remi_jane's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jillianmaree's review
1.0
I wanted to like this book, I really really did. But I don’t enjoy blind sides in the last 10% of the story. Feels like it was easy way out for the storyline that could’ve gone on much longer, or even into more than one book.
energyrae's review
5.0
Pretty much everyone I know was telling me I had to read this book, and that I would need time to recover from it. So I started it yesterday and it was very light-hearted and funny. Carr had endless puns which amused me to no end as a huge fan of corny puns. But then Blue ended up having to return to her hometown after literally running away from it and not returning for two years. While some things were still light-hearted, I started to get to the heart of the story. Everyone is angry with her, and with good reason, she left them behind. We the readers aren't exactly sure why. Thus the story starts to unfold.
Told in alternating timelines from past and present, as soon as Blue gets to Steele Falls, the anger starts with her not wanting to talk to Wesley about any of it. Her sister is being standoffish, her mother is absolutely horrible to her, which she completely expects, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. There's a guy named Adam who is being a total jerk to her and somehow she's gotten caught up with his friend Zack, whom she has zero interest in. What a mess!
But then we start learning that she has a past with Adam, and their story starts to unfold, in bits and pieces. Pieces that have you scrambling to grab a tissue, because their story, the reason she had to leave town, is heartbreaking. The more the past and present are weaved together, the harder it gets to put down the tissues, and Carr does nothing in the way to offer more when your tissue box runs out.
Blue is extremely well-written, impeccably edited, and has rich, detailed characters. She had me hooked from the beginning. I'm reading all of these reviews of Blue, with people saying how the book wrecked them, and it's absolutely correct. This was a book I borrowed in KU, and I'm well over my monthly book budget, but as soon as I finished it, I returned it and then bought it, it's just that good. Well done Ms. Carr!
Told in alternating timelines from past and present, as soon as Blue gets to Steele Falls, the anger starts with her not wanting to talk to Wesley about any of it. Her sister is being standoffish, her mother is absolutely horrible to her, which she completely expects, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. There's a guy named Adam who is being a total jerk to her and somehow she's gotten caught up with his friend Zack, whom she has zero interest in. What a mess!
But then we start learning that she has a past with Adam, and their story starts to unfold, in bits and pieces. Pieces that have you scrambling to grab a tissue, because their story, the reason she had to leave town, is heartbreaking. The more the past and present are weaved together, the harder it gets to put down the tissues, and Carr does nothing in the way to offer more when your tissue box runs out.
Blue is extremely well-written, impeccably edited, and has rich, detailed characters. She had me hooked from the beginning. I'm reading all of these reviews of Blue, with people saying how the book wrecked them, and it's absolutely correct. This was a book I borrowed in KU, and I'm well over my monthly book budget, but as soon as I finished it, I returned it and then bought it, it's just that good. Well done Ms. Carr!
crystallovesbooks's review
4.0
Parts of the story seemed to drag out a bit but it was still good. I was slightly disappointed of how the story ended.
lola1229's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book from the author with the promise to write an honest review when I finished. The opinion below is my own.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. Carr wrote some really good characters — Elaina was absolutely awful, and I liked Finn’s self-awareness — but most of the rest were either completely self-absorbed (Blue), annoying as hell (Daveigh), or unnecessary (Lisa, Zach, Beanbag, etc). Cash’s sudden personality transformation at the end stretched credulity. The pacing was too slow; I was more than halfway through before she did anything more than hint at The Big Thing That Caused Blue to Run Away. The entire story happened in the last 1/3 of the book; the rest felt like filler.
The scene with Tom needs a content warning.
I’m not a fan in general of books with worst-outcome plot twists; if I want to read about real life, I have subscriptions to a half dozen newspapers. I was displeased that Blue and Adam didn’t get a happy-ever-after. (I believe my exact words to my husband at about 85% were, “I’m going to be SO pissed if he dies!”) And I have so many issues with how Blue ended up with his heart — ethical issues, legal issues, moral issues... (And let’s face it: $5mm is nowhere near enough for that scenario to actually happen, even if Elaina *did* have any way to actually access the funds Blue inherited.)
I hate giving bad reviews, especially when the author was kind enough to give me a copy of their work. But I promised honesty, and I didn’t care for this story.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. Carr wrote some really good characters — Elaina was absolutely awful, and I liked Finn’s self-awareness — but most of the rest were either completely self-absorbed (Blue), annoying as hell (Daveigh), or unnecessary (Lisa, Zach, Beanbag, etc). Cash’s sudden personality transformation at the end stretched credulity. The pacing was too slow; I was more than halfway through before she did anything more than hint at The Big Thing That Caused Blue to Run Away. The entire story happened in the last 1/3 of the book; the rest felt like filler.
The scene with Tom needs a content warning.
I’m not a fan in general of books with worst-outcome plot twists; if I want to read about real life, I have subscriptions to a half dozen newspapers. I was displeased that Blue and Adam didn’t get a happy-ever-after. (I believe my exact words to my husband at about 85% were, “I’m going to be SO pissed if he dies!”) And I have so many issues with how Blue ended up with his heart — ethical issues, legal issues, moral issues... (And let’s face it: $5mm is nowhere near enough for that scenario to actually happen, even if Elaina *did* have any way to actually access the funds Blue inherited.)
I hate giving bad reviews, especially when the author was kind enough to give me a copy of their work. But I promised honesty, and I didn’t care for this story.
little_miss_darkness's review
5.0
Free Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review as part of the Indie June author month.
Still can't quite put my finger as to how this book made me feel.
Blue has to return to her small town for her step-father's funeral and all kinds of ghosts from her past appear.
Most of my reading this book, I struggled with what the rating was going to be. The writing was beautiful, but something inside the book itself had me struggling to resonate with Blue and what she was going through. I still don't know how to put it into words.
Therefore, I think my rating of 5 out of 5 stars will have to speak for itself. I almost gave it 4 stars, but the ending made me reconsider.
Still can't quite put my finger as to how this book made me feel.
Blue has to return to her small town for her step-father's funeral and all kinds of ghosts from her past appear.
Most of my reading this book, I struggled with what the rating was going to be. The writing was beautiful, but something inside the book itself had me struggling to resonate with Blue and what she was going through. I still don't know how to put it into words.
Therefore, I think my rating of 5 out of 5 stars will have to speak for itself. I almost gave it 4 stars, but the ending made me reconsider.
a_little_off_center's review
5.0
This was definitely an emotional read. I cried, and I am not normally an emotional reader. It hopped a bit between several scenes, but it wasn't jarring as some books can be. The scenes were clearly separate. If you need a good cry this is definitely the book for you! Definitely a five star read for me!
danif1979_reads's review
5.0
Blue our MC ran away from her pain, she stayed away for 2 years, leaving everything behind. But now she’s back in the small town she grew up. She’s going to have to right some wrongs, can she fix things? Or is she too late??
Let me tell you… that ending though?!?! Damn… This totally and utterly wrecked me!
Let me tell you… that ending though?!?! Damn… This totally and utterly wrecked me!
angelgrl40's review
5.0
Oh My
Holy what did I just read? WOW!!!! Just wow. Got pulled in and then wasn’t sure about it. The things started making tons of sense. Was happy they figured it and and then WHAM….. the ending was a shocker. I had to reread the last 2 pages a couple times just to make sure I was reading it right.
Holy what did I just read? WOW!!!! Just wow. Got pulled in and then wasn’t sure about it. The things started making tons of sense. Was happy they figured it and and then WHAM….. the ending was a shocker. I had to reread the last 2 pages a couple times just to make sure I was reading it right.
diannasbooks's review
5.0
This book was amazing. I related to Blue in a lot of ways. I didn’t want the story to end. This book was very well written, and it had a few twists that I didn’t expect. It was heartbreaking, but so beautiful. I’ve already recommended this wonderful book to a few of my friends.