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Long Way #2
In the Fish Bowl
Sequel to The Long Way
Status: Complete
Word count: approx. 258,842
Status: Complete
Word count: approx. 258,842
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 11, 2018
A quick note (spoilers, but not concerning the main plot or the main characters of this book):
Just started reading this and, right at the beginning, we have to find out that Aiden and Owen, the main characters from "The Long Way #1", are not the happy couple they used to be anymore. Instead, they still seem to love each other, but avoid each other like the plague.And what's more, their break-up also split up (more or less) the whole circle of friends as well. Ugh. And Aiden seems to--at some point--leave town (and with it the book's plot) altogether, returning to his poor excuse of mother..
I couldn't help myself and skimmed to the end of the book in order to find out whether they'll get together again eventually, but it seems like Aiden only reappears at the very end of the book, in the epilogue no less. And he's seemingly only reunited with Owen for the duration of New Years...(?), so it seems like there'll be no HEA for these two (side)characters... I hope I missed something.
I'm honestly not too happy with this development, just saying. They are not even the MCs of the sequel, so why give the whole thing such a bitter/negative connotation? I'm sad.
On top of that it seems like this book (written in 3rd person POV--unlike the other fics by DomLuca) tries to cover too many different storylines and characters. It seems kind of distracting, as of yet..
I'm sulking right now, in case you failed to noticed. ;)
*****
Update #1 (p. 203):
As I've deaded, the side plot of Owen and Aiden really sucks. Both split up for ridiculous reasons--"we still love each other, but we see each other too much, I don't know who I am without you, OK, let's end this relationship and let's not see/talk to each other anymore.."--only to be totally miserable without each other. What the hell? Annoying.
And to make things even worse: They are not the only ones who stopped talking to each other. Suddenly Ryan and Lacy, former best friends, hate each other, too. Ridiculous reasons are to blame here as well. Again: annoying.
Travis (new character) and Dennis (from "The Long Way") seem to be the MCs in this book (a dozen storylines exist next to theirs). While I thought Dennis was an interesting character and would have loved to find out more about him while reading the first book in this series, I am somewhat disappointed now that he's become the main character in this book.. He's become a loner. He has asshole parents and struggles to deal with his shitty family situation. (Sound vaguely familiar? That's probably because we've seen a similar storyline in the prequel, namely Owen's). What's more, we're kinda thrown for a loop here, because somehow this Dennis is different from the one in the first book. A noticable character growth and character change has occurred from book #1 to #2 . Off page. Which is kind of strange.
In book #2 Dennis tries to keep to himself and not to get involved in other people's business. But all this "I have no friends, I don't want to be bothered with other people's problems" gets boring soon, and isn't all that attractive or likable.
Travis has a very troubled past, has to fight back the demons he keeps mostly securely locked somewhere deep down in his mind, has severe trust issues and is for the better part of the book (at least of what I've read so far) annoying and obnoxious. Mostly he's able to hide behind a facade of an talkative/outspoken guy with no care in the world, who doesn't seem to take anything too seriously to be bothered by it. For the most part. I don't really know what to think about him. Yes, he's annoying.. and obnoxious, but he's funny, straightforward, and the opposite of shy. But I guess he's kinda growing on me.
Kyle (new character, Nicky's cousin) whose only purpose seems to be mothering Travis doesn't really make for an interesting character either. And Travis, who doesn't want anybody getting too close to him, finds himself repeatedly annoyed by said behaviour--I'll give Kyle that his worries aren't exactly uncalled for. So far, I don't like him much either. Surprise.
What I do like, though, is the writing style. I don't really know why, but somehow it reminds me of the TV series "Pushing Daisies", if anyone here remembers it. The narrator in said series gave it a distinctive fairytale-like touch. Which can be fund in this book as well. Kind of. Or maybe that's just me. Still, I like it.
Anyways, I can't say that I'm very pleased with the book so far. It really has parts that I absolutely dislike, but then there are parts that make me curious, that make me wanna find out how things will develop...
*****
Update #2:
I did finish the book after all. And, yeah, I have to admit, it turned out to be not half bad. Travis and Dennis definitely grew on me, but it took a while. Their characters took some getting used to.
The Happy Ending [or should I say 'the Happy Endings'?] doesn't [don't] hurt either. ;)
Overall, I liked it. Surprise. 3.5 stars.
Just started reading this and, right at the beginning, we have to find out that Aiden and Owen, the main characters from "The Long Way #1", are not the happy couple they used to be anymore. Instead, they still seem to love each other, but avoid each other like the plague.And what's more, their break-up also split up (more or less) the whole circle of friends as well. Ugh. And Aiden seems to--at some point--leave town (and with it the book's plot) altogether, returning to his poor excuse of mother..
I couldn't help myself and skimmed to the end of the book in order to find out whether they'll get together again eventually, but it seems like Aiden only reappears at the very end of the book, in the epilogue no less. And he's seemingly only reunited with Owen for the duration of New Years...(?), so it seems like there'll be no HEA for these two (side)characters... I hope I missed something.
I'm honestly not too happy with this development, just saying. They are not even the MCs of the sequel, so why give the whole thing such a bitter/negative connotation? I'm sad.
On top of that it seems like this book (written in 3rd person POV--unlike the other fics by DomLuca) tries to cover too many different storylines and characters. It seems kind of distracting, as of yet..
I'm sulking right now, in case you failed to noticed. ;)
*****
Update #1 (p. 203):
As I've deaded, the side plot of Owen and Aiden really sucks. Both split up for ridiculous reasons--"we still love each other, but we see each other too much, I don't know who I am without you, OK, let's end this relationship and let's not see/talk to each other anymore.."--only to be totally miserable without each other. What the hell? Annoying.
And to make things even worse: They are not the only ones who stopped talking to each other. Suddenly Ryan and Lacy, former best friends, hate each other, too. Ridiculous reasons are to blame here as well. Again: annoying.
Travis (new character) and Dennis (from "The Long Way") seem to be the MCs in this book (a dozen storylines exist next to theirs). While I thought Dennis was an interesting character and would have loved to find out more about him while reading the first book in this series, I am somewhat disappointed now that he's become the main character in this book.. He's become a loner. He has asshole parents and struggles to deal with his shitty family situation. (Sound vaguely familiar? That's probably because we've seen a similar storyline in the prequel, namely Owen's). What's more, we're kinda thrown for a loop here, because somehow this Dennis is different from the one in the first book. A noticable character growth and character change has occurred from book #1 to #2 . Off page. Which is kind of strange.
In book #2 Dennis tries to keep to himself and not to get involved in other people's business. But all this "I have no friends, I don't want to be bothered with other people's problems" gets boring soon, and isn't all that attractive or likable.
Travis has a very troubled past, has to fight back the demons he keeps mostly securely locked somewhere deep down in his mind, has severe trust issues and is for the better part of the book (at least of what I've read so far) annoying and obnoxious. Mostly he's able to hide behind a facade of an talkative/outspoken guy with no care in the world, who doesn't seem to take anything too seriously to be bothered by it. For the most part. I don't really know what to think about him. Yes, he's annoying.. and obnoxious, but he's funny, straightforward, and the opposite of shy. But I guess he's kinda growing on me.
Kyle (new character, Nicky's cousin) whose only purpose seems to be mothering Travis doesn't really make for an interesting character either. And Travis, who doesn't want anybody getting too close to him, finds himself repeatedly annoyed by said behaviour--I'll give Kyle that his worries aren't exactly uncalled for. So far, I don't like him much either. Surprise.
What I do like, though, is the writing style. I don't really know why, but somehow it reminds me of the TV series "Pushing Daisies", if anyone here remembers it. The narrator in said series gave it a distinctive fairytale-like touch. Which can be fund in this book as well. Kind of. Or maybe that's just me. Still, I like it.
Anyways, I can't say that I'm very pleased with the book so far. It really has parts that I absolutely dislike, but then there are parts that make me curious, that make me wanna find out how things will develop...
*****
Update #2:
I did finish the book after all. And, yeah, I have to admit, it turned out to be not half bad. Travis and Dennis definitely grew on me, but it took a while. Their characters took some getting used to.
The Happy Ending [or should I say 'the Happy Endings'?] doesn't [don't] hurt either. ;)
Overall, I liked it. Surprise. 3.5 stars.
September 22, 2014
3,5 I liked the first book better but in the end this one wasn't bad either. I was bit disappointed that Aidan and Owen weren't together and weren't even the MAs but Travis and Dennis together did grow on me during the book. What is also different to the first book is that there is now sex scenes in ITFB.. I would have loved the book to tell the story bit longer as I think the love stories of this book were just beginning in the end..
April 12, 2011
In a nutshell:
Travis is a super annoying hypocritical central character, who just became my most hated fictional character ever, who can't talk about himself and pry in everyone else.
Travis can't stay out of other people's business and is a horrible friend.
Loved all the bits that didn't involve Travis though. :)
Travis is a super annoying hypocritical central character, who just became my most hated fictional character ever, who can't talk about himself and pry in everyone else.
Travis can't stay out of other people's business and is a horrible friend.
Loved all the bits that didn't involve Travis though. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2012
I liked the first one better. I was disappointed that Aidan and Owen's relationship was almost an afterthought.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews