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Four in the Morning
Kathleen Hayson thinks her biggest problem is her mother. The only runner up—her mouth. With a wit sharper than her mother's perfectly manicured nails, her clever remarks create more problems than they solve.
But it's not her clever remarks landing her knee-deep in trouble. This time, Josh Colby is to blame. Kathleen's former childhood friend has become the school's most stuck up jerk. Before, she'd have told him to piss off and write his own stupid letter to the town slut/minister's daughter. Now Kathleen's escalating problems at home force her to reevaluate how flexible her principles are. She agrees to write the controversial letter Josh has requested.
Enter Rigel, a smartass magical creature who invades her room one night, promising he has come to help. When a boy Kathleen hates turns up dead and her mother goes missing, the letter becomes a key piece of police evidence—implicating Kathleen. As she fights her way out of a web of lies, the trust she has in those closest to her shatters. In the end, she's pushed to a terrible choice: who lives, and who else dies.
*also available in print*
But it's not her clever remarks landing her knee-deep in trouble. This time, Josh Colby is to blame. Kathleen's former childhood friend has become the school's most stuck up jerk. Before, she'd have told him to piss off and write his own stupid letter to the town slut/minister's daughter. Now Kathleen's escalating problems at home force her to reevaluate how flexible her principles are. She agrees to write the controversial letter Josh has requested.
Enter Rigel, a smartass magical creature who invades her room one night, promising he has come to help. When a boy Kathleen hates turns up dead and her mother goes missing, the letter becomes a key piece of police evidence—implicating Kathleen. As she fights her way out of a web of lies, the trust she has in those closest to her shatters. In the end, she's pushed to a terrible choice: who lives, and who else dies.
*also available in print*
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 25, 2012
I'm going to do something here I've never done before. I'm rating this book not for what it is, but for what it very easily could have been (indeed should have been) with a few simple edits. There is a lot to like about this book: a strong, highly relatable voice to the lead character, good dialogue, a unique story, fast pacing and plenty of unexpected shocks. There were a couple of scenes in particular, relating to issues of abuse, that were highly disturbing and very nicely written. Goddard knows how to write about difficult subjects without descending into cliche, or losing the consistency of her character's tone. Those scenes are all the more shocking and believable for it.
The only issues I have with this story are very simple fixes, subtle things that a half-decent editor would have been able to tweak. I'm not talking about typos or obvious grammatical errors, (the proof-reading has been done very well), but just some basic tweaks to prevent the reader from being pulled out of the story in key points, and the fleshing out of a couple of key story elements, particularly the superquick resolution of the story at the end. Specifically, what I would love to have seen fixed up was this:
See what I mean? All these issues - EASILY FIXED!
This book has great potential, hence the four stars, but the editing just lets it down. If I were this author, I would seriously consider re-releasing an edited version of the book. A few small changes would have made a world of difference.
The only issues I have with this story are very simple fixes, subtle things that a half-decent editor would have been able to tweak. I'm not talking about typos or obvious grammatical errors, (the proof-reading has been done very well), but just some basic tweaks to prevent the reader from being pulled out of the story in key points, and the fleshing out of a couple of key story elements, particularly the superquick resolution of the story at the end. Specifically, what I would love to have seen fixed up was this:
See what I mean? All these issues - EASILY FIXED!
This book has great potential, hence the four stars, but the editing just lets it down. If I were this author, I would seriously consider re-releasing an edited version of the book. A few small changes would have made a world of difference.
June 11, 2012
What a fast paced crazy fun time of a read! Right from start to finish you are really inside the main character's head and feeling exactly what she is feeling. It made me really feel an instant rapport with Kathleen. I really "got" her and her bitter, jaded look at life.
The character development of Kathleen was really in depth and well done. She's yet another rebellious teenager with a lousy home life. Yet she is damaged a bit more than the average teenager, too. The typical bad ass kid with the dark goth looks and teenage angst reveals a wounded, bitter girl with a distant abusive mother. She is sarcastic and mouthy because the only thing she has to defend herself with is her words.
I just loved Kathleen's best friend. Not the conventional gushing BFF girl friend either. Oh no, Aka is a very unique character and one I just loved right from the start! I would have loved to have a friend just like him in high school. No, I'm not going to spoil it and tell you why he's so unique. You will have to discover that yourself.
Though this book is urban fantasy, it seemed more paranormal to me. There was certainly a mind screw, but not in a very obvious way. The reason Kathleen gets a mysterious white skunk as a confidant that talks back is not obvious either. Kathleen finally finds out why Rigel became involved in her life in an abrupt do or die type of way. She's forced to make a wrong choice and nearly pays for it with the life of her love or with something equally worse. No spoilers here!
The ending was not what I expected at all. While there were a few things I would have done differently, the story flow was great. I wasn't bored and never felt like skimming pages. I read it in one sitting and that's always a good indication that I'm truly enjoying the read.
Absolutely recommended.
June 25, 2012
Here we have a story about young girl Kathleen. She has a bad relationship with her mother. Her mother tries to peruade her to lose some weight and Kathleen believes that she is ashamed of her. Her best friend Aka as well as other friends are called “freaks“. But things change when one “popular“ guy from the school asks her to do him a favour. In the meantime strange things happen, suddenly Rigel pops up in her life. Kathleen must deal with a lot of crazines at the time.
This story is different. First thing I noticed and liked was main character Kathleen. Not because I like her as a character but because author did great job with her personality. She is that dark/gothic girl who pretends that doesn’t care about others and their opinion but deep inside she is really woundable. I had clear picture of her and I should say it again, really good job is done there. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the rest of the story. I just couldn’t feel it. It was bunch of words in front of my eyes that made the story but no feelings.
This story is also strange maybe even weird. All that story about Rigel is really surprising for me, but well I don’t read blurbs so I guess it won’t be surprising for others. One more thing is that this book is not predictable. I was really astonished with some moments, some were good but unfrtunately some were bad.
All in all really short and interesting book, but not more than that.
This story is different. First thing I noticed and liked was main character Kathleen. Not because I like her as a character but because author did great job with her personality. She is that dark/gothic girl who pretends that doesn’t care about others and their opinion but deep inside she is really woundable. I had clear picture of her and I should say it again, really good job is done there. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the rest of the story. I just couldn’t feel it. It was bunch of words in front of my eyes that made the story but no feelings.
This story is also strange maybe even weird. All that story about Rigel is really surprising for me, but well I don’t read blurbs so I guess it won’t be surprising for others. One more thing is that this book is not predictable. I was really astonished with some moments, some were good but unfrtunately some were bad.
All in all really short and interesting book, but not more than that.
May 10, 2012
WOW! Just WOW! What a freaking roller coaster ride. This is how I felt the entire time I read the book. Not because there were ups and downs but because that can only describe this book's fast pace and intensity.
This author's writing style is amazing. I wish I could be as quick witted as Kathleen is in this book. I had laugh out loud moments, O.M.G.! moments and what the hell moments. For the majority of the book it feels like a dark contemporary more than a paranormal/fantasy/mystical type of book. All I can say is don’t let that deter you because the ending is RIDUNKULOUS!
Please note there is content included in this book that should be for mature readers only. This is the mommy in me. :-)
*Received an ARC for an honest review.*
This author's writing style is amazing. I wish I could be as quick witted as Kathleen is in this book. I had laugh out loud moments, O.M.G.! moments and what the hell moments. For the majority of the book it feels like a dark contemporary more than a paranormal/fantasy/mystical type of book. All I can say is don’t let that deter you because the ending is RIDUNKULOUS!
Please note there is content included in this book that should be for mature readers only. This is the mommy in me. :-)
*Received an ARC for an honest review.*
June 7, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. At first it was funny but it got to be so much more. Teenage angst, the feelings of a 'fat' unloved girl, fights with Mom ( I totally understood), boy trouble, school trouble. But all so masterfully written that you just had to keep reading to find out what happens. I encourage all to read this wonderful new author!
July 24, 2012
I wasn't quiet sure what to make of this book. Christi Goddard is a wonderful storyteller, and I enjoyed her writing style but the story as a whole was a little strange. It was unique in so many ways, which kept me reading, but I just can't help feeling like there should have been more to it.
I initially liked Kathleen for her quick wit and sarcasm but after a while she just became annoying and precocious. Yes, she's had a hard life with a more-absent-than-not father, a control freak mother, and having to live in the shadow of her beautiful, charming sister, but some of the things she did, and the way she treated people, especially her friends, made me dislike her. At one point she even insulted herself in the process of ridiculing everyone else.
Some of the events in Kathleen's life were brutal, and I would hate to see anyone suffer the way she did, so naturally there were times when my heart ached for her. I just wish I could have warmed to her a bit more.
At first glance Josh Colby seems like a real jerk, he doesn't particularly care about Kathleen and his only interest in her is so she can help him get into another girl's pants. But then something happens and his interest shifts to her. I wasn't sure what his intentions were so I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but then he became stalkerish and after a particular phonecall, I ruled him out as being a good guy.
Aka, on the other hand was wonderful the entire time. He was the typical good guy, a friend you can rely on in any situation. He really deserved a medal for putting up with Kathleen. He was just so genuine and I was aghast when she chose to believe Rigel over Aka. For all her quick wit and smarts, I thought Kathleen would have known better - her best friend or the magical creature that appeared so suddenly...hmm...
When the truth about Rigel is revealed I was thrown for a loop. I was not expecting it at all. The explanation for his appearance seemed a little odd. It wasn't too farfetched, but it just didn't fit into the rest of the story. It felt like a bit of an afterthought.
For the most part, this book flowed well. There were times when it lagged in pace, and then there were times when it was so rushed, I felt like I had missed something. The latter refers to the ending, when the answer to all the strange happenings jumps into focus and then the story is over.
I had such high expectations for this story but in the end it failed to impress me. I wish I could have loved it more, but as I have learnt, not every book is for every reader...
I initially liked Kathleen for her quick wit and sarcasm but after a while she just became annoying and precocious. Yes, she's had a hard life with a more-absent-than-not father, a control freak mother, and having to live in the shadow of her beautiful, charming sister, but some of the things she did, and the way she treated people, especially her friends, made me dislike her. At one point she even insulted herself in the process of ridiculing everyone else.
Some of the events in Kathleen's life were brutal, and I would hate to see anyone suffer the way she did, so naturally there were times when my heart ached for her. I just wish I could have warmed to her a bit more.
At first glance Josh Colby seems like a real jerk, he doesn't particularly care about Kathleen and his only interest in her is so she can help him get into another girl's pants. But then something happens and his interest shifts to her. I wasn't sure what his intentions were so I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but then he became stalkerish and after a particular phonecall, I ruled him out as being a good guy.
Aka, on the other hand was wonderful the entire time. He was the typical good guy, a friend you can rely on in any situation. He really deserved a medal for putting up with Kathleen. He was just so genuine and I was aghast when she chose to believe Rigel over Aka. For all her quick wit and smarts, I thought Kathleen would have known better - her best friend or the magical creature that appeared so suddenly...hmm...
When the truth about Rigel is revealed I was thrown for a loop. I was not expecting it at all. The explanation for his appearance seemed a little odd. It wasn't too farfetched, but it just didn't fit into the rest of the story. It felt like a bit of an afterthought.
For the most part, this book flowed well. There were times when it lagged in pace, and then there were times when it was so rushed, I felt like I had missed something. The latter refers to the ending, when the answer to all the strange happenings jumps into focus and then the story is over.
I had such high expectations for this story but in the end it failed to impress me. I wish I could have loved it more, but as I have learnt, not every book is for every reader...
Read
January 4, 2013As I'm writing this review, I'm contemplating what rating to give it. By the time I spill my thoughts, I may decide to leave it ratingless (starless?) because from where I stand, there's no convenient rating for this novel as a whole.
At the beginning of the novel I was more than satisfied. Kathy, the main character is my favorite kind of character-imperfect, intelligent, sharp-tongued and quirky. Everything flowed well, Goddard brings Kathy to life and gives her a fresh and engaging voice. When Rigel appeared-a talking white skunk with a British accent, I may have raised my eyebrows, but decided that this would definitely be fun. Well, it was. The banter between Rigel and Kathy often made me laugh. At that point I didn't question anything, but waited with bated breath for the story to explode. It held so much promise and potential to be, if nothing else, insanely entertaining. Until 60% percent into it, I saw myself giving it four stars.
But sadly, that's when things get messy. As the demons start wrecking havoc in Kathy's life, more and more questions popped up, most of them never answered, the others resolved into something completely unsatisfying. What's the thing with her mother(s)? How does Aka, the wonderful and protective best-friend-becomes-love interest, know so much about Rigel? And then, when the climax came, I was so completely let down. It was such a major disappointment.
From there, my enthusiasm plummeted into depths of impatient despair. Add to it the perfect sister who is constantly mentioned but makes a short and useless appearance, a rushed romance and confusing ending, and I was completely lost. The final third of the novel was thin and felt unfinished and I didn't like it at all.
So there you have it. Now you see why I'm torn on the rating. I have very mixed feelings about Four In The Morning. I liked it a lot in the beginning, but was so disappointed later on that it ruined the entire book for me.
At the beginning of the novel I was more than satisfied. Kathy, the main character is my favorite kind of character-imperfect, intelligent, sharp-tongued and quirky. Everything flowed well, Goddard brings Kathy to life and gives her a fresh and engaging voice. When Rigel appeared-a talking white skunk with a British accent, I may have raised my eyebrows, but decided that this would definitely be fun. Well, it was. The banter between Rigel and Kathy often made me laugh. At that point I didn't question anything, but waited with bated breath for the story to explode. It held so much promise and potential to be, if nothing else, insanely entertaining. Until 60% percent into it, I saw myself giving it four stars.
But sadly, that's when things get messy. As the demons start wrecking havoc in Kathy's life, more and more questions popped up, most of them never answered, the others resolved into something completely unsatisfying. What's the thing with her mother(s)? How does Aka, the wonderful and protective best-friend-becomes-love interest, know so much about Rigel? And then, when the climax came, I was so completely let down. It was such a major disappointment.
From there, my enthusiasm plummeted into depths of impatient despair. Add to it the perfect sister who is constantly mentioned but makes a short and useless appearance, a rushed romance and confusing ending, and I was completely lost. The final third of the novel was thin and felt unfinished and I didn't like it at all.
So there you have it. Now you see why I'm torn on the rating. I have very mixed feelings about Four In The Morning. I liked it a lot in the beginning, but was so disappointed later on that it ruined the entire book for me.
June 9, 2012
WOW!!! I absolutely loved it. It was a wonderful read. I loved Kathleen, she is witty and knows how to carry herself with confidence, and has a sharp tongue. I wish I was more like her in my school days when things were difficult at times, but who doesn't go through tough times growing up, Kathleen can prove to be an idol to all those- there is much to learn from her. But again, nobody is perfect, through the pages you will see her growing as a person.I had many LOL moments,oh, Kathleen and her remarks, I could just go on and on reading. Her friends Sarah,Erin and Aka were some interesting characters, so was Josh Colby and Karen. I wish there was more of Erin,Karen and Sarah. Her conversations with Rigel are my most favorite parts..and Aka's poetic lines. Wow.The entire tension on whom to trust between Aka and Rigel was wonderfully shown. I honestly didn't know who to choose,too. Each of them created doubt. It made me wonder what type of a supernatural creature Rigel/Gabriel would be. What I also loved about the book is the message to not dislike (hate) people in our life whom we don't like as much with utmost hatred because if something happens to them and in someway or the other , we are somewhat responsible or you feel responsible even if you aren't, the regret can be terrible. And what would be left would be the - 'what if?' 'what if things were better in the first place?' 'what if we treated each other differently?' - things would have been different, but, alas, that time is gone.
Another thing I liked is, the ending, it makes the reader wonder of a possible sequel. And if there is one, am definitely up for grabbing it the instant it's out.
Another thing I liked is, the ending, it makes the reader wonder of a possible sequel. And if there is one, am definitely up for grabbing it the instant it's out.
June 2, 2012
First, I have to say a huge THANK YOU to Rebecca Hamilton (author of The Forever Girl) for offering Four In The Morning in exchange for a review. I am so glad she did because I absolutely LOVED Four In The Morning!!
When I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it because I have a weirdo cat named Rygel. What I didn't expect was how much I loved Kathleen. She is my new idol. Her snarky attitude was written perfectly. I also highly enjoyed Rigel and AKA, I loved what their characters brought to the story. The mystery aspect of the story was great and the book was well written. The ending was perfect, not a disappointing cliff hanger but it does leave you guessing that there will be a sequel...and I wish I had that in my hands right now! I want more!
Four In The Morning was enjoyably different, weird, dark, and hilarious- a breath of fresh air to my world.
recommended for mature YA and older
Once again, Special Thanks to Rebecca Hamilton for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.
http://memoriesovertakingme.blogspot....
When I read the blurb, I knew I had to read it because I have a weirdo cat named Rygel. What I didn't expect was how much I loved Kathleen. She is my new idol. Her snarky attitude was written perfectly. I also highly enjoyed Rigel and AKA, I loved what their characters brought to the story. The mystery aspect of the story was great and the book was well written. The ending was perfect, not a disappointing cliff hanger but it does leave you guessing that there will be a sequel...and I wish I had that in my hands right now! I want more!
Four In The Morning was enjoyably different, weird, dark, and hilarious- a breath of fresh air to my world.
recommended for mature YA and older
Once again, Special Thanks to Rebecca Hamilton for providing an e-book in exchange for an honest review.
http://memoriesovertakingme.blogspot....
June 5, 2012
First thing I noticed? The voice. It's excellent! You should read the book just to see how an author can ooze voice. Yeah, it's that good.
I loved everything about Kathleen--the fact she wasn't your normal skinny beauty queen teen or sickly sweet. She had a scathing wit that she wore like chain mail. and it was AWESOME. This story is NOT your typical YA. Not even close. I'm not even sure how to explain how it's different, but the words raw, real, snarky, angry, surprising all come to mind.
The only thing that bugged me was the part about the letter to the minister's daughter--hold on, let me explain. I kept waiting for that to go somewhere. That character was a non-player and I was starting to fear it was a dropped thread. But don't worry, it wasn't. And I can't explain it without giving away some spoilers. I will say that Christi dropped the bomb to explain things right before I was too frustrated with it. And then it all made perfect sense-->more so than this paragraph, I promise.
And the end! I sure hope there will be more of Kathleen's story.
I loved everything about Kathleen--the fact she wasn't your normal skinny beauty queen teen or sickly sweet. She had a scathing wit that she wore like chain mail. and it was AWESOME. This story is NOT your typical YA. Not even close. I'm not even sure how to explain how it's different, but the words raw, real, snarky, angry, surprising all come to mind.
The only thing that bugged me was the part about the letter to the minister's daughter--hold on, let me explain. I kept waiting for that to go somewhere. That character was a non-player and I was starting to fear it was a dropped thread. But don't worry, it wasn't. And I can't explain it without giving away some spoilers. I will say that Christi dropped the bomb to explain things right before I was too frustrated with it. And then it all made perfect sense-->more so than this paragraph, I promise.
And the end! I sure hope there will be more of Kathleen's story.
August 10, 2012
What I loved most about FOUR IN THE MORNING was the main character, Kathleen’s voice. There were many comments she made that I could relate to back in my high school days… back when I considered myself a dark minded wit surround by idiots. LOL
This story took a completely unexpected turn.
You have to be patient and let the plot play out. At first I was really starting to wonder what the heck was up with the talking skunk. WTF? And the whole letter writing scheme – what happed to that scenario?
I wanted to slap the dad. I know there are plenty of parents who turn a blind eye to their partner’s ill treatment of their child, but to show no concern when his daughter is assaulted… really?
Overall, this book wins big points for voice, originality, humor, unpredictability and keeping me entertained.
This story took a completely unexpected turn.
You have to be patient and let the plot play out. At first I was really starting to wonder what the heck was up with the talking skunk. WTF? And the whole letter writing scheme – what happed to that scenario?
I wanted to slap the dad. I know there are plenty of parents who turn a blind eye to their partner’s ill treatment of their child, but to show no concern when his daughter is assaulted… really?
Overall, this book wins big points for voice, originality, humor, unpredictability and keeping me entertained.
May 22, 2012
Four In the Morning is quite an interesting read. In it, author Goddard takes dark humor, teen angst, a real knack for wordplay, and generous splashes of psychological drama and horror ... and blends them into something unpredictable and delightful. Each time I thought I had the story figured out, I was proven wrong.
I look forward to the next release from Ms. Goddard.
BTW-am I the only person who spent the majority of the novel viewing Rigel as a modern-day Mr. Tumnus?
I look forward to the next release from Ms. Goddard.
BTW-am I the only person who spent the majority of the novel viewing Rigel as a modern-day Mr. Tumnus?
July 9, 2012
Wow, I loved it!! This was a fun read! This is quite a unique book.. I couldn't have imagined the direction that it took. There was a good mixture of LOL moments and WTF moments. The main character was easy to relate to. The first few set up chapters were kind of dry, but it picked up and never stopped. I would definitely recommend this book, it was different from most YA books.
June 10, 2012
So… my brain is still like this:
- days after reading Four in the Morning because…I can’t even begin to process that incredible jaw dropping ending.
I love that the cover reflects the theme of the story and the main character Kathleen so well.The cool fall day in the background plays perfectly into the creepy mysterious aspects and the cover model who is pale and dressed in black portrays the spitting image of Kathleen.
The story begins with an introduction to Kathleen and several different aspects of her life. She’s always butting heads with her slightly neurotic mother, the school’s most popular boy Josh engaged her writing skills for a love letter, her philosophical best friend Aka and a magical talking white skunk named Rigel shows up in her room to warn her of impending danger.
I loved that the character of Kathleen isn’t your archetype pretty blond, size 0, perky and agreeable heroine. She’s got a snarky sharp wit with a vocabulary that can dance circles around any dimwitted jock and an iron will to endure all the crap her mother or classmates throw at her regarding her appearance and slightly bitter attitude. What was a bit jarring was how well she accepted a talking woodland creature into her life - albeit with some initial assertions that it was a sugar induced hallucination.
The boys of the book were such an amazing mix. Riley - the arch-nemesis of Kathleen, really takes hateful bullying to whole new and terrifying level that left me shaking with a mix of anger and fear for Kathleen. Aka - the cryptic best friend who spoke in riddles and rhymes was interesting, but like Kathleen I had issues understanding him until she shook him and demanded it in simple English. However, Aka surprised me as a character that you could always depend on solidly to be there for Kathleen no matter what. Josh - who originally struck me as a really daft and useless character, ended up showing moments of intelligence and depth that engaged my interest, I’m actually kind of sad that we don’t get to see a more explicit explanation of him, especially after some huge revelations.
A lot of this story revolved around a really traumatic childhood for Kathleen. The character of her mom is all the extremes of a psychotic TV mom, such as being super pretty (by sheer will she could yell her hair back into place), shallow (I think she lives off of other’s praise and approval), with a dash of overly religious cult follower (which probably created Kathleen’s extreme dislike of religions later on) - who expects nothing but perfection from her children. So when you get a wilful disobedient daughter who isn’t afraid of you anymore… it’s a recipe for disaster.
Enter the very “Alice in Wonderland: White Rabbit” character: Rigel the proper British white skunk who shows up during a very difficult time in Kathleen’s life with a dire warning that someone will betray her, and that there’s a great tragedy that he’s there to prevent. But first - he needs to know every intimate detail about her life as he shadows her daily and gives her riddled answers that could rival Aka. I really loved Rigel’s character, he provided a surreal view of the events coupled with fur filled comic relief.
When I was first reading this, I wasn’t really sure what to make of these divergences to all these aspects of Kathleen’s life, it really felt like everything was random and coming at me out of nowhere. I was throughly confused as to what the whole point of the story… right up until the bodies started dropping… then I was HOOKED!
Goddard’s writing style is stunning!! She crafts distinct character voices that I could hear with clarity as I read and she definitely knows how to drive home tense and viscerally graphic details (I can’t look at eggplant the same anymore…). While the beginning was a bit slow to start, it lulled me into a false sense of security. Then it gets dark. I got to this part right before bed - it was a bad idea because as soon as Kathleen starts falling down this insane spiral of murder, missing people, and suddenly boys tripping over her I was screaming in my head “What is going on?!”. Before I knew it, I was taken on an intense plot twist roller coaster that was flinging me in a thousand unpredictable directions, with bombshell after bombshell being dropped until we get to the climactic tipping point and all the horrible secrets are revealed and Kathleen has to decide who pays the price for all the complaints of her life. Then, just when you think Goddard is done, she drops the biggest twist of all - that left Kathleen and I both in utter shell shock. It’s one of those endings where it’s so insane, I still wonder if all of it happened… just for THAT.
- days after reading Four in the Morning because…I can’t even begin to process that incredible jaw dropping ending.
I love that the cover reflects the theme of the story and the main character Kathleen so well.The cool fall day in the background plays perfectly into the creepy mysterious aspects and the cover model who is pale and dressed in black portrays the spitting image of Kathleen.
The story begins with an introduction to Kathleen and several different aspects of her life. She’s always butting heads with her slightly neurotic mother, the school’s most popular boy Josh engaged her writing skills for a love letter, her philosophical best friend Aka and a magical talking white skunk named Rigel shows up in her room to warn her of impending danger.
I loved that the character of Kathleen isn’t your archetype pretty blond, size 0, perky and agreeable heroine. She’s got a snarky sharp wit with a vocabulary that can dance circles around any dimwitted jock and an iron will to endure all the crap her mother or classmates throw at her regarding her appearance and slightly bitter attitude. What was a bit jarring was how well she accepted a talking woodland creature into her life - albeit with some initial assertions that it was a sugar induced hallucination.
The boys of the book were such an amazing mix. Riley - the arch-nemesis of Kathleen, really takes hateful bullying to whole new and terrifying level that left me shaking with a mix of anger and fear for Kathleen. Aka - the cryptic best friend who spoke in riddles and rhymes was interesting, but like Kathleen I had issues understanding him until she shook him and demanded it in simple English. However, Aka surprised me as a character that you could always depend on solidly to be there for Kathleen no matter what. Josh - who originally struck me as a really daft and useless character, ended up showing moments of intelligence and depth that engaged my interest, I’m actually kind of sad that we don’t get to see a more explicit explanation of him, especially after some huge revelations.
A lot of this story revolved around a really traumatic childhood for Kathleen. The character of her mom is all the extremes of a psychotic TV mom, such as being super pretty (by sheer will she could yell her hair back into place), shallow (I think she lives off of other’s praise and approval), with a dash of overly religious cult follower (which probably created Kathleen’s extreme dislike of religions later on) - who expects nothing but perfection from her children. So when you get a wilful disobedient daughter who isn’t afraid of you anymore… it’s a recipe for disaster.
Enter the very “Alice in Wonderland: White Rabbit” character: Rigel the proper British white skunk who shows up during a very difficult time in Kathleen’s life with a dire warning that someone will betray her, and that there’s a great tragedy that he’s there to prevent. But first - he needs to know every intimate detail about her life as he shadows her daily and gives her riddled answers that could rival Aka. I really loved Rigel’s character, he provided a surreal view of the events coupled with fur filled comic relief.
When I was first reading this, I wasn’t really sure what to make of these divergences to all these aspects of Kathleen’s life, it really felt like everything was random and coming at me out of nowhere. I was throughly confused as to what the whole point of the story… right up until the bodies started dropping… then I was HOOKED!
Goddard’s writing style is stunning!! She crafts distinct character voices that I could hear with clarity as I read and she definitely knows how to drive home tense and viscerally graphic details (I can’t look at eggplant the same anymore…). While the beginning was a bit slow to start, it lulled me into a false sense of security. Then it gets dark. I got to this part right before bed - it was a bad idea because as soon as Kathleen starts falling down this insane spiral of murder, missing people, and suddenly boys tripping over her I was screaming in my head “What is going on?!”. Before I knew it, I was taken on an intense plot twist roller coaster that was flinging me in a thousand unpredictable directions, with bombshell after bombshell being dropped until we get to the climactic tipping point and all the horrible secrets are revealed and Kathleen has to decide who pays the price for all the complaints of her life. Then, just when you think Goddard is done, she drops the biggest twist of all - that left Kathleen and I both in utter shell shock. It’s one of those endings where it’s so insane, I still wonder if all of it happened… just for THAT.
March 10, 2017
Oh, my, Four in the Morning by Christi Goddard is s seriously good read. It has its very difficult moments, but so good. I could have done without the questions at the end, but I like my books tied in nice, neat HEAs, no matter how difficult they are to achieve. Well done.
September 21, 2013
(Disclaimer, I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review).
Told from the perspective of protagonist Kathleen Hayson, Four in the Morning is a dark tale about struggling to be a teenager when stranger than normal events begin to happen. Kathleen comes from an abusive home���one in which her mother sets her up as an example of bad teen behavior, and life at school isn���t more pleasant. Unfortunately, Kathleen���s mouth does little except get her in deeper trouble. Her former childhood friend, Josh Colby asks her to write a letter to a girl he���s interested in and then a talking skunk named Rigel shows up and promises to help her with something. After Kathleen is attacked and her assailant turns up dead and Kathleen���s mother goes missing, Kathleen struggles to find her way off the police���s radar.
I���m still struggling to put together my thoughts on this novel. It was a highly character driven novel. Kathleen is a spunky character and you can never predict what���s going to pop out of her mouth or into her head. Often the story takes a detour through her train of thought.
"What is a gift horse? Why look in its mouth? Is it a hygiene thing? Is it because the Trojans would not have been fooled by the Greeks if they had looked in the Trojan Horse���s mouth and seen soldiers? If so, wouldn���t it be wise to look a gift horse in the mouth? Yet it���s an implication of stupidity if you do. It���s illogical."
Goddard, Christi. Four in the Morning (Kindle Locations 1316-1318).
Most of the reviews I���ve seen have praised Goddard for her ability to weave these streams of consciousness into the storyline, but I can���t say it���s something I personally enjoyed. They���re usually smart and witty but I always found myself wanting to get on with the story. Most readers will relate to Kathleen in some way; being bullied at school, not wanting to be just like everyone else, having a messed up family, or having strange animals come through the bedroom window for a chat . . . Her best friend Aka (my favorite character) brings new meaning to ���a man of few words.��� He spends most of his time drawing or waxing poetic.
Overall, the story was interesting, and it came with plenty of twists I never saw coming. I would have preferred something a bit more moving however. The beginning of the novel sets up the characters, but I wanted an event or some edge of my seat mystery that would keep me going through the novel. The first we get of this is when Rigel, the talking skunk, shows up. But even then we���re just left to wonder why there���s a strange talking skunk. As I said, it���s a character driven story. If you read the first few chapters and fall in love with Kathleen, you���ll have no problem making it through the rest of the story.
The ending . . . Well that was quite a twist and when you get there you���ll definitely be surprised. Kathleen ends up with life or death decisions on her shoulders, and has to figure out exactly who she should trust. At one point she even question the intentions of her best friend Aka. It���s a wild ride.
My verdict ��� check out the first few chapters, if you love Kathleen, and Goddard���s unique voice, you���ll love the story.
Find more of my reviews at Scotzig.com
Told from the perspective of protagonist Kathleen Hayson, Four in the Morning is a dark tale about struggling to be a teenager when stranger than normal events begin to happen. Kathleen comes from an abusive home���one in which her mother sets her up as an example of bad teen behavior, and life at school isn���t more pleasant. Unfortunately, Kathleen���s mouth does little except get her in deeper trouble. Her former childhood friend, Josh Colby asks her to write a letter to a girl he���s interested in and then a talking skunk named Rigel shows up and promises to help her with something. After Kathleen is attacked and her assailant turns up dead and Kathleen���s mother goes missing, Kathleen struggles to find her way off the police���s radar.
I���m still struggling to put together my thoughts on this novel. It was a highly character driven novel. Kathleen is a spunky character and you can never predict what���s going to pop out of her mouth or into her head. Often the story takes a detour through her train of thought.
"What is a gift horse? Why look in its mouth? Is it a hygiene thing? Is it because the Trojans would not have been fooled by the Greeks if they had looked in the Trojan Horse���s mouth and seen soldiers? If so, wouldn���t it be wise to look a gift horse in the mouth? Yet it���s an implication of stupidity if you do. It���s illogical."
Goddard, Christi. Four in the Morning (Kindle Locations 1316-1318).
Most of the reviews I���ve seen have praised Goddard for her ability to weave these streams of consciousness into the storyline, but I can���t say it���s something I personally enjoyed. They���re usually smart and witty but I always found myself wanting to get on with the story. Most readers will relate to Kathleen in some way; being bullied at school, not wanting to be just like everyone else, having a messed up family, or having strange animals come through the bedroom window for a chat . . . Her best friend Aka (my favorite character) brings new meaning to ���a man of few words.��� He spends most of his time drawing or waxing poetic.
Overall, the story was interesting, and it came with plenty of twists I never saw coming. I would have preferred something a bit more moving however. The beginning of the novel sets up the characters, but I wanted an event or some edge of my seat mystery that would keep me going through the novel. The first we get of this is when Rigel, the talking skunk, shows up. But even then we���re just left to wonder why there���s a strange talking skunk. As I said, it���s a character driven story. If you read the first few chapters and fall in love with Kathleen, you���ll have no problem making it through the rest of the story.
The ending . . . Well that was quite a twist and when you get there you���ll definitely be surprised. Kathleen ends up with life or death decisions on her shoulders, and has to figure out exactly who she should trust. At one point she even question the intentions of her best friend Aka. It���s a wild ride.
My verdict ��� check out the first few chapters, if you love Kathleen, and Goddard���s unique voice, you���ll love the story.
Find more of my reviews at Scotzig.com
December 11, 2012
This review was originally posted on Melissa's Midnight Musings on December 3, 2012.
Let me start off by saying, I finished this book and the first thought that popped into my mind was "What the fuck?" Excuse the swearing but that really was the first thought I had. The last portion of the book is just so strange, so that phrase fits perfectly.
The story does a good job of pulling you in immediately. Kathleen is a tough character full of sharp wit and snark, which I really liked. Kathleen sure as hell needed it to put up with her mother. This kind of character profile can be hard to pull off at times, but Goddard does a great job of making her likeable. Her character profile is really well done and it's easy to relate to her.
Kathleen and her mother have a lot of problems. For as likeable a character that Kathleen is, her mother is ten times as unlikeable. I kept finding myself thinking, "Wow, her mother is such a bitch." I haven't said that about a character in a while. Here's just one quote as an example of how awful Kathleen's mother is to her:
"No boyfriend still?" Mom said. "Not that I'm surprised. Boys tend to give flowers when they want something. Or already got something. Payment for services rendered, perhaps?"
"Yeah, 'cause I'm a big fat ho."I grabbed a vase off one of the shelves in the curio and headed upstairs, stomping the whole way just to hear my footsteps reverberate through the house."
Goddard, Kindle location 725.
That's just one of the choice interactions between Kathleen and her mother. There are a few others that are equally as bad if not worse. You do end up finding out why their relationship is so sour, but I won't spoil the whole reason for it. Part of the reason is that Kathleen's mother is psychotic. She holds a grudge towards Kathleen and takes it out on her in unusual ways, such as punishing her for not eating a dinner of eggplant by making her take a cold bath with the eggplant in it.
In addition to a psychotic mother, Kathleen has a virtually non existent sister and father, a cryptic best friend, a bully who likes to torment her and another boy who is interested in her but won't really tell her that. Add to that a talking skunk with a British accent, who's something else entirely more creepy altogether, a couple of crimes and you have an odd paranormal mystery type story on your hands.
This was the first time I'd read about a talking skunk in any stories, and he is definitely an odd character. You'll see what I mean when you read this.
There is quite the balance of moments that will make you laugh out loud, as well as those that will have you shaking your head saying "WTF?"
This is definitely different than anything I've read lately and I'm curious to see what will come next from Goddard. If I had one thought or piece of advice to offer I'd say, "Remember that things and people are not always what they seem." The crazy turns of events will definitely keep you on your toes.
The only thing I was confused about was the title. I might have missed the clue on this one and not been reading carefully enough, but I'm just not sure what the significance of the title is.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Let me start off by saying, I finished this book and the first thought that popped into my mind was "What the fuck?" Excuse the swearing but that really was the first thought I had. The last portion of the book is just so strange, so that phrase fits perfectly.
The story does a good job of pulling you in immediately. Kathleen is a tough character full of sharp wit and snark, which I really liked. Kathleen sure as hell needed it to put up with her mother. This kind of character profile can be hard to pull off at times, but Goddard does a great job of making her likeable. Her character profile is really well done and it's easy to relate to her.
Kathleen and her mother have a lot of problems. For as likeable a character that Kathleen is, her mother is ten times as unlikeable. I kept finding myself thinking, "Wow, her mother is such a bitch." I haven't said that about a character in a while. Here's just one quote as an example of how awful Kathleen's mother is to her:
"No boyfriend still?" Mom said. "Not that I'm surprised. Boys tend to give flowers when they want something. Or already got something. Payment for services rendered, perhaps?"
"Yeah, 'cause I'm a big fat ho."I grabbed a vase off one of the shelves in the curio and headed upstairs, stomping the whole way just to hear my footsteps reverberate through the house."
Goddard, Kindle location 725.
That's just one of the choice interactions between Kathleen and her mother. There are a few others that are equally as bad if not worse. You do end up finding out why their relationship is so sour, but I won't spoil the whole reason for it. Part of the reason is that Kathleen's mother is psychotic. She holds a grudge towards Kathleen and takes it out on her in unusual ways, such as punishing her for not eating a dinner of eggplant by making her take a cold bath with the eggplant in it.
In addition to a psychotic mother, Kathleen has a virtually non existent sister and father, a cryptic best friend, a bully who likes to torment her and another boy who is interested in her but won't really tell her that. Add to that a talking skunk with a British accent, who's something else entirely more creepy altogether, a couple of crimes and you have an odd paranormal mystery type story on your hands.
This was the first time I'd read about a talking skunk in any stories, and he is definitely an odd character. You'll see what I mean when you read this.
There is quite the balance of moments that will make you laugh out loud, as well as those that will have you shaking your head saying "WTF?"
This is definitely different than anything I've read lately and I'm curious to see what will come next from Goddard. If I had one thought or piece of advice to offer I'd say, "Remember that things and people are not always what they seem." The crazy turns of events will definitely keep you on your toes.
The only thing I was confused about was the title. I might have missed the clue on this one and not been reading carefully enough, but I'm just not sure what the significance of the title is.
* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 1, 2012
My Thoughts
We start Four In The Morning Kathleen the protagonist, as she is moaning about her Mum lying to Josh Colby. Josh want's Kathleen to write a letter to a girl for him, but to pretend it's off him. She initially refuses, but after her Mum hears Kathleen's nickname, Elchubba, she puts Kathleen on a strict diet. Kathleen now agrees to write the letter in return for payment. We soon learn who josh wanted a letter written to and why. As the story progresses we learn more about Kathleen and her friends, but we also get to see a different side to Josh. Soon people are dying or missing and it all leads back to Kathleen. She must find out what is happening before it's too late.
Before starting Four In The Morning I had not read or heard about the author beforehand, so I did not know what to expect in the book. When I began reading I was pleasantly surprised and found myself enjoying the book more than I thought I did. Although there were some small parts that didn't grip me as much as the others I still found myself wanting to know what happens next.
When Rigel the skunk was introduced I loved him, he just appeared and talked and was a general pain but in a funny way. Can I have one please...possibly one that doesn't stink the house out after finishing the book I think I'm quite happy with cats, dogs, hamsters, you know, the usual pets :)
Love the idea behind AKA's name and it made me chuckle. I may not like my middle name, but I am glad my parents decided on a sensible first name for me. During Four In The Morning Kathleen receives a shock during an argument with her mother, one that changes how she saw her entire life. It does explain a lot of things but I did feel sorry for her, having this discovery thrown at her in the heat of the moment rather than being sat down and told about it was not the best way to learn about it.
As the story progresses more things happen and while Kathleen was trying to discover what was going on, I was discovering along with her. As the story slowly comes to a conclusion we get to see the truth behind it all, and it was one I did not suspect.
I enjoyed reading about the world and characters Christi has created, and AKA will be stuck in my mind for a long time.
November 13, 2012
This book has been given to be by Rebecca Hamilton for an honest review.
To be honest I wasn’t sure about this book until I start reading it. After a couple of pages, I was already drawn by the story! “Four in the Morning” by Christi Goddard is a dark and fast-paced book and definitely a read for all the fans of the paranormal and mystery.
The story is about Kathleen. She is a teenager with a lot of problems. The biggest one? Her mother. But she could handle her. One day things become pretty weird: a former childhood friend asked her for a favor and a weird magical creature makes an appearance in her life. Soon, she finds herself in a lot of trouble and things go from bad to worse.
I liked Kathleen because she an honest girl. She had an awful childhood full of problems because of her mother and although she doesn’t admit it, because of her, she has also low self-esteem. She has a great mind and just want to do her own business but lately that seems very difficult. I liked her, also, because she doesn’t want to depend on other people, although it’s not always right because there are times that she is very alone and she doesn’t let anyone else know.
Aka is her best friend and a very weird guy. He speaks like a poet and with riddles. I found him very interesting character and it was good that the mystery about him it was until the end. I liked him but I would love him to be more spontaneous and more bold.
Josh is the former childhood friend who wants a favor. I found him very interesting and I really think that he should have more part in the book! At first he seems a jerk but after a while I realized that he’s a nice guy and he had some nice moments in the story.
Should I say something about Rigel? Yeah, to be honest, I didn’t like him from the beginning! Also, not only I didn’t like her mother but I really believe that she is the ultimate bitch!
The plot was very interesting and I have to admit that it was one of the most weird books that I’ve ever read! I hope that there will be a second book because the ending was… OMG!! Finally, I have to say that this story brings up the subject of the bullying in school. The main character has a lot of problems because of her looks and I liked the way the author writes about it.
So, this is a very nice read and I am sure that all the fans of dark/paranormal/urban fantasy will enjoy!!
To be honest I wasn’t sure about this book until I start reading it. After a couple of pages, I was already drawn by the story! “Four in the Morning” by Christi Goddard is a dark and fast-paced book and definitely a read for all the fans of the paranormal and mystery.
The story is about Kathleen. She is a teenager with a lot of problems. The biggest one? Her mother. But she could handle her. One day things become pretty weird: a former childhood friend asked her for a favor and a weird magical creature makes an appearance in her life. Soon, she finds herself in a lot of trouble and things go from bad to worse.
I liked Kathleen because she an honest girl. She had an awful childhood full of problems because of her mother and although she doesn’t admit it, because of her, she has also low self-esteem. She has a great mind and just want to do her own business but lately that seems very difficult. I liked her, also, because she doesn’t want to depend on other people, although it’s not always right because there are times that she is very alone and she doesn’t let anyone else know.
Aka is her best friend and a very weird guy. He speaks like a poet and with riddles. I found him very interesting character and it was good that the mystery about him it was until the end. I liked him but I would love him to be more spontaneous and more bold.
Josh is the former childhood friend who wants a favor. I found him very interesting and I really think that he should have more part in the book! At first he seems a jerk but after a while I realized that he’s a nice guy and he had some nice moments in the story.
Should I say something about Rigel? Yeah, to be honest, I didn’t like him from the beginning! Also, not only I didn’t like her mother but I really believe that she is the ultimate bitch!
The plot was very interesting and I have to admit that it was one of the most weird books that I’ve ever read! I hope that there will be a second book because the ending was… OMG!! Finally, I have to say that this story brings up the subject of the bullying in school. The main character has a lot of problems because of her looks and I liked the way the author writes about it.
So, this is a very nice read and I am sure that all the fans of dark/paranormal/urban fantasy will enjoy!!
December 16, 2014
I found this wonderful YA paranormal novel as part of a Bundle of books named "Pandora".
Kathleen Hayson, called Elchubba, is in High School. She and her mom argue over everything. Her dad travels for work and her older sister is away at college. Josh, a boy from her school, asks Kathleen to write a letter to a girl he likes. At first she refuses. Then her mom throws out all the junk food and stocks the house with super healthy food. For the cost of junk food she agrees to write the letter. At school Aka is the only one she trusts. He starts sharing his lunch with her. One day in her 2nd story bedroom a white skunk shows up and starts talking to her with a British accent. She is convinced she is losing her mind or hallucinating. The skunk is named Rigel and he tries to convince her that Aka is a bad person and that she herself is necessary to save the world. Rigel moves into her closet, but he pops up here and there. Kathleen finds him very annoying. At school one day, Ryan (Josh's best friend) follows her into the newspaper office, locks the door, and proceeds to try to rape her. They both fight each other hard. She gets bruised up and he is fingering her when help finally arrives. Josh and Aka arrive together with a key and Aka beats Ryan some more. Meanwhile Josh seems very concerned about Kathleen. Faculty arrive to take charge and Aka takes Kathleen to the nurse. The police come to school and she is taken to the hospital. She has a black eye, other facial injuries, and bruises around her neck where he was trying to choke her. Ryan is found dead in Josh's yard and Kathleen is the chief suspect. Kathleen's dad finally comes home and they realize that mom is missing. The last time Kathleen saw her they had a really bad argument. During that argument her "mom" let slip that she wasn't Kathleen's real mother. Since it was well known that Kathleen and her mom fought, she is a suspect in her mom's disappearance. Through it all Aka is there for her. He starts climbing in her bedroom window. Then so does Josh. They both tell her that they like her. She feels drawn to Aka despite Rigel's warnings. At the end of the book she learns who killed Ryan. What happened to her mom. And everything that happened was due to a stupid bet.
Kathleen Hayson, called Elchubba, is in High School. She and her mom argue over everything. Her dad travels for work and her older sister is away at college. Josh, a boy from her school, asks Kathleen to write a letter to a girl he likes. At first she refuses. Then her mom throws out all the junk food and stocks the house with super healthy food. For the cost of junk food she agrees to write the letter. At school Aka is the only one she trusts. He starts sharing his lunch with her. One day in her 2nd story bedroom a white skunk shows up and starts talking to her with a British accent. She is convinced she is losing her mind or hallucinating. The skunk is named Rigel and he tries to convince her that Aka is a bad person and that she herself is necessary to save the world. Rigel moves into her closet, but he pops up here and there. Kathleen finds him very annoying. At school one day, Ryan (Josh's best friend) follows her into the newspaper office, locks the door, and proceeds to try to rape her. They both fight each other hard. She gets bruised up and he is fingering her when help finally arrives. Josh and Aka arrive together with a key and Aka beats Ryan some more. Meanwhile Josh seems very concerned about Kathleen. Faculty arrive to take charge and Aka takes Kathleen to the nurse. The police come to school and she is taken to the hospital. She has a black eye, other facial injuries, and bruises around her neck where he was trying to choke her. Ryan is found dead in Josh's yard and Kathleen is the chief suspect. Kathleen's dad finally comes home and they realize that mom is missing. The last time Kathleen saw her they had a really bad argument. During that argument her "mom" let slip that she wasn't Kathleen's real mother. Since it was well known that Kathleen and her mom fought, she is a suspect in her mom's disappearance. Through it all Aka is there for her. He starts climbing in her bedroom window. Then so does Josh. They both tell her that they like her. She feels drawn to Aka despite Rigel's warnings. At the end of the book she learns who killed Ryan. What happened to her mom. And everything that happened was due to a stupid bet.
August 5, 2012
Ok this is a oddly weird but enjoyable book. First, I completely understand Kathleen. She’s cute but chubby, so she has some issues in high school. I can’t relate to her on the parent issue though, I had a great mom and she has horrible ones. I like the characters, and the story is very interesting but I did feel there could have been a little bit more in the climax. The story builds very well and the climax happens and it’s all over. Now let me make clear that I’m not saying this story isn’t well written or it’s a bad story. I did NOT have trouble getting through it, or find it boring, just a lil sumtin more could be there.
Now with that said, I really like Kathleen. I completely feel her food habit- I have one of my own lol- but I live in south Louisiana Cajun country, so everyone here does when her mother-evil- takes away all edible food and leave veggies and cardboard, she takes a payoff for writing a letter for a boy she doesn’t like to a girl she hates and they are both friend with her arch enemy. Hehhe so high school, eh!
I like the mystery part. Trying to figure out who did what to whom was what really kept me interested. Her mom goes missing, her arch enemy attacks her then shows up dead, she finds out mind blowing info about her parents and the big whopper of a lie they’ve told her, and to top it off, a talking albino skunk is making her insane.
The part I felt missing is this, I’m all about the “why”. Ya know, vampires and werewolves hate each other because….. Well, all these actions lead to this conclusion because… I didn’t like that explanation. Lol yes I know, I didn’t write the book, so I shouldn’t get to pick the “why” it happened. I DID like how it unfolded, and even the conclusion, so please don’t NOT read this book because I’ve said I didn’t like the “why”. If this book continued into a series, I would still pick up book 2 cuz I did like it. There’s many good things about this book which is why I’m not giving it a bad rating. I actually hope it does continue. I’m glad how things turned out for Kathleen, Aka and Josh and I’m not at all sorry about her mom nor her dad! so now you can add this book to your huge TBR pile
3.5 PAWS
Now with that said, I really like Kathleen. I completely feel her food habit- I have one of my own lol- but I live in south Louisiana Cajun country, so everyone here does when her mother-evil- takes away all edible food and leave veggies and cardboard, she takes a payoff for writing a letter for a boy she doesn’t like to a girl she hates and they are both friend with her arch enemy. Hehhe so high school, eh!
I like the mystery part. Trying to figure out who did what to whom was what really kept me interested. Her mom goes missing, her arch enemy attacks her then shows up dead, she finds out mind blowing info about her parents and the big whopper of a lie they’ve told her, and to top it off, a talking albino skunk is making her insane.
The part I felt missing is this, I’m all about the “why”. Ya know, vampires and werewolves hate each other because….. Well, all these actions lead to this conclusion because… I didn’t like that explanation. Lol yes I know, I didn’t write the book, so I shouldn’t get to pick the “why” it happened. I DID like how it unfolded, and even the conclusion, so please don’t NOT read this book because I’ve said I didn’t like the “why”. If this book continued into a series, I would still pick up book 2 cuz I did like it. There’s many good things about this book which is why I’m not giving it a bad rating. I actually hope it does continue. I’m glad how things turned out for Kathleen, Aka and Josh and I’m not at all sorry about her mom nor her dad! so now you can add this book to your huge TBR pile
3.5 PAWS
June 11, 2012
3.5 stars.
Review on blog: Four in the Morning Review
OK. First of all, the description wasn’t kidding when it said that Kathleen, the protagonist has a big mouth. Kathleen’s attitude, the words that comes out from mouth more specifically, was kind of annoying at first. But as you turn the page, you kind of get used to it and sometimes even laughed at what she said.
The night she was grounded by her mother, a talking skunk appeared in her room. When her mother was gone missing and Ryan found that, the police found a link and it revolves around Kathleen.
Kathleen is a really strong character. Kathleen has a big mouth, sure. But she has to survive on that as her mother always tried to find fault in her especially when she was younger and having a dad who doesn’t stick up for her is not helping at all.
Instead of Kathleen trying to find out where her mother was gone missing and who’s Ryan’s killer, things just began to unravel itself. There were clues along the way for readers to pick up the pieces of course, so I pretty much know where that is going. And if you think you pretty much know where that is going, think again. ‘Cause you’re WRONG.
And speaking of endings....
WTF? Really?! I can’t really explain this part ‘cause it will eventually lead to spoilers. But, seriously?! Whoa. It just seems SILLY! And weird. But pretty laughable.
But in the end, the book just leaves more questions instead of answers which leads me to think: “Is there a sequel to this book or something?” I mean, her business with Aka was definitely not done. She still needs to tell him something(and that something leads to spoiler if I say it here). And what about her mom?
Overall, there were some WTF moments but it was pretty enjoyable.
Review on blog: Four in the Morning Review
OK. First of all, the description wasn’t kidding when it said that Kathleen, the protagonist has a big mouth. Kathleen’s attitude, the words that comes out from mouth more specifically, was kind of annoying at first. But as you turn the page, you kind of get used to it and sometimes even laughed at what she said.
The night she was grounded by her mother, a talking skunk appeared in her room. When her mother was gone missing and Ryan found that, the police found a link and it revolves around Kathleen.
Kathleen is a really strong character. Kathleen has a big mouth, sure. But she has to survive on that as her mother always tried to find fault in her especially when she was younger and having a dad who doesn’t stick up for her is not helping at all.
Instead of Kathleen trying to find out where her mother was gone missing and who’s Ryan’s killer, things just began to unravel itself. There were clues along the way for readers to pick up the pieces of course, so I pretty much know where that is going. And if you think you pretty much know where that is going, think again. ‘Cause you’re WRONG.
And speaking of endings....
WTF? Really?! I can’t really explain this part ‘cause it will eventually lead to spoilers. But, seriously?! Whoa. It just seems SILLY! And weird. But pretty laughable.
But in the end, the book just leaves more questions instead of answers which leads me to think: “Is there a sequel to this book or something?” I mean, her business with Aka was definitely not done. She still needs to tell him something(and that something leads to spoiler if I say it here). And what about her mom?
Overall, there were some WTF moments but it was pretty enjoyable.
July 27, 2012
http://understandingshaestory.blogspo...
Overall Thoughts:
This was a very quick and unconventional read with thrilling, hair-raising moments!
Four in the Morning is about a girl in high school named Kathleen Hayson, who is the epitome of sarcasm. Her mother is a pretty terrible person, who verbally abuses Kathleen about her weight and her smart mouth, and her father is always absent because of work reasons. Because of that, Kathleen has always used her sarcasm and bitterness to guard her, and is often seen as mean and unapproachable because of it. Then she meets a little creature named Rigel, who looks like any other skunk but is not. He has the knowledge and sense of any human being, and is also able to speak (in a British accent, may I add).
What I liked about this book:
This book surprised me a lot. By just looking at this cover, I would have guessed that it's a more serious novel with little to no comedic points, but I was wrong. Kathleen was hilarious... and mean, but still funny nonetheless. Also, I loved Rigel! He was the complete opposite of Kathleen; he was sophisticated, and proper, and petite.
What I disliked about this book:
I wished that Rigel was introduced in a better way so that it was more believable. He kind of just popped up out of the blue which made him hard to grasp.
Also, I wished that the author explained more of the character's backgrounds, besides Kathleen. It would have given a better insight into them and how they function.
Verdict:
It was very different and I liked it!
Overall Thoughts:
This was a very quick and unconventional read with thrilling, hair-raising moments!
Four in the Morning is about a girl in high school named Kathleen Hayson, who is the epitome of sarcasm. Her mother is a pretty terrible person, who verbally abuses Kathleen about her weight and her smart mouth, and her father is always absent because of work reasons. Because of that, Kathleen has always used her sarcasm and bitterness to guard her, and is often seen as mean and unapproachable because of it. Then she meets a little creature named Rigel, who looks like any other skunk but is not. He has the knowledge and sense of any human being, and is also able to speak (in a British accent, may I add).
What I liked about this book:
This book surprised me a lot. By just looking at this cover, I would have guessed that it's a more serious novel with little to no comedic points, but I was wrong. Kathleen was hilarious... and mean, but still funny nonetheless. Also, I loved Rigel! He was the complete opposite of Kathleen; he was sophisticated, and proper, and petite.
What I disliked about this book:
I wished that Rigel was introduced in a better way so that it was more believable. He kind of just popped up out of the blue which made him hard to grasp.
Also, I wished that the author explained more of the character's backgrounds, besides Kathleen. It would have given a better insight into them and how they function.
Verdict:
It was very different and I liked it!
September 24, 2012
I found that I had to read this book in a place where outbursts were acceptable, preferably in private, because I simply couldn't contain the moments of random laughter or shouts of surprise that would erupt from my mouth as I read this. I was really drawn in from the very beginning. The main character is witty and believable and I found myself deeply involved in most of her emotional situations. I will admit to being sick and tired of hearing about this letter she promised she would write for someone, but otherwise I was simply wrapped up in this very good read.
A good dark-paranormal sort of mystery that is great for mature readers (due to certain content in places). I'd hope to read more of how this story would continue.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
A good dark-paranormal sort of mystery that is great for mature readers (due to certain content in places). I'd hope to read more of how this story would continue.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
January 6, 2013
Four in the Morning Review by Georgianna Simpson
(copy of book provided by author for purpose of honest review)
Kathleen is a very intelligent young teenage girl with severe parental issues, her “less than teen model” size and Goth look keep her out of the popular stream of high school life. Her talent at writing and intelligence lets her see much of the world around her differently. It seems at first she’s exaggerating her issues with her mother, but in reality they’re incredibly dysfunctional. For a teenager, she’s strong willed, but still prey to all the teenage girl pressures. Her friends are likewise different but individual, including her best friend AKA.
This story is well written and interesting. It’s paced and crafted to lead you through a “misfit” teenager’s life, with some really interesting twists. Even with all the teen “angst” it’s riddled with great humor and wonderfully written surprises.
The story takes you through her trials and into possible relationships, to battling her all too real demons. I don’t want to spoil the story because the surprises are worth discovering for yourself.
This is an interesting story with hopefully more to come!
(copy of book provided by author for purpose of honest review)
Kathleen is a very intelligent young teenage girl with severe parental issues, her “less than teen model” size and Goth look keep her out of the popular stream of high school life. Her talent at writing and intelligence lets her see much of the world around her differently. It seems at first she’s exaggerating her issues with her mother, but in reality they’re incredibly dysfunctional. For a teenager, she’s strong willed, but still prey to all the teenage girl pressures. Her friends are likewise different but individual, including her best friend AKA.
This story is well written and interesting. It’s paced and crafted to lead you through a “misfit” teenager’s life, with some really interesting twists. Even with all the teen “angst” it’s riddled with great humor and wonderfully written surprises.
The story takes you through her trials and into possible relationships, to battling her all too real demons. I don’t want to spoil the story because the surprises are worth discovering for yourself.
This is an interesting story with hopefully more to come!
December 12, 2012
My rating is more like 4.5 for Four in the Morning by Christi Goddard. This is an engaging, quirky story and a quick, entertaining read. (Or maybe I was enjoying it so much that I flew through it.)
The story follows the wacky twists and turns in Kathleen's life, which the reader comes to find aren't all her own doing. (I won't go any further for fear of spoiling.) You will empathize and sympathize with Kathleen, and share her shock and surprise as events unfold.
The only criticism I have was wanting Kathleen to react as strongly as I did. I didn't feel the intensity from the writing that I expected from the protagonist when events happened or were revealed.
The story line flows well except for a few quirks at the beginning that are eventually explained. So, yes, the story line flows well.
All in all, this is a really good book that can transcend a few genres. If you like YA or speculative fiction or even romance, this book is for you.
The story follows the wacky twists and turns in Kathleen's life, which the reader comes to find aren't all her own doing. (I won't go any further for fear of spoiling.) You will empathize and sympathize with Kathleen, and share her shock and surprise as events unfold.
The only criticism I have was wanting Kathleen to react as strongly as I did. I didn't feel the intensity from the writing that I expected from the protagonist when events happened or were revealed.
The story line flows well except for a few quirks at the beginning that are eventually explained. So, yes, the story line flows well.
All in all, this is a really good book that can transcend a few genres. If you like YA or speculative fiction or even romance, this book is for you.
May 20, 2012
I received an ARC of Four in the Morning and finished it in two days. Despite the quick read, the story stayed with me for days afterward. The flawed, but often hilarious, Kathleen leaped off the pages, as did every other character in the book.
There were many times throughout the story when something so unexpected would happen, I would backtrack and reread just to experience that shock again. The surprises made sense to the story though, and Kathleen’s reactions made them realistic.
Kathleen seemed to go off on a tangent sometimes, and it almost slowed the pace of the story. I say almost because the tangent eventually had a point, and I was so taken by Kathleen’s character and voice, she could have gone on tangents for pages and pages, and I wouldn’t have cared.
The story was resolved a bit too easily, but I’ll still be looking for the sequel!
There were many times throughout the story when something so unexpected would happen, I would backtrack and reread just to experience that shock again. The surprises made sense to the story though, and Kathleen’s reactions made them realistic.
Kathleen seemed to go off on a tangent sometimes, and it almost slowed the pace of the story. I say almost because the tangent eventually had a point, and I was so taken by Kathleen’s character and voice, she could have gone on tangents for pages and pages, and I wouldn’t have cared.
The story was resolved a bit too easily, but I’ll still be looking for the sequel!
February 19, 2015
Received this book as part of the Amazon Kindle compilation - Pandora but will be reviewing it separately.
The writing and editing quality were pretty good. The story was well written.
The main character, Kathleen, is a rather snarky, somewhat overweight girl who goes for the Goth look. She's not popular and doesn't really care about it. She has a few friends and that's good enough for her.
When a talking albino skunk named Rigel enters her life, things get interesting. Sort of... That's about when I began too lose interest. When the story finally devolves into a sort of cosmic joke, I was just glad it was about at the end of the book. Some folks will enjoy this story more than I did...
The writing and editing quality were pretty good. The story was well written.
The main character, Kathleen, is a rather snarky, somewhat overweight girl who goes for the Goth look. She's not popular and doesn't really care about it. She has a few friends and that's good enough for her.
When a talking albino skunk named Rigel enters her life, things get interesting. Sort of... That's about when I began too lose interest. When the story finally devolves into a sort of cosmic joke, I was just glad it was about at the end of the book. Some folks will enjoy this story more than I did...
September 21, 2015
Brief thoughts: Pleasantly surprised by this one! A murder mystery of sorts, which is something I don't really read. But add a splash of paranormal & I'm there. In this case it was an albino talking skunk. I'm not kidding...
Heroine Kathleen is one of those girls that really touches your heart. I loved her sharp wit and blunt attitude despite her unfortunate situation(s).
Recommended
Full review & excerpt live for the Dark Minds Book Tour on Jul 30th - ttoria.blogspot.com
Heroine Kathleen is one of those girls that really touches your heart. I loved her sharp wit and blunt attitude despite her unfortunate situation(s).
Recommended
Full review & excerpt live for the Dark Minds Book Tour on Jul 30th - ttoria.blogspot.com
October 10, 2012
Loved this book!!
I loved the character of Kathleen. I loved her wit and sarcasm!! I found myself laughing and crying. I couldn't believe the terrible treatment she endured from her "mother" and how her father just pretended nothing was wrong. No matter what happened to Kathleen she never cowered. She stood strong and survived.
Not only did she survive her family but also whatever the supernatural world threw at her. I hope that there is more to this story. I really want to know what happens to her.
I loved the character of Kathleen. I loved her wit and sarcasm!! I found myself laughing and crying. I couldn't believe the terrible treatment she endured from her "mother" and how her father just pretended nothing was wrong. No matter what happened to Kathleen she never cowered. She stood strong and survived.
Not only did she survive her family but also whatever the supernatural world threw at her. I hope that there is more to this story. I really want to know what happens to her.
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