This is the most casually cruel romance I’ve ever read. It starts with her rape by the H’s twin brother, the H marries her BUT GETS UPSET when she shoThis is the most casually cruel romance I’ve ever read. It starts with her rape by the H’s twin brother, the H marries her BUT GETS UPSET when she shows reluctance at making nice with her rapist, they have really brief, boring sex, and if all that weren’t enough, he also spends 90% of the book screwing a French whore. But he does it for king and country, you know, so it’s fine.
Everyone behaves illogically and the romance angst isn’t good enough to justify any of it.
So icky, from beginning to end. I hated it....more
WTF was going on in those years I was offline? Absolutely shameless.
And Grove Press, seriously side-eyeing you for publishing this. At least it seems WTF was going on in those years I was offline? Absolutely shameless.
And Grove Press, seriously side-eyeing you for publishing this. At least it seems this didn't turn into the no-publicity-is-bad-publicity controversial hit you were hoping for....more
I’ve read hundreds of romances and I’ve never seen any heroine work so hard to excuse inexcusable behavior. Dated, sexist attitudes, doormat martyr heI’ve read hundreds of romances and I’ve never seen any heroine work so hard to excuse inexcusable behavior. Dated, sexist attitudes, doormat martyr heroine, ridiculously weak hero, and some of the worst writing and mannered, stilted dialogue I’ve ever read. Honey, if it’s a betrayal to your vows as you understood them, it’s cheating, even if he didn’t stick his dick into her. (Until after she divorced him, that is.) Ugh.
Also, wtf with the murder trial subplot. No one cares, throw everyone in jail for being so pathetic and annoying....more
There are scores of Harlequin men who behave badly. The only thing that makes this even remotely tolerable is that these behaviors usually stem from fThere are scores of Harlequin men who behave badly. The only thing that makes this even remotely tolerable is that these behaviors usually stem from feelings of pride, or jealousy, or even fear. They might be ugly emotions, but they are still reactions to feeling hurt in some way, which makes them at least somewhat understandable.
Then you have this guy. (view spoiler)[Mark decides to enter into an emotional affair with his secretary because:
1. His wife Sancha has had his 3 children and she is tired all the time. 2. She doesn’t ask him about his day at work. I WONDER IF HE EVER ASKS ABOUT HERS. 3. She doesn’t wear silks and expensive clothes anymore, or go to the hairdresser. When she explains they are not practical because the children are young and the clothes would be ruined immediately, he dismisses this. At other points in the book, it’s clear he buys new clothes for himself all the time, but there’s also a need to economize because of the children and because he might need to change jobs, so MIXED MESSAGING, MARK. But her looks are still an issue, and he looks away from her and is contemptuous of her wearing jeans all the time, and so on. 4. She has been too tired since the last baby to make love with him very often. This is all her fault and the children are attention-sucking monsters, he apparently has zero responsibility in this. No one has ever heard of post-partum depression either, it seems.
Instead of trying to help Sancha relax or get some time away from the children, he leaves all the rearing to her and angrily berates her when the children need attention. He honestly seems to hate the children as well, he is constantly impatient and annoyed with them, as well as badmouthing them at every given opportunity.
Our heroine is supposed to be grateful that he never actually slept with the man-eating young secretary, though he almost did and they definitely indulged in plenty of kissing and intimacy. Oh, and his idea of a compliment is to tell his wife that her breasts are actually better after she had children because they’re not as tiny. (hide spoiler)]
I have NEVER disliked a Harlequin man more. This one takes the cake for being completely and utterly selfish and self-centered and just plain nasty to his wife/mother of his children because she hasn’t paid enough attention to him. Grow up, man baby. You’re lucky your wife doesn’t have a spine and isn’t half as outraged as she should be. And contrary to the blurb, this relationship was not worth fighting for. ...more
This story makes a mockery of love, emotional integrity, and mental illness, and it's glamoured by unmagical magical realism, a "sophisticated" lit<.<
This story makes a mockery of love, emotional integrity, and mental illness, and it's glamoured by unmagical magical realism, a "sophisticated" literary style, and a twist upon which everything else hinges. I despise feeling manipulated (much as many of the characters in this book would if they had any sense), especially when the plot and writing are not particularly remarkable, and when the characters and relationships are so incredibly shallow and meaningless.
There's an attempt to interject a point to the story in the end, I suppose, but it's only a footnote to this elaborate, heartless exercise in writing technique.
I think this may end up being a DNF for me; consider this a prelimary reaction as I put it on hold. I've only read a few chapters so far, but I'm struI think this may end up being a DNF for me; consider this a prelimary reaction as I put it on hold. I've only read a few chapters so far, but I'm struggling with the quirky/cute style married with a subject as serious as suicide. I mean, are we going to see self-mutilation or child abuse or domestic violence or homophobia painted with cotton candy colors next? This is one of those set-ups (girl meets boy as they're both standing on a ledge contemplating suicide, rat-a-tat precocious-funny dialogue ensues) that probably works better as an indie darling romantic comedy film than it does in book form, as there are no soundtracks or Instagram-type filters or dizzying camera tricks to distract from the main point of the story.
It's not that I don't think heavy topics can't be handled with a light hand (see the excellent--and hilarious--Suicide Notes, and I believe pretty much every John Green novel I haven't read), but thus far I'm not charmed enough by the relationships or humor or writing here to forget that suicide is used as a cute plot device. If the book also dealt well with the serious, no-shit implications and consequences of the acts these kids are contemplating, I might be more inclined to continue, but after chatting with my fabulous co-blogger Layla, it doesn't sound like that really ever happens--and in fact, the severe depression and (view spoiler)[and mental illness and manic pixie dream boy trope (hide spoiler)] don't sound like they're handled with satisfactory weight. She wrote a real review for the book here: http://www.themidnightgarden.net/2015... discussing specifics if you're curious.
I'm wondering too--do reactions to this book vary depending on how much personal experience you've had with suicide or depression? Suicide has touched my life in ways that have forever changed me, and while I don't consider myself overly sensitive or prone to reacting to triggering material, other readers might find it easier to accept this facile treatment--or even harder, depending on your history.
Most readers I know seem to be absolutely loving this book, though, so take our reactions with that in mind. As I have a mental block with it at this point, I'm setting it aside for now, though I'm guessing I might come back to it out of curiosity, or if the year-end awards cycle sweeps this one up in its wake. It certainly seems like just the type of book that would be prone to do that.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.
Seriously, what the fuck. Aside from the rampant, rapey sexualization of a 14 year old by every man who comes into contact with her, the main characteSeriously, what the fuck. Aside from the rampant, rapey sexualization of a 14 year old by every man who comes into contact with her, the main character is annoying, and the writing style drove me crazy. Ugh. ...more
Wendy Darling
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