Title: Don't Look Back
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pub Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Page Count: 372
A mysterious thriller disguised in pretty packaging so no one will suspect how much danger is in this story. - Nova @ Out of Time
So this one got a lot of hype. A lot of people said that it was amazing, that they loved it and it's by far her best book, so obviously that brought my excitement up to its peak. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same feelings. I liked it a lot, don't get me wrong (this is a positive review), but I didn't see the need for the rave reviews this book was getting.
First off is the plot. A while ago, I read this book (I don't remember the name) where the MC lost her memory at the start of the book and was horrified that she was known as the mean girl. That's exactly what happens in Don't Look Back. The subplot for me is stale because I've read it before somewhere else. What makes this a positive book and redeeming is that JLA's writing was far better than that other book I read (which was a negative rating). That and the fact that there is such a cool element of thrill under the fluff that this book seemed to start off with.
What else happens that was very reminiscent to the other book is that the MC (Sam) realizes how horrible she was and turns on her rich (b*) friends and tries to be better. Oh, and she's from a rich family that expects to run her life for her. This was actually what happened (exactly) in that other book. And that other book came out like last year.
What I really did like however, were the characters. Though some of them seemed too familiar, I felt like Sam was different. She wasn't quite "goody goody" but she also wasn't the same person from before her amnesia. It was like she found some kind of middle ground where I liked her, but was still a little taken back from her mistakes (which is normal.) I think the sense of "imperfect perfection" was achieved and it makes it so important in the story.
I also liked characters like Del, Scott, Veronica and Candy but I felt as though they needed more. They felt very two-dimensional to me in the sense that I didn't really know them. I only knew them when it pertained to the situation or when it was a necessity. It would've been nice to build on them, despite them being secondary characters.
What I also really liked and that turned the entire story around for me was the element of thriller. This book got me. It was a mystery in itself and it reminded me of a good episode of Pretty Little Liars where there's a balanced mix of girl drama and suspense. While the killer was revealed in the end, I put the book down and sat there for a little. Books typically don't get me because I take signs of foreshadowing and I make up little motives while I read, but this one actually got me. The character it turned out to be really hadn't crossed my mind in the least.
However on the flip side: I didn't understand their motive. The whole "omg you're the killer!" moment nearer the end of the book was cut short and choppy. And that's why it felt a little spoilt. The motive was never there; all that was said was "it's an accident it's an accident". As well, conclusions were drawn from that scene that seemed to come out of the air with absolutely nothing to back it up.
So even though I quite enjoyed this novel (like most of JLA's books), I wasn't happy with some of the holes and I felt like the plot was recycled from a book I had previously read (which is obviously subjective to me.)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pub Date: April 15th, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Page Count: 372
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.
Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.
But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Chapters Indigo
A mysterious thriller disguised in pretty packaging so no one will suspect how much danger is in this story. - Nova @ Out of Time
So this one got a lot of hype. A lot of people said that it was amazing, that they loved it and it's by far her best book, so obviously that brought my excitement up to its peak. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same feelings. I liked it a lot, don't get me wrong (this is a positive review), but I didn't see the need for the rave reviews this book was getting.
First off is the plot. A while ago, I read this book (I don't remember the name) where the MC lost her memory at the start of the book and was horrified that she was known as the mean girl. That's exactly what happens in Don't Look Back. The subplot for me is stale because I've read it before somewhere else. What makes this a positive book and redeeming is that JLA's writing was far better than that other book I read (which was a negative rating). That and the fact that there is such a cool element of thrill under the fluff that this book seemed to start off with.
What else happens that was very reminiscent to the other book is that the MC (Sam) realizes how horrible she was and turns on her rich (b*) friends and tries to be better. Oh, and she's from a rich family that expects to run her life for her. This was actually what happened (exactly) in that other book. And that other book came out like last year.
What I really did like however, were the characters. Though some of them seemed too familiar, I felt like Sam was different. She wasn't quite "goody goody" but she also wasn't the same person from before her amnesia. It was like she found some kind of middle ground where I liked her, but was still a little taken back from her mistakes (which is normal.) I think the sense of "imperfect perfection" was achieved and it makes it so important in the story.
I also liked characters like Del, Scott, Veronica and Candy but I felt as though they needed more. They felt very two-dimensional to me in the sense that I didn't really know them. I only knew them when it pertained to the situation or when it was a necessity. It would've been nice to build on them, despite them being secondary characters.
What I also really liked and that turned the entire story around for me was the element of thriller. This book got me. It was a mystery in itself and it reminded me of a good episode of Pretty Little Liars where there's a balanced mix of girl drama and suspense. While the killer was revealed in the end, I put the book down and sat there for a little. Books typically don't get me because I take signs of foreshadowing and I make up little motives while I read, but this one actually got me. The character it turned out to be really hadn't crossed my mind in the least.
However on the flip side: I didn't understand their motive. The whole "omg you're the killer!" moment nearer the end of the book was cut short and choppy. And that's why it felt a little spoilt. The motive was never there; all that was said was "it's an accident it's an accident". As well, conclusions were drawn from that scene that seemed to come out of the air with absolutely nothing to back it up.
So even though I quite enjoyed this novel (like most of JLA's books), I wasn't happy with some of the holes and I felt like the plot was recycled from a book I had previously read (which is obviously subjective to me.)
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