kaylakaotik's review against another edition
5.0
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
cactusreadinglady's review against another edition
5.0
come meet Charlie and Jesse and i DARE you not to fall in love with them.
both of these characters are flawed and broken in different ways. Charlie was harmed by words of others who didn't know her. Jesse was hurt by the people he was supposed to trust because of an accident.
this book broke my heart in so many ways.
I've never felt so many emotions in one book: happy, sad, scared, confused, and angry. angry is a new one for me. I have never wanted to throat punch a person in a book and so many times I wanted to punch BOTH characters. but with that said, I loved them both. I wanted them to change and grow for themselves and each other. I wanted Jesse to see the good in the world and for Charlie to feel beautiful.
I need more. I want more.
Charlie and Jesse's story isn't over. it can't be over.
both of these characters are flawed and broken in different ways. Charlie was harmed by words of others who didn't know her. Jesse was hurt by the people he was supposed to trust because of an accident.
this book broke my heart in so many ways.
I've never felt so many emotions in one book: happy, sad, scared, confused, and angry. angry is a new one for me. I have never wanted to throat punch a person in a book and so many times I wanted to punch BOTH characters. but with that said, I loved them both. I wanted them to change and grow for themselves and each other. I wanted Jesse to see the good in the world and for Charlie to feel beautiful.
I need more. I want more.
Charlie and Jesse's story isn't over. it can't be over.
sbauer16's review against another edition
2.0
I've never heard of this author before. The cover and blurb really made me want to read it. I really wanted to enjoy it, but it was just okay for me. I found myself skimming most of the book until the end because I at least wanted to know what happened. I didn't really connect with the characters or the writing. My favorite part was Jesse. I thought his POV was interesting. I would like to find out what happens to the characters though.
This book was told through the hero and heroine's POV.
This book was told through the hero and heroine's POV.
sweetcreature89's review against another edition
5.0
There are different types of books and each type of book has it's own way of affecting your mind and your heart. Some books are felt on a superficial level. They affect you and you feel strongly about them but they don't reach down inside you and rip your heart out. Progress is not one of those books. This story definitely has the ability to reach down deep and wrap it's fingers around your writhing heart.
I knew, throughout the entire book, that I was going to feel this one. This story was going to have an impact on me. And it did. Progress held on and it didn't let go until the very end.
Even though their personalities are pretty extreme, both Charlie and Jess are very relateable on a human level. They are two very real people and open readers up to a world that they may not have known much about. Their story is raw and it's real and true and serves as a reminder that, just because we see a person every day or think that we know someone, it doesn't mean we actually do. Everyone is fighting a battle, some worse than others, and sometimes we forget that.
Charlie and Jess's story was heartbreakingly beautiful. They were explosive for one another but, at the same time, needed each other for their own personal reasons and did what they had to do to live. There were times when I didn't like Charlie and moments when Jess made me uncomfortable but I loved them all the same. These two characters were so broken but they worked together in all the right and wrong ways.
I noticed at the end that there will be a part two and I am really delighted at the idea of reading further into their lives. This is not a fairytale book. It isn't easy. It's hard and it's rough but it's worth it. You won't get a happily ever after here but you will learn a little bit about something deep and maybe learn a little bit about who you are along the way. A must-read, in my opinion.
Rating: 5 Stars.
Favorite Character: Jess & Charlie.
I knew, throughout the entire book, that I was going to feel this one. This story was going to have an impact on me. And it did. Progress held on and it didn't let go until the very end.
Even though their personalities are pretty extreme, both Charlie and Jess are very relateable on a human level. They are two very real people and open readers up to a world that they may not have known much about. Their story is raw and it's real and true and serves as a reminder that, just because we see a person every day or think that we know someone, it doesn't mean we actually do. Everyone is fighting a battle, some worse than others, and sometimes we forget that.
Charlie and Jess's story was heartbreakingly beautiful. They were explosive for one another but, at the same time, needed each other for their own personal reasons and did what they had to do to live. There were times when I didn't like Charlie and moments when Jess made me uncomfortable but I loved them all the same. These two characters were so broken but they worked together in all the right and wrong ways.
I noticed at the end that there will be a part two and I am really delighted at the idea of reading further into their lives. This is not a fairytale book. It isn't easy. It's hard and it's rough but it's worth it. You won't get a happily ever after here but you will learn a little bit about something deep and maybe learn a little bit about who you are along the way. A must-read, in my opinion.
Rating: 5 Stars.
Favorite Character: Jess & Charlie.
mamabookwyrm's review
4.0
Warning: Before reading, go to Costco and buy a case of tissues.
Everyone can find something within this book to connect to. Whether it is Charlie, the anxiety ridden heroine with the big heart or Jesse, the broken bastard whose mood swings give you whiplash or one of the myriad side characters, there is something for everyone here. Both Charlie and Jesse are inherently flawed and scarred by life, completely relatable. No sugar coated characters here. Their story isn’t an easy one, but it is a real one. Can love really conquer all?
This book had me digging deep into my own soul, how I reacted to the book and exploring my own issues. It had me second guessing myself and my worldview, at least as it pertained to this book. I found it insightful and thought provoking. And I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. Everyone should read this book.
Everyone can find something within this book to connect to. Whether it is Charlie, the anxiety ridden heroine with the big heart or Jesse, the broken bastard whose mood swings give you whiplash or one of the myriad side characters, there is something for everyone here. Both Charlie and Jesse are inherently flawed and scarred by life, completely relatable. No sugar coated characters here. Their story isn’t an easy one, but it is a real one. Can love really conquer all?
This book had me digging deep into my own soul, how I reacted to the book and exploring my own issues. It had me second guessing myself and my worldview, at least as it pertained to this book. I found it insightful and thought provoking. And I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. Everyone should read this book.
paddlefoot55's review against another edition
4.0
ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
3.75 stars
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Progress. I was intrigued by the synopsis, so clicked to review it.
Even now a few days later, I am not 100% sure what I felt about Progress. I loved the storyline (for the most part) and I could completely relate with Charlie's feelings of self doubt. But she holds her head high and doesn't let anyone see how their words hurt her.
I think Jesse was the problem for me more than anything. Ugh, I just wanted to nut punch him for some of (read: a lot) of the things he said and did, he was a douche for much of the story.
But then my heart would melt for him at other times. GAH! I don't know how Charlie put up with him for the most part. But this just may be me.
Progress is an emotional read. There were a few scenes where my heart was full on aching with what our characters, particularly Charlie, were going through. So many times I wanted to yell at my kindle, don't go running to him. Walk away before he does it again. But then again, as toxic as they were for each other, they helped each other change.
Progress is most than a book about a relationship/non-relationship between quite broken souls. It is a story of self discovery, learning to love yourself no matter what. It is not a hearts and flowers kind of story (well, maybe some flowers), so don't go into this expecting rainbows and puppy dogs.
3.75 stars
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Progress. I was intrigued by the synopsis, so clicked to review it.
Even now a few days later, I am not 100% sure what I felt about Progress. I loved the storyline (for the most part) and I could completely relate with Charlie's feelings of self doubt. But she holds her head high and doesn't let anyone see how their words hurt her.
I think Jesse was the problem for me more than anything. Ugh, I just wanted to nut punch him for some of (read: a lot) of the things he said and did, he was a douche for much of the story.
But then my heart would melt for him at other times. GAH! I don't know how Charlie put up with him for the most part. But this just may be me.
Progress is an emotional read. There were a few scenes where my heart was full on aching with what our characters, particularly Charlie, were going through. So many times I wanted to yell at my kindle, don't go running to him. Walk away before he does it again. But then again, as toxic as they were for each other, they helped each other change.
Progress is most than a book about a relationship/non-relationship between quite broken souls. It is a story of self discovery, learning to love yourself no matter what. It is not a hearts and flowers kind of story (well, maybe some flowers), so don't go into this expecting rainbows and puppy dogs.
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
2.0
This book has left me confused and frustrated about what I've just read. Never have I felt so negatively about a lead character from start to finish. Jesse is one messed up man, he has reasons for this but there wasn't one endearing factor about his character. He uses people and hurts them with his words, actions and deeds. Red has had a young life of bullying, hurt and more. Her interactions and misguided friendship with Jesse just put her in line for more of the same. She changed herself totally for him, her body was transformed. I lost some respect for her as a woman on this journey.
I just couldn't invest in these characters or their story. It doesn't need to be pretty but for me there has to be some hope and beauty somewhere along the line and I couldn't find it in this story.
A copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
I just couldn't invest in these characters or their story. It doesn't need to be pretty but for me there has to be some hope and beauty somewhere along the line and I couldn't find it in this story.
A copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
sofiaspcosta's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Amalie Silver for providing me an advanced copy of this book.
Progress is the first book of the Progress Series by Amalie Silver. It speaks about the relationship of Charlie and Jesse and the problems that accompany it.
Charlie is a kind and lovely girl, full of complexes due to the bullying situation that she experienced all over high school. Body shamed, personally affected, I liked the way Charlie is described, as a different character, in this case a plus sized girl, which demonstrates a real situation in our modern days, such as female shaming and weight bias.
Jesse is the opposite of Charlie, a beautiful and stunning boy who possesses a troubled mind. He suffers with bipolarity/maniac depression, making him an inconvenient and mean guy around other people (specially Charlie). He was molded by his horrible past, which made him cold-hearted and too guarded, and a person who suffers in the silence of his own thoughts.
[FULL REVIEW HERE]
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Amalie Silver for providing me an advanced copy of this book.
Progress is the first book of the Progress Series by Amalie Silver. It speaks about the relationship of Charlie and Jesse and the problems that accompany it.
Charlie is a kind and lovely girl, full of complexes due to the bullying situation that she experienced all over high school. Body shamed, personally affected, I liked the way Charlie is described, as a different character, in this case a plus sized girl, which demonstrates a real situation in our modern days, such as female shaming and weight bias.
Jesse is the opposite of Charlie, a beautiful and stunning boy who possesses a troubled mind. He suffers with bipolarity/maniac depression, making him an inconvenient and mean guy around other people (specially Charlie). He was molded by his horrible past, which made him cold-hearted and too guarded, and a person who suffers in the silence of his own thoughts.
[FULL REVIEW HERE]
honeysbookobsession's review against another edition
5.0
I've wanted to read this book for some time now but it never seemed like the right time to pick it up. I'm glad I waited until I had a full day to read,because,I would have been miserable having to seek time to read.
Progress will not be a book for everyone. It has some triggers even if they are subtle. Progress deals with mental issues in its truest form. It takes you to a place your neighbor or friend maybe living in at this moment. It's two people journey to acceptance, understanding, and solace.
Charlie is a young woman who has been bullied, dehumanize, and ridicule most , if not, all of her life. She doesn't see her self as a person who should want more with her lot in life. However, she meets a boy named Jesse that speaks without thinking, hurts without remorse and gives her the will to change her mind, body, and soul. She takes little steps to bettering herself but fails to see she is in need of help (professional) to heal both inside and out.
Many people will see Charlie as a victim in this story. However, I see her as equal parts victim and user. She uses Jesse as much as he uses her. She uses him to give herself a reason to lose weight, as a person to let the inner workings of her mind escape to. She bullies him by knowing he has a mental illness but is only there when she feels the need, never sees if he on medication, never ask him how does he deal with it. She can ask many question about his past, when she can see he is at his lowest and doesn't need to relive, but never about his mental state.
Now Jesse is piece of work too. However, he doesn't hide behind it and tries not to let it get him down. But it's a daily struggle. His mouth and brain filter doesn't work and if anyone knows a person with ADHD you know it's not because they don't care (all the time) or try, it is truly hard for them.
A lot of what he says to Charlie is mean and disheartening but some of it is true. She needed to hear those things so she could make a change for the better. He could've used better tact but some times blunt is best.
He uses her by letting her take on some of his issues. By having her stay with him when his mind won't shut off. Bailing him out and buying him things.
Both of these characters make progress in their mental health it's not a lot but every little step gets them closer to where they need to be. I feel like this book is a realistic view into the world of mental health. It may help someone understand what's it like to live with mental health issues.
I highly recommend this book!
Progress will not be a book for everyone. It has some triggers even if they are subtle. Progress deals with mental issues in its truest form. It takes you to a place your neighbor or friend maybe living in at this moment. It's two people journey to acceptance, understanding, and solace.
Charlie is a young woman who has been bullied, dehumanize, and ridicule most , if not, all of her life. She doesn't see her self as a person who should want more with her lot in life. However, she meets a boy named Jesse that speaks without thinking, hurts without remorse and gives her the will to change her mind, body, and soul. She takes little steps to bettering herself but fails to see she is in need of help (professional) to heal both inside and out.
Many people will see Charlie as a victim in this story. However, I see her as equal parts victim and user. She uses Jesse as much as he uses her. She uses him to give herself a reason to lose weight, as a person to let the inner workings of her mind escape to. She bullies him by knowing he has a mental illness but is only there when she feels the need, never sees if he on medication, never ask him how does he deal with it. She can ask many question about his past, when she can see he is at his lowest and doesn't need to relive, but never about his mental state.
Now Jesse is piece of work too. However, he doesn't hide behind it and tries not to let it get him down. But it's a daily struggle. His mouth and brain filter doesn't work and if anyone knows a person with ADHD you know it's not because they don't care (all the time) or try, it is truly hard for them.
A lot of what he says to Charlie is mean and disheartening but some of it is true. She needed to hear those things so she could make a change for the better. He could've used better tact but some times blunt is best.
He uses her by letting her take on some of his issues. By having her stay with him when his mind won't shut off. Bailing him out and buying him things.
Both of these characters make progress in their mental health it's not a lot but every little step gets them closer to where they need to be. I feel like this book is a realistic view into the world of mental health. It may help someone understand what's it like to live with mental health issues.
I highly recommend this book!
capa105's review against another edition
4.0
Read Full Review HERE
This book will be hard to review, mostly because it made me feel depressed and uncomfortable during the whole of it, I wasn’t happy at all with the ending, but I still gave it 4 stars, and I can’t even begin to explain that. It will also be impossible not to give away some SPOILERS, there will be mind ones, but there will be there, sorry!
First thing to be said is that this is a beautiful and ugly love story. The book is beautiful written and it breaches topics that range from love, child abuse, bullying, fat shaming, overweight problems, mental problems and disorders, so it’s a thought provoking book on itself, just by the amount of difficult topics that it breaches. The book is also heavy on inner monologues, and light on actual conversation, which made it a kind of slow read for me… heck, ok, 3 days, I’ll call it slow.
The book spans a whole year, while the relationship between Charlie and Jesse progresses, with some up and downs, and more downs than ups. During that time we get to know both characters, given that the book is divided in the parts, the first one is from Charlie’s perspective, and it’s tough, sure, the girl has dealt with a lot throughout her life, with the bullying and fat-shaming and the fact that no one was nice to her. But the second part, the one from Jesse’s POV, was not only my favorite, but the one that truly hurt, because Jesse hadn’t had a difficult life, he lived in a constant nightmare. The last part, the conclusion, is told by alternating POVs, and that part just made me want to smash someone’s face…
About the characters, let me tell you something, they’re both pretty messed up and hard to love. At first glance Charlie is lovable, with her willingness to see the good in others and her always positive attitude, but her sentiments towards herself made me angry, deranged really, how easily she thought she wasn’t deserving of anyone’s love or attention. And now that I think of it, what a bullshit. This girl, she had FRIENDS, lots of friends! She didn’t reach out, not because no one cared, but because she didn’t want them to see her vulnerable, and while I understand that, it makes me angry that she put herself in that position. And the unhealthy journey she takes through weight loss? Don’t even get me started! When she first started losing weight, she went a whole week eating nothing, only drinking coffee… GRRRR!!! That made me seriously mad! Sorry…
Now, Jesse is a tough pill to swallow sometimes, especially on the first part of the book, because we don’t actually know what’s going on inside his head. This guy was a dick sometimes, while being caring the next. He obviously felt strongly about Charlie, and didn’t know how to deal with it, and the things that came out of his mouth sometimes, appalled me. Then we find out that he’s been dealing with bipolar disorder since he was 10, at the same time that he was put in the foster care system by his own biological parents, and suddenly his way of thinking, and his unwillingness to trust anyone starts to make some sense.
While some PROGRESS was made on both parts, the biggest one was from Charlie’s, who finally realized that she had to put herself before everyone else. (sorry… SPOILERS)… But I would say that the pick of her so called progress was at the beginning of part 3, because by the end of the book, her actions are anything but. She went so far, that she transformed into one of those people who were selfish enough to not care about that one wrong action, because all the other made up for it. I was shocked and hurt by her disconnection with Jesse, who she always felt connected to before, and I honestly didn’t get it… she loves him, it’s more than valid that she would be done with his shit, but in that moment when she says that being with him feels like nothing, and she feels empty, I don’t get it. She’s right about the things she says to him, and that it takes more than loving someone for things to work, but here’s the guy, opening his heart and trusting someone for the first time in forever, and she stumps all over him, and that’s not OK.
All and all, I’m very conflicted about this book, but I need to know what will happen next, because I want them both to be ok. I want Jesse to actually tell Charlie the things that are in his head. I want her to listen to him, because she spent most of this book avoiding that… I need it to be ok.
This book will be hard to review, mostly because it made me feel depressed and uncomfortable during the whole of it, I wasn’t happy at all with the ending, but I still gave it 4 stars, and I can’t even begin to explain that. It will also be impossible not to give away some SPOILERS, there will be mind ones, but there will be there, sorry!
First thing to be said is that this is a beautiful and ugly love story. The book is beautiful written and it breaches topics that range from love, child abuse, bullying, fat shaming, overweight problems, mental problems and disorders, so it’s a thought provoking book on itself, just by the amount of difficult topics that it breaches. The book is also heavy on inner monologues, and light on actual conversation, which made it a kind of slow read for me… heck, ok, 3 days, I’ll call it slow.
The book spans a whole year, while the relationship between Charlie and Jesse progresses, with some up and downs, and more downs than ups. During that time we get to know both characters, given that the book is divided in the parts, the first one is from Charlie’s perspective, and it’s tough, sure, the girl has dealt with a lot throughout her life, with the bullying and fat-shaming and the fact that no one was nice to her. But the second part, the one from Jesse’s POV, was not only my favorite, but the one that truly hurt, because Jesse hadn’t had a difficult life, he lived in a constant nightmare. The last part, the conclusion, is told by alternating POVs, and that part just made me want to smash someone’s face…
About the characters, let me tell you something, they’re both pretty messed up and hard to love. At first glance Charlie is lovable, with her willingness to see the good in others and her always positive attitude, but her sentiments towards herself made me angry, deranged really, how easily she thought she wasn’t deserving of anyone’s love or attention. And now that I think of it, what a bullshit. This girl, she had FRIENDS, lots of friends! She didn’t reach out, not because no one cared, but because she didn’t want them to see her vulnerable, and while I understand that, it makes me angry that she put herself in that position. And the unhealthy journey she takes through weight loss? Don’t even get me started! When she first started losing weight, she went a whole week eating nothing, only drinking coffee… GRRRR!!! That made me seriously mad! Sorry…
Now, Jesse is a tough pill to swallow sometimes, especially on the first part of the book, because we don’t actually know what’s going on inside his head. This guy was a dick sometimes, while being caring the next. He obviously felt strongly about Charlie, and didn’t know how to deal with it, and the things that came out of his mouth sometimes, appalled me. Then we find out that he’s been dealing with bipolar disorder since he was 10, at the same time that he was put in the foster care system by his own biological parents, and suddenly his way of thinking, and his unwillingness to trust anyone starts to make some sense.
While some PROGRESS was made on both parts, the biggest one was from Charlie’s, who finally realized that she had to put herself before everyone else. (sorry… SPOILERS)… But I would say that the pick of her so called progress was at the beginning of part 3, because by the end of the book, her actions are anything but. She went so far, that she transformed into one of those people who were selfish enough to not care about that one wrong action, because all the other made up for it. I was shocked and hurt by her disconnection with Jesse, who she always felt connected to before, and I honestly didn’t get it… she loves him, it’s more than valid that she would be done with his shit, but in that moment when she says that being with him feels like nothing, and she feels empty, I don’t get it. She’s right about the things she says to him, and that it takes more than loving someone for things to work, but here’s the guy, opening his heart and trusting someone for the first time in forever, and she stumps all over him, and that’s not OK.
All and all, I’m very conflicted about this book, but I need to know what will happen next, because I want them both to be ok. I want Jesse to actually tell Charlie the things that are in his head. I want her to listen to him, because she spent most of this book avoiding that… I need it to be ok.