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JanB's Reviews > Hello Beautiful
Hello Beautiful
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JanB's review
bookshelves: 2023-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, netgalley, dnf
Feb 28, 2023
bookshelves: 2023-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, netgalley, dnf
I made it to 50% before throwing in the towel. I loved the author’s book, Dear Edward, but this one failed to keep my interest and I found it strange and weird.
It was depressing and slow, with unlikable characters. None of these factors alone is a deal breaker, but combined, it was the kiss of death.
William is the only sympathetic character but I just couldn’t slog through more of the story to find out what happens to him.
For some reason the author wrote the story it as if it was set during the 1940’s or ‘50’s, not the 1980’s, which created confusion.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
It was depressing and slow, with unlikable characters. None of these factors alone is a deal breaker, but combined, it was the kiss of death.
William is the only sympathetic character but I just couldn’t slog through more of the story to find out what happens to him.
For some reason the author wrote the story it as if it was set during the 1940’s or ‘50’s, not the 1980’s, which created confusion.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
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Reading Progress
February 27, 2023
– Shelved
February 27, 2023
– Shelved as:
fiction
February 27, 2023
– Shelved as:
buddy-read-with-marialyce
February 27, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023-reads
February 27, 2023
– Shelved as:
netgalley
February 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
dnf
Comments Showing 1-50 of 81 (81 new)
message 1:
by
Tina (not receiving notifications!)
(new)
Feb 28, 2023 01:01PM
It happens 🤷🏻♀️ Better luck with the next one Jan! Hope it's a glowing 5 stars!!
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It was definitely depressing and a huge disappointment, but you made it further than me!
Good call on the DNF! You aren’t missing a thing, and that time frame was so OFF!! 🤷🏻♀️
Definitely pass on this one Jan, thanks for your honesty.
Oops, another bad apple! The next one has to be better, right?
Ah bummer, but you gave it a more than fair enough go, Jan.
Thanks for your honest review, Jan! I think I’m going to skip this one. Hope your next read is much better :)
Nope, don't need slow or depressing. On to the next! 💖
Great review, Jan! What a bummer this was slow and depressing. I'll keep it off my tbr!
Tina wrote: "It happens 🤷🏻♀️ Better luck with the next one Jan! Hope it's a glowing 5 stars!!"Thanks Tina, me too!
Marialyce (absltmom, yaya) wrote: "It was definitely depressing and a huge disappointment, but you made it further than me!"I was trying desperately to finish it so I could move on, lol.
Not worth it! I only regret not moving on sooner.
Jayme wrote: "Good call on the DNF! You aren’t missing a thing, and that time frame was so OFF!! 🤷🏻♀️"Good to know. And even if the ending was wonderful it's not worth the slog to get there.
What the heck was up with the era being so off?? I'm still scratching my head...it's as if characters from 1940 were dropped into the '80s
Thanks Jayme
Maureen wrote: "Definitely pass on this one Jan, thanks for your honesty."Good call, but remember I'm the outlier (at least so far)
Thanks Maureen!
Alli wrote: "Hope the next one is better!"Thanks Alli!
Debbie wrote: "Oops, another bad apple! The next one has to be better, right?"The slump I'm in, who knows? It's discouraging :(
Thanks Debbie,
Jenna wrote: "Ah bummer, but you gave it a more than fair enough go, Jan."More than it deserved I think! Thanks Jenna!
Hannah wrote: "Thanks for your honest review, Jan! I think I’m going to skip this one. Hope your next read is much better :)"Thanks Hannah! I seem to be an outlier but this didn't work for me on any level.
Julie wrote: "Nope, don't need slow or depressing. On to the next! 💖"Right? Me either. Plus it was weird lol
Thanks Julie.
Yun wrote: "Great review, Jan! What a bummer this was slow and depressing. I'll keep it off my tbr!"I forgot to mention it was weird! lol
Thanks Yun!
Bianca wrote: "Thanks for the warning."You're welcome ;)
message 23:
by
Bec (becbingesbooks) - sorry, behind with lots of catching up to do
(new)
JanB, thanks for the heads up and explanation. Great review. Sorry this one didn’t work for you.
Hope you love your next read, Jan!😊
Thanks for the honest review, Jan! Hope you love your next read :)
Great review Jan. I've tried to read this one several times and couldn't get into it. I'll just let it sit. I loved Dear Edward too, this one didn't have the same "heart" at all :(
I have a hard time reading depressing books so I would have thrown in the towel too!
Bec (becbingesbooks) wrote: "JanB, thanks for the heads up and explanation. Great review. Sorry this one didn’t work for you."Thanks so much Bec!
Sujoya wrote: "Hope you love your next read, Jan!😊"Thanks Sujoya!
Mansuriah wrote: "Thanks for the honest review, Jan! Hope you love your next read :)"Thanks so much!
Dorie - Cats&Books :) wrote: "Great review Jan. I've tried to read this one several times and couldn't get into it. I'll just let it sit. I loved Dear Edward too, this one didn't have the same "heart" at all :("oh good, I'm glad I'm not just being a Negative Nellie ;)
This one is so different and the characters so odd...plus the time period being so off. ugh
Thanks Dorie
Sorry this wasn’t a win! Best of luck on your next read! 💖
Elle G. Reads wrote: "I have a hard time reading depressing books so I would have thrown in the towel too!"Thanks Elle, depressing and odd made for a deadly combination!
Allison wrote: "Sorry this wasn’t a win! Best of luck on your next read! 💖"Thanks Allison, I certainly need some good luck as it's been a bit rough reading lately!
Diane wrote: "Honest opinion, Jan!"Thanks Diane!
Sorry to hear this was such a disappointment. I also really enjoyed Dear Edward and was excited that she had written a new book. Great review, Jan! I hope your next read is more promising.
Ahh, Jane, sorry this fell flat for you! I really loved this one....
Oh no! not the kiss of death! You need a winner asap. 💗
You gave it more than a fair chance, I'd say. Reading time is too valuable to spend on something like this that is not working for you. Good for you to table it, JanB.
Sorry this was a miss, Jan. I hope you love your next read!
Sorry this one didn’t work out Jan! You went further than I would have. Hope you love your next one!
Not connecting at 50% in is reason enough to quit, Jan! Good for you and I hope your current read is more satisfying.
Sorry to hear this didn’t work for you Jan! I hope you love your next!
Sorry this was a DNF, hoping your next one is a winner!
Oh, this one is on my TBR list...perhaps I will skip. I did not read Dear Edward as the subject did not appeal. Thanks for the heads up!
I was on the fence about Dear Edward so I decided to wait to see how others felt about this one. Glad I waited! Thanks for saving me the time. Definitely weird about it being set in the 1980s but with a 40s vibe.
Love your honesty!
Marilyn wrote: "Sorry to hear this was such a disappointment. I also really enjoyed Dear Edward and was excited that she had written a new book. Great review, Jan! I hope your next read is more promising."I was very excited too and so was even more disappointed. Thanks Marilyn!
Amina wrote: "Ahh, Jane, sorry this fell flat for you! I really loved this one...."Thanks Amina, I'm glad you loved it, but as they say, no book is for everyone....
I had high hopes :(
