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bethandthebooks's review against another edition
2.0
I really thought I'd enjoy this as it seemed really dark and thrilling. Unfortunately, I struggled to finish it as it's very repetitive and too long.
It follows Steven and Ellie who go on a romantic weekend-getaway for their six month anniversary. While one of them is looking forward to spending time together, the other has a much darker idea for how the weekend will pan out. Once they arrive they realise that neither of them is who they say they are and that they're both keeping secrets.
Steven is a respected professor and Ellie is a student. While I think this is an important topic to discuss, there were so many times I nearly didn't finish this. I probably would have enjoyed it if I cared about Ellie as it's a very character-driven story, but I couldn't connect with her at all even when her tragic backstory was revealed. Steven is just unlikeable from the start.
There's a great twist near the beginning that gave me high hopes for the rest of the story, but then nothing happened until the end. Steven and Ellie spend so much time talking as she tries to convince him that what he's doing is wrong, but he can't see it. It's so repetitive and I was skim-reading most of it. It just felt like we were going round in circles. The way the narrative flows isn't very smooth either. It abruptly flips between the past and the present with some diary entries dotted throughout. I was disappointed with the ending as it felt very rushed and I thought it didn't match up with the synopsis. I was expecting it to be so much darker.
While this is an important topic to discuss, I found the book disappointing and not what I was expecting.
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
It follows Steven and Ellie who go on a romantic weekend-getaway for their six month anniversary. While one of them is looking forward to spending time together, the other has a much darker idea for how the weekend will pan out. Once they arrive they realise that neither of them is who they say they are and that they're both keeping secrets.
Steven is a respected professor and Ellie is a student. While I think this is an important topic to discuss, there were so many times I nearly didn't finish this. I probably would have enjoyed it if I cared about Ellie as it's a very character-driven story, but I couldn't connect with her at all even when her tragic backstory was revealed. Steven is just unlikeable from the start.
There's a great twist near the beginning that gave me high hopes for the rest of the story, but then nothing happened until the end. Steven and Ellie spend so much time talking as she tries to convince him that what he's doing is wrong, but he can't see it. It's so repetitive and I was skim-reading most of it. It just felt like we were going round in circles. The way the narrative flows isn't very smooth either. It abruptly flips between the past and the present with some diary entries dotted throughout. I was disappointed with the ending as it felt very rushed and I thought it didn't match up with the synopsis. I was expecting it to be so much darker.
While this is an important topic to discuss, I found the book disappointing and not what I was expecting.
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
san_dra1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
creepylilbookworm's review
3.0
This was a fast pace #MeToo thriller and it was nuts. You didn't know what to think until all the pieces came together at the end. It was hard to read a few times due to what was being said, but I guess if it makes you uncomfortable the author is doing the right thing.
judithblogtsolo's review against another edition
3.0
Ellie en Steven lijken voor de buitenwereld het perfecte koppel. Zij is namelijk een zeer intelligente en knappe studente en hij gerespecteerde en goed uitziende docent met charme. Hun liefde voor elkaar spat ervan af. Niet zo verwonderlijk dan ook dat ze besluiten om samen een weekendje weg te gaan in een verlaten huisje om zo echt eens van elkaar te genieten - zonder de afleiding van de telefoons. Wat die mensen daarbuiten echter niet weten, is dat dit enkel schijn is. Beide karakters dragen geheimen met zich mee - en de één wil koste wat koste vraag op de ander nemen. Maar waarom?
Soms heb je hoge verwachtingen van het boek en valt het tegen. Soms heb je lage verwachtingen van een boek en weet de titel in kwestie je alsnog positief te verrassen. Nou, ik kan je zeggen dat 'Een lang weekend' aan dit laatste optie voldoet. 'Een lang weekend' zou ik namelijk beschrijven als een spannend en goed geschreven psychologische roman die onder je huid kruipt. Je gaat je bedenken in welke team je zit, wie je gelijk geeft en dat terwijl er - laten we eerlijk zijn - eigen geen goed en fout is in dit verhaal. De twee karakters hebben allebei hun positieve en negatieve kanten, zo durf ik wel alvast te verklappen.
Maar ben ik helemaal overtuigd? Dat dan weer niet. Dit boek had een ster extra kunnen verdienen als het begin net wat sterker was. Ik merkte namelijk al gauw dat ik moest komen en moest wennen aan de af en toe wat literaire zinnen die zijn gebruikt. Gelukkig kon ik me daar al wel snel overheen zetten, maar daarnaast was er toch nog iets: het einde. Het had hier en daar nog wat scherper en minder langdradig kunnen zijn en teveel van hetzelfde. Maar slecht? Dat is 'Een lang weekend' van Laure van Rensburg zeker niet. Ik ben ergens juist wel benieuwd wat deze auteur - van wie ik hiervoor nog nooit iets heb gelezen - nog meer voor haar lezers in petto heeft.
Wie weet als A.W. Bruna ooit nog iets uitgeeft dat ik haar graag nog een kans geef!
Soms heb je hoge verwachtingen van het boek en valt het tegen. Soms heb je lage verwachtingen van een boek en weet de titel in kwestie je alsnog positief te verrassen. Nou, ik kan je zeggen dat 'Een lang weekend' aan dit laatste optie voldoet. 'Een lang weekend' zou ik namelijk beschrijven als een spannend en goed geschreven psychologische roman die onder je huid kruipt. Je gaat je bedenken in welke team je zit, wie je gelijk geeft en dat terwijl er - laten we eerlijk zijn - eigen geen goed en fout is in dit verhaal. De twee karakters hebben allebei hun positieve en negatieve kanten, zo durf ik wel alvast te verklappen.
Maar ben ik helemaal overtuigd? Dat dan weer niet. Dit boek had een ster extra kunnen verdienen als het begin net wat sterker was. Ik merkte namelijk al gauw dat ik moest komen en moest wennen aan de af en toe wat literaire zinnen die zijn gebruikt. Gelukkig kon ik me daar al wel snel overheen zetten, maar daarnaast was er toch nog iets: het einde. Het had hier en daar nog wat scherper en minder langdradig kunnen zijn en teveel van hetzelfde. Maar slecht? Dat is 'Een lang weekend' van Laure van Rensburg zeker niet. Ik ben ergens juist wel benieuwd wat deze auteur - van wie ik hiervoor nog nooit iets heb gelezen - nog meer voor haar lezers in petto heeft.
Wie weet als A.W. Bruna ooit nog iets uitgeeft dat ik haar graag nog een kans geef!
eliselea's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kdominey's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
samanthag3's review
2.0
*2.5
It just wasn't really my thing. The first half of the book read way too much like a questionable Wattpad story and the end wasn't bad, but I felt like both of the main characters lacked depth. The parts I enjoyed most were the ones in which they debated literary subjects, but there were not many of them.
It just wasn't really my thing. The first half of the book read way too much like a questionable Wattpad story and the end wasn't bad, but I felt like both of the main characters lacked depth. The parts I enjoyed most were the ones in which they debated literary subjects, but there were not many of them.
ashs_books's review against another edition
3.0
Really strong beginning but it lost me about half way through and I almost just wasn’t interested anymore
maddiefish09's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
litwithleigh's review
Ok my new policy is I'll force myself to read 20% of a book before officially DNF-ing.
So yeah. This book is a big hell nah. I crawled my way to 20% and then skimmed the rest. Sad to say I was super excited about this one. I usually love books that explore women's issues at length, but this was a waste of my Friday morning off work. BYE.
My thoughts
The author was trying waaaayyyy too hard to make this a literary masterpiece and it was coming across more like a wattpad fanfic. For example:
One that lasts, one that explores the connection between two people. An opening making way. Tongues interlocking, inviting. Her mouth tells him how much she likes him, even loves him, although they have never said the words to each other. Under their kiss, the remoteness of their location seems sharper than ever. Only they remain in this frozen Eden, Adam and Eve—a woman who seems to be made for him. They're literally kissing in the woods on their six-month anniversary weekend trip... get a fking grip.
-I wanna fight Steven. He obviously is the baddie but I wanna fight him SO bad.
-This is a rip off of My Dark Vanessa plain and simple. Not saying that every book about grooming is inspired by that book, but c'mon, the similarities are glaring: English professor, he gives his victim Jane Eyre to read and calls her My Darling Jane and she's pumped about it, the whole thing with the pjs. This lacked originality to say the least.
-But unlike My Dark Vanessa there was no deep dive into the characters' inner thoughts and emotions to explain wagwan. Instead the author describes the plushness of the carpet, the skeletal trees in the forest, and just about everything else. And often the attempts to show why Steven is this way were illogical; he couldn't respect him mom because she didn't respect herself just because she loved him and showered him with attention?? How does this make sense?
THIS IS A SPOILER SO SKIP AHEAD
Like I said I skimmed ahead so I could understand the entire storyline. And shocker, it was illogical. So you're telling me, you have hard proof he's a pedo and groomed/was an an accessory to your friend's death but instead of going to the police you thought it was a better idea to have sex with him for six months to lure him to the woods, tie him up, torture him and hopefully kill him? Yep. Seems like the best course of action.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As you can see, I kept it honest.
So yeah. This book is a big hell nah. I crawled my way to 20% and then skimmed the rest. Sad to say I was super excited about this one. I usually love books that explore women's issues at length, but this was a waste of my Friday morning off work. BYE.
My thoughts
The author was trying waaaayyyy too hard to make this a literary masterpiece and it was coming across more like a wattpad fanfic. For example:
One that lasts, one that explores the connection between two people. An opening making way. Tongues interlocking, inviting. Her mouth tells him how much she likes him, even loves him, although they have never said the words to each other. Under their kiss, the remoteness of their location seems sharper than ever. Only they remain in this frozen Eden, Adam and Eve—a woman who seems to be made for him. They're literally kissing in the woods on their six-month anniversary weekend trip... get a fking grip.
-I wanna fight Steven. He obviously is the baddie but I wanna fight him SO bad.
-This is a rip off of My Dark Vanessa plain and simple. Not saying that every book about grooming is inspired by that book, but c'mon, the similarities are glaring: English professor, he gives his victim Jane Eyre to read and calls her My Darling Jane and she's pumped about it, the whole thing with the pjs. This lacked originality to say the least.
-But unlike My Dark Vanessa there was no deep dive into the characters' inner thoughts and emotions to explain wagwan. Instead the author describes the plushness of the carpet, the skeletal trees in the forest, and just about everything else. And often the attempts to show why Steven is this way were illogical; he couldn't respect him mom because she didn't respect herself just because she loved him and showered him with attention?? How does this make sense?
THIS IS A SPOILER SO SKIP AHEAD
Like I said I skimmed ahead so I could understand the entire storyline. And shocker, it was illogical. So you're telling me, you have hard proof he's a pedo and groomed/was an an accessory to your friend's death but instead of going to the police you thought it was a better idea to have sex with him for six months to lure him to the woods, tie him up, torture him and hopefully kill him? Yep. Seems like the best course of action.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As you can see, I kept it honest.