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A review by ash_reads_stuff
Please Fear Me by Jennifer Love
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I would like to thank netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for a review.
*Please Fear Me* by Jennifer Love is a book that left me with mixed feelings. While it wasn’t bad, it requires a strong connection with the protagonist, Smidge, to fully engage with the story. The plot itself isn’t particularly defined, which isn’t necessarily a flaw, but it places more weight on the reader’s ability to relate to Smidge—a connection I personally struggled to establish. Smidge’s aloofness made it difficult for me to resonate with her, which became the defining aspect of my reading experience.
That said, the book is beautifully written. The world-building is stunning; I truly felt immersed in Baton Rouge and the swampy landscapes Jennifer Love vividly brought to life. The writing style was intriguing, especially Smidge’s unique ability to feel emotions for things I hadn’t imagined one could feel for—it was oddly captivating!
However, one character stood out for the wrong reasons: Violet. Her personality reminded me of Vanessa from *The Ultimatum: Queer Love*—if you’ve seen the show, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Despite this, I appreciated the imperfect and flawed nature of the characters. It gave the story a raw, surreal quality that blurred the line between reality and fiction.
While I didn’t form a deep connection with this book, I can see it being a favorite for readers who resonate with Smidge or enjoy atmospheric, character-driven stories. Jennifer Love’s ability to create such a rich setting and unconventional narrative style is commendable, even if it didn’t fully work for me.
*Please Fear Me* by Jennifer Love is a book that left me with mixed feelings. While it wasn’t bad, it requires a strong connection with the protagonist, Smidge, to fully engage with the story. The plot itself isn’t particularly defined, which isn’t necessarily a flaw, but it places more weight on the reader’s ability to relate to Smidge—a connection I personally struggled to establish. Smidge’s aloofness made it difficult for me to resonate with her, which became the defining aspect of my reading experience.
That said, the book is beautifully written. The world-building is stunning; I truly felt immersed in Baton Rouge and the swampy landscapes Jennifer Love vividly brought to life. The writing style was intriguing, especially Smidge’s unique ability to feel emotions for things I hadn’t imagined one could feel for—it was oddly captivating!
However, one character stood out for the wrong reasons: Violet. Her personality reminded me of Vanessa from *The Ultimatum: Queer Love*—if you’ve seen the show, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Despite this, I appreciated the imperfect and flawed nature of the characters. It gave the story a raw, surreal quality that blurred the line between reality and fiction.
While I didn’t form a deep connection with this book, I can see it being a favorite for readers who resonate with Smidge or enjoy atmospheric, character-driven stories. Jennifer Love’s ability to create such a rich setting and unconventional narrative style is commendable, even if it didn’t fully work for me.