As an author, I fully appreciate how this book hits on how hard it can be when you feel pressure to finish your work. I also appreciate how the criticism affects the author as well. Plus, not wanting the spotlight on yourself.
That's why I hate writing bad reviews. The author poured their heart and soul into something they thought was absolutely amazing, and they had the courage to put it out there. That alone deserves five stars. But, alas, I must write reviews based off of my opinions on the story, and not ever story is my cuppa.
The reason for 3 stars is because of Wallace. [ Him forcing Eliza to finish the book because he NEEDS her to do it for him to get money to pay for his college, then his damned guilt trips which cause her to almost commit suicide..ugh (hide spoiler)] I felt like Eliza should have just left his butt at the curb and said see yah. I couldn't understand that relationship because it was unhealthy. [ Can we say control freak? Granted both parties were wrong in it. She kept quiet about who she was, but he lied to her too...so pot to kettle! Yet he never looked at it that way. (hide spoiler)]
Otherwise, I loved Eliza. I could BE Eliza, from the love of eggs, to wanting to be the one that blends in at crowds, the online friends, and the struggle to write. She has her muses, I have mine, and when you hit a slump, it REALLY affects you.
This book is amazing on all those points. If you want to look inside the mind of an artist, this book is it. The fear, the doubt, the pain, the speculation, the..well everything. Plus how it affects our loved ones. The parents that don't understand, the siblings that try, etc. It hits every single point it possibly can.
Plus, like Eliza, my teachers read my work. Granted, I've been out of school and college for a while now, but I received letters from my teachers telling me they read my book! It's scary and yet amazing at the same time.
I can't say enough about this book and how much I liked it. It's just I wish I could have changed Wallace and what he does and how it turns out. That to me ruined it.
[ Plus they talk about the EPIC!!! ending of the comic series, yet WE DON'T GET TO SEE IT! They build up to it, and keep building up, and then nadda. Nothing. That was a big disappointment for me too. If you're going to throw snippets of the comic out there, GIVE US THE ENDING!!! (hide spoiler)]
That's why I hate writing bad reviews. The author poured their heart and soul into something they thought was absolutely amazing, and they had the courage to put it out there. That alone deserves five stars. But, alas, I must write reviews based off of my opinions on the story, and not ever story is my cuppa.
The reason for 3 stars is because of Wallace. [ Him forcing Eliza to finish the book because he NEEDS her to do it for him to get money to pay for his college, then his damned guilt trips which cause her to almost commit suicide..ugh (hide spoiler)] I felt like Eliza should have just left his butt at the curb and said see yah. I couldn't understand that relationship because it was unhealthy. [ Can we say control freak? Granted both parties were wrong in it. She kept quiet about who she was, but he lied to her too...so pot to kettle! Yet he never looked at it that way. (hide spoiler)]
Otherwise, I loved Eliza. I could BE Eliza, from the love of eggs, to wanting to be the one that blends in at crowds, the online friends, and the struggle to write. She has her muses, I have mine, and when you hit a slump, it REALLY affects you.
This book is amazing on all those points. If you want to look inside the mind of an artist, this book is it. The fear, the doubt, the pain, the speculation, the..well everything. Plus how it affects our loved ones. The parents that don't understand, the siblings that try, etc. It hits every single point it possibly can.
Plus, like Eliza, my teachers read my work. Granted, I've been out of school and college for a while now, but I received letters from my teachers telling me they read my book! It's scary and yet amazing at the same time.
I can't say enough about this book and how much I liked it. It's just I wish I could have changed Wallace and what he does and how it turns out. That to me ruined it.
[ Plus they talk about the EPIC!!! ending of the comic series, yet WE DON'T GET TO SEE IT! They build up to it, and keep building up, and then nadda. Nothing. That was a big disappointment for me too. If you're going to throw snippets of the comic out there, GIVE US THE ENDING!!! (hide spoiler)]
This was a completely engrossing read that really pulled me in and was a ton of fun. I had a lot of trouble putting this book down. This is going to be a tough one for me to review; it's one of those books I loved soooo much that I don't know even where to start.
I stayed up way too late finishing it and absolutely loved the characters, the subject matter, and the journey Eliza goes through. I love how everything comes together in the story and really enjoyed Eliza's Monstrous Sea story as well as the story of Eliza trying to find her place in life.
All the side characters are very well done and I enjoyed all the twists and turns in the story. I loved the family dynamics as well as the friendships throughout.
My only small complaint was that I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, but just a bit and this didn't detract from my overall love of this book.
Overall an amazing read that I just loved to bits. I would recommend to those who enjoy YA contemporary romance with a heavy dose of geekdom.
I stayed up way too late finishing it and absolutely loved the characters, the subject matter, and the journey Eliza goes through. I love how everything comes together in the story and really enjoyed Eliza's Monstrous Sea story as well as the story of Eliza trying to find her place in life.
All the side characters are very well done and I enjoyed all the twists and turns in the story. I loved the family dynamics as well as the friendships throughout.
My only small complaint was that I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, but just a bit and this didn't detract from my overall love of this book.
Overall an amazing read that I just loved to bits. I would recommend to those who enjoy YA contemporary romance with a heavy dose of geekdom.
