Blurb:
Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she’s spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Da Vinci’s footsteps, she’s ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital’s Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.
Jack is charming, wildly attractive, and possibly one of San Francisco’s most notorious graffiti artists. On midnight buses and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who Jack really is—and tries to uncover what he’s hiding that leaves him so wounded. But will these secrets come back to haunt him? Or will the skeletons in her family’s closet tear them apart?
Meh.
I was slightly disappointed with TASOAH, probably because I spent ten dollars on it and I almost never spend ten dollars on books especially when a thing like bookbub exists. But I liked the premise and it had pretty good reviews, so I figured I’d give it a shot.
Meh.
I almost didn’t post this because it’s not something you simply *have* to read and it’s not so terrible that it’s worth talking about. It’s… an okay story. The insta-love kind of killed it for me because the one thing I love about romances is the build-up. I like the actual falling in love part and when two characters “just feel it” with a stare across bus seats, I’m already doubting the authenticity of everything in the following pages.
Eleanor & Park is my compare-to book because it takes the protagonists nearly a month of sitting next to each other to actually talk. In fact, they communicate non-verbally until speaking becomes necessary, and even after, they don’t start the actual romance until sometime later. But I love Rainbow Rowell and the amazing honesty in how she writes realistic fiction. Everything’s not written through rose-colored glasses and that is so refreshing.
TASOAH wasn’t bad; it was just a bit predictable. The ‘bad boy’ is only bad because he’s doing something good for someone else while inwardly suffering. I mean, come on, isn’t that what all literary YA ‘bad boys’ are? Misunderstood good guys in hot costumes? And our girl is quirky (she draws cadavers and has a Morticia Adams thing going on) but is unusual to everyone other than our leading man who, as I’ve already stated, has a bad case of insta-love.
The story itself was sweet, fast paced and enjoyable for a bridge book. Was I in love with it? Absolutely not. Did I enjoy it? Sure. But would I recommend it to a friend? Depends if he or she is looking for a light read before finding their next favorite thing.
It has an interesting cover. Sort of. It’s no amazing, but it’s not bad. Kind of like the review says the book is, so I guess it fits.
Insta-love always iritates me too unless the author can give me a reason. Are they some kind of magical soul mates? Are they reincarnated lovers? Heck, I’d even accept Twilight’s whole “imprinting” thing done right (aka not on Bella’s baby!) but when that’s missing and they’re still madly in love in 3.0 seconds… yeah. It’s like skipping all the good stuff. There’s a reason most traditional romance novels end when the couple gets together and admits they’re “in love” LOL!
Exactly.
Wait – you’re saying Jacob imprinting on baby Renesme didn’t do it for you? 😮
LMAO!!! Yeah that was a little weird and contrived…
I so agree about Eleanor and Park. 🙂
Thanks for the review – I believe I have TASOAH on my Goodreads To Read Shelf….
I mean, still read it if you’re looking for something light and quick. But if your compare-to book is E&P like mine, you won’t find the same gratification.
Maybe I’m just jaded, but I swear, it seems like so many books these days could have their plot summed up as “girl meets bad boy and falls in love”. I know I’m not the target audience, but… yeah. >_<
You’re probably not quite the target audience… no… but it doesn’t matter. Overdone is overdone. Only the details change and sometimes, it doesn’t even feel like it. ;(
Oh, I agree with everything you said about Rainbow Rowell. Eleanor & Park sets the standard for raw and real writing, truly authentic young love, and I LOVE that book and those characters. I’m not sure if anything could measure up to that one. I got The Anatomical Shape of A Heart for Christmas (asked for it because the summary sounded great). Your review has lowered my expectations a bit, but maybe that’s a good thing because maybe I won’t be disappointed. I hope I’ll like it–but I know I won’t love it as much as E&P :).
Nice review,
Ninja Girl
Thanks! Still read it, as it’s not exactly bad, just… kind of been done. I still think you’ll enjoy it 🙂
For real… E&P is the BEST.
Well, I hope your next read is less Meh for you!