Reviews : a book where I try to review other books

26 | Say it is love

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First Impression
Surprisingly, I enjoyed reading it. I finished the current chapters with breeze which I'd say is a good sign of a well paced book.

Pacing
It has the good pace of not too fast or too slow, each chapter has it's own problem or obstacle to overcome that builds up the big problem that is being portrayed in the story.

(Jasper being a bully.)

I do think a few details were overlooked or lacked description when it clearly looked like it was supposed to be an impactful moment (Henry breaking down)

I also think it lacked more conversations but there's only 7 chapters so its not a big problem.

The chapters end with a cliffhanger and perfectly leads to the next one.

In general, the pacing really built this book to be a good read.

plot

It's not extravagant or very different but I don't mind that. The plot wasn't cliche either to the point that it's boring or not worth reading.

It has it's own spin to things and I definitely think it's enjoyable plot.

characters
Now I do have a few nit picks in this category.

I think some characters lacked depth, time, or enough dialogue to established as a re-occuring character

Lorren for example, needs more description and lines. I think she's an interesting character but her shift from one characterisitic to another.

To the seemingly cool headed and bored (at least how I imagined it as she was first introduced)

to a weirdly obssessive and hyprr active person with a seemiling Lottie (princess and the frog) personality.

Henry also is pretty surface level but it feels intentional since the narrator (Cody) doesn't know much about him either.

Jasper on the other hand is surprisingly have an open character arc

or I have a few guesses on how he'll turn out. After chapter 7 I was starting to see that.

Which is pretty cool since Jasper is being shown as less of a cardboard cutout character and might be given depth.

Anyway, let's move on to dialogue.

dialogue
In all the books I've reviewed it's almost usually dialogue that's the problem or lacking in the book.

But the thing is, dialogue is the driving point in the story. In my opnion anyway.

In all the fanfics I've read, the memorable ones always have the best dialogue and character interactions.

so in general dialogue makes a book memorable because it is what makes the characters memorable.

Quotable lines, humorous ones, deep ones. Etc etc.

Im not saying this book should have those type of lines but I do suggest to put dialogue with two characters bonding about something.

Even if it was their favorite tree or flavor of ice cream. Heck they can bond on their favorite type of pen and it still counts as good dialogue cuz it shows the two characters bonding over something and getting closer.

Anyway, that's all for dialogue lezz go to descriptions.

descriptions
It is actually fitting on some parts, some times the descriptions were just right and gave enough info of the characters, where they were, etc.

But sometimes it lacked it and because of that made it feel rushed and it doesn't feel like a moment or scene.

And it'll result to being overlooked.

So I do suggest to re read parts like the cupcake opening thing and the tutoring as these scenes have so much potential to build up characters and maybe add aome foreshadowing.

blurb
I do think there were details that could be removed (like the panic attacks thing as this could be a detail only in the story. Idk adding somehow removed a little bit of mystery to things.)

Also the question at the very end kinda gave a way what will happen further in the story.

Maybe go for, (This is simply a suggestion, take it however you like)

"Cody has lived high school life in a school determined to replicate hell as accurately as possible.

And standing as devil's spawn was Jasper Sullivan, aka the king of moonridge. aka his nightmare.

But the torment and the bullying made a full 180 (360 means it just turns back to the beginning) when Henry Mount walked into the picture.

Suddenly, pe was fun, school wasn't as dreadful, and his life was tame but never mundane at the same time.

Until there was a call for investigation in Henry's house.

Was it a mistake to be friends with him or was there something else he didn't know."

Or something along those lines, Im not great at blurbs but I tried my best to convey what I meant.

Is it compelling
yes I do think it's compellig and interesting. It needs a few edits here and there but nothing that needs it to be brought back to the drawing board.

overall

I liked reading it, hence why I didn't really nitpick everything. And I look forward reading more.

I do hope this review didn't come off as harsh and was helpful in some way.

That is all for this review, have a good day/night, keep on writing, and farewell.