Thursday, August 28, 2014

It's not you: It's me: DNF Starry Night by Isabel Gillies

Starry Night
Starry Night by Isabel Gillies
Sometimes one night can change everything. On this particular night, Wren and her three best friends are attending a black-tie party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the opening of a major exhibit curated by her father. An enormous wind blasts through the city, making everyone feel that something unexpected and perhaps wonderful will happen. And for Wren, that something wonderful is Nolan. With his root-beer-brown Michelangelo eyes, Nolan changes the way Wren’s heart beats. In Isabel Gillies's Starry Night, suddenly everything is different. Nothing makes sense except for this boy. What happens to your life when everything changes, even your heart? How much do you give up? How much do you keep?

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Publishes in US: September 2nd 2014 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Macmillan
Genre: Ya contemp
Source: MacMillan via Netgalley
Series? No

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Book Depository

Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter

 
    I wrote a post about negative reviews, and how I don't review if I don't finish, and a very wise blogger pointed out that knowing what a blogger doesn't like can be valuable to publishers and authors too. I think that it also helps my readers build trust that I am not just slapping good ratings on everything I read. I have a knack for picking what I will lack based on synopsis and reviews, but that even fails. Then another blogger mentioned she did a did not finish post and I thought it was a great idea. So, here we go:

    I couldn't connect with Wren because she had a younger voice, and the jumping about in time from current to so many different places. I felt lost and I don't think I met Nolan quick enough. The theme of friendship could have been very well, but I felt a bit like they were an accessory. And if I wouldn't have know from the synopsis that Charlie wasn't the object of the romance I would have been even more disappointed because he is mentioned so many times in the beginning. 


    That isn't to say that the writing is poor or the characters are poorly constructed, it's personal on my end.

Positive reviews:
Lamont from Goodreads

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9 comments:

  1. I know exactly how you feel about the "voice". I've dnf'd several books for that same reason. Thanks for the post!

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  2. Awe, I was really curious about this one. Too bad Wren wasn't a character you could connect with. I'll have to think about this one.

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  3. Oh this one actually wasn't on my radar at all but now i know to stay away from it. Wren doesn't seem like a character I'd enjoy

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  4. Yep. I'm all for writing negative reviews and DNF reviews personally. I think it's helpful all the way around and like you mentioned helps keep perspective on a blog and from feeling like everything gets automatically given a 4 or 5. Sorry to hear this one just didn't mesh for ya!

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  5. Yikes, a younger voice? I have a hard time with those, unless it's stated as MG, then I'm fine with it. But if it's marketed towards YA, and sounds more younger YA, nope. :(

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  6. I've had a problem with a few books recently because of the younger voice. It has to be pretty compelling to keep my attention. In those cases, I usually pass the book on to my niece or nephew who usually end up loving it.

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  7. I also think negative reviews are helpful to both authors and readers. And I'm sorry this didn't work for you. It's too bad because it sounds promising and the cover is gorgeous. Thanks for the honest review!

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  8. Aw, I'm sorry you couldn't finish this one sweetie. <3 Thank you for sharing about it :) I LOVE negative reviews, hah. This cover is gooorgeous, but I won't read this book. Doesn't sound like something for me :)

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