
I mean I get where she was coming from, she didn't want him to self-destruct and lose him like they lost their parents. It just seemed all a bit over the top for me. The only saving grace for me was the writing and I liked Ellie, and I liked Ellie and Julian when they are happy and together. It was just so depressing until the two leads finally kinda said forget everyone else and moved on away from everyone else and decided to give one another a chance. They both were damaged in my opinion I think they needed to move past the bad that had happened to them and just look forward. Although, the author still ended it a bit up in the air and sad if you want me to be honest. Like the characters still weren't over stuff. Yet, they were happy, but the author didn't want them to be happy.
It was disappointing and yet something about it endeared me to it enough to keep going and root for the two characters.
As a whole, it could have been better and less... well... sad.
*I received a copy of this book for free from Belfry Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
mandy_pandy's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! From the description, I thought this book sounded a lot like the movie John Tucker Must Die. Although it did have a similar premise, there was so much more to this book than I originally thought. Julian was such a complex character and I loved him. I was really interested in his back-story and why he was the way he was with women. I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
raciethereader's review against another edition
3.0
Ellie is a washed up childhood actress who takes a job to put a womanizer in his spot. But she falls in love, as does he. What follows is a sweet and quirky love story.
liferhi_inspired's review against another edition
4.0
While the basic plot of the story isn't something all together new- girl gets a makeover to lure boy, boy falls in love and hearts are broken- this book however adds additional layers and twists that you don't really see coming. This was a charming book with characters that are both believable and likable. I found myself really falling for Ellie and Julian and when a twist happened so to Julian toward the end (I don't want to spoil it too much), my heart really went out for him.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.*
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.*
rks97's review against another edition
3.0
'He's Come Undone' was a really enjoyable, short read. The plot was completely ridiculous but I still loved reading it.
The story is about Ellie who was a child star and has now been employed to break Julian's heart by the girls who's hearts were broken by him. So the reason I went for this book is because it sounded so much like the movie I adore, 'John Tucker Must Die'. Of course I was expecting it to be a cute, cheesy romance, much like the film, but it was nothing like that and I'm glad.
Ellie was such an interesting character, she was real and so down to Earth. Of course, this was a super short story so we didn't get as much depth to her Hollywood past and her issues with her mother as much as we would have liked.
I thought Julian might be a bit unlikable but he was so lovely and I really liked him. We see quite a bit into his past and that lets us understand him so much better. I definitely do feel as if we got to know Julian better than Ellie but I still would have loved to have seen more.
The relationship between these two was definitely quite instant. I did love that for Julian it was because she made him feel more hopeful I guess. Their relationship was quite sexual and I would have liked to have seen more deep conversations.
The dual POVs were written well and they both had separate and distinctive voices which were consistent too. Also, there was a chapter in Julian's sister's POV too which was a great addition.
All in all, it was a really sweet short story that is so easy to fly through. If you like slow romances with a large build up I don't think this is for you, but it is brill!
*Thanks to the author who sent a free copy in exchange of a review*
The story is about Ellie who was a child star and has now been employed to break Julian's heart by the girls who's hearts were broken by him. So the reason I went for this book is because it sounded so much like the movie I adore, 'John Tucker Must Die'. Of course I was expecting it to be a cute, cheesy romance, much like the film, but it was nothing like that and I'm glad.
Ellie was such an interesting character, she was real and so down to Earth. Of course, this was a super short story so we didn't get as much depth to her Hollywood past and her issues with her mother as much as we would have liked.
I thought Julian might be a bit unlikable but he was so lovely and I really liked him. We see quite a bit into his past and that lets us understand him so much better. I definitely do feel as if we got to know Julian better than Ellie but I still would have loved to have seen more.
The relationship between these two was definitely quite instant. I did love that for Julian it was because she made him feel more hopeful I guess. Their relationship was quite sexual and I would have liked to have seen more deep conversations.
The dual POVs were written well and they both had separate and distinctive voices which were consistent too. Also, there was a chapter in Julian's sister's POV too which was a great addition.
All in all, it was a really sweet short story that is so easy to fly through. If you like slow romances with a large build up I don't think this is for you, but it is brill!
*Thanks to the author who sent a free copy in exchange of a review*
authorheatherw's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, this book was completely unexpected. From the blurb, I thought it would be more of a reformed playboy type of romance. Although there are lighthearted moments in the first half, the book takes a darker turn in the second half.
Ellie was very likable. I wouldn’t normally root for a heroine who takes money to fool a heartbreaker, but it worked. I liked how she was at her lowest point when she meets Julian, but she still has an unbreakable spirit. She never complained about the hand life dealt her, but instead tried to find ways out of the mess.
I thought Julian would be horrid. But I really liked him and my heart broke from him once it was revealed all he had endured. His past redeemed his actions against the women he dumped before meeting Ellie.
The first half had some laugh out loud moments. But there was also major chemistry between Julian and Ellie. So much angst happened between the pages, but the break-ups and make-ups felt believable. There were a few super intense scenes between them and this was one book where I was unsure if they would get their happily ever after.
He’s Come Undone had a lot of heat and the sex scenes were pretty off the charts. They were a little sad too because of how desperate Julian seems to be to use physical connections to erase his pain.
The second half had some very dark moments and I wouldn’t recommend the book if you’re looking for a sweet, candy-like contemporary romance. I enjoyed both parts of the novel and I did speed read through it. This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I definitely enjoy her work.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
Ellie was very likable. I wouldn’t normally root for a heroine who takes money to fool a heartbreaker, but it worked. I liked how she was at her lowest point when she meets Julian, but she still has an unbreakable spirit. She never complained about the hand life dealt her, but instead tried to find ways out of the mess.
I thought Julian would be horrid. But I really liked him and my heart broke from him once it was revealed all he had endured. His past redeemed his actions against the women he dumped before meeting Ellie.
The first half had some laugh out loud moments. But there was also major chemistry between Julian and Ellie. So much angst happened between the pages, but the break-ups and make-ups felt believable. There were a few super intense scenes between them and this was one book where I was unsure if they would get their happily ever after.
He’s Come Undone had a lot of heat and the sex scenes were pretty off the charts. They were a little sad too because of how desperate Julian seems to be to use physical connections to erase his pain.
The second half had some very dark moments and I wouldn’t recommend the book if you’re looking for a sweet, candy-like contemporary romance. I enjoyed both parts of the novel and I did speed read through it. This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I definitely enjoy her work.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
melinda's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this New Adult book just from the description. Former child actress Ellie Barlowe is hired by a few college sorority type girls who want to take revenge on a guy who they feel dumped them all for no reason. It sounded like it could easily be a campy type movie-ish book that wouldn’t have much depth. But I was definitely wrong about that, there was a bit of campy feeling in the beginning before we get to really know the characters, but once we get to know them the depth comes with that.
Ellie goes undercover to attract the bad boy who broke all the girls hearts, Julian. She begins to plant herself in various places where she knows he will be, waiting for him to take the bait. From there as they get to know each other Ellie wonders if she’s doing the right thing or if she should stop the charade before it goes too far.
There is more to this story than the typical girl meets boy under false circumstances story, which is what made this book so good for me. Julian has a back story that was surprising and made Ellie feel for him and more than that, want to fall for him. Their emotional connection grows as the story goes on and of course they have major issues to get through.
I really enjoyed this book, while there was some angst there was still the HEA that I want and need in books.
Ellie goes undercover to attract the bad boy who broke all the girls hearts, Julian. She begins to plant herself in various places where she knows he will be, waiting for him to take the bait. From there as they get to know each other Ellie wonders if she’s doing the right thing or if she should stop the charade before it goes too far.
There is more to this story than the typical girl meets boy under false circumstances story, which is what made this book so good for me. Julian has a back story that was surprising and made Ellie feel for him and more than that, want to fall for him. Their emotional connection grows as the story goes on and of course they have major issues to get through.
I really enjoyed this book, while there was some angst there was still the HEA that I want and need in books.
melinda's review
4.0
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this New Adult book just from the description. Former child actress Ellie Barlowe is hired by a few college sorority type girls who want to take revenge on a guy who they feel dumped them all for no reason. It sounded like it could easily be a campy type movie-ish book that wouldn’t have much depth. But I was definitely wrong about that, there was a bit of campy feeling in the beginning before we get to really know the characters, but once we get to know them the depth comes with that.
Ellie goes undercover to attract the bad boy who broke all the girls hearts, Julian. She begins to plant herself in various places where she knows he will be, waiting for him to take the bait. From there as they get to know each other Ellie wonders if she’s doing the right thing or if she should stop the charade before it goes too far.
There is more to this story than the typical girl meets boy under false circumstances story, which is what made this book so good for me. Julian has a back story that was surprising and made Ellie feel for him and more than that, want to fall for him. Their emotional connection grows as the story goes on and of course they have major issues to get through.
I really enjoyed this book, while there was some angst there was still the HEA that I want and need in books.
Ellie goes undercover to attract the bad boy who broke all the girls hearts, Julian. She begins to plant herself in various places where she knows he will be, waiting for him to take the bait. From there as they get to know each other Ellie wonders if she’s doing the right thing or if she should stop the charade before it goes too far.
There is more to this story than the typical girl meets boy under false circumstances story, which is what made this book so good for me. Julian has a back story that was surprising and made Ellie feel for him and more than that, want to fall for him. Their emotional connection grows as the story goes on and of course they have major issues to get through.
I really enjoyed this book, while there was some angst there was still the HEA that I want and need in books.
bookishaly's review
**ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Oh, my God. So fast.
It had happened so fast.
I'd fallen for him.
Like all those other girls.
With that fascinating quote, I welcome you to the 25% mark of He's Come Undone by Theresa Weir.
Excuse me while I do the following:
Laugh uncontrollably
Stare in horror
And piss myself laughing some more
As someone who writes sporadically, I can assure you that writing something off the top of your head, without it making any sense, and coming across as trying TOO hard is normal.
What isn't normal is for that off-the-top-of-your-head mess to be published.
And He's Come Undone is a huge mess.
There is the semblance of an interesting plot:
Penniless and behind on rent, college student and once famous child actress Ellie Barlow takes on the role of a lifetime when she's hired by a group of young women to break the heart of the campus player who cruelly dumped them.
And when I say interesting, it's because it sounded unusual and, well, cool.
Was it? The opposite, in fact.
I nodded, made a big production of taking a sip of coffee, then replaced my cup on the saucer. "So what's the job? An ad? Something for school?"
All three girls leaned forward. All three girls looked over their shoulder, back at me, then whispered: "We want you to break someone's heart."
Ellie Barlow is poor, a discarded child actress and in need of money, fast. When she responds to an ad on Craigslist, the last thing she expected was to be hired to break a boy's heart -- a manwhore's, at that.
You see, Ellie is a speshul snowflake and a Mary Sue. She's not pretty, but all the men want her; she's not funny, but everyone laughs at her jokes and there is no way that hot, fit, drop-dead gorgeous Julian would fall in love with her.
Julian, on the other hand, is also a speshul snowflake, but x2.
He has a DEEP DARK UNSPEAKABLE PAST which, of course, we find out about in the first 30% of the book.
And oh, he sleeps with girls, uses them for sex, and he thinks it's okay because they made the first move, therefore he is not guilty of being a dirty, STD spreading rat.
Really, people? This is what's passing off as hot these days? Manwhoring boys that can't keep it in their pants, but it's okay because they're TROUBLED?
Let me emphasise this: you should never let a man take advantage of you, of using your precious love tunnel because he has a deep dark secret and he's irresistibly hot. Your self-worth is worth more than that, ladies. Don't let him plunder your art gallery just because he's hot. BAG A MAN WITH SUBSTANCE LADIES. COME ON!
His internal monologue is fascinatingly hilarious though:
Next to her was a pink orchid with two green fronds and a stem so long and weak it had to be supported with a wooden stick and some twist ties. I mean, come on. I knew orchids were supposed to represent something soothing, but I would often catch myself looking at that damn flower, wondering if it represented her patients.
No, Julian. Sweetie, WHAT IF SHE REALLY LIKED ORCHIDS?
The dread.
Doors.
I hated them.
I never knew what was going to be on the other side. I just never knew.
How deep of you, Julian. Because doors, man.
I get that it's supposed to tie in with his past or whatever, but it was poorly executed. He just came off as weird. As someone I definitely would not be letting anywhere near my lady region.
She watched me in that calulating way of hers. With an expression that said she thought I was full of shit and she was just waiting for me to come to my senses and admit I'd used them. God, maybe I had.
You're an idiot, boy.
Basically, what Ellie needs to do is make him fall in love with her by spreading her pretty legs and doing the dirty.
But because she's a speshul snowflake, Julian falls in love with her.
They even say those words.
40% in.
Really?
And vice versa. So when their BIG BAD NAUGHTY PASTS come to light, shit hits the fan, people cry, there's sloppy sex invo--
Oh man, the sex scenes were HILARIOUS.
Here's a list of words you should avoid using if you're trying to write a raunchy, hot sex scene:
- slapping/sucking sounds
- grunt
- drove/drive (if you're talking about someone's mouth)
- piston
- huge penis
- impale
They turn even the most lust fuelled people off. Especially if they're coupled with the following:
I impaled myself with him.
We were both sweating like mad, and our skin was beginning to make a slapping sound
Also SPARE US THE FREAKIN' INTERNAL MONOLOGUE.
The bed was moving under us, back and forth, the headboard banging against the wall and I thought I'd never fucked like this, and I'd never given into such a frenzy
One minute I was calm, thinking okay, let's have sex. The next I was out of control
I actually felt hot all over, and especially hot and even swollen between my legs. Like if a female could have an erection, then I was having one
I can't even begin to detail the things that were wrong with this book. The POV switched randomly from Ellie to Julian and once even to Julian's sister, Valerie. The all sounded the same, with no distinct personalities.
Every time a plot twist (that isn't a twist because they're immature, childish idiots who can't comprehend what the word 'responsibility' even means) they would come up with stupid, ridiculous excuses:
Ellie: IT'S ALL MY ROBBING MOTHER'S FAULT
Julian: WHAT DO YOU MEAN FUCKING AROUND ISN'T OKAY? THEY MADE THE MOVE FIRST!
Valerie: I'm obsessed with my brother and any girl that comes into visual distance of my brother will feel #MYSIBLINGWRATHHAYAAAA!
WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT.
They blame their stupid mistakes on things that happened in the past. If you're trying to be a responsible, mature adult, own up to the fact that Ellie, you had sex with Julian because some girls were willing to pay you 5k, Julian, you're a slutty man who loves the vajayjay and together, you're a big, horrible, disgusting mess that I want to bitch slap with a fish.
Okay?
Awesome.
Last thoughts: Someone said that this is "Weir at her best."
If this is Weir at her best, I don't want to see her at her worse.
#overandout
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