Friday, November 30, 2018

DNF&Y [11]

DNF&Y is used to explain why I gave up on certain books, and what about them just didn't work for me. What I disliked about a book might be something you love, so it helps to share your thoughts even when they're negative! If you would like additional information, please click on the DNF&Y tab at the top. If you want to join, you can link up at the bottom!

Me and Me by Alice Kuipers
Synopsis (via Goodreads): It's a perfect day for Lark's dream date with Alec from school. Blue skies, clear water, a canoe on the lake. Alec even brought flowers for Lark's birthday. Everything is just right … until they hear screams from the edge of the water.

Annabelle, a little girl Lark used to babysit, is struggling in the reeds. When Lark and Alec dive in to help her, Alec hits his head on a rock. Now Annabelle and Alec are both in trouble, and Lark can only save one of them.

With that split-second decision, Lark's world is torn in two, leaving her to cope with the consequences of both choices. She lives two lives, two selves. But which is the right life, and which is the real Lark?



Me and Me is about how it feels to be torn in pieces, and how to make two halves whole again. This mind-bending novel from Alice Kuipers, expert chronicler of the teenage heart, explores loss and love, music and parkour, all while navigating the narrow space between fantasy and reality. 

DNF at 21%

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I've finally decided to give up on this one. I thought maybe I wasn't in the mood for it, but Me and Me never really clicked for me. I found myself getting increasingly aggravated with the characters, until I just couldn't do it anymore.

Lark had to choose between saving a guy she liked and a young girl she used to babysit. Someone was going to lose, and Lark had to choose who that was. You would think an experience like that would shake someone up, but Lark doesn't seem very distressed by it. She's taking risks and scaling buildings the very next day so she can feel alive.

Me and Me shows us what would have happened if Lark had saved Alec, but it also shows us what would have happened if she'd saved Annabelle. There are only a few chapters in this book, but they alternate between parallel universes. It's hard to discern which one is real, or if they both are. I wish this had been explained early on, because it would have saved me a lot of confusion.

Also, Lark and Alec were not likeable people. I disliked how easy it was for him to convince her to ditch her plans with her best friend for him. He didn't care about her or her other friendships; Alec only cared about himself and how Lark fit into his life. On the other hand, Lark shouldn't have been so willing to cancel her plans with Lucy. Lark was late for work on multiple occasions (because she was with Alec), and Lucy always covered for her. When the two of them finally made plans, Lark broke her promise because Alec asked her to. Ugh.

I think there were only nine chapters in this book, but each chapter was broken down by days (sometimes times and places). It was a little hard to follow, and I wish the transitions had been done somewhat differently. I briefly started the second chapter (where Anabelle is saved instead), but quickly realized this wasn't going to work for me.

In the end, I just could not connect with the characters. Lark was flaky and seemed unbothered by the tragic events on the lake. Her music always came first (unless Alec said something), and she would ignore everyone until she'd worked out the song in her head. Alec was possessive and kept her away from her friends. They were really frustrating people.

I've heard there is a twist at the end, so if this sounds like something you'd like, stick with it. It might surprise you. It just wasn't a good fit for me.


Moonlight over Manhattan (From
Manhattan with Love, #6) 
by Sarah Morgan
Synopsis (via Goodreads): She'll risk everything for her own Christmas miracle...

Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list--dealing with Madi's temporary dog sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.

Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi--how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple--he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide twenty-four-hour care. But there's nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.



Ethan's kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all--letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?

DNF at 31%

Moonlight over Manhattan is another book I tried to read for the #HoHoHoRAT, but it really didn't work for me. The story was repetitive and I felt like the characters were on a loop. This book could have been a lot shorter if some of the repeated dialogue had been removed. There was also an oversharing of thoughts and feelings, and nothing was left to the imagination.

Both Ethan and Harriet were unbelievable characters. I didn't feel like their decisions and conversations were authentic, and it was exasperating trying to read through one of their interactions. Additionally, all of the characters sounded almost exactly the same. At one point Harriet was talking with an elderly lady, and I would often confuse the two. I kept having to stop, go back, and re-read a few paragraphs to figure out who was saying what.

Things fell into place a little too easily, and their situations weren't very believable. Also, some of the medical terminology was complex and went soaring over my head. I started skimming those parts because they weren't relevant to the overall story, and felt like a way for Ethan to show off. He may have been good at his job, but his arrogance was unattractive.

Ethan was mean and caused Harriet's stutter to resurface, but then he handled the situation too perfectly. He was apologetic, didn't finish her sentences, waited patiently, and had conveniently dated someone (a speech therapist maybe... I can't remember) who knew a lot about Harriet's condition. He referenced some of the things he'd learned while dating her, and them presumed to know everything about Harriet and what she was going through. It was obnoxious. 

Speaking of Ethan, he was controlling and demanding. He put Harriet in uncomfortable situations and expected her to comply with his wishes (which she did). She saw his requests as an opportunity to challenge herself (to step outside of her comfort zone) even though she felt unsafe and wanted to do things differently. I hated how easily she gave in to his demands, and that everyone else approved because he was a doctor. That doesn't mean he isn't hiding an axe in his closet! It was insane. His personality, her decisions -- all of it.

Harriet was too perfect -- too innocent -- and therefore wasn't very relatable. If people like Harriet actually exist, they are few and far between. As an example, she attempted online dating, but seemed extremely surprised that people would lie on their profile pages. She was also incredibly friendly with homeless people (bought them food, gave them money, knew their life stories), and went out of her way to help the elderly (groceries, cooking, exercise). She avoided conflict, took everything at face value, never questioned people's decisions or stood up for herself, and was entirely too trusting.

After awhile I stopped caring enough to continue.


Wilder by Andrew Simonet
Synopsis (via Goodreads): I met Melissa in the rubber room, a.k.a. in-school suspension. And that’s not her real name.
She had secrets, I had enemies.
“People are either useful or dangerous,” she said. “One or the other.”
“Which one am I?” I said.
“You’re both.”
Meili was right. (That’s her real name.)
You can solve a lot of problems if you don’t mind getting hurt.

Jason Wilder is in permanent in-school suspension for fighting. Meili Wen gets there by breaking a girl’s finger. Jason and Meili don’t just connect; they collide. Two people who would never cross paths―outsiders from radically different backgrounds―they form an exhiliarating, unpredictable bond. When circumstances push, they push back. There’s no plan. And there’s no stopping.

"I am so crap. How can you stand being with me? Don’t answer that or I will crash this thing with both of us on it, swear to god, are you ready?”
Yes. No. Didn’t matter.

I reached both arms around Meili’s waist as we zoomed down the hill.

DNF at 17%

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

My reoccurring thought: What the fuck? Wilder was crazy and extremely convoluted. It was often difficult to follow their conversations, because they were random and bounced all over the place. I could tell the author was trying to build suspense, and I'm sure there would have been a big reveal later on, but I didn't want to stick around to find out.

Melissa, Meili, or whatever her name actually is, was condescending and evasive. The girl's secrets had secrets. She's supposedly in danger, but seems to be the only person that doesn't care. She's brash and abrasive, combative and cruel. “You’d do alright in a thong, wouldn’t you? Make a fortune dancing at a gay club. Is there one in town?”

Neither character was relatable, but Wilder was desperate and eager to please the girl he'd just met. He knows nothing about Meili, but he's willing to do whatever she asks him to. I think he would have chopped of his hand just to see her smile for a few seconds. She seriously treated him like garbage, and he kept trying to make her happy. "And you’re very cute for blushing. I mean, it would be cute if you were twelve. At your age, it’s a bit sad, isn’t it?” Why was he so obsessed with her from the beginning? He should have had more respect for himself.

Wilder and Meili had a toxic and extremely unhealthy relationship. She would ignore him at school, turn down his offer to hang out, and then show up unexpectedly at his house. She was constantly changing her mind, and I honestly don't think even she knew what she really wanted. However, she was more than happy to take someone else down with her.

Also, where the hell did Manny come from? He was abusive and threatening, but only because he "cared" about Melissa. Apparently, the two share the same dark secret, so he's being a protective douche canoe, but dude was aggressive. He also went from being Wilder's best buddy to his worst enemy in a single conversation. It was like watching someone play ping pong, but with a grenade instead of a ball.

In the end, my annoyance outweighed my curiosity. I was tempted to skip to the end just to see what their secrets were, but I had no desire to share that experience with them.


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26 comments:

  1. I love these kinda rant filled posts on books, even if it is about a book that they didn't like. Especially these days when everyone refrains from posting negative reviews, this sounds fun. I might drop in for one of these days.

    Gayathri @ Elgee Writes

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    1. I hope I don't sound like I'm ranting! Hah! I just want to let people know why something didn't work for me, and I want to give them examples. I hate it when I see reviews that simply say they hated a book, because I want to know why they hated it. What was it that turned you off or made you angry? It might be something I'd like! I try to be informative, but sometimes that also comes across as negative. I hope you decide to link up in the future! I always do this post on the last day of the month. :)

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  2. Oddly enough, I remember looking at those two YA books, being intrigued, but passing over them, because they seemed like they would not be a good fit for me. Sounds like my instincts were right. I do find it odd, that the author made the characters in Me & Me unlikable considering the situation they were in. I would think it would be necessary for the reader to be invested and what better way than to like the characters.

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    1. I wish I had your instincts! I guess I should start being more picky with my requests. I tried to read Me and Me on multiple occasions, because I thought maybe I wasn't in the right headspace for it, but the characters were incredibly frustrating. They didn't discuss what had happened on the lake (at least not what I read), and carried on like it wasn't a big deal. They should have been more upset about what happened. I don't know if the dual POVs worked for this one. The chapters were lengthy and too far apart, so we don't really know about the second parallel perspective until nearly halfway through the book.

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  3. I really hope these weren't all in a row LOL! DNF'ers are the hardest.

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    1. Haha! They weren't back-to-back, but they did all happen in the same month! DNFing used be hard for me, because I felt like a book had the potential to get better, but now I just stop reading them and move on. I enjoy reading more when I'm not trying to force myself to finish something.

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  4. Lark sounds thoroughly unlikable and pretty unrelatable. I mean, who wouldn’t be affected by an experience like that? Uh, apparently Lark. Alec doesn’t sound much better. Two totally self-absorbed people. Ugh!

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    1. They were both very self-absorbed! It seemed like Alec had a lot going on at home, so he rebelled by being dangerous. Lark would ignore people if she was thinking about lyrics. It was her "thing" to get sidetracked and focused on a single task, even if it meant being rude and obnoxious. I get that she was talented and able to write songs, but she shouldn't sacrifice her time and her friends to do it. It also shouldn't have been so easy for her to go back to her normal routine after everything that happened. They should have been more upset!

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  5. Well, you know Wilder didn't work for me either. I did skip to he end and it still didn't make it any better lol

    That first one would annoy me. I'm not a fan of the *learn how to live!!!* plot device.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Thank you for letting me know the ending isn't any better! Does it at least explain what her big secret is? Why her name is different and people are worried about her safety? My guess is witness protection, or their hiding from dangerous people on their own.

      Me and Me was incredibly frustrating! I didn't like Lark or Alec. They didn't know each other very well at the start of the book, but then they share a traumatic experience. Instead of bonding over what happened and trying to heal, they act like everything is normal. Except now the two of them are obsessed with each other, and they start ignoring their friends and family to be together. I really hated how Lark treated her best friend. She would always be late for work and her friend would cover for her. When she made plans with her, Lark would ditch her at the last second for Alec (who was encouraging her to break her promises and her plans). *Hulk SMASH* I was angry! ;)

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  6. It happens. Sometimes you pick up a book and end up not liking it.

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    1. Totally! It's why I do this post. There are always books we don't like for whatever reason, and I think it's good to let others know why. It might help them make a better decision in the future! You might not like a book because there are too many steamy sex scenes, and I might be in the mood for sexy fun! ;)

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  7. I love these DNF reviews. I rarely do them because the books I tend to DNF are those that just don't grab me and I'm not always sure why. And yeah, my DNF point is usually between 15-20% read. If I'm not feeling it at that point, it's unlikely that I will....
    Jen Ryland Reviews

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    1. Yes! If I'm not enjoying a book, but I'm unsure why, I'll put it down and try reading it again in a few days. There's always a chance it's my current mood, so I like to give those books a second chance. However, if I try it again and it still doesn't work, I have to assume it's the book. By that point, I've usually pinpointed what it was about the book that didn't work for me. We all have our methods!

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  8. I need to go back to the beginning of time and post all my DNFs!

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    1. How long would that take?? I've only started DNFing books in the last year or so. When I first started blogging (my blog before this one), I would make myself finish whatever book I started. I didn't feel like I could review a book unless I read it in its entirety. However, I was miserable. Books stopped being fun, and I missed reading for pleasure. Now I DNF and I'm happier for it! <3

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  9. Oh, man, I LOVE the concept of Me and Me! Too bad the characters sound like jerks!

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    1. I really liked the premise for the book, but I didn't like the characters or how the story was presented. I think the dual timelines were too spaced out, and I wish they had alternated more frequently. I was nearly halfway through the book before they switched from one to the other. It made it more confusing and lessened the overall experience.

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  10. Phew, these certainly sound quite rough. Great post!

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    1. They were very rough reads, which is why I didn't finish them -- haha! I was really looking forward to these, so I was disappointed when they didn't work out. Especially Me and Me! I loved the idea of a parallel perspective. What would life be like for Lark if Alec survived? What would it be like for Lark if Annabelle wasn't the one in a coma? Different perspectives trickle in during both POVs, but it was mostly confusing.

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  11. Sorry these didn't work for you. I don't dnf very often but I did have one this month. I have a hard time finishing a book when I quit caring.

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    1. Right? I have to be invested in the characters and their story. I want to read a book that makes me feel something, and leaves me thinking about it days after I've turned the last page. Once I've stopped caring, or I've started rolling my eyes enough to make my head hurt, it's time to move on. Sorry you had one that didn't work for you!

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  12. Me and Me sounds like one of those Sliding Doors type books, how one different decision could change the outcome of our entire lives. It sounds incredibly messy though. Wilder sounds as though it suffers from manic pixie girl syndrome, the troubled yet quirky young woman that the teen male becomes obsessed with. John Green completely overused the trope and I think young adult in general has moved on from it. Sorry these didn't work for you Linds, I hope you've found a much better read ♡♡

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    1. I thought Me and Me would be about Lark's life after making a horrible choice, but that wasn't what happened. We see her living her life like the tragedy at the lake didn't happen. However, the parallel views could have been fascinating, but they were more confusing than anything else.

      Wilder was definitely that! He was so enraptured by a girl he barely knew, and her mysteriousness only added to her appeal. She was always cruel and condescending, but he brushed it off like those things didn't matter. Ugh!

      I have found a lot of wonderful reads! <3

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  13. Aw sad, the concept of Me and Me sounded interesting, but it definitely doesn't sound like it was executed well. Especially since everyone is so unlikable- who would even CARE? And Wilder, Idk, even the synopsis confuses me tbh! As for the middle one, when the MC can be confused with Random Old Lady, you KNOW it's time for better characterization ๐Ÿ˜‚ So sorry that these didn't work for you, but at least the reviews are entertaining!

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    1. It's really hard for me to enjoy a book when I dislike all of the characters. I didn't understand how they could be so casual after nearly dying, and seeing someone else almost die. A small child is in a coma, and they're scaling buildings and rooftops to feel alive. The girl is literally fighting for her life, while they risk theirs. It was frustrating. Lark was also flaky and willing to ditch her friends to spend time with Alec, even after her friends covered for her in all sorts of situations.

      Wilder gave me a headache.

      Moonlight over Manhattan was longer than it needed to be, and it was too easy to confuse the characters. I also don't like it when girls are attracted to guys that are physically or verbally abusive. He yelled at her for something a dog did when she wasn't around, and she was there trying to help. He took all of his anger out on her and made her stutter (something she hadn't done in years), and then thinks he can make everything better because he "understands" and also wants to force her to live in his home.

      I'm glad these were at least entertaining for you, haha. ;)

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“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless