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A review by georgisabina
The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
the vibes were a bit off. i mean, i picked up this book having big expectations because i really liked the wrath and the dawn series and still do, and knowing renee always creates a good atmosphere, i thought this is gonna be the same. boy, was i wrong.
the relationships between characters dont make any sense, like at all. i can't even begin to comprehend why she would like him, given the fact that they had like three conversations, and only one of them was notable. be for real, you cant look me in the eye and tell me that after three to four conversations and a kiss that ended dare i say horribly, she's willing to give up her memories of him so he can live.
it was also very slow, despite the fact that i read it fast. it made me feel like the action was stagnant, was slowed down by unnecessary events, that had, at the end of the day, no point, in any fashion. the events that are described in this book dont seem very intentional, and i was annoyed at some points because i couldn't, wouldn't find any purpose for them. the plot twist became kinda predictable, the ending underwhelming. let's say that the turn the events took was not what i had expected, and left many things to be desired.
the characters lack a certain depth and purpose, and i truly believe that's what made this book be this much of a disappointment, really. their beliefs and struggles are all over the place. all of the potential they had falls into a sea of an unnecessary repeat of the fact that we dont know anything about them. i dont see why i should read that many pages about pippa when i don't have any bit of information (besides little crumbs of backstory about her father here and there) to understand her reasonings. or why i should put that my thought in celines past when she doesn't seem to have any regard or remorse for what shes done, and on top of that she accepts really fast that shes not made for the proper society. which doesn't really go hand in hand with her altruism and selflessness. i feel like her character could have been so much better, yet she barely passes as a midly ok one. bastien seemed to be there for the sake of a mysterious love interest, who is a concerning combination of a golden retriever male lead best friend and a bad boy with a tragic past. the rest of the characters are straight out flat, and its kinda sad to watch because every bit of their actions is predictable (like name one person who didn't think odette to be a lesbian).
the found family trope is hanging by its nails, desperately trying to be observed and taken into consideration.
i was annoyed, to say the least, at the tiny bits of french scattered along the sentences. like a full sentence is okay, but don't tell 'people we're drinking cafe au lait/she put a chemise on' (or something along the lines), it sounds stupid, honestly.
i am truly disappointed in this book, and it is, to me, pretty much a fail. (i will read the next one, tho, solely because im curious)
the relationships between characters dont make any sense, like at all. i can't even begin to comprehend why she would like him, given the fact that they had like three conversations, and only one of them was notable. be for real, you cant look me in the eye and tell me that after three to four conversations and a kiss that ended dare i say horribly, she's willing to give up her memories of him so he can live.
it was also very slow, despite the fact that i read it fast. it made me feel like the action was stagnant, was slowed down by unnecessary events, that had, at the end of the day, no point, in any fashion. the events that are described in this book dont seem very intentional, and i was annoyed at some points because i couldn't, wouldn't find any purpose for them. the plot twist became kinda predictable, the ending underwhelming. let's say that the turn the events took was not what i had expected, and left many things to be desired.
the characters lack a certain depth and purpose, and i truly believe that's what made this book be this much of a disappointment, really. their beliefs and struggles are all over the place. all of the potential they had falls into a sea of an unnecessary repeat of the fact that we dont know anything about them. i dont see why i should read that many pages about pippa when i don't have any bit of information (besides little crumbs of backstory about her father here and there) to understand her reasonings. or why i should put that my thought in celines past when she doesn't seem to have any regard or remorse for what shes done, and on top of that she accepts really fast that shes not made for the proper society. which doesn't really go hand in hand with her altruism and selflessness. i feel like her character could have been so much better, yet she barely passes as a midly ok one. bastien seemed to be there for the sake of a mysterious love interest, who is a concerning combination of a golden retriever male lead best friend and a bad boy with a tragic past. the rest of the characters are straight out flat, and its kinda sad to watch because every bit of their actions is predictable (like name one person who didn't think odette to be a lesbian).
the found family trope is hanging by its nails, desperately trying to be observed and taken into consideration.
i was annoyed, to say the least, at the tiny bits of french scattered along the sentences. like a full sentence is okay, but don't tell 'people we're drinking cafe au lait/she put a chemise on' (or something along the lines), it sounds stupid, honestly.
i am truly disappointed in this book, and it is, to me, pretty much a fail. (i will read the next one, tho, solely because im curious)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Rape