The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
dontanam's review
4.0
That was pretty good. Fast paced and engrossing. I couldn't put it down. More thoughts later
hope_elizabeth_rose's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
3.75
joliendelandsheer's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not going to write a full review on my blog, so I'm going to sum up my thoughts on this book here.
what I liked
♦ biker gang story
♦ interesting look on the lives of two young women, and the difficult situations they find themselves in
♦ Tourmaline and Virginia have to teach themselves, and each other, how to get out of the horrible situations they're in
♦ focused on friendship, family and loyalty
what I didn't like
♦ this isn't really a story about the friendship between two women, which is actually why I picked this up
♦ a rather unhealthy friendship, or really a nonexistent one, since I don't feel like these women are friends at all
♦ romance subplots were so unnecessary
Overall, this was an okay book for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
what I liked
♦ biker gang story
♦ interesting look on the lives of two young women, and the difficult situations they find themselves in
♦ Tourmaline and Virginia have to teach themselves, and each other, how to get out of the horrible situations they're in
♦ focused on friendship, family and loyalty
what I didn't like
♦ this isn't really a story about the friendship between two women, which is actually why I picked this up
♦ a rather unhealthy friendship, or really a nonexistent one, since I don't feel like these women are friends at all
♦ romance subplots were so unnecessary
Overall, this was an okay book for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
aquietglow's review
4.0
I'm a little disappointed, but I figured out pretty early that this was not what I expected and I still enjoyed it. Maybe 3.5 stars is more accurate?
I think it picked up in the middle, but I spent a lot of time feeling confused. Part of that is probably the characters being a little clueless about some things, but it didn't feel... smooth? It felt like things were left out, skipped over, unclear.
There were times when I was nervous, when I really didn't know what was going to happen or what certain consequences would be, which I bet some readers really enjoy.
When I say it's not what I expected, I mean I thought Virginia and Tourmaline were gonna fall in love! I should've known they wouldn't just from reading the reviews on the back.
I imagine some people will hate the love interests and age gaps, but I made my peace and could deal with it. Some of the race stuff was... clunky. There was an explicit attempt to address stuff, but. It's hard for that to be enough when Cash isn't a main character and we don't spend a lot of time with him.
Truly I was frustrated that these two girls were always surrounded by men, older men, depending on them, needing their help, fighting off the bad ones. Just. So many men. I just wanted to step in and help them and give them tools to help themselves. It was great when they did figure it out! "We're friends because when girls -- women -- are alone in this world, they're easier to pick off." That's beautiful! I wanted more of the book where the two are in harmony, working together. I loved Tourmaline being real and yelling at her dad, demanding to be seen! It wasn't awful, but it was less of what I wanted it to be.
I think it picked up in the middle, but I spent a lot of time feeling confused. Part of that is probably the characters being a little clueless about some things, but it didn't feel... smooth? It felt like things were left out, skipped over, unclear.
There were times when I was nervous, when I really didn't know what was going to happen or what certain consequences would be, which I bet some readers really enjoy.
When I say it's not what I expected, I mean I thought Virginia and Tourmaline were gonna fall in love! I should've known they wouldn't just from reading the reviews on the back.
I imagine some people will hate the love interests and age gaps, but I made my peace and could deal with it. Some of the race stuff was... clunky. There was an explicit attempt to address stuff, but. It's hard for that to be enough when Cash isn't a main character and we don't spend a lot of time with him.
Truly I was frustrated that these two girls were always surrounded by men, older men, depending on them, needing their help, fighting off the bad ones. Just. So many men. I just wanted to step in and help them and give them tools to help themselves. It was great when they did figure it out! "We're friends because when girls -- women -- are alone in this world, they're easier to pick off." That's beautiful! I wanted more of the book where the two are in harmony, working together. I loved Tourmaline being real and yelling at her dad, demanding to be seen! It wasn't awful, but it was less of what I wanted it to be.
reviewsfromabookworm's review
2.0
Clearly I'm the odd one out here, this just didn't work for me at all. Full review coming soon.
taylorg_1005's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
andreacaro's review
5.0
My only grievance about this book is that it wasn't about 9000 pages longer, I loved this?!
readingundertheradar's review
3.0
I felt really torn about this one—I think I expected to love it and I was just at a "like" with it. It was nice to read a story about working class Southerners, as I don't really find a good representation of the life I had growing up, but this was an extreme and definitely not in my experience wheelhouse, but I did like the story lines of the characters and their clubs and involvements. Overall, I was intrigued, but left feeling like a lot of characters were still underdeveloped and like the end was a very quick wrap-up rather than working on a more difficult, slower ending.
I loved the dynamic between Tourmaline and Virginia and felt they were developed very well, but I never really got a sense of any of the other characters, and though the writing was strong, it still felt a little lacking. I hate when I seem to be the only one who didn't LOVE a book, which seems to be the case with this one. Anyone else out there? Still really liked it... but nothing blew me away.
I loved the dynamic between Tourmaline and Virginia and felt they were developed very well, but I never really got a sense of any of the other characters, and though the writing was strong, it still felt a little lacking. I hate when I seem to be the only one who didn't LOVE a book, which seems to be the case with this one. Anyone else out there? Still really liked it... but nothing blew me away.
whalien_reads's review
4.0
***Thank you NetGalley and Amulet Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review***
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Is it too soon to say that Done Dirt Cheap is one of my favorite books of 2017? According to my extensive research, it’s not. Before I begin, I feel like it is my duty to apologize to you guys in advance for all the flailing, gushing, and squealing that is coming your way. You have been warned. So without further ado, let’s get into the review.
Let me just start off by saying that Done Dirt Cheap was not what I had expected at all. It was so much better than what I could have ever imagined. It was heart-warming, hilarious, and gut-wrenching all at the same time. It had everything I could ever ask for in a book…badass female protagonists, slow and burning romances (and all the teasing that happens throughout the book…*pounds fist on chest* be still my beating heart), motorcycles, and some freaking GIRL POWER!
One thing that I absolutely loved about Done Dirt Cheap was how hilarious some of the descriptions for certain people were. One of my favorites has got to be when Virginia described Tourmaline for the very first time.
“Tourmaline-pretty, blond, blue-eyed Wonder Bread-with-margarine girl, despite her father’s reputation-turned and gulped like a goldfish wearing Lilly Pulitzer.”
I was doubling over in laughter when I read it. I admit it. It took me a couple of minutes to regain my composure after laughing so much. There is just something about the way that Sarah describes people and places that wholly captivates me. I personally think that her way of describing characters, makes imagining them so much more interesting and fun. I have said this a million times and will continue to say it for a million more, I was enthralled by the poetic writing from the very first page. I mean, just look at the beauty that is the quote below.
“The night and shadows and moonlight mixed in Virginia’s hair, seeming to pour out of her body as if she were emitting the night itself.”
Besides these beautiful descriptions, I’m pretty sure it goes without saying that I also adored the characters. I loved how they were all relatable, full of personality, and yet so different from one another. And while I do love Tourmaline and Virginia to pieces, I think that my favorite character has got to be Jason. He is just something else entirely; he won me over with his sass, which is off the charts by the way.
Exhibit A
“Go not breathe somewhere else.”
Exhibit B
“Why do you sleep on the floor?”
“It feels safer.”
“Why do you have a mattress?”
“So I don’t look like a serial killer when I bring a woman back.”
Exhibit C
“Because I’m a sugar-frosted fucktard of the first order.”
Throughout the story we see Tourmaline and Virginia go from being wary of each other to trusting one another wholeheartedly. And I absolutely loved how one of, if not the main, focus of this book was the developing friendship between the two. What is even better is that since they grow to have such a strong and stable friendship, we don’t see any of the stereotypical, “bitchy” girl attitudes (i.e. fighting over a boy, which result in them ending their friendship of 50 or so years) that we so often see in books that do have female friendships. It’s just very unrealistic that a 2+ year friendship will just burn to the ground over a guy or girl. No guy or girl is worth that in my opinion.
Aside from that, I think the thing that I loved most about Done Dirt Cheap was how Sarah talked about issues that have become much more prevalent in our society today, rather than shy away from them. For example, Sarah mentions physical, mental, and emotional abuse as well as racial discrimination and drug use. It is so important for these issues to be brought up and be dissected even further because they are often glossed over and/or romanticized in books, which is NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL. There are also so many people who go through at least one of the aforementioned ordeals on a daily basis, which is absolutely heart breaking. And it is important for them to know that there are others around the world who are going through a similar situation and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, that they just have to get past the dark to reach it.
This book was such a breath of fresh air. I honestly could not have read it at such a more perfect time in my life. I always hear people say how much they related to a certain character in a book and I would go about minding my own business, not saying anything because I never felt that deep of a personal connection to a single character in my life. It wasn’t until I read Done Dirt Cheap that I was finally able to relate so deeply to not only one of the main characters but to both. I will forever be thankful to Sarah for that. During the course of the book, we see how both Tourmaline and Virginia are trying to overcome certain obstacles that life has thrown their way and how they are trying to navigate their future. Coincidentally, that entails the beauty that is college. This in specific struck home with me because it has only been like 8 or 9 months since I have had to make similar decisions to those of Tourmaline and Virginia. Till this day I think about the choices I made regarding college and my future. But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that I made those choices because they were what was best for me.
If you have been able to trudge on and make it past my never-ending love for this book, thank you! And just to summarize my overall feelings towards this book…you should all add it to your tbr because it is worth every second of your time.
OH MY GOD YOU GUYS THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! Is it too soon to say that Done Dirt Cheap is one of my favorite books of 2017? According to my extensive research, it’s not. Before I begin, I feel like it is my duty to apologize to you guys in advance for all the flailing, gushing, and squealing that is coming your way. You have been warned. So without further ado, let’s get into the review.
Let me just start off by saying that Done Dirt Cheap was not what I had expected at all. It was so much better than what I could have ever imagined. It was heart-warming, hilarious, and gut-wrenching all at the same time. It had everything I could ever ask for in a book…badass female protagonists, slow and burning romances (and all the teasing that happens throughout the book…*pounds fist on chest* be still my beating heart), motorcycles, and some freaking GIRL POWER!
One thing that I absolutely loved about Done Dirt Cheap was how hilarious some of the descriptions for certain people were. One of my favorites has got to be when Virginia described Tourmaline for the very first time.
“Tourmaline-pretty, blond, blue-eyed Wonder Bread-with-margarine girl, despite her father’s reputation-turned and gulped like a goldfish wearing Lilly Pulitzer.”
I was doubling over in laughter when I read it. I admit it. It took me a couple of minutes to regain my composure after laughing so much. There is just something about the way that Sarah describes people and places that wholly captivates me. I personally think that her way of describing characters, makes imagining them so much more interesting and fun. I have said this a million times and will continue to say it for a million more, I was enthralled by the poetic writing from the very first page. I mean, just look at the beauty that is the quote below.
“The night and shadows and moonlight mixed in Virginia’s hair, seeming to pour out of her body as if she were emitting the night itself.”
Besides these beautiful descriptions, I’m pretty sure it goes without saying that I also adored the characters. I loved how they were all relatable, full of personality, and yet so different from one another. And while I do love Tourmaline and Virginia to pieces, I think that my favorite character has got to be Jason. He is just something else entirely; he won me over with his sass, which is off the charts by the way.
Exhibit A
“Go not breathe somewhere else.”
Exhibit B
“Why do you sleep on the floor?”
“It feels safer.”
“Why do you have a mattress?”
“So I don’t look like a serial killer when I bring a woman back.”
Exhibit C
“Because I’m a sugar-frosted fucktard of the first order.”
Throughout the story we see Tourmaline and Virginia go from being wary of each other to trusting one another wholeheartedly. And I absolutely loved how one of, if not the main, focus of this book was the developing friendship between the two. What is even better is that since they grow to have such a strong and stable friendship, we don’t see any of the stereotypical, “bitchy” girl attitudes (i.e. fighting over a boy, which result in them ending their friendship of 50 or so years) that we so often see in books that do have female friendships. It’s just very unrealistic that a 2+ year friendship will just burn to the ground over a guy or girl. No guy or girl is worth that in my opinion.
Aside from that, I think the thing that I loved most about Done Dirt Cheap was how Sarah talked about issues that have become much more prevalent in our society today, rather than shy away from them. For example, Sarah mentions physical, mental, and emotional abuse as well as racial discrimination and drug use. It is so important for these issues to be brought up and be dissected even further because they are often glossed over and/or romanticized in books, which is NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL. There are also so many people who go through at least one of the aforementioned ordeals on a daily basis, which is absolutely heart breaking. And it is important for them to know that there are others around the world who are going through a similar situation and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, that they just have to get past the dark to reach it.
This book was such a breath of fresh air. I honestly could not have read it at such a more perfect time in my life. I always hear people say how much they related to a certain character in a book and I would go about minding my own business, not saying anything because I never felt that deep of a personal connection to a single character in my life. It wasn’t until I read Done Dirt Cheap that I was finally able to relate so deeply to not only one of the main characters but to both. I will forever be thankful to Sarah for that. During the course of the book, we see how both Tourmaline and Virginia are trying to overcome certain obstacles that life has thrown their way and how they are trying to navigate their future. Coincidentally, that entails the beauty that is college. This in specific struck home with me because it has only been like 8 or 9 months since I have had to make similar decisions to those of Tourmaline and Virginia. Till this day I think about the choices I made regarding college and my future. But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that I made those choices because they were what was best for me.
If you have been able to trudge on and make it past my never-ending love for this book, thank you! And just to summarize my overall feelings towards this book…you should all add it to your tbr because it is worth every second of your time.