Well ๐คก๐คก. This is awkward ๐คก๐คก๐คก ๐งโโ๏ธ๐งโโ๏ธ. I don't even know how to explain the disappointment I'm feeling right now. Like I legitimately cannot wrap my head around how this book turned out like this- I AM SHOCKED ๐ญ๐ญ. It's the way I was so excited as well. Not me dropping everything to read this lmfao. Funny. Anyways let's begin ๐: It's hard to believe that this book was a continuation of the character's stories that I grew to love. I think the fact that I recently re-read the first two books in the series, in preparation for this book, did not do this one any justice- and really just put into perspective how different it was- and how much better the first two were, for me. Because I'm genuinely not joking, this one held NOTHING, over the first book- and it's hard to think that these were the same characters that I was obsessed with (which sucks to say). -=- The plot/ story -=-
I can't even begin to explain how much happened in this book. The storyline was just constantly changing, where new plot twists kept being added, for no apparent reason??
A lot of the reveals felt really self-explanatory, and obvious- but were written as if you were trying to get spoon-fed ๐ญ. There was no need for all the repetition ๐.
I couldn't see where this story was going, and it just felt as if different plot points were added for the sake of including everything that came into GL's mind. It just did not flow well for me.
The reveals in this one were somehow more unexplained and random than they were in the second book which is honestly kind of impressive Icel ๐.
There were so many inconsistencies throughout the story, where a number of different plot points and certain character arcs were just forgotten about, or written off. It was so frustrating ๐๐ค๐.
-=- The writing -=-
The writing in this one just felt really compulsive? There was genuinely no information to back any of the reveals up, and they were stated in such an obvious way. I couldn't understand the need to have a dramatic reveal at the end of every single chapter- it was exhausting ๐ญ.
The way that this story progressed just felt so off- there wasn't really a consistent development to both the main romance, and main storyline (because trust me there were many). I felt like this book really lacked that certain appeal, that the first book had in particular.
I started skimming so much towards the end, because so much of what was happening just didn't feel relevant to the story, or was just the character's situation being repeated over and over again. I wasn't a big fan of the writing.
To be completely honest, I can't even remember a lot of what happened in the story- which says a lot considering I just finished it ๐ญ. That ending really took an unexpected turn.
-=- The Characters -=-
It's the way that I don't even have much to say about Thea and Julian, and the development of their characters, and relationship. I didn't really like Thea in this one, and felt as if her and Julian didn't get enough time together? I was expecting so much more from them, but was let down by how much they regressed with their relationship. That ending was just ๐คก๐ซ.
And THE MULTIPLE POVS ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ- just know I was tired. Listen, sometimes, there are some great side characters. But they should really just stay side characters ๐ญ๐ญ. So much of the book was spent not only on unnecessary drama, but on other characters (that weren't the MCs), and the progression of their individual lives, which I quite frankly did not care about ๐ญ.
I feel like it really took away from the main story at hand, and just brought in a lot of different factors to the book, that made the book feel really busy. It really took away from the simplicity of the story that made the prior books work so well.
Any time that things started to get good between the MCs, they would just get interrupted- and then you immediately switch to something that didn't exactly relate to them. It really felt like there wasn't an end goal in mind when reading this.
I wanted so much more from Julian and Thea.
-=- My conclusion -=-
I think I'm going to take a lil break after this one ๐
It sucks to write a negative review for a book you've been anticipating, ever since it was announced, so just know this was painful.
I genuinely couldn't understand or liked the ending of the book, and was ultimately disappointed with how it turned out. Don't get me wrong, there were still nice moments to this, but I felt like overall, the bad really, really overshadowed the good.
I'll most likely still read the next one- just for closure ๐ญ- however I'll go into it with a big, big grain of salt, and way less enthusiasm ๐งโโ๏ธ.
Alright, I'm done ๐.
-=- Before reading -=-
(in case you wanted to see my excitement for this book- I kept in my notes before the book came out lmfao ๐๐๐๐):
OMFGGG THIS IS NOT A f*ckING DRILL- YALL I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO REACT HFISFBGB I AM SO f*ckING EXCITED.
IM DOING SUMMERSAULTS, THROWING UP, CRYING- I CANT. I have been waiting for this moment, for SO LONG- this just made my day you don't understand ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ.
I had the random urge to check up on this series after zero signs of life ๐- and she's going to be here NEXT. WEEK.
Thea and Julian- I can't wait ๐ญ๐๐. Time for a re-read I guess ๐๐โ๏ธโ๏ธ.