6. svi 2014.

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

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Book summary:
Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.
          When I first read My Life Next Door I couldn't describe how much I enjoyed it. It was all I asked for, sweet, innocent and extremely emotional. Honestly, April couldn't be here soon enough to finally grab this one and enter Fitzpatrick's world once again. I wish I could say everything turned out great this time around but that's not the case. So I'll just split my review into things I liked and those that I did not.

Good:
  • I'll start from the setting here. I always felt some connection with sea and water and I always felt comfortable around it so to be in a world where sea is part of everyday life was a huge enjoyment for me. 
  • Cass. Well while I assume some people will have problems with his perfection I loved him so much. It's unreal taken in consideration his age but it was wonderful to imagine someone like him existed. 
  • Humor. Maybe my favorite thing in this book. I loved how in certain moments our characters became really witty and I had to suppress my chuckle couple of times as my family thinks I'm crazy enough already. 
  • Multiculturalism. Now I do sound like an English lit student but cannot help myself. I loved every word of Portuguese, only what bothered me was that I have no idea what was the background of it. 
Bad:
  • I don't want to rant here but I'm afraid it'll turn out like that. But I don't think that this book has a single responsible parent/adult. I mean sure you are all busy and stuff but these kids are going wild in front of your eyes. 
  • Gwen. Our main character here. I did like her wit and the way she puts up with everything, but that's about it. I have huge problems with her recklessness and they way she acts towards sex and boys. My main fear in life is losing control over myself and it comes so easily to Gwen. 
  • Viv. This is tricky. She is Gwen's best friend and her cousin's girlfriend and while she might have had reasons for her actions I don't approve them. 
  • Length. My biggest problem her, but this book was unnecessarily too long. I got bored a lot and I do understand why some people gave up.
  • Way of storytelling. It's really confusing at the start as you don't understand Gwen and her attitude but her memories showed like flashes in right situations. So you discover things bit by bit. Which isn't bad idea but I was lost through most of the book. Besides there is painfully too much narration.
In-between: 
  • Romance. Well as this is contemporary romance book of course I wanted to see romance on every page, which I did get. I liked that things moved relatively slow after the drama at the start of everything, but I wasn't feeling it. I did at the moment and it was sweet but not entirely. 
  • Class-division. It's a good thing that it showed the relationships in their society, but Gwen sometimes annoyed me with Cass being a white-collar. If he doesn't care, why do you?
This turned out a bit too long, sorry for that. All in all, I expected more. 

Rating: 2.5 or 3 stars.

Until the next time, 

Broj komentara: 28:

  1. Aww, I'm sorry this didn't work out for you, Tanja. I really enjoyed Gwen's narration and though I understand reader frustrations with Viv, I felt as if her perfect facade had to crack at some point and didn't mind the method in which her storyline was dealt with. I was also totally won over by the romance -- totally! -- and the setting was too beautiful for me not to love. I completely see where you're coming from, though, so I hope you have better luck with Fitzpatrick's next book!

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    1. Yes it was, but that thing is not something I like in books. I'm really happy you loved it! Thanks, Keertana :)

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  2. I am so sad to see all the bad reviews on this one because I loved her debut novel last year and I was really hoping that this would be just as great.

    Thanks so much for the honest review!!

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    1. Sorry for that but I still hope you'll enjoy it! Thanks, Ali :)

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  3. I'm going to have to pass on this one. Like you, I LOVED My Life Next Door, and (again like you) my main fear in life is losing control, and I can never relate to characters like Gwen. Best case scenario, I just don't understand them. Worst case scenario, they annoy the crap out of me. Great review, Tanja!

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

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    1. Yes it's always a problem to me. :/ LOL Gwen was a bit of both for me. Thanks Jessica! :)

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  4. Great review! I've read other books with a similar plot, so I think I'll pass on this one :)

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  5. Well maybe not... I confess when it's long, it's really difficult for me to get into the stories. And even if I love humor it's maybe not the only thing I like. I'm sorry it wasn't that good. I remember seeing good reviews about My Life Next Door but I didn't realize it was the same author here.

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    1. I really hope you'll give MLND a chance! :) Thanks, Melliane :)

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  6. Sorry you didn't enjoy this one all that much. And stories that are too long can be sometimes be a drag. Great review Tanja!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  7. I've heard such promising things about this book and it's ad to see that was only an average read for this one. I, myself I haven't read any of her books, but like this book, I've heard amazing reviews of Huntley's books. I may get around to reading My Life Next Door, that one looks brilliant! Lovely review, Tanja!

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    1. I really hope you'll read My Life Next Door as it's a really great book. Thanks, Emma :)

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  8. I totally understand your concerns with this book. I agree this book takes a bit too long to get its story across, I would have preferred some editing. I love Cass, and I liked Gwen, but I had trouble with some of her actions for sure. Thank you for your thoughtful, eloquent review! I hope her next book is more enjoyable for you. :-)

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    1. Cass was a really great guy, but yeah Gwen had too much issues for my liking! Wow eloquent is a compliment any language student wants to hear ;) Thank you, dear :)

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  9. Oh no! I didn't read her first book and if this one doesn't measure up perhaps I will skip it and go back and read the first one. Sorry this didn't meet your expectations.

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    1. They are two different stories so you still can read My Life Next Door ;) Thanks, Heidi :)

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  10. I ended up giving this book the exact same rating as you Tanja, which is a real shame, as I too had really high hopes for this book, but that thing which happened at the end, totally wrecked this book for me :( Here's hoping we end up enjoying Fitzpatrick's next book a whole lot more!

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    1. I'm really sorry to hear that Jasprit. I really hope you'll enjoy her next book too ;)

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  11. I'm sorry to hear this didn't work out for you, Tanja. I bought this book jjust llast week, but now I think I'm not going to read it anytime soon.
    The parents not being present is something that really annoys the crap out of me. Although I admit that I like the sound of Cass.
    Great honest review though, Tanja!

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    1. You should give it a try, maybe you'll connect with it. Yeah that's a really annoying issue. Thanks, Nick :)

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  12. Such a bummer, Tanja! I really enjoyed The Boys Next Door but something about the description made me hesitate to request this. I'm so glad I didn't now. Gwen constantly being conscious of their class division would annoy me and I don't care for characters that are reckless in regards to sex either. Great honest review, Tanja. I'm totally not touching this one.

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    1. Yeah Gwen is not an easy girl to love. Thank you, Rachel :)

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  13. I have been reading a ton of such disappointed reviews about What I Thought Was True and that is the only reason I haven't picked it up yet. I too remember loving My Life Next Door and it is so sad when such an awesome author disappoints you. Thanks for sharing Tanja! :)

    Janhvi @ The Readdicts

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    1. Yes I was really sad afterwards. Thanks, Janhvi :)

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  14. I liked this one a lot. I think some people were disappointed because this wasn't the same kind of swoony romance as in MLND. Yes, the romance was there, but it took a long time to get to it. But I agree with you on the flashbacks. She'd be on the beach at a party and then suddenly flash back to another beach party in the past and I'd get really confused as to whether I was in the past or the present.
    Jen @ YA Romantics

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    1. Yes the same happened to me! :) I did expect swoony romance but I usually like this kind of books too. Well I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

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