I feel like the Grinch but oh my gosh this was bad. I don’t think I’ve ever written a rant review but please brace yourselves because one is coming foI feel like the Grinch but oh my gosh this was bad. I don’t think I’ve ever written a rant review but please brace yourselves because one is coming for this book when it’s not 4 am. ...more
One-dimensional portrayals are just so tiring. As if Muslim = brown/poc and brown/poc = Muslim. They are not mutually exclusive. Both are important idOne-dimensional portrayals are just so tiring. As if Muslim = brown/poc and brown/poc = Muslim. They are not mutually exclusive. Both are important identities. Both are important and should be treated as such, or not brought up at all.
So what's this book about? Two teens who are helping out for a Democratic campaign. They become canvassing buddies and start spending more time together outside of campaign work. As time passes, they start to care more for each other. Drama ensues (that's never resolved by the way, just ignored).
That's basically it. Now here's the thing. The book tried to cram too much for absolutely no reason. If that was all this book was about, it would have been a 2-3 star read (nothing crazy but enjoyable). Instead, I was left feeling hollow and sort of cheated. See, the two teens aren't just any two teens, they're a Muslim girl and a Jewish boy. Sounds promising, right? It should have been but it wasn't. Their faiths, their cultures, their backgrounds mean absolutely nothing. Change the girl for any girl who's never dated and honestly? Sort of the same story. Except better because it wouldn't have been as insulting. Neither identities are addressed although I think Maya's got the worst of it in this, but I'm obviously a little biased. It's just tiring to see book after book, show after show (I'm looking at you Elite), portrayal after portrayal making it seem like the only way for a Muslim girl to be happy is to casually step on her beliefs but for a good cause! It's for looooove! Why does it have to be one or the other? It's problematic to say the least. And we had a moment, a brief moment, where everything could have changed for the better, but nope, of course that's not what happened.
“I’m sorry. I should never have spoken that way. I was insensitive and off base. But I get it now. Your parents have their view on how this should go. And if you share their view, that’s fine. More than fine. I know your religion and faith are important to you. I get that.” He looks at me. His green eyes meet mine. “If we can’t date, we can’t. I respect that. But I don’t want to lose you, Maya. That’s what matters most to me. And I just—” But I don’t let him finish. I don’t let him say another word. I lean forward and kiss him. He startles, and then he wraps his arms around me and kisses me back.”
I appreciated the above for the 0.2 seconds it lasted. I appreciate how he emphasizes the importance of her religion and faith (because this book sure didn't). I appreciate that he doesn't assume she does or doesn't share her parents' views but is willing to respect her wishes regardless. And then that happened. Instead of exploring those ideas, trying to navigate their differences, it all just gets pushed aside. Thrown out the window really.
Now I'm not saying Muslims can or can't date. I'm not saying interfaith relationships aren't or shouldn't be a thing. That's not my place to say because each person has the right to make their own decisions, but if you're going to write people of certain races, backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, identities, etc. either do it right or don't do it at all....more
I wanted to like this book, I really did. As a longtime lover of Beauty & the Beast, I was so excited to get my hands on this book. Sadly, this is oneI wanted to like this book, I really did. As a longtime lover of Beauty & the Beast, I was so excited to get my hands on this book. Sadly, this is one of the first books I've ever not really finished because I simply couldn't.
The writing was okay, there were parts where it was even beautiful, but the plot and the characters were so lacking that I couldn't even pretend I was enjoying myself. We start off with the prologue about how Prince Adam aka the Beast became said beast. I admit I thought it was really clever how "the beast" was created while still keeping him human (that aspect of the movie weirds me out, now that I'm older). It was an interesting twist, still sticking to the story but not, which is exactly what a retelling should be! I even enjoyed reading it, although it got ... really dark really fast. I was left horrified but still... it was a great way to draw the reader in.
So far so good, right?
Now we visit Isa(belle), our protagonist and beauty to our previously introduced beast. And here is where it all starts going downhill. Isabelle is the epitome of a Mary-Sue, damsel in distress masquerading as a strong independent woman who "don't need no man." Yet the entire book is her being the exact opposite. We are introduced to her as she's reading a book by her terminally ill father who's apparently lost his sight. We don't see much of their dynamic because surprise! A bit of Cinderella has crossed over into this story in the form of two painfully one-dimensional stepsisters. I can't remember which one was older and only recall one of their names. What I do remember is that they were cruel to Isabelle and rude to her father. She endures their horrible attitudes with a lot of anger (which she never voices, of course) and dismissiveness (at least in her mind). All Isabelle wants to do is protect her Papa and help him get better as he's all she has left.
In comes her way to do so. Also known as Gaston. Or, well, Raphael in this retelling.
Because they're poor, and her father's medication/treatment requires a lot of money, Isabelle does what the beloved Belle in the Disney retelling would never even dream of -- she's engaged herself to Gaston. Mind you his name is Raphael this time around, and he's blond, gorgeous, and a man of title with a lot of daddy issues. Honestly, his story would have been far more interesting to see and we're given a lot of little tidbits later on (view spoiler)[about how his father was abusive (both physically and emotionally) and that he was the one to kill Raphael's mother. (hide spoiler)] Raphael abhors his father, and part of why he's chosen Isabelle as his bride is because he knows his father would never approve. Interesting so far. He's apparently portrayed himself as the total gentleman and actually made Isabelle fall for him, only to do a complete 180 when she says yes. We're never shown the before (although Isabelle goes on and on about how much she had thought she loved him at one point, never showing us glimpses of that Raphael, just remarking on how much he'd changed which I felt was an odd decision) so I was left incredibly disoriented.
Trigger warning: sexual assault!! The moment he walks in, he starts sexually assaulting Isabelle. Touching her when she doesn't want to be touched, allowing his hands to wander under her clothes, pulling her to his body, and even at one point (when she asks why he's doing this) grabs her hand and places it over his crotch. Classy, right? It gets worse: he does this all in front of Isabelle's father and she can't say anything because he's blind, not deaf. The sexual assault and rapey vibes were just really awful with this book, and this wasn't even the worst of it. Not even close.
Fast-forward a couple gosh-knows-how-many-pages and Isabelle has a brilliant idea. She decides to travel with her (super ill) father to this merchant gathering so they can make money and leave this all behind. She of course has to ask Raphael for the funds, horses, etc. So she goes to ask him, providing some excuse for the things she's asking. I don't understand why she would go to his home, visit him alone, willingly after everything he's shown he is willing to do when there's company. Add to the fact that the moment she walks in, she realizes that he's very, very drunk, I can't understand why she stayed. An awful, awful (let me repeat: awful) scene of sexual assault takes place. Trigger warning again. (view spoiler)[He essentially rapes Isabelle with his finger, taking her virginity (according to her) in the process. I mean there is literal blood on his fingers. (hide spoiler)]
In the end, he gives her the funds, transportation, etc. on the condition they get married on their return.
Fast-forward some more, Isabelle and her father go to this run-down castle hoping to get out of a storm. At first, the owner turns them away but eventually lets them in. After all his hospitality, the father attempts to steal something, gets caught, and sent to the dungeons. True to the story, Isabelle offers to take his place even after she realizes that he looks like a "monster" (view spoiler)[half of his face is hideously scarred by the fire he had burned in when trying to save his baby sister back in the prologue (hide spoiler)]. He agrees, if she, and I kid you not, agrees to stay on as his mistress, indefinitely. She agrees. They stay in the dungeon overnight as punishment, but her father dies before the day.
So he absolves her of the deal, but she gets sick with grief and is forced to stay while he cares for her. He is already creepily infatuated with her and her beauty, imagine himself running his hands through her hair which then leads to ... more explicit thoughts. It grossed me out on a whole other level. This is the guy we're supposed to be rooting for?
Now I'm not going to tell the whole story because, honestly, a little after this point on I started to skim pages. What I do remember is that she wakes and he offers to allow her to make this place her home, no strings attached. She decides it's better than Raphael and what's waiting for her if she were to return, so she agrees. I saved some excerpts to share, though. Because if I had to be tortured with it, so should you.Just know that things escalate unrealistically very creepily. Nothing about this "love story" has me rooting for love. Or the story.
He waited, expecting her to flee in horror—to push past him and escape into the shadows. But she did nothing of the sort. Instead, her head tilted back in undeniable ecstasy. A shallow sigh escaped from those parted lips. Her breaths wafted against him in an erotic assault on the senses, causing his blood to burn and rush southward. She looked remarkably innocent, fragile, like a porcelain doll. He turned her body in a full circle and gently cupped the curve of her chin. 'What if I demanded that you fulfill our original terms? Right now, in this very room?'
This is day one of her being awake. I don't know where to start with this, the fact that she doesn't shy away the moment he comes closer, the fact that it seems as if she doesn't mind the closeness (when ten seconds ago she was literally cringing and avoiding looking at him because of the burns), or the fact that Adam had the gall to ask what he just did. Because remember, the original terms were her being his mistress. Yep, he just did that. When she gives a negative response (in true dramatic fashion of "It would break whatever is left of me.") he follows with an, “As I said nights ago, I won’t hold you to that part of our agreement. Now follow me, and I’ll show you to your private quarters.” What a gross troll.
'And now, I have found you. Come to me, Isabelle,' he called down, the words reaching out to her, his voice soft and gentle. 'I shouldn’t have frightened you so. Shouldn’t have touched you in such a way. This is your home now [...] I lost control. I’m afraid my temper is one of my uglier facets, among other things.' The self-deprecating note in his voice disgusted him. [...] “You will fall ill again. And I shan’t allow it. Please, Isabelle... allow me to make amends, to show you I’m not the monster you perceive me to be.”
This is after he scares the hell out of her (again), and is incredibly angry, cornering her into a wall, and pushing her up against it so that she feels his arousal. I can't make this up. This eerily echoes an abuser apologizing... and he never actually apologizes?
Ok I'm done. I had more excerpts but my review is already lengthy as is. And it's just not worth it.
Fast-forward not that much more (it happens so fast I'm left baffled) and she starts to fall madly in love. With that charmer. Although Adam feels like a stranger (a creepy, scary stranger with a lot of issues and does nothing to change), she starts falling fast. It doesn't matter if she magically goes from unable to physically look at him because of his burns to simply getting over it. And he's been in love with her since second one so of course it works out wonderfully and they make love.
Add some more drama with Raphael finding her, stealing her away, and her needing to be rescued from his evil clutches, and you've more or less finished the book. I stopped skimming after that, sorry. (hide spoiler)]
Basically, save your time, sanity, and money and read something else....more
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