Book Reviews: For Those In Need Of An Outsiders Opinion

Sparks Fly

A reminder that I am NOT a professional! I am however an adamant book lover and have enjoyed reading and writing my entire life. These are my opinions and the things that I notice, enjoy, find need of touching up, etc.

Enjoy!

Sparks Fly is a novel published by BELLABUTNOTHADID. At the time of submission, there are seven published chapters, in addition to an introduction.

"To introduce a concept that does not solely revolve around romance but also touches upon diverse topics such as career, family issues etc. to give a hint of realism at the side note while also hinting a cute-cheesy romance along the way."- BELLABUTNOTHADID

Descriptive:

"   𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐠 & 𝐇𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐞 (Taylor's Version)

❝ We met in in the storm as two broken hearts and split under the bright sky as two broken souls.❞

 In which two longing hearts meet as strangers under the pouring sky and develop unfathomable feelings with a bit of music and rain, however, their lives seem to have taken an unexpected turn with the involvement of career and fame.   "

I wish the stories descriptive included a more in depth look into the story's beginning as well as what is to come of our romance novel. Maybe a little bit of discussing Jane Park and her "new move to the big city" and "her trouble of finding herself in Seoul" but then she finds him or something along those lines. And THEN bring to the table our "two longing hearts meet as strangers under the pouring sky and develop unfathomable feelings with a bit of music and rain, however, their lives seem to have taken an unexpected turn with the involvement of career and fame."

Maybe include as well in our story some version of the cast and that although famous people are involved in the layout of our story, that it is not a fanfiction or about the people themselves. That you are just using their likenesses? I know you do this before the prologue, but something quick and simple would work wonderfully.

I would also include that it is a short story.

Prologue:

Short. Simple. Sweet. 

A reoccurring theme in today's novel read. 

Although it is a piece written to lead up into our story, I feel as though it is almost unnecessary to include as its own separate line in the story. It would suffice as just the start of Chapter One. If it were going to include something that would be reveled in the plot of the story later on then yes, but we are only picking up right from that moment in Chapter One with her continuing her journal write. No change in scenery, timeline, characteristic. I believe combining the two (Chpt 1 and the Prologue) will allow you to come back and write a prologue that may include one of the things listed above later on. Something about life before Seoul for Jane, or even the processes of journaling and she's writing to herself etc.

Chapters 1-6:

-There is a three-section/chapter dedication to a disclosure, cast, and then playlist for the novel. I do wish this was maybe included partially in the introduction, partially in the conclusion. Maybe broken apart throughout the book- I'm not too certain. 

-We meet our main character Jane Park and potential love interest fairly early on; our writer gives us a clear picture of that unheard "spark" we often times read about in romance novels. Will she ever see the boy who lives rent free in her head? 

-A good representation of what our character is observing, choosing to take notice on for her day-to-day life. She is observant and takes in the people and things around her she finds important. Allowing the story reader to see who she sees and what features she takes in and add to our main character. 

-Moments of really great wording for emotions and feelings, you feel alongside Ms. Jane

-They meet again! I found myself wanting to just look into his angelic eyes one more time too. The way they meet is intriguing although a bit expected because she's a little persistent on bumping into the man again! Girl knew it was bound to happen if she was just there one more time. 

Notes:

-"Seoul, the heart of South Korea, where times seem to harmonize ancient legends with futuristic dreams, stands the vibrant city of Seoul." -Chpt 2 I would recommend restructuring certain sentences like this one. You've listed Seoul twice in a singular sentence, when the second Seoul could have been used in the following you sentence you have. Along the lines of -

"Seoul, the heart of South Korea, where times seem to harmonize ancient legends with futuristic dreams. The vibrant city of Seoul, pulses with the energy of a thousand tales. Each blocks corner a new chapter waiting to be explored."       just an idea!

- "The next day, as in today, I looked up at the pallet of sky blue above as I departed Seoul." -Chpt 2 Here I struggle with "the next day, as in today"- there are so many ways you can create a transition in scenery without just verbally announcing the next day has arrived! I think this would help with the overall story telling if we had more moments in between scenes, actions, dialogue etc. It often just jumps to what is next with things like "as in today"

I want MORE to the story! I feel as though I am Jane Parks personal diary and she's just abbreviating her day to me. 

Conclusion: 

Although I do hate to begin the conclusion with criticism, and it very well could be the authors intentions- there were a few things out of the story that I personally as a reader was missing. There wasn't a whole lot of body to the novel, it was a quick read and any character development, growth in the story line are all just quick glimpses as well. I would however not care as much if that was the story, just a quick little glimpse into a young girls first real love. Maybe our author will clarify in the comments. But I do love a thick book, full of detail and focus, to the scene that is the surrounding to the characters. Viewing life as though it's with them, and although I get taste of it in these quick moments where there is body in the story, there is not too much depth in them. Again Short. Sweet. Simple.

The unshakeable connection and idea of love at first sight is quite cute, and BELLANOTHADID does do just this. Cute. She does nail so far the "cheesy romance" builds up she discusses going for. I believe it is too early on to have really touched on the buildup in plot, and in-depth family dynamics given by our writers written goal. Thay may yet come to be later in our storyline.

I do sense a build in the k-drama style writing and believe that anyone looking for a short story with this theme would be interested in the quick read. I would recommend the novel to a younger audience entering the romance novel world and who are also interested in as said before, k-drama mixed young adult American television style. I personally though look for more solidity in my reads and will not continue forth in Jane Parks story. But I think you should as a writer! This feels like good beginnings for you!

The review may progress sometime in the future/gain detail as the story continues and I learn exactly how I want to write these reviews.

Thank you for trusting me with your work!! I look forward to the day it is complete!

Keep on writing!

-Lilith (a.k.a D_W_Slayer)